Arsenal have issues to resolve before next season, but have money to spend this summer. Here’s our selection of five players who could improve the Gunners.
Having been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on away goals to Bayern Munich, Arsenal only have qualifying for next year’s competition as a remaining goal for this season, as they again go through a trophyless campaign.
The Gunners reportedly have cash reserves of £123 million, and though they are unlikely to spend all that in one go, manager Arsene Wenger has big money to spend for the first time in years.
Wenger has come under criticism for recent spending – the likes of Gervinho and Andre Santos haven’t proved particularly successful, whilst Marouane Chamakh is a rare example of a free transfer ending up a waste of money.
With Arsenal’s cash reserves likely to be boosted by additional television income this summer from the enormous new deal negotiated with broadcasters, there will be a substantial kitty available for the Gunners to spend.
Here are five players we think Arsenal would do well to sign.
Disclaimer: we’re not suggesting the Gunners will complete deals for all of these players, but if Arsene Wenger brought any to Emirates Stadium, we feel they would be in a better position.
Stephane Ruffier
Arsenal’s issues this season start from the back – one of their biggest weaknesses according to statistics website WhoScored.com is conceding goals from individual errors.
A large factor in that has been Wojciech Szczesny’s uncertain performances in net for the Gunners, and he was quite understandably dropped for the Bayern Munich match. Fellow Poland international Lukas Fabianski may have performed admirably in his stead, but has shown equal propensity to commit crucial mistakes.
AS Saint Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier is arguably the best in his position in Ligue 1 at present, with his shot stopping, concentration and ability to organise a defence key attributes missing in the current Arsenal custodians.
Arsene Wenger enjoys a sky high reputation in France, and he will hope that he can still convince the best talent from his home country to move to north London.
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