Although Arsenal FC are just two points off top spot in the Premier League, the injuries continue to mount for the Gunners and have prompted club legend Ian Wright to insist that manager ArsA?ne Wenger needs to spend in the January window to compete for the league title
The Gunners suffered a 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in their latest Premier League game on Saturday, but what was arguably worse was the loss of defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin through injury in the 14th minute of the game.
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The Frenchman has since been ruled out for around two months, prompting Arsenal FC fans — including club legend Ian Wright — to call for ArsA?ne Wenger to spend in the January transfer window in order to keep the Gunners’ title hopes alive.
Wright calls for Wenger to spend in January
Former Arsenal FC striker Ian Wright spoke for Gunners fans around the globe when he assessed the loss of Coquelin as being ‘a major blow’ to the club’s title hopes. Speaking to the Sun, Wright is quoted as saying (via Metro UK): “When Francis Coquelin went down at The Hawthorns on Saturday, you could hear the groans from Gunners fans around the world.
“Thata s how important the Frenchman has been to Arsenal and thata s how massive the blow is to their chances of lifting the Premier League. So, of course, something needs to be done in January.
“But what is as important is that when, I sincerely hope it is a a whena and not an a ifa , Arsene signs a he gets the right man. By that I mean someone who will genuinely bring something to the table, rather than simply fill in around the edges.
“If he can bring in the right man or men then it could make a world of difference to whether Arsenal can go all the way, because theya re still right in the mix.”
A problem every man and his dog saw coming
Despite the Gunners’ sizeable resources, Wenger chose to spend just shy of A?11m pounds on goalkeeper Petr A?ech, while making no other signing for the senior squad. Arsenal FC fans around the world were crying out for a quality striker and defensive midfielder precisely in case of the situation that the North London side now find themselves in .
Francis Coquelin is absolutely crucial to Arsenal FC and their style of play and although the likes of Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey might be able to fill in temporarily, neither will be quite as good at shielding the back four as the Frenchman. The likes of William Carvalho and Morgan Schneiderlin had been linked with a move to the Emirates over the summer and the addition of either could have added some much-needed depth to the Gunners’ midfield.