Fifa have hit Liverpool and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez with a four-month ban from all ‘football-related activity’ as a result of his heinous bite on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in their World Cup tie.With it being the third time the striker has committed such an offence, he has been slapped with the biggest ban in Fifa’s history, as well as an additional ban of nine international games and a fine of 100,000 Swiss Francs.Following a record-breaking season from Suarez, he was believed to have become a ‘reformed character’, but his regression towards childish stupidity has landed him with a hefty suspension, of which he will doubtless appeal.Surprisingly enough, with the issue being the largest debate in sport over the past 48 hours, Twitter has been out in force giving their reaction.Here is the general gist of public reaction to Suarez’s ban.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who sympathises with Suarez, with most opinions ranging from congratulatory praise for Fifa, to those who believe the ban was too lenient. Either way, he has few supporters outside of Uruguay.
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Earlier this week, Celtic fans said goodbye to goalkeeper Fraser Forster, as the England international moved to Southampton following a plethora of interest from the Premier League and yonder in his services.The England international will undoubtedly leave a gap behind in the Bhoys starting line up but his departure has seen the Scottish champions collect a cool £10million.That’s big money for the Parkhead club, and the best way to spend it would be on a talismanic entity who could bring Celtic’s performances to a whole new level – especially in the Champions League.Thus, here’s FIVE signings, all relatively expensive but all high quality, that Celtic should consider spending the Forster fund on.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON THE FORMER CELTIC NO.1 TO REVEAL
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DAVID MARSHALL
Football – Cardiff City v Crystal Palace – Barclays Premier League – Cardiff City Stadium – 13/14 – 5/4/14David Marshall – Cardiff CityMandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee MillsEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
In regards to a direct replacement for Fraser Forster who can match the now-Southampton goalkeeper’s immense quality, I suggest Celtic turn their attentions to Cardiff City’s David Marshall.
The 29 year-old former Bhoy, who rose through the Parkhead youth ranks and made 35 league appearances before leaving for Norwich in 2007, made more saves than any Premier League keeper last season, as detailed below:
Talismanic performances from the Scotland international, such as the one below, became common practice last term as the Bluebirds failed to stave off relegation:
Resultantly, Marshall was expected be snapped up by one of his many top flight suitors this summer, namely Arsenal, Tottenham and Southampton.
But all have sought alternatives to the Scot, making him potentially available to the SPL champions, and Champions League football is certainly a challenge that would appeal to the eleven-cap international.
Price-tag could still be an issue however despite the robust Forster fund. Rumour has it that Cardiff have struck their No.1 with an outrageous valuation to warn off suitors:
CALLUM MCMANAMAN
Football – Wigan Athletic v Milton Keynes Dons – FA Cup Third Round – DW Stadium – 4/1/14Callum McManaman celebrates after scoring the third goal for WiganMandatory Credit: Action Images / John CliftonLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account represe
Celtic have already been eying Callum McManaman this summer and the Wigan winger would certainly be a strong addition to Ronny Deila’s starting XI.
The 23 year-old burst onto the scene at the end of the 2012/13 campaign, netting three times in the FA Cup as the Latics went on to beat Manchester City in the Wembley final.
Last season saw the former Everton youngster struggle for fitness and form, but he’s bounced back this year with a goal and a strong performance against Reading at the weekend:
McManaman is best known for his mixture of industrious and eye for goal, which should put him in good stead in the Scottish top flight. Here’s a look at the Englishman’s career highlights:
//www.youtube.com/embed/PePGi9nGxr8?rel=0
But it appears the Parkhead outfit will have to make a huge offer, with Wigan boss Uwe Rosler claiming “There’s no chance that Callum will go anywhere”.
TOM CAIRNEY
Another Championship star Celtic should be looking at, especially whilst Kris Commons’ contract situation remains unresolved, is Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tom Cairney.
The 23 year-old’s stock is rising all the time, in no small part due to an impressive return of five goals and six assists in 37 appearances last season, earning him the Player of the Year award at Ewood Park. Here’s a look at some of his highlights from last term:
//www.youtube.com/embed/fAgcMqnLufY?rel=0
He also recorded the second-best pass success rate in the Championship:
And the midfielder will have done his profile no harm with a Man of the Match performance against Cardiff City last friday, typified by this sensational strike:
Rovers only signed the former Hull City star permanently last January after an impressive loan spell and will be understandably reluctant to sell – Cairney plays a big part in their promotion hopes.
But he’s a former Scotland U21 who has desires to play for the senior team – Celtic could certainly help him achieve that aim whilst offering the added incentive of Champions League football.
DARREN FLETCHER
Now 30 years of age and having missed the peak of his career after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, Darren Fletcher’s Manchester United tenure is undoubtedly coming to a close.
The Scotland international hasn’t been included in Louis van Gaal’s expected cull, but he looked disturbingly out of his depth at times last season and is hardly integral to the club’s immediate future.
A well known Celtic fan and a 62-cap Scot, Parkhead would be an ideal location for the industrious midfielder to see out his twilight years whilst still enjoying competitive football.
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Fletcher may not be the player he once was but there’s no doubting his pedigree. Just take a look at the five-time Premier League winner’s career highlights:
//www.youtube.com/embed/geBA0Pg1XUU?rel=0
How much United would want for the midfielder remains to be seen, but £5million would be a sensible estimate.
NICK POWELL
Another Manchester United star known to have caught Celtic’s transfer attention before is youngster Nick Powell.
The highly-rated Crewe product impressed in the Championship last year during a term-long stay with Wigan, as viewable below:
He also netted three times in six Europa League outings. Here’s a collection of the 20 year-old’s career highlights thus far:
//www.youtube.com/embed/ZfclynD35gY?rel=0
And the 20 year-old, who can feature in attacking and central midfield or as a striker, doesn’t appear to be in Louis van Gaal’s plans, having been left out of the Red Devils’ pre-season tour squad.
No doubt, the England U21 would be a major coup for the Bhoys, but Wigan are keen on his services permanently and Premier League side Leicester City have also been linked:
Footballers earning bags of money seem to attract pretty women… we can’t quite work out the link, can you? Even though Leeds have been away from the top tier for a while, but their players are still bagging themselves some beauties off of the pitch.Here are FIVE of the Whites’ more glamorous followers for your viewing pleasure…[ffc-gallery]
CLICK ON JADE & BILLY SHARP TO REVEAL THE FIVE
SPT_GCK_110712_Football feature, Southampton, Picture Graham Chadwick. Billy Sharp with his girlfriend Jade at their home in Southampton. (they are wearing the blue bands for the Luey Jacob Sharp Fondation, and the t-shirt.)
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Charlotte Pearce (James Pearce)
Leeds’ captain may not have had much silverware through his career, but he certainly has a trophy wife off of the pitch.
Eleonora Cellino (Massimo Cellino’s daughter)
Not strictly a WAG, the lovely Eleonora arrived alongside her father Massimo when he took over at Leeds. A racy pic at Elland Road caught some attention!
Jade Sharp (Billy Sharp)
Hot shot on the pitch, pretty decent at scoring off of it, too. Billy Sharp’s wife Jade is certainly the envy of many men.
SPT_GCK_110712_Football feature, Southampton, Picture Graham Chadwick. Billy Sharp with his girlfriend Jade at their home in Southampton. (they are wearing the blue bands for the Luey Jacob Sharp Fondation, and the t-shirt.)
Alana Hunt (Noel Hunt)
Noel Hunt has, arguably, the most attractive other half at Leeds. Well, that’s what we think.
Courtney St John (Ross McCormack)
Okay, Ross McCormack may not be at Leeds any more, but we can enjoy Courtney St John, right? After all, she was spotted at Elland Road a few times…
Two routine wins, two clean sheets, and top of their qualifying group, yet England have still managed to find something to stir up some controversy in what was expected to be an unremarkable international break.
Raheem Sterling made headlines following the Three Lions’ 1-0 victory over Estonia on Sunday when it was revealed that the Liverpool youngster had asked Roy Hodgson to be placed on the bench instead of starting the game due to tiredness. Uproar predictably ensued as the footballing world and his wife felt compelled to shed their opinion on the matter, with some expressing utter disgust at the young whippersnapper’s temerity to make such a claim, only for others to leap to Sterling’s defence.
Alan Shearer’s criticism was particularly comical, with the former Newcastle man engaging in some populist demagogy in his column for The Sun newspaper by self-righteously asserting that “the working man who is up at 6am and home at 8pm does not want to hear how tired a 19-year-old professional footballer is”, while Gary Lineker took up the role of the over-protective mother hen, sheltering the vulnerable chick with his proverbial feathers from the media storm by taking to Twitter to say that “Raheem Sterling is a teenager”, that “teenagers do get tired and even moody”, that “he’s young, still developing”, and therefore “we should cut him some slack”. Sterling himself also proceeded to meekly poke his adorable head into the fray, heart-meltingly tweeting: “Excuse me for being human”.
Of course, the row has expanded to become a case of club versus country, as England boss Roy Hodgson questioned the medical benefits of the ‘two-day recovery system’ implemented by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, which Hodgson believes to be the reason behind Sterling’s fatigue. According to the England manager, adhering to such a system means that Sterling is not used to preparing for a rapid turnaround in between two games as England had to do last week, and with the relationship between the two men already fraught following Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge’s injury during the previous international break – not to mention the fact that the Reds have a strong core of England internationals – there is a danger of things escalating between the pair.
In truth, the whole fallout is slightly pathetic. Raheem Sterling is a phenomenally gifted footballer who is enjoying the best 12 months of his still fledgling career. The teenager’s confidence and his youthful exuberance means that he probably approaches every match – be it in the red of Liverpool or the white of England – with a desire to play as many minutes as he possibly can. Given that he is playing wonderful football on a consistent basis, is receiving numerous plaudits for his performances and is rightfully regarded as an integral part of the national team, it is highly unlikely that he would feign fatigue just to spend 45 minutes on the bench. Such behaviour would be expected more from a player who is out of form, whose morale is low or who lacks the motivation and desire to play, none of which apply to Sterling.
The only thing Sterling is guilty of is honesty, which certainly does not warrant the ridiculously overblown reaction of the past few days. The youngster probably was expressing genuine concern at being fatigued – is it not better for fans of both England and Liverpool that he does not increase any further risk to his fitness by taking such a cautious approach?
Lineker’s claim that Sterling is a young man who is still developing rings true. There have been ample cases in football of promising young players – Michael Owen, for instance – whose early potential has sadly led to drastic decline due to burn out caused by an over-dependence on their talents during youth. It would be a great pity if the hugely gifted teenager’s career followed the same trajectory as Owen’s due to recklessness during his formative playing years.
Ultimately, nobody is in the wrong in the whole affair. Sterling was right to be so honest about his concerns, Rodgers is right to be protective over his players given previous injury problems his team has suffered during international breaks, and Hodgson is right in championing the importance of the national side and having the best players at his disposal in order for him to carry out his job. All that needs to be done to avoid a repeat of such an embarrassing episode is for Hodgson and Rodgers to have a transparent and productive discussion on what is to be expected of the players during the break, and for a compromise to be reached.
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When it comes to England, such a straightforward proposal is easier said than done. However, for the sake of the national team, of sensible football fans and most importantly of Raheem Sterling himself, it is time to put this tiresome matter to bed.
Luis Suarez believes that his old side Liverpool will find it impossible to replace departing captain Steven Gerrard both on and off the pitch.
The Reds’ iconic skipper’s move to MLS side LA Galaxy at the end of the season was confirmed earlier this week after the 34-year-old revealed that he would not be extending his contract at Anfield.
Gerrard has since disclosed that he would have committed the rest of his career to his boyhood club should he have been handed fresh terms over the summer, but the Merseysiders’ owners, Fenway Sports Group, were reluctant to present the ageing ace with a deal.
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Suarez starred alongside the former England captain last season as Liverpool narrowly missed out on a first ever Premier League title, and it was the midfielder who played a key role in ensuring the Uruguayan didn’t force a move to Arsenal in 2013.
The 27-year-old now plays for Barcelona following his £75m switch after the World Cup, and he believes that his former team will find it tough to cope without Gerrard:
“There are a small number of players in the world that are irreplaceable, and Steven is one of them. Not just irreplaceable as a player, but also as a captain, and what he represents for Liverpool.” He told The Mirror.
“Liverpool are a great team though, big players will want to play for them. They have great midfield players already there who can make a step up – and I am sure the boss is already thinking about replacements.
“Steven will always be somebody I respect as a player and a person. He has had a big impact on my career.
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“He told me to give Liverpool another season and leave if Barcelona wanted me. That is probably the most important advice I have ever taken.”
Manchester City’s need for a centre-back to partner captain Vincent Kompany hasn’t been solved for over two years. Recent defensive performances in the Premier League reinforce the need for another top quality central defender in the side.
Martin Demichelis was signed after Joleon Lescott’s decline in 2013, and although he has impressed at times, he still looks short of being a top defender for City. Just under £32 million was spent on 23-year-old French centre-back Eliaquim Mangala from Porto in the summer but he too has had a tough time in adjusting to life in the Premier League.
With Matija Nastasic being loaned out to Schalke and Dedryck Boyata someway off being good enough for Man City, the need for a new central defender is clear. Here are FOUR centre backs that City should look to bring in:
Mehdi Benatia
The 27-year-old Moroccan central defender was linked with a move to Man City in the summer and they nearly signed him before Bayern Munich snapped him up for around £20 million from Roma. The Moroccan international has 34 caps for his Country and is someone that has been on City’s radar for a while.
Limited to just eight league appearances so far for Munich, a move away wouldn’t be a bad choice, especially as he would be guaranteed first team football at the Etihad. Benatia is an extremely efficient defender who is very strong and reliable in the heart of defence. A born leader and winner, he is a similar defender to Vincent Kompany which would allow both players to form a partnership that can elevate City to the next level.
Mats Hummels
The Express have reported that City retain an interest in signing Hummels despite the 26-year-old defender being linked heavily with a move to the other side of Manchester. With Borussia Dortmund struggling in the Bundesliga, a move away from the club is seemingly most probably in the summer.
Dortmund’s captain was extremely impressive in Germany’s World Cup triumph, which led him to being shortlisted for the player of the tournament award. Hummels is another with great leadership qualities and excellent positioning attributes that make him a world-class central defender. City will have to battle bitter rivals Man United to secure his signature, but he would be worth every penny of City’s limitless pot of gold.
Thiago Silva
Brazilian international Thiago Silva might now be 30 but has proven himself to be one of the best centre-backs in World football. Silva was an excellent servant to AC Milan and has performed well since his move to PSG in 2012. At the World Cup in Brazil, Silva showed what an influential and world-class defender he was when captaining the host nation.
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Inspired performances helped Brazil make it to the semi-finals where Silva missed the demolition to Germany through suspension. The Germany match demonstrated what a key player Thiago Silva is and how much they missed his leadership qualities. Silva would be a very expensive signing which makes Man City one of the few teams that can lure him away from Paris.
Gerard Pique
Former Man United defender Gerard Pique has been a fantastic addition to Barcelona since joining the Spanish giants in 2008. He was never given a fair chance at United and was sold for a bargain price of £4 million. The 27-year-old made nearly 300 appearences at Barcelona and has won two Champions League titles with the side.
He also played a key part in Spain’s World Cup success in 2010 and their Euro 2012 triumph. A solid defender with tremendous ball playing qualities, it has been suggested in the Daily Start that Pique could be available for as little as £24million, which is a great price for a defender of his quality. Pique would be the perfect complement for Kompany in defence and elevate Manchester City to another level.
Liverpool hero John Aldridge is not at all shocked that his old team are looking to retain the services of veteran defender Kolo Toure, who is still a vital member of the Reds’ squad.
The 33-year-old centre-back arrived from Manchester City on a free transfer at the start of last season, in a move that surprised many fans of the Merseyside giants.
But despite his advancing years, Toure has been an important first-team player for Brendan Rodgers, slotting into the club’s backline on a number of occasions to provide a commanding presence.
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Even though he was absent for much of the start of 2015 – he was helping the Ivory Coast to AFCON glory – Toure has made 10 Premier League outings, but with his contract due to expire at the end of the current campaign, his time at Anfield has been in doubt.
The player himself recently revealed that negotiations with Liverpool are underway, and ‘Aldo’ says that keeping the former league champion – he won the tile with both Arsenal and Man City – would be wise:
“I’m not surprised that Liverpool want Kolo Toure to sign a 12-month contract extension.” He wrote in the Liverpool Echo.
“All I ever hear about Toure is positive. He’s a humble man who loves Liverpool and is great in the dressing room.
“Wherever he’s been at, the fans have loved him. Man City fans were singing his name at Anfield the other week – that tells you everything you need to know about the fella.
“I’ve got the utmost respect for him. Whenever he’s come on this season he hasn’t let us down and he’s a tremendous ambassador for the club.
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“The question for Toure is does he want to sit on the bench or go elsewhere and play regularly?”
With the summer transfer window quickly approaching, one of the most in-demand players in Europe will be Lyon and France striker Alexandre Lacazette.
The sprightly forward has been on the collective radar for a number of seasons but has catapulted himself to the next level in 2014-15 with superb feats of goalscoring in Ligue 1.
As such, a host of Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for him at the end of the current campaign, including Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham.
But, with these three heavyweights of English football potentially set to move for Lacazette, who needs him more?
Liverpool
Brendan Rodgers has admitted that his side have not been as clinical in the final third this season, with Luis Suarez’s departure and injury to Daniel Sturridge blunting the Reds as an attacking force.
The Merseysiders look almost certain to sign a centre forward this summer as a result, with Lacazette an excellent option for them.
Rodgers prefers young, technically able and mobile players, with the France international firmly fitting the bill.
His pace offers a threat in-behind opposition defences, while his partnerships with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling would be an ominous proposition.
Man United
United have announced the first of what is expected to be a glut of summer signings, with Memphis Depay set for a switch to Old Trafford.
Despite the Dutch starlet’s arrival, the Red Devils are expected to still be in the market for a new centre forward to bolster Louis van Gaal’s options.
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With Radamel Falcao failing this season and Robin van Persie getting older, an injection of youth will surely reinvigorate the side.
A partnership with Wayne Rooney would be an enticing prospect, but is remains to be seen whether Lacazette is a big enough name for United.
Tottenham
The North Londoners have been overly dependent on homegrown hero Harry Kane for goals this season, with back-up options to the England international non-existent.
As such, Spurs are likely to bolster their ranks with a centre forward also, but it is hard to know whether this will be to accompany Kane or act as an alternative to him.
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Lacazette’s signing would be a real statement of intent by the White Hart Lane side but tactically Mauricio Pochettino would need to think it through.
Playing the strike pairing together would require a change in formation from the club’s usual 4-2-3-1 system, or dropping Kane into the number ten role – which could limit his ability to hit the back of the net and put more emphasis on him to create.
Verdict
Lacazette looks set to be a real star for years to come and is clearly ready for a move to the Premier League.
Although all three clubs would benefit from his acquisition this summer, Liverpool are crying out for a centre forward of his ilk and would be best advised to do whatever it takes to bring him to Anfield.
In light of Jurgen Klopp’s upcoming departure from the Signal Iduna Park at the tail end of the season, Borussia Dortmund are now a team who seemingly find themselves in a state of limbo.
The 2014/15 campaign has certainly been one to forget for the plucky German outfit, and with a whole host of top European clubs likely to be sniffing around BVB’s most high profile talent this summer, the former Bundesliga champions really could be entering a somewhat transitional phase in the not too distant future.
The likes of Mats Hummels, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitarayn could all soon be following Klopp out of Dortmund if the circumstances prove suitable in the next few months – regardless of how notoriously supportive their current set of fans prove to be.
However, with Ilkay Gundogan reportedly going down as Louis van Gaal’s prime summer target in the run up to the new campaign, will we soon be seeing the German international turning out at Old Trafford next season, and would the midfield dynamo really suit playing for Manchester United in the ever testing reams of Premier League football?
Well, by most accounts of those who have consistently watched the Bundesliga star on a regular basis, Ilkay Gundogan would certainly be able to do the business for van Gaal should the Dutchman follow through on his reported interest in the star this summer.
In deriving from a Turkish-German background much like Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, the Dortmund no. 8 is also blessed with some classy composure on the ball and an ability to pick out a fine pass whenever called upon. The centre-midfielder can also provide the tackles for his team and begin to break up play, but he is invariably much more effective in the final third with the ball at his feet.
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Gundogan goes down as an extremely intelligent player, someone gifted with the technical grace to be able to glide across the pitch at ease – and at the early age of only 24-years-old – the BVB favourite still has many years left in him to perfect his game even further.
There have nonetheless been a few question marks raised over his ability to stay fit for an entire season however, as injuries have certainly hampered the Dortmund star so far in his career. The classy midfield maestro failed to play any role in his nation’s World Cup triumph in Brazil last summer after all, so careful thought must be applied in any potential deal likely to take place next season.
Yet if such a hurdle can be effectively dealt with by the player in question, there is absolutely no reason to suggest that Ilkay Gundogan won’t go on to potentially become one of the stand out players of his generation.
A move to Manchester United next season would therefore seem like a positive step for the German international should his time at Dortmund come to a natural end. Alongside the likes of Daley Blind and Ander Herrera in the heart of the Red Devils midfield, Gundogan would seemingly fit in perfectly with the style of football trying to be achieved by Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, as his side look to push on for that ever illusive Premier League title.
The former FC Nürnberg man would add that extra bit of flair and efficiency into a squad already possessing some of the most high profile talents the current game has to offer.
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With 33-year-old Michael Carrick looking likely to call time on his Manchester United career sooner or later, Borussia Dortmund’s current no. 8 could turn out to be the perfect replacement to not only emulate what the former West Ham and Tottenham star has achieved so far at Old Trafford, but also someone worthy of improving on where Carrick has left off at United.
The good news seemingly continues for Red Devils fans wanting the land the German star this summer though – as with just over one year reaming on his current contract at the Signal Iduna Park this season – Jurgen Klopp’s former favourite could perhaps be sourced on the cheap for Manchester United by the end of the season.
As the signing of high profile Borussia Dortmund stars hasn’t always worked out for Louis van Gaal’s side in the past however – just ask former United man Shinji Kagawa – perhaps a degree of caution must be applied with any similar deal likely to take place this summer. Just watch this space…
Arsenal’s point at Old Trafford last weekend against Manchester United, all but assured Arsene Wenger’s men of third place and ensures they will miss those tricky qualifiers and will begin next year’s European campaign in the group stages.
For all of The Gunners’ improvement this term they have still come up short where it really matters; over ten points behind leaders Chelsea and seemingly destined to finish behind runners up Manchester City.
It has been well documented that Arsenal’s wait for a league title is now over a decade, since ‘The Invincibles’ in 2003-04, Wenger has been unable to build a side capable of finishing top of the pile.
With the season almost reaching its conclusion, where can Arsenal look to improve in the summer to give them a real chance of challenging Chelsea next term?
In between the sticks seems a place that Wenger is almost certain to improve, Wojciech Sczcesny, through a combination of off-the-field misdemeanours and lack of form, lost his starting place and the recent incumbent of that spot David Ospina has hardly exuded confidence from his goal line.
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It has been an area that The Gunners have struggled in for what seems like an eternity, in comparison to all of their competitors they are streets behind. Petr Cech has been linked with a move to The Emirates and acquiring the Chelsea stopper would give finally give The Gunners a dominating presence to marshal presence and one of the top keeps in European football will no doubt improve their credentials.
In defence, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker seemed to have finally forged a solid defensive pairing, but even the staunchest Per fan would struggle to argue he is good enough for where Arsenal must aspire to be.
Debuchy and Gibbs are dependable full backs and Chambers has provided a glimpse into the future with some promising performances this term. With another year’s experience behind him, the former Southampton man will look at next year being his real breakthrough one.
In midfield The Gunners are over populated with different versions of the same player, Wenger must look to add bite to his, at times, passive midfield, Flamini has been criminally off the pace for much of his second spell and his position should be one that his high on the list for potential replacements.
In attacking areas, Arsenal must improve. Olivier Giroud has been a revelation this season but there are still question marks over his ability to be their main man. Welbeck’s first season has been a relatively underwhelming one and further bolstering their striking options will ensure they are serious challengers come next August.
In short, Arsenal just need players, although of course there are particular areas that need strengthening more than others; it is more important they are simply improving as a side. They cannot stand still, Chelsea will look to improve on the side that strolled to the title and both Manchester clubs are surely readying a summer spending spree.
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If Arsenal remain motionless they will once again be left behind, they are close to a side that can truly compete and they must not waste this opportunity to return to the top of English football.