Arsenal FC: What Wenger's Checklist Should Be as Transfer Deadline Draws Near

Arsenal's summer has been a typical Arsenal summer.

With many big names linked to the club, the Gunners have only purchased one big player in Gervinho. Apart from him, the transfers have been of youngsters only, with Joel Campbell, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson, none of them are 20.

What Arsenal really need is someone big, as it seems that Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are set to leave Arsenal.

However, there are still gaping holes in the Arsenal squad, and those are the things that Wenger must close.

He has until Aug. 31 to do something, and here are the things that he should do.

Buy at Least One Center-Back

It is no secret at all that Arsenal lack several qualities in the back four. Without strength, height and aerial ability, a defense does not generally go very far, and that is how it has panned out with the Gunners.

Thomas Vermaelen is easily Arsenal's best and most solid center-back on defense and sometimes even on the attack. He was dearly missed last season, as he picked up an Achilles injury, which deteriorated to the point where he played less than five games the whole year.

Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny were Arsenal's two main center-backs last season, and while Djourou proved decent, Koscielny was inconsistent, great half the time and mistake-prone the rest. The other option, Sebastien Squillaci, proved a disaster, as he made several blunders a game.

The center-back names linked to Arsenal are Per Mertesacker of Werder Bremen, Phil Jagielka of Everton, Gary Cahill of Bolton and Christopher Samba of Blackburn.

If Wenger decides to purchase only one, Vermaelen can play at center-back, but if two are bought, the Belgian can shift out to play left-back.

Purchase a Left-Back (if Only One Center-Back Is Bought)

Because Gael Clichy left Arsenal to move to Manchester City, the Gunners have a chink on the left side. Right now, Kieran Gibbs is set to play that position, but he isn't always solid.

Gibbs, an Englishman, is talented but inexperienced and often makes "rookie mistakes" despite being loaded with potential. When Clichy was at Arsenal, he scarcely got any playing time, but now he will get more playing time, unless Arsene Wenger finds him unworthy of a spot in the starting XI.

I don't think Gibbs is a viable starting option at left-back for the Gunners. Maybe he can play in the midfield, given his speed and agility. Wenger should move for a left-back who is experienced and is also a good attacking player.

Left-back names that have been linked to Arsenal are Leighton Baines, Jose Enrique—who already made a move to Liverpool—and Lyon's Aly Cissokho.

If Wenger purchases one center-back, a left-back is needed, but if he buys two, Vermaelen can fill in on the left.

Sell Cesc Fabregas

The saga of Cesc Fabregas has been going on for too long. If he wants to move to Barcelona, just sell him already, because if a player's heart is not in the game, he is as good as gone.

Given that Catalonia is Fabregas' home, it's natural that he wants to go back to his friends and family. His desire to go back home is so strong given that he trained at La Masia—Barcelona's youth academy— when he was very young.

His friends include Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez and more Barcelona players, whom he would be happy to join.

This potential transfer has been ongoing for years now, and many fans just want Fabregas gone, since they find the case annoying.

This case would benefit Arsenal too, since Fabregas wants to leave, and the Gunners would get a good price out of it.

Sell Samir Nasri and Get Carlos Tevez

The Samir Nasri saga is like that of Fabregas because if the player's desire is to move, you will be better off if he does.

Nasri currently makes ₤90,000 a week, but at Manchester City, he could get a raise of double that. Also, the Blues have a high chance of winning a trophy, which Arsenal don't.

If Arsenal sell Nasri this year, they would get money out of it, but next year, he would go for free, so Stan Kroenke said that he wanted the Frenchman to be released this summer, for the money.

Carlos Tevez is extremely unhappy at the Eastlands, and he has made it (very) public that his desire is to get out of Manchester. Therefore, Arsenal have told Manchester City that if they hand over Carlos Tevez, Nasri will be theirs. 

Yes, Arsene Wenger almost always buys youngsters, and Carlos Tevez is already 27. I think that that would be perfect for Arsenal, seeing as the Argentine would have a short-term impact, rather than one in the long run, as Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell, Jenkinson and others have. 

So if Wenger can sell Nasri and combine it with the deal of getting Tevez, that would be ideal.

Conclusion

Here is what Arsenal would look in an ideal but realistic formation.

Though Robin van Persie would be playing in a different place, I think he would be a very good winger. Walcott and Arshavin would have to sit on the bench though.

Please leave your comments and feedback.