The penny may finally be dropping for Arsene Wenger in his quest for serial trophies. The Telegraph has reported that Arsenal will hold a meeting this week to identify and lock down targets for the coming window, amidst reports that members of Wenger’s own coaching staff have questioned his defensive tactics this season. The Telegraph says:
Arsenal will hold a scouting meeting this week to discuss targets and start to assemble a list of who exactly they will bid for.
Great – go on:
Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk is a man Arsenal have watched, with the Scottish club demanding around £15 million, while Manchester United’s Chris Smalling, Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar and West Ham United’s Winston Reid are also being monitored.
None of the names mentioned are new to the Arsenal rumour mills and all of them would be decent squad members. But Arsenal need players who can improve the first team now. Per Mertescacker is sagging and Wenger should be looking for a centre back who can take over imminently. Vlaar is a solid player but he’s 29. Van Dijk looks like the sort of substantial lump of a man who could impress himself on the team – but there is a big jump o be made between Scotland and The English Premier League.
It’s inconceivable that he won’t add at least one defender and we would love to see an anchor man come in too. But perhaps this will have to wait until the summer.
Let’s see the pick of the centre backs on the supposed list of Arsenal targets.
Delford Magaya
Nov 13, 2014 at 5:58 am
Wenger has to make up his mind or he will have problems with the funds, if he does not act quickly, because every team in the Premier League knows the weaknesses of Arsenal. Every supporter is very disappointed, there is not even one Arsenal funds who is happy with the way the team is playing. We know that other problems are caused by injuries, but players like Rosicky, Cmpbell and Podolski can play better than what other players who are playing week in week out, yet their performance is very poor, why not play Joel Campbell, Podolski and Rosicky? I think it is not fair, because the team continue to lose but Wenger continue to field the same players who are losing games. Does that make sense for a coach? last week Chambers was battling and I could sense that a goal will come from that side but surprising Wenger kept the young boy on playing right back. I fail to understand how Wenger when sitting on the bench what is his duties. He cannot be pathetic to that level where he can not see what was happening, as a result the winning goal came through that side.
Aorkwagh Mike
Nov 13, 2014 at 12:14 pm
Wenger has got some key issues now which has affected him as a manager. He fails to sign players in key areas, he is too loose with players who want 2 leave the club, his tactics are not good enough: not employing delay tactics when d pressure is too much on our team, employing dirty tactic just like how Jose used Oscar against us. He sticks 2 same lads & plan even when things re not working e.g against Swansea, wrong sub.e.g Sonogoals when Poldi was on bench.Timed subs.etc.