How to save Arsenal?

Dominique

Whereas the major PL powerhouses added new players to their roster this summer (ManUtd, City, Chelsea & Tottenham), Wenger and Arsenal refused to enter this money spending craze, not convinced that the potential recruits might help them more than the current players at their disposal.

After this shameful defeat against Aston Villa opening the season, it's time for a change and put an end to this idealistic approach of the transfer period.

What do the Gunners need?

Fans, media & FIFA addicts crave for forwards, especially goalscorers. Thus, their expectations of signing Higuain, Suarez or Rooney is not surprising, neither is their discontent when Wenger refuses to pay the hefty price for these crowd favorites.
Yet, this team was not the PL winner with deadly striker Robin Van Persie and won't be with Suarez or Rooney because the major problem of the team relies elsewhere.

If we take a closer look at Arsenal playing style, it's clear that they like to play high on the pitch with offensive wingbacks going forward with the utopian hope to deliver a proper pass to create an assist. They are also in charge of trying to outnumber the defense and corner the opponent in front of his goals to make it easier to recover the ball. (This strategy was also very obvious in Guardiola's Barcelona, with pressing and agressive forwards/attacking midfields)

The midfield must be strengthened

Arsenal main problem is the absence of a Busquets type of player. The best #6 in the world, diving master and irritating like none, is a tactical genius that controls games with his positioning. Here are Busquets attributes that Arsenal sorely needs :
- a player in front of the defense to stop the bleedings and go backwards when the wingbacks are in offensive mode,
- a player patrolling the midfield to get the ball back and, for the price of a yellow card, make a strategic foul to kill dangerous attacks that could have been goals.

Arsene Wenger doesn't have a true number 6 but he deals with a lot of all-around passing midfields, often deserting to go forward. The duet Wilshere & Ramsey lacks this defensive stability.

Best fit : Lars bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Sandro (Tottenham)

The rumor about Fellaini isn't a good thing, as he is more of a 8 than a 6. Over the years he has been playing higher and higher, especially because Everton & Moyes liked to target his size and powerful frame on offense. The idea is the same with Cabaye, the current Arsenal target, who is not the kind of player that remains in his half of the pitch.
Wenger likes Geoffrey Kondogbia, the promising new French international, but he also likes attacking too much to be a defensive anchor.

Another specific need is a left back that can help on offense and use the space created when the left winger goes inside (Podolski, Cazorla, Chamberlain).

Best fit : Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), Leighton Baines (Everton)

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Wenger is said to have a £80m safe-desposit box to bring in new players. In addition to this defensive fix, this important amount of cash could also be used on offense, especially with Oxlade Chamberlain's recent injury (he should be sidelined 4 to 6 months).
2 profiles here, according to the position of the out of shape Santi Cazorla :

- If Cazorla plays on the left wing, Wenger needs a playmaker, a position that cannot be played by Ramsey or Rosicky. 

Best fit : Mesut Özil (Real Madrid), Christian Eriksen (Ajax)

- If Cazorla plays as a playmaker, they need an upgrade on useful Podolski and promising Miyaichi.

Best fit : Willian (Anzhi Makhachkala), Angel DiMaria (Real Madrid)