A CB to replace Mert, a striker to compete with Giroud, a DM to compete with Coquelin.

A world class CF is still top of the list. A 30 (league) goal a season striker will take us up a level.

ST - Giroud is decent but not good enough for a title challenging first 11.
GK - don't really need to explain that one.
CB - we need a proper leader on the pitch, Mert is shiite- two birds with one stone if we get the right player in.
DM - The Coq has proved what everyone bar Wenger knew for the last decade - we were missing a DM. Ship out Arteta and bring in an experienced DM with leadership qualities.

In short and in agreement with most fans think, the spine of our starting XI is not strong enough to win the big trophies. However I only see Wenger improving the CM/DM area and maybe another CB but not necessarily starting XI improvement but to replace possible outgoings from the fringe of the squad

I think you actually have a pretty good squad for the first time in a long while. If you could make JUST ONE signing, I think it would have to be a top holding midfielder - not a "Wenger Special" make do but a really good one.

Apart from that, you still need a really top class centre back (good luck finding one as there don't seem to be that many around these days) and maybe a goalkeeper. Ospina is better than anything you've had in a while but let's not kid ourselves that he's really a top keeper.

A change of manager is still required to take you up a level

I personally think it was one of the weakest squads Arsenal had in depth especially in defence.

Might be a busy summer as we could see a few leave. Maybe arteta, flamini, possibly rosicky, or at least will need a replacement for him. Could be his last year.

I think we need a new GK, CB, DM and ST. But I don't think wenger will buy in all positions. He may not bother with a keeper, or striker. This season our biggest problem has been defensively rather than going forward. So not sure he'll feel need to spend loads on a forward. With the keepers, he'll probably be happy with Szcz and Ospina. But maybe Szcz will push to leave if he's going to be 2nd choice.

We'll definitley need reinforcements in CM/DM area. Coq will play a big part next year, but he'll have to bring in a player to replace flamini, and someone to start replacing arteta and rosicky. But he might site wilshere and Ramsey and their replacements.

comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
I personally think it was one of the weakest squads Arsenal had in depth especially in defence.
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The weakest!! really?
This is the best squad we've had in a very long time.
There was a time that if we lost players like, Ox,Theo, Wilshere, Arteta etc to injury we would be fecked, but now we can actually cope

comment by HUNTING FOR GLORY (U16317)
posted 46 minutes ago
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
I personally think it was one of the weakest squads Arsenal had in depth especially in defence.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The weakest!! really?
This is the best squad we've had in a very long time.
There was a time that if we lost players like, Ox,Theo, Wilshere, Arteta etc to injury we would be fecked, but now we can actually cope

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hafi is on the wum...... always been.

Szczesny is one of those players who will leave and become a top class keeper elsewhere I promise you. We don't want to losw him.

We need to bring in a new keeper coach like seaman or someone to give him the experience and also to remind him that if he doesn't perform then ospina will replace him or he won't win his place back off ospina.

Szczesny has complacency issues which is something that can be addressed with ospina reminding him in training and when he starts over him and a coach who is an ex keeper like seaman to give him those wise words.

Then he can be taught to distribute better. I actually think it's his distribution that makes him seem poor

Khedira on a free, Schniderlin (EPL experience) and Subotic and whittle away the likes of Diaby, Flamini, Arteta, Rosicky, Podolski; make a decision on Campbell and already the squad would have more depth despite shipping out a few players. I agree Wenger won't go big in the attacking department but maybe another wide option to give Alexis more time in the middle as an option to Giroud and Welbeck but at the most that is only 4 players and our squad will be better for it

Sign Howedes and Javi Martinez and our squad is complete.

Martinez is a quality player but incredibly injury prone, sadly. Plus Pep loves him.

I thought Martinez only had 1 big injury?

Anyone who is not injury prone ...mind you even if they are not they soon will be playing at the Emirates . Even the ref's get injured.

I wonder whether it is to do with the pitches which are a mix of grass and 3G . Can't help thinking that your studs get slightly stuck in the 3G and that pulls on your muscles over a period of time.

Martinez isn't injury prone and Pep isn't really a fan of his, he's not a Pep type player. He plays him at CB a lot...

He'd be available for 25-30m I think

I'm not convinced that Coquelin isn't the quality we need.

He's only 23 and performing at a high level now

Coquelin is a quality player, but we need another quality DM.

Get rid of Diaby, Arteta and Flamini, sign Martinez.

The trouble with signing Martinez for £25-30m is that we probably wouldn't then sign a world class centre back, which is what we need more. I'd rather spend the money at the back, to replace Mertesacker.
We need to replace Flamini/Arteta, yes. But for that kind of money? Nah.

Howedes is class at CB and RB

"I'd rather spend the money at the back, to replace Mertesacker. "

Have we not done that, with Gabriel? £14m is a fair wedge to spend on a CB, would think the plan is for him to be first choice and Mert/Chambers backup

That's true Chris, but I'm yet to be convinced on him having not seen enough of the man.

I'm concerned that Koscielny might deteriorate quickly once his pace drops as, although he possesses great technical ability, his game relies heavily on his speed.

We would be foolish not to prepare for the fall of Mertescielny now. Especially when Mertesacker, by his own admission, is lacking motivation.

If we're going to improve the first team, I think that's the position where we can make the most significant impact most easily. Not because Mertesacker is awful, mind.

All we need to win the title next season is last season's Ramsey on top of what we already have. We'd have genuine matchwinners in him, Sanchez and Walcott. Chamberlain might develop too. Then you have the simply stunning support cast.

Yeah we've definitely not seen enough to judge on Gabriel, but I'm pretty sure we won't be signing a CB in the summer, and I think that's the right decision.

Mert isn't half as bad as some make out - it's only when we throw a massive panic attack a la Monaco that his weaknesses really appear. He's more than good enough for competing for 3rd choice with Chambers.

Unless Gabs does a Squillaci in the next 3 months I really can't see us adding another defender in the summer.