My Summer Rejig

Morning Goonz,

When I was watching that mucky performance on Saturday, especially around the 65 minute mark, I was thinking we need to change things more than ever. Of course there was perhaps more a change of heart as the game moved more in our favour, but I think what I felt then was telling.

I remember thinking we have no bottle from our key figures of authority. None. In fairness to Arteta, he upped his game towards the end and really snapped into the tackles and tried to win that ball as high as he could, which really should have been his first aim playing in what seemed to me to be an even more withdrawn holding role. And Vermaelen I did not think had a bad game either- he played safety first, and the problems McManaman gave him should be seen as more endemic of the Wigan youngster being a promising young player.

But for 70 odd mins these two guys showed no bottle. I saw nothing coming from them. As much as Roy Keane likes to get angry, he was right when he said all Arteta was doing was passing it sideways. We needed more oooomph and agression from both these players. Vermaelen actually still plays very agressively, but if you look at his body language, it does not represent the same steel that he once had.

More importantly, neither were really leading the rest of the team. Every player looked concerned with how badly they themselves were playing, and all was needed was a crazy guy, or perhaps a Big Flipping German, to rally and gee them up.

For me I would get rid of both these guys in the summer. Great guys, great servants. But they represent the timidity in the team of years gone by.

It is true that yes, we do have more leaders and figures of authority in our team, but you might expect that from a team which is considerably older than previous ones. We need more characters.

My temptation would be to let Vermaelen go, Arteta go, Poldi go. All 3 very good players in their own right, but that doesn't make them right for Arsenal.

I would be tempted to sign a player, whoever it may be, who is essentially a Viera mould or Gilberto type to replace Mikel. They don't make em like Patrick anymore, but watching Fernandinho for City, I can't help but think a guy like him next to a Ramsey/Wilshere would be what the doctor ordered.

I would obvs keep the Kos/Per combo at the heart of defence, and would look to sign Ashley Williams as the third choice. He is a very good defender in my eye, albeit probably with less capability than Vermaelen, but he is a proven leader and has experience at this level. Big fan of the guy's personality, and think it could add something.

Poldi would be easier to replace, with either a new signing in that position likely anyway, or Joel Campbell's return from Olympiacos.

I would then make Per our captain, and hopefully Bac stays, as he would be my vice. I would then actually play Bac less, with having Jenkinson and Bellerin, or another new right back, challenging for that side. Sagna could then play right back for games in which he might be a more favourable option, but also a back up left back to Gibbo/Monreal, and our fourth choice centre half.

Obviously there is a lot more to do in the way of our summer, but these were a few things that came to mind whilst watching us pump balls up to OG and Yaya on Saturday.