Arsenal fans were left frustrated for one more year after their team finished runner-ups last season behind Leicester City. What left the fans in even more anger was the fact that Wenger was the only manager in the top five leagues across Europe not to sign an outfield player last summer. It will be crucial that Wenger invests in his team this summer, otherwise it could be curtains on his reign come May next year. Although a number of players have been linked with the Gunners recently only Granit Xhaka and Takuma Asano are the two prominent names to have made a move.
There were some major gaps in the squad last year, which need to be plugged immediately by Wenger in the coming few weeks if he wants to mount a proper title challenge this time. In the next few paragraphs we will try and see two ways in which Arsenal will line-up next season.
Dream
With only two signing till now, things aren’t looking too rosy for Wenger right now on the transfer front. However there is still time to make a few more additions to the squad before it’s fully ready for a title battle. Cech will keep his place between the sticks next season after a brilliant first season at the Emirates following his move from Chelsea. Bellerin, Koscielny and Monreal are likely to keep their place in the starting XI, though we might see Mertesacker dropping down the pecking order to accomadate Neven Subotic who has been linked with the Gunners this summer. Granit Xhaka and Jack Wilshere will start in the central midfield, the English forward has the lot to prove next season.
Mesut Ozil will continue orchestrating play from as a number ten, While Alexis Sanchez will continue as the left-winger. Although Arsenal don’t have a proper right winger who is in top form, therefore a signing here will be on the agenda. Julian Draxler’s name has been mentioned as one of the target, given the quality the German possess.
Arsene Wenger will be desperate to sign a striker this summer, who can take over from Giroud and make Arsenal lethal again upfront. Higuain will be a perfect player for the roll, he was in top form last season, as he recorded his best season till date.
Realistic
We don’t see Arsene Wenger buying a defender this summer, given the need for an attacker, although we might see Gabriel taking over from Mertesacker as Wenger’s second centre back. The back four did a good job last season under the leadership of Petr Cech. Wenger has a host of players to choose from to play in central midfield, where he might go with a brand new pairing of Jack Wilshere And Granit Xhaka. It will be great to see Draxler on the right wing, though one feels if Walcott and Chamberlain don’t move on this summer, we might not see any new arrivals in this position. Mesut Ozil and Sanchez select themselves in the midfield after an excellent last season.
We are well aware of the need to get a world class striker in this summer, however might be tempted to invest in a young talent like Morata, who has been pretty lethal for Juventus over the past two years. He will be a signing for the future and Wenger will keep that in mind.