Arsenal Transfer Rumours: 6 Players Arsene Wenger Should Not Sign This Summer

Most Arsenal supporters agree: the squad is in dire need of reinforcements. With the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and others rumored to be departing the Emirates, and Gael Clichy already having left, this summer transfer window will be a critical one for the Gunners.

Many, many needs must be addressed, and the team must be strengthened. Many supporters are wary of Arsene Wenger's transfer policy, and claim that Arsenal cannot succeed by buying players on the cheap. This is not necessarily true, as some players can turn out to be great values.

However, Wenger has had his fair share of transfer mishaps recently, and penny-pinching is perhaps not the best method for bringing the club success this year. Established starters must be brought in, and Arsenal must improve upon the weaknesses they have, rather than simply gambling that their cheap replacements can do the job.

So, here I present 6 relatively cheap players compared to their more established and successful counterparts who Arsenal simply do not need. Buying these players would be a near total waste, as they do not remedy the problems within the squad or measurably improve on the weaknesses we have. I can only hope that Wenger shares the same common sense and buys the right players.

Enjoy!

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Southampton FC

Most Arsenal supporters would agree: Arsenal is in dire need of experience and proven talent. Well, then why on earth do new continue to be linked with a 17-year-old from League 1?

Indeed, it is baffling. We all know that Arsene has a tendency to become infatuated with young talent, and the signing of Oxalde-Chamberlain would fit in perfectly with that unfortunate view.

Why, with such glaringly obvious frailties in central defense and now at left back, Wenger would spend £12m on an extremely inexperienced and tricky winger with no top-flight experience is simply beyond comprehension.

Instead of using the money on a player who will not immediately help the squad and will not solve our defensive weaknesses, Wenger would be much better served by spending that money on Christopher Samba or putting it towards Gary Cahill.

As an Arsenal supporter, which would you rather have: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the League Cup, or Christoper Samba anchoring the defense for the entire year? Thought so.

John O'Shea: Manchester United

What a sad day it will be if this rumor actually comes to pass. Arsenal signing a much-maligned United cast-off will truly signal that the club both lacks ambition and is on the downswing.

Sadly, this move would actually seem to make a bit of sense, at least in Wenger’s mind. Let’s attempt to read it: Hmm, Kieran Gibbs just needs a little bit of seasoning before he can be the starting left back. I only need a short-term replacement, so who can I turn to? Ah yes, John O’Shea. United don’t want him, so I can get him on the cheap. Brilliant!

Frankly, inserting a 30 year old utility player into our starting left back position – or even giving the Irishman a significant role at all – is terrifying. Simply hoping and praying that O’Shea can match the limited productivity of Gael Clichy is no way to advance as a club, and certainly no way to show the fans and the player how dedicated the club is to winning silverware.

Thankfully, two factors make this transfer unlikely: O’Shea’s age, as Wenger would have to bend his policy on players above the age of 30 (and if he wouldn’t do it for Robert Pires, why he would do it for O’Shea is beyond me) and the fact that Sunderland reportedly have a greater interest in him than we do.

Whew. What a load off. Oh no, wait, there is another left back that Arsene might buy…

Jose Enrique: Newcastle United

Normally, there would be little wrong with signing a player like Jose Enrique. He is fairly consistent, and is generally a solid left back.

But remember: while Enrique is better than O’Shea, he is certainly not a player who can take Arsenal that little extra distance over the top and win the Premier League. Gael Clichy was a hindrance at times, but is Enrique really that much better when compared to the effect that Leighton Baines could have?

It's fairly rare that left backs are impact players for their teams. It is simply not a position in which a player can dictate the game. However, Roberto Carlos did this at Real Madrid, and while I am by no means comparing Leighton Baines to Roberto Carlos, Baines did manage to have the same sort of effect at Everton last season.

Not only was the Englishman solid defensively, he consistently delivered accurate crosses and even chipped in with a handful of goals, which is rare for a left back. This is the type of impact that Enrique cannot bring to Arsenal. His crossing is certainly not bad, but it would not be such an improvement over Clichy’s that it would make up for his average defending. The below-average -1 goal difference last season for Newcastle certainly does not help Enrique’s case either.

While it would not be the worst transfer Wenger has ever made if he were to sign Jose Enrique, it would not greatly improve the team as a whole. With Liverpool also interested, it might be worthwhile to go after Baines or Emilio Izaguierre instead.

Odil Ahmedov: Pakhtakor Tashkent

With the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri looming, Arsenal certainly require midfield reinforcements. However, I believe I speak for all Arsenal supporters when I say that an obscure Uzbekistan international is not the type of player we should be targeting to replace Cesc Fabregas.

It is true that the Gunners need squad players as well, especially with the certain departure of Denilson. Wouldn’t it seem more sensible to sign Scott Parker as a versatile holding midfielder for example (just to pick one of many, many possible ones) than a player with no experience in the top divisions of Europe, the UEFA Champions League, or against any English team?

And forget about Ahmedov providing the goals that would be lost from Fabregas, Nasri, or even Denilson on occasion. The player has made a total of 102 appearances for parent club Pakhtakor Tashkent and on loan for Anzhi Makhachkala, scoring a whopping zero goals.

Because all we have heard about Arsenal’s purported interest is from Ahmedov himself, I can rest a little easier knowing that there is probably no real interest from the club. But with Wenger, the more obscure the better.

Phil Jagielka: Everton

A quality player? Sure. Tenacious? Yes. Experienced? Certainly. What Arsenal need right now? Not at all.

Phil Jagielka's name has come up many times in transfer Arsenal transfer rumors over the past few seasons. And Jagielka would not be the worst signing, in truth. He plays with passion, is dedicated to the cause, and has that trademark English tenacity and fighting spirit.

So, considering the fact that Arsenal are in dire need of defensive reinforcements, why isn't the Merseysider a good buy for Arsenal? Simple: he doesn't add anything that Arsenal do not already have.

At 5'11". Jagielka is certainly no giant, and will therefore not help in what is by far the most important need for Arsenal during this transfer window: a tall center back who can defend set pieces. Also, he will certainly not help to eradicate Arsenal's annual injury woes, as he has a consistent track record of picking up knocks and played while injured for much of last season.

Jagielka will certainly command a hefty sum, as he is one of the leaders and a mainstay in the Everton squad. For the price of around £15m that Everton would demand, a tall commanding leader like the much-talked about Christopher Samba, Per Mertesacker, or Gary Cahill could be had, the first two actually captains of their respective squads.

Some Young Obscure Player

By far the most probable (and most unfortunate) route that Arsene Wenger will take.

We see it every summer. A litany of established, quality starters are linked with the Gunners every summer because, hey, we're a big club, we should be linked with those players! But, after waiting all summer to see a player holding up his shiny new Arsenal kit, we get an obscure young player (usually French) on the last day of the transfer window.

Not that such transfer behavior was acceptable in previous summers (and it obviously wasn't because if it was we would be lifting our shiny new Premier League winners' trophy), but it is certainly unacceptable now. It actually serves to push the club backwards.

The consensus–not only among Arsenal fans but among all pundits and followers of football–is that Arsenal need experience, leadership, and quality established players to provide the squad with depth. Wenger may realize that we need a center back, but if he buys some anonymous French kid from Ligue 2, he'll only be shooting himself in the foot.

Conclusion

Le Boss is still a great manager, but he does have his faults. For once, Wenger must swallow his pride and admit that his transfer policy must be adjusted. Not overhauled, but adjusted.

This is not some admission of defeat or of the failure of Arsenal's youth policy. It's just building a football team. A good squad has a blend of speed, strength, leadership, youth and experience. As of now, Arsenal only has speed and youth.

The players listed here only add to what Arsenal already have. The right transfers will give Arsenal the correct blend, but the Gunners will never win the Premier League by creating an even more imbalanced team every summer.

Arsenal can still be great, but they must begin their path to a trophy next season by not buying these players.