January Transfer Window Now In Full Swing

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With the January transfer window now in full swing after Arsene Wenger revealed he would not be dipping into the market for reinforcements it looks like it is going to be a depressing month for us Gunners fans.
There is the realistic possibility more players will leave the club this month than be brought in and that to me is a disappointing sign for a club challenging for major honours this season. Granted many of the players will only be going out on loan and many of the players leaving are only bit part players but one of our major strengths this season has been our squad.
For most of the games this season our bench has been the strongest in the Premier League. If comparisons are made of the two benches in the our match against Chelsea then their is no comparison.
Szczesny, Diaby, Rosicky, Squillaci, Arshavin, Chamakh, Bendtner made up the Arsenal bench while Turnbull, Ramires, Bosingwa, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Kakuta, McEachran were the subs for Chelsea. Wenger has had quality to call upon and without injuries he has arguably the best squad in the Premier League.
But with the rumours flying about about who may be swapping clubs many of Arsenal’s fringe players have appeared on the list.
Niklas Bendtner has been linked with moves away from the club as has Denilson and many of our younger players including Carlos Vela may be shipped out to gain regular football.
As we all know our injury record is not the best and if we face an injury crisis as we did earlier in the season and in towards the end of the last campaign we may fall short once again.
Hopefully it is all speculation and Arsene is double bluffing and looking for players as we speak but it must be realised that we have a fantastic chance to pick up a few pieces of silverware over the coming months. If the club fails because of poor transfer policies I don’t think the fans could forgive this time.
All it would take is two players to reinforce the squad. One position which definitely needs strengthening is at centre-half. While Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny have been outstanding in the past few weeks we are really threadbare in the position. Thomas Vermaelen is making no sign of a recovery and Sebastien Squillaci has proved to be not up to the standard required.
I’ve also heard the arguments Arsenal need a new keeper but while I agree I do not think our need is as great as our need for a centre-half. Fabianski is improving with every game but Szczesny should be given a run as Number 1 keeper. he is tall commanding and does not lack an ounce of confidence. He has the ability to be Arsenal’s keeper for a long time to come.
The other position needing strengthening is central midfield (defensive midfield). I argued on this blog a few weeks ago that Alex Song needs help in the big games as at times he is overrun on the counter attack due to our commitment to pushing numbers forward. For example, in the coming weeks there at least two games where two defensive midfielders will be required and that is against Barcelona.
Abou Diaby has been touted to take the role but I have certainly run out of patience with the midfielder following his latest injury setback. While he has the potential to be an outstanding player he has never developed due to sustaining injury after injury.
It is time we cashed in on the injury prone star and replaced him with someone with a bit of steel like Everton’s Marouane Fellaini or West ham’s Scott Parker.
But as Arsenal fans we go through this every year.
There is money to spend and players out there who could do a good job for us but it seems once again we will be left standing still as other squads strengthen. To add insult to injury there are more rumours of players leaving us than joining but while the window is open there is still time for Wenger to pull a rabbit out of the hat.