Arsenal Need A Spinal Reconstruction

Arsenal's pitiful 2-1 loss to Blackburn last night highlighted the lack of championship-winning talent and experience that has enabled Manchester and Chelsea to easily put the title away from the clutches of Arsenal. A philosophy of developing youth and holding faith with a system that plays 'the beautiful game' has won Arsene Wenger many plaudits over the past 10 years but he is in danger of gaining a fresh batch of enemies if he can't bring major success to the Emirates. The facts are not in his favour: Arsenal have not won a trophy since the FA Cup in 2005 and have failed to establish a winning pedigree and mentality that has seen the other two sides consolidate the Barclays Premiership as a two horse race with the Gunners almost content with sitting in a position of third. From a loyalist point of view, they have somehow transformed themselves from one of the most entertaining sides in the world to the most frustrating. A team that looks shaky and lazy at the back, overly complicated through the middle and completely lost in attack. I can't count the number of times over the games against Wigan and Blackburn that the ball was simply passed around up front with not one player willing to simply play direct and have a shot at the goal of Paul Robinson. Understandably, it is the end of the season but this has been a recurring theme that has damaged us all season. Should Arsene Wenger wish to appease the Emirates faithful and legitimately challenge for the title next year, he must bite the bullet and realise that the current squad needs a overhaul to establish the right mind frame to become the best side in England. Fans have suffered too many players with hopeful potential and Wenger will need to adopt the same mentality to the transfer market as Manchester United, Chelsea and even Manchester City do. That is, to buy players who are proven world-class players who will deliver the qualities needed, regardless of the price tag. There is money in the Arsenal kitty, why not mix up the method and go big this time? To do this, it is Arsenal's spinal that needs a reconstruction to ensure that Arsenal can become a championship-worthy side that doesn't necessarily have to change their fluid style of play.

A PROVEN MAN BETWEEN THE POSTS
Not since David Seaman has a player looked confident in goal for Arsenal. Jens Lehmann promised so much, but proved to be more erratic than once thought. The sheer fact is that Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski just do not cut the mustard, granted they have pulled off some game-winning saves at their best of times, but their confidence, organisation and positioning are simply poor. Christopher Samba's winner saw Fabianski practically standing in the goal, flapping at the ball as it went past him and then tried to argue he was fouled once the goal had been scored when not so much as a gust of wind has actually touched him. Vito Mannone may show good promise, but to win a premiership, you need a world-class international keeper, not a precocious young talent. The goalkeeper is the last line of defence, a crucial position that needs to be safe and solid every game you step out to play. It is too valuable position to risk on potential or to watch your keeper make game costing mistakes and then to simply state that you have faith in him. Wenger will need to splash for a keeper with the pedigree of Joe Hart, Mark Schwarzer or Hugo Lloris otherwise Arsenal fans can expect a few more Flap-ianski moments next year.

VERMAELEN CAN'T DEFEND ON HIS OWN
It doesn't inspire great confidence when you play 2 centre backs with the combined age of 60+ against Blackburn. Granted, Sol Campbell has been a rousing success albeit a complete gamble and he deserves a new contract for next season but the man is 36 and won't be able to run on those big legs for much longer. Thomas Vermaelen has been a super signing but William Gallas looks like he will be moving on and Mikael Silvestre is a shamble of a defender who likes he will miss the ball every time he lines it up. Defensively, an expensive defender is needed to sit with Vermaelen and Gallas just as Chelsea can call on Alex and Manchester United can call on Johnny Evans when a first choice is injured. There is a reason Manchester United got rid of Silvestre and I'll tell you now, it wasn't so Arsene Wenger could snap him up.

THE RETENTION OF CESC
Keeping Cesc Fabregas is a must as he has now become a crucial to the Arsenal as Frank Lampard is to Chelsea and Michael Carrick now is to Manchester United. Ensuring he does not join the ranks of Barcelona is vital but it seems everybody else in the Arsenal midfield does not really have a set position. Barring Cesc Fabregas and possibly winger Theo Walcott and Alex Song, players such as Diaby, Nasri, Arshavin, Ramsay and co. seem to float around the park, showing nice touches and passing ability but without any sort of cohesion or direction. It needs to be sorted where these players best fit in and the best way to do this would be to keep Cesc Fabregas as the lynchpin of that central midfield.

AN EXPENSIVE ASSASSIN
There is no simpler way to say this: Arsenal need an expensive, proven goalscorer who is in the peak of his career right now. Granted, these are not easy to find. We have Robin van Persie, who has been injury plagued and Nicklas Bendtner has probably had a good season by his standards, but the time has come to put faith in a player who will assure a return in dividends. It seems we have the money to spend this summer, so why not try for a David Villa or Sergio Aguero type player. Too long have the fans had to put faith in an Eduardo or Carlos Vela who haven't really been able to achieve anything. Let's take a gamble on this one, shall we Wenger?

The ball is in your court, Arsene.