Of course Thierry Henry is an Arsenal legend, and when he talks about the Gunners we should all take notice. But with that being said I can’t agree with the legendary French striker when talking about Arsenal’s summer transfer strategy.

As a pundit for Sky Sports, Henry stated…

“Arsenal need to buy four players,”

“[Arsenal] need that spine. They need a goalkeeper, they still need a centre-back, they still need a holding midfielder and, I’m afraid, they need a top, top-quality striker in order to win this league again.”

Now I just don’t see the need for a knee-jerk reaction or to throw money at every problem.

I agree a new commanding central defender might need to come in and I also think in midfield, a strong dependable partner for Francis Coquelin could be a great purchase. Another solid presence in the middle of the park could help dominate the bigger games.

I am really not sure that the Gunners need a new goalkeeper.

Yes they have conceded six more goals than Chelsea but let’s not forget that David Ospina wasn’t first choice at the start of this campaign. Since the Colombian has come in, Arsenal have looked much safer at the back. In his fourteen league appearances Arsenal have only conceded eight goals. That included three consecutive cleansheets in January. Plus the twenty-six year old kept big cleansheets against rivals Manchester City and Chelsea this year.

I really don’t think that the current number one keeper has done anything wrong, so why bring in someone else?

Wojciech Szczesny is a strong back-up who will continue to challenge Ospina. That competition can only be a good thing, in my opinion.

As for ‘a top, top-quality striker‘. Well Arsenal have only scored three less than champions Chelsea, and the Gunners still have a game in hand.

Now Thierry has also said that Oliver Giroud isn’t good enough to secure a league title…

‘I think Giroud is doing extremely well but can you win the league with him? I wouldn’t think so.’

This is an area where I again disagree with the retired striker. Of course you won’t win a title based on just Giroud but I think you can win it with a team that has him in it.

Again let’s look at Jose Mourinho’s title winning Chelsea side. Diego Costa has scored nineteen goals in twenty-three league starts. Giroud has managed fourteen goals in just eighteen starts this term. Both have also made three assists each.

Then add to the fact that Arsenal also have strength in depth in that department with Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck. They all offer something different to Giroud and that’s what Arsenal need.

Maybe an up and coming striker like Palermo’s Paulo Dybala can come in and freshen things up but I’ll doubt a big, already proven striker will be signed up this preseason.

What Arsenal really need is for Oliver Giroud to stay fit all season.

See I think it’s more complicated than just buying four players that will cost you a fortune and who won’t guarantee you anything.

Arsenal like any other title hopeful need luck. It’s such a valuable commodity that pundits seem to always overlook.

This season has seen injuries hamper key personnel like Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain and many others.

The question has to be asked on whether or not those injuries have been down to bad luck or down to dodgy training methods. It may even be a bit of both.

Squads also need to be streamlined.

If you bring in a new commanding central defender then Arsenal would be better off selling Per Mertesacker as they won’t need him.

In the midfield department do they really still need Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Thomas Rosicky? Probably not all of them. Also surely Abou Diaby’s time is up at the Emirates.

You also need to question Jack Wilshere’s place in the squad. Can he stay fit? What’s his best position? Will he reach his full potential or should Arsenal just accept £30m for him if they can get it?

There is another big question that Thierry Henry decided not to ask or answer…

Would it be better if Arsene Wenger stood aside and let someone else have a go? 

The Gunners boss still hasn’t seen his team produce a win over Jose’s Chelsea side.

In the last decade Wenger has watched his squads suffer from major hiccups during a season and been oblivious to it or not had a Plan B.

Maybe someone like Jurgen Klopp could come in, add some new impetus and take the club onto the next level.

For me, next season should be a last chance for Wenger to regain the Premier League title. He deserves to leave on his own terms but he can’t keep being the nearly man, who can get a Top Four finish without challenging seriously for the title.

I really don’t think throwing more money at the squad is the solution, to win the title you need to be smarter than that!

Posted on May 8th, 2015 by scott
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