Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Are Targeting the Wrong Players

It was somewhat jarring to see Arsenal camped on the edge of their own box for so much of Sunday’s game against Manchester City. If the "Arsenal way" exists anymore, this certainly wasn’t it.

Even more surreal was that the Gunners turned in a performance of resolute defensive solidity, holding the Premier League champions at arm’s length before hitting them twice on the break and from a set piece.

However, not even a shutout at the home of English football’s most potent side proves that Arsenal’s problems at the back have finally been solved. After all, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Some have taken Arsenal’s 2-0 away win over Premier League champions Manchester City as vindication of Wenger and his much-maligned methods. Indeed, it was an assured performance and exceptional result, the kind of which the Gunners have longed for of late. But it shouldn’t paper over the cracks that threaten to crumble Arsenal.

Arsenal are in desperate need of defensive recruitment, something Wenger seems to have recognised in this January transfer window. But the Frenchman has exactly changed his transfer philosophy to address his side’s deficiencies at the back. Once again, he’s buying the wrong players.

A deal for 17-year-old Polish midfielder Krystian Bielik has already been completed, with Wenger now setting his sights on Brazilian defender Gabriel Paulista. Both are typical Wenger targets and not what Arsenal need.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

“The talks are progressing quite well,” said Wenger when asked what progress was being made on signing Paulista, as per BBC Sport. “Can we find an agreement or not, I don’t know. We are slowly progressing and there is a chance. We are ready to pay the price we think right for a good player.” This, after the Gunners boss claimed the £2 million capture of Bielik as a “gamble.”

Bielik might well become an exceptional player, but Arsenal need exceptional players right now. Their defence is desperate for physical presence, technical ability in bringing the ball out from the back and positional awareness.

At 24, Paulista is being targeted as a first-team reinforcement, unlike Bielik, who has been bought as a long-term investment. But is the Brazilian an upgrade on what the Gunners already have in Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker? Is he really good enough for the top end of the Premier League?

The Gunners have struggled with a series of injuries to key players this season, but they don’t need more depth. Arsenal need players to raise their level, to take them closer to the top end of the Premier League, not to reinforce what they already have.

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

Of course, top-tier defenders are hard to come by in the January transfer market. For example, it’s unlikely that Arsenal could have freed Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund this month. The same goes for Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi or Aymeric Laporte of Athletic Bilbao. But they are the standard of defenders Arsenal must target in the summer.

And that’s perhaps the reality of Arsenal’s situation. Perhaps they would be better served putting in the early groundwork to sign a higher caliber of defender in the off-season transfer market, rather than go after mediocre targets in January.

Arsenal will likely have to persuade the Football Association that Paulista is an “exceptional talent” for the Brazilian to be awarded the work permit needed to complete his transfer from Villarreal. That could prove troublesome, given that by every definition the centre-back is someway short of exceptional.

The possible refusal of Paulista’s work permit would provide the definitive verdict on Arsenal’s search for defensive recruits. Even the FA might end up telling Wenger that he must start signing better players.