A list of ten players that could help Arsenal secure the Premier League title.
10. Saido Berahino – West Bromwich Albion
The 20-year-old has announced himself on the stage this season by bagging four goals in Albion’s Capital One Cup campaign. He made his debut in the Premier League against Swansea City and even managed to net the winner at Old Trafford against Manchester United last weekend.
And Berahino, has also carried on his good early season form by scoring two goals for England’s Under-21 side this term, ensuring that there will be enough gossip surrounding him to suggest a very bright future in the game.
It may be too early to tell which way his career will go, but with Arsene Wenger’s track record with producing top young talent then a cheeky move for the player may be a good idea. He has already shown that he has the quality to play at the top level, but a limited role until next season may be in order to protect his talent and ensure that he does not burn out too early.
9. Ashley Williams – Swansea City
Although he’s been linked extensively with a move to Liverpool this summer, Arsenal could hold the advantage as the Welsh captain could suddenly find him at the centre of attention with one of the world’s biggest club’s for his solid performances.
Furthermore, the need for defensive cover at the Emirates is still an issue as an injury to just one of the centre backs could threaten to sink the Gunners into disarray.
Wales national team captain Williams has established himself as one of the most sought after centre backs in the country after two solid seasons in the top flight with Swansea.
The Swans had been bracing themselves for incoming bids for Williams, with the 28-year-old expected to jump at the chance of a switch to one of the big guns and the chance to play in the UEFA Champions League. A move never materialised and Williams has remained until January at least where he will get a taste of European football in the Europa League, preparing him for any potential move to a club with commitments in the Champions League.
8. Adil Rami – Valencia
Another centre back that could have added some significant steel to the Gunners back line – if not only to challenge the established duo of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, but to provide some much needed cover for the injured Thomas Vermaelen, who’s hip injury and dip in form last season has seen him fall out of favour at the Emirates.
Rami was linked with a move to Arsenal, as well as several other sides over the summer but opted to stay with La Liga giants Valencia instead. However, hit time there may now be short lived after falling out with the coach Miroslav Djukic, and claiming that he would never play for the club again, sending a number of sides across Europe scrambling for his signature.
Full back Bacary Sagna has done well when asked to fill in at centre-back on an emergency basis, but Rami seemed an ideal opportunity to add some real depth and quality to that shaky back-line, but will they be quick enough to secure his services once the transfer window reopens.
7. Igor Akinfeev – CSKA Moscow
Recent reports in Russia have claimed that the talented goalkeeper may finally leave the Russian capital in the January transfer window as talks over a new deal to keep him there have stalled.
Akinfeev’s current deal with the Railwaymen expires at the end of the season, and with talks over a new contract stalling, he could be available for a reduced fee in January, or nothing at all in the summer.
Critics have long been calling for Akinfeev to test himself in a stronger league, and though it’s easy to still think of him as a fresh faced youngster he’s actually 27-years-old now and approaching the prime of his career. As no stranger to European competition, there is no doubt that he will be able to compete at the highest level, and though Wojciech Szcz?sny has been noticeably improved so far this season, there is still a sense that Wenger doesn’t quite trust him.
6. Stefan Kiessling – Bayer Leverkusen
Kiessling was the top scorer in last season’s Bundesliga, scoring 25 goals in 34 games for Leverkusen and has been one of the club’s most consistent players since joining from Nurnberg in 2006.
He helped the club to a third placed finish last season, meaning that they qualified for the early stages of the Champions League, so Arsenal will need to outline a plan good enough to entice him to the club.
At 29-years-old this could be his last chance to make a move overseas and sample a different culture of football. He has also consistently been one of the most underrated players that Germany has ever produced, hanging up his boots for the German national side in 2010 due to a perceived lack of respect from coach Jogi Low.
He frequently reaches double figures in the Bundesliga goalscoring charts, and already has seven in seven for the current campaign. His intelligence both on and off the ball would be a huge benefit to the Gunners style of play and he would of course fit right in with the rest of the club’s current German contingent.
5. Daniele De Rossi – Roma
It’s always handy having a World Cup winner in the squad and De Rossi’s availability over the summer came as a shock.
The 30-year-old Italian international has been linked with a switch to Chelsea over the summer window and they have been tipped to make a big money big at some point in the near future. De Rossi finished the 2012-13 season with 29 appearances in all competitions but was often dropped and criticised by then coach Zdenek Zeman, causing him to reassess his options and consider a move away from the side where he has spent his entire career.
Many thought he would follow in the footsteps of Francesco Totti and stay with the Roman side for his entire career – and he still might, but whereas Totti never really looked as though he would go there is a genuine concern that De Rossi will. Mourinho has been a noted fan of De Rossi since his time in Italy, first attempting to sign him during his reign at Inter Milan and then again with Real Madrid.
However, though he may have stayed, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he will still be there in January, and Wenger would be landing himself a truly world class protector for the back four.
4. Christian Benteke – Aston Villa
Villa did well to keep a hold of the powerful Belgian over the summer after he had been linked with a switch to Spurs, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, amongst others.
However, despite the 22-year-old putting pen-to-paper on a new four year deal, there is a sense that an unspoken agreement is also in place suggesting that should an outrageous offer come in then Villa won’t stand in his way and allow him to move on.
Benteke joined Villa last summer as an unknown young striker who was tipped to make a minimal impact in the Premier League due to his inexperience, but little did the critics know was that Paul Lambert had found a player so suited to the rigours of English football that it would have been harder for him to fail.
The Belgian handed in a transfer request at the Midlands outfit and had reportedly stated that he wanted to join Tottenham, despite earlier in the season claiming that he was an Arsenal fan growing up. Still only 22 and with a lot left to learn, he’d be more than a sound investment as he will likely only get better.
With his allegiances to the Gunners, a big money move for the powerful striker could be the way forward, especially now that they have a more than deadly supply line.
3. Juan Mata – Chelsea
The Spaniard has been Chelsea’s player of the season for the previous two campaigns, but saw his future thrown into doubt following the arrival of Jose Mourinho with rumours of a move away following him all throughout the transfer window. Speculation was intensified after he was left out of the early season crunch encounters with Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Mourinho has preferred to go with new signing Andre Schurrle and the returning Kevin de Bruyne alongside Oscar and Eden Hazard behind the Blues lone striker, whilst the signing of Willian has also increased competition.
Mata had tried to deflect the speculation by insisting that his absence was down to injury, but Jose Mourinho has since confirmed that he is looking toward Oscar to take up Mata’s favoured role instead.
Whether is be in England or back home in Spain, there will certainly be no shortage of options for him to reassert himself as one of the best and most intelligent footballers in the world today, and Arsenal’s style would suit him perfectly.
2. Yohan Cabaye – Newcastle United
One thing Arsenal need, more than anything, is a deep lying string puller. A quarterback if you will. In Cabaye they would be getting a player that could ping the fleas off a dog’s back at 50 yards, and he could do it with all with all the Gallic class that you’d expect from the player who is fast becoming a staple part of his country’s midfield.
His possession of one of the most dangerous free kicks in the league would most definitely come in handy, and though he is not the defensive midfield enforcer that many of the club’s fans have been calling for, he is a more than capable box-to-box midfielder who will add class and balance to the team’s midfield.
A £10 million bid had already been lodged over the summer, and was promptly rejected, but the 27-year-old is now thought to have set his heart on a move to the Emirates and has been omitted from the opening three of Newcastle’s games this season, though it will probably take a lot more than £10 million to prize him away from St James’ Park.
1. Luis Suarez – Liverpool
It’s been a crazy summer for Luis Suarez, but Liverpool managed to hold onto him for dear life despite Arsenal’s best efforts to tempt him away from Anfield.
He had been publicly flirting with Real Madrid until he learned of Arsenal’s interest and the Spanish side’s pursuit of Spurs winger Gareth Bale had meant that a move for Suarez had to take a backseat for the foreseeable future.
Wenger sees Suarez as the ideal man to replace Robin Van Persie, who left for Manchester United last summer. So far Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud have failed to live up to the expectations placed on them and Wenger still needs a star name up front if he is to hope to challenge the sides at the top of the tree next term. A good early start from Giroud has helped soften the blow of missing out on the Uruguayan, but the France international won’t be able to sustain that level of consistency throughout the entire campaign.
Just because everyone has kissed and made up at Anfield doesn’t mean that the move is dead in the water, if Wenger really wants him; he’ll find a way to get him.