Arsenal FC legend Thierry Henry believes the club needs four more players if they want to challenge for the Premier League title next season. The Gunners have already signed goal-keeper Petr Cech from rivals Chelsea FC.
Arsene Wenger’s side finished last season 12 point adrift of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea FC, courtesy of a slow start to the season. The Gunners were in rampant form towards the end of the season, and many were left wondering what could have been if they had managed a strong start and were somehow able to keep their players fit for the entirety of the campaign.
“Arsene has the right attitude and the fire in his belly.” – Thierry Henry
The former Arsenal FC hero, who was worshiped by the fans, hung his boots last year, and has been working for sky sports as a pundit. The Arsenal legend in an interview with sky sports, said:
“That team, I think, has great mentality, top-quality players and match-winners. I still think they need four players to get closer to Chelsea.”
a I compare it to my generation. I knew, for example, when I first arrived at Arsenal that if I was not performing after an hour, Dennis Bergkamp was on the bench sometimes or Kanu or Sylvain Wiltord or Davor Suker. Whoever it was, I knew I had an hour to perform.a
The former Arsenal hit-man believes that Olivier Giroud being the lone nautral-striker in the squad, could hinder The Gunners’ title charge, while emphasizing why squad depth and competition is always healthy for the club.
“Olivier Giroud alone there as a natural-born striker, it is difficult, because they say when he does not score, it is very difficult,a he added.
a Hopefully Theo Walcott could be the answer. You have a guy who you did not think was going to play as a striker, although he has been the talk of the town for a little while, him playing as a striker.
“You know some people still question Arsene Wenger, but I still think that Arsene has the right attitude and fire; the fire in his belly to try to make sure that team can win another title.”
Does Arsenal FC really need 4 more signings to compete at the top?
There’s a fine balance between squad depth and squad imbalance. An imbalanced squad leads to unhappy players, which further leads to disrupt in the dressing room harmony. With Arsene Wenger’s insistence on squad cohesion and harmony, this year and the addition of Petr Cech, Arsenal FC might just be a couple of signings short, as against to the four suggested by beloved Thierry.
Arsenal for all their short-comings, have a good, balanced and settled squad, with no players looking to move out, as was the case earlier. They showed towards the end of last season, how effective and flamboyant they can be when all the key players are fully fit, which led many to question, what could have been had Arsene managed to keep all the key-players fit for the duration of the campaign.
If Arsene manages to keep the whole squad fit for most of the campaign, four signings will however not be required. Although they need a couple of addition in a positions like striker and defensive midfielder. Francis Coquelin has stepped up to the occasion, making the deep lying midfielders position his own, however, an injury cannot be ruled out to any player, and no current player in the Arsenal FC squad brings to the plate, the bite and aggression missing in The Gunners midfield when Le Coq is not playing.
Olivier Groud for all his strengths and tremendous hold-up play, is never that potent with his finishing and Arsenal FC have lacked that potent finisher, since the infamous transfer of Robin Van Persie to Manchester United. Karim Benzema has been linked with a transfer to Arsenal in recent weeks, however, any deal for the striker could depend on Real Madrid signing another world-class striker. Arsene Wenger is reportedly keeping a close watch on the Benzema situation, as the striker is supposedly his top target.
A striker and a mid-fielder should remain the priority for the Gunners and if they are able to get their Top targets, then Arsenal FC might genuinely challenge for the title next season.
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