It's Time for Arsenal To Strenghten Their Team

As the fallout from Sunday's defeat to Wigan continues we have to hope that some good can come from it. The players coasted through the game as if it was a Sunday afternoon in the park and we happened to find ourselves two goals ahead with only 10 minutes left before it all went tragically wrong. It was an awful performance and it was a very strange feeling for Arsenal to lose to a team in Wigan's position in the league this season.

Our league challenge was built on our ability to finish off the Premier league's lesser teams as we struggled against the teams at the top end of the table. Before Wigan the only team currently in the bottom half of the table to beat us was Sunderland, and they were in the top half at the time.

That's what makes Sunday's defeat so annoying as we had done enough to get the win without ever excelling, until we took it too easy and Wigan sensed their chance had come. I don't think we would have won the league even if we had beaten Wigan as the three points and 14 goals we had to make up on Chelsea were just too much at this stage of the season.

Our record against the teams at the top of the league is a different matter entirely, and if we were to analyze our performances against the current top five it doesn't make pretty reading.

We have lost six of our seven games so far, and the eighth game is on Saturday at home to Man City. The only win in those games is the 3-0 win at home to the Spuds and it's not the sort of record on which league titles are won.

We have 47 points from 19 games against the teams in the bottom half of the table with a tough trip to Blackburn still to come.

Strangely enough it's a record I'm sure neither Chelsea or "Manure" could match, but we are seen as the complacent ones because of our capitulation at Wigan. If either of those teams had taken their encounters against the teams in the lower half of the table as seriously as they should have done, they would now be in possession of the Premier League title for this season. 

The boss said last summer that if his experiment didn't work out this season he would make the changes to ensure that we are right back up at the top of the game. From what we are hearing at the moment it would seem that we might see a few players coming in this summer to make sure that the fans get their wishes and we are again capable of sustaining a genuine title challenge.

We need some players who can make the team strong enough to take more points off the teams at the top of the table while we continue to beat the teams towards the lower reaches of the league. 

It seems that the money may not have been there for the last few years despite what may have been stated in the media but with our finances in such a healthy state it would seem that purchases will be the order of the day this summer.

I'm sure every single fan would agree that we need to start with a top class goalkeeper and our defence needs strengthening too, as it would seem that Gallas will leave this summer and Silvestre has to be shown the door, in my opinion.

I know Djourou is due back soon but he is very much an unknown quantity at this level and I think we need a top-class center back to play alongside Vermaelen. I can't remember Djourou ever playing too many games without getting injured and we have enough injury prone players as it is.

I won't even contemplate the thought of Cesc being anywhere but at Arsenal next season. With Song, he forms two thirds of our midfield, and Nasri and Diaby can play in there too as long as Diaby cuts out the dallying on the ball.

Personally, I would like to see a player in a wide position who can run at the opposition and cause them real trouble like an old fashioned winger. I think we have too many players who fit into our system and something different is needed.

It would seem that Chamakh is almost certain to come in for free and it will push Bendtner and Eduardo down the pecking order, which may force one of them out. It's up to the boss what players go to make way for any new signings and I'm sure he must have an idea about who he will offload.

I'd prefer to see the deals done prior to the World Cup rather than our usual deadline day, last-minute signings, and I have no doubt that the boss will pull a player out of nowhere who turns out to be a real gem.

Finally for today our reserves beat Portsmouth 3-0 away last night to finish second in their league and the goals came from Aneke, Barazite, and Meade. That's the lot.

Here's some goals from the player we supposedly will get on a free transfer this summer.

See you tomorrow.