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Derin

With the transfer market deadline looming over all at the Emirates, fans are becoming increasingly impatient over Arsene Wenger’s lack of activity in this Summer’s transfer window. Here are five names Wenger should consider:

5. Hugo Rodallega - since joining Wigan in January 2009, the Colombian international has established himself as a top Premier League striker. Last season, he was Wigan’s joint top scorer with Charles N’Zogbia despite managing just nine goals. He is known to have a good eye for goal and was the scorer of the goal that kept Wigan in the Premier League last season. Would be an excellent asset to Arsenal as he would bring goals in the absence of Robin Van Persie. He definitely has the potential to be the 20-goals-a-season player Arsenal are in search for. 

4. Hugo Lloris -  a young French goalkeeper who you’d think Arsene Wenger would’ve already made a move for. The Lyon No.1 would be a long term solution to Arsenal’s goalkeeping problems as he is only 24 and would cost Arsenal around £20million. His ability to make confident decisions would surely appeal to Wenger. Lloris’ could be bought to take Arsenal’s No.1 jersey or to keep Polish pair Szczesny and Fabianski on their toes. Either way, a great buy for The Gunners.

3. Scott Parker - a shining example of a central midfielder. Scott Parker’s game is quite different to your average Arsenal midfielder, but yet still effective. His tough tackling and aggressive style of play gives him a presence on the pitch. The English international is also likes to get forward: an area where he does some of his finest work. Some say Parker is what Arsenal are missing - an all-round midfielder. He can defend. He can score goals. He pretty much does everything.

2. Gary Cahill - some of Arsenal’s defending last season explains why he is on this list. Cahill is a very composed centre-back who can keep his cool while under pressure. Since joining Bolton, he has gone from strength to strength and has broken into the England senior team. He is also dangerous when going forward, as he has got his name on the score sheet for Bolton a few times last season. Could well be the future of England.

1. Christopher Samba - anyone who has seen Chris Samba play will know why he is a priority for Arsenal. Samba is a powerhouse of a defender who is known for his sheer strength and aerial ability. His discipline and experience of the Premier League would allow him to form a good partnership with Thomas Vermaelen. The Congolese centre-back takes a no-nonsense mentality to the pitch and is prepared to put his body on the line for his team. A defender of his calibre shouldn’t be fighting relegation every season.

For many years now Arsene Wenger has stuck to his philosophy of building his team with mainly young, homegrown talent - a method that hasn’t brought good enough results. There is no doubt that for The Gunners to challenge for the Premier League this season, Wenger will have to get out his chequebook and start shopping.

Midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas, being one of the Premiership’s most talented players, brings creativity, goals and vision to Arsenal but whether he is a leader on the pitch remains questionable.

On 24 November 2008, Fabregas succeeded William Gallas as the Arsenal skipper, at the tender age of 21. The Spaniard since then has worn the captain’s armband for Arsenal but isn’t regarded as a good enough captain.

Arsenal Midfielder Denilson criticised Fabregas’ leadership saying: “Fabregas is the captain but he is not a leader.

“It’s a personality thing and a leader can be young. It’s something they are born with.”

Since his appointment of the captaincy, Cesc Fabregas hasn’t been able to replicate the kind of leadership that players like Patrick Viera and Tony Adams brought to Arsenal. Fabregas lacks the ability to inspire his teammates - inspiration that Arsenal desperately needed last season.

Some say that the Spanish midfielder shouldn’t wear the captain’s armband for Arsenal as his heart is no longer with The Gunners. After three long Summers of Barcelona trying to sign the Arsenal skipper, it has come to mind that it would be absurd to give captaincy to a player wants to play for another club.

As Arsenal prepare for the upcoming season, Fabregas’ future still remains unclear - a scenario that is becoming much too repetitive. Though his talent is nothing short of exceptional, Fabregas isn’t the man who should captain Arsenal this season.

On the 18th July 2011, Arsene Wenger made his first big signing of the Summer - Gervais Yao Kouassi, better known as Gervinho.

Gervinho previously played for French side Lille, whom he helped win the domestic league and the Coupe de France during the 2010-11 season. He also managed 18 goals and 15 assists in 53 appearances for the French champions.

Gervinho is a versataille player who can play as a centre forward or on both sides of a 4-3-3 formation as he did for Lille last season. He has the ability to score goals for Arsenal, which would benefit them in the absense of injury-prone striker Robin Van Persie.

Gervinho showed his talent on his debut in a 2-0 win against Cologne where he scored the two goals of the match. Arsenal fans will know that this is just a glimpse of what is to come from the Ivorian forward.

As we edge closer to the start of the Premier League, Arsenal fans will wait in hope and anticipation to see what Gervinho is made of. A player’s first season in the Premier League is never easy, but let’s hope that Gervinho will be an instant hit! 

Arsenal Vs Birmingham City, League Cup Final 2011 , Wembley Stadium, 88th minute, 1-1 and heading for extra time

It all began with a defensive mix up…

A communication error between defender Laurent Koscielny and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny gifted Obafemi Martins a winning goal which clinched victory for Birmingham, right at the depth.

The very moment that wrecked Arsenal’s season.

The Gunners had it all going for them - they were still in for the quadruple at this moment in time. This all collapsed by the end of April when Arsenal were again staring down the barrel of another trophy-less season.

Arsenal then went on to get knocked out of the Champion’s League by Barcelona, crash out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford and finish the Premier League in fourth place.

Simply gut wrenching for any Arsenal fan.

After failing to land Blackburn’s Christopher Samba in January, Arsenal are keen on signing the Congolese defender after a season of many defensive mishaps. The Gunners would surely benefit from Chris Samba’s aggression and no-nonsense defending.

The French-born defender has expressed his desire to play Champion’s League football - a huge advantage for Arsenal.

“At the minute I am still at Blackburn but it would be a big lie if I told you everything is good and I don’t want to play in the Champions League” said the Blackburn defender.

Despite Samba signing a five year contract with Blackburn in February, it wouldn’t cost the Gunners a lot to sign him. A fee in the region of £12million would surely secure his services.

Christopher Samba would be a great addition to Arsenal’s defence as he has the many defensive qualities that most Arsenal defenders don’t. The Gunners desperately need a central defender who is big, strong and aggressive. Samba is all of these things and more.

The 6”4 defender has played three full seasons in the premier League and has established himself as one of the best centre backs in England. There is no doubt that he has enough top flight experience under his belt. This is where Samba would be a great signing; usually Wenger opts to buy players from all over Europe who would take time to adjust to the hustle and bustle of the Premiership whereas Chris Samba already has this experience.

Christopher Samba’s great aerial ability is not yet mentioned. Too many times Arsenal fans have watched their team concede countless goals from set pieces. This is an area where Samba is most effective. Not only is he good at defending aerial balls, he has scored a few from attacking set pieces himself.

If Arsenal succeed in signing Chris Samba, it may well see him go on to new heights, and possibly, even win some silverware. With the transfer deadline creeping up on Arsenal, Arsene Wenger will be looking to make some last minute bids, and fast.

Arsenal Midfielder Samir Nasri has been at the centre of much speculation this Summer linking him with potential moves to Manchester United and Manchester City.

Nasri, who has one year remaining on his contract, has refused to sign a new deal with The Gunners after a very disappointing season which saw Arsenal go a sixth year without winning any silverware.

The 2010-11 season was undoubtedly Nasri’s breakthrough season where he showed some of his finest form, bagging 15 goals for The Gunners. Some of his individual honours included the Premier League player of the month award (December 2010), French player of the year (2010) and Arsenal’s player of the month (December 2010).

“I don’t care if I’m second or even the best player in the league, I would have preferred to win the Premier League. I have won nothing since I became a professional at Marseille - I have always lost in the final or finished second in the league” said the Frenchman.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is desperate to hold on to Samir Nasri, even if it means that Nasri will leave Arsenal for free next Summer. Many fans feel that this would be a huge mistake as Arsenal could get anything in excess of £20m for the unsettled midfielder. “It is not completely sorted that Samir will stay, I want him to stay and he knows that” said Wenger. If Wenger does give in and sell Nasri, it will give him the funds to find a suitable replacement, namely Valencia’s Juan Mata or Wolverhampton’s Matt Jarvis.

With Nasri set on seeing out the last year on his contract, Arsenal may be in need of a miracle to get themselves out of this tricky predicament.

Last season, some of Arsenal’s comic goalkeeping performances have raised questions over who is fit to wear the No.1 jersey for The Gunners.

Since the days of David Seaman and Jens Lehmann, Arsenal have failed to produce a convincing number one. Many Arsenal fans are becoming increasingly concerned as the club is in desperate need of a solid goalkeeper. Could Wojciech Szczęsny be the answer to Arsenal’s problems?

With both Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski suffering from injuries in the middle of the 2010-11 season, the young Pole was able to establish himself as Arsenal’s No.1 keeper. Despite controversy about his competency and lack of top flight experience, he went on to make 24 season appearances for Arsenal. Some of his notable performances included the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford and the 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League.

The 21 year old shot stopper is highly regarded by Arsene Wenger and looks to be between the posts at the Emirates for the foreseeable future. After failed bids for Liverpool’s Pepe Reina and Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer, Wenger looks to put his trust in the young goalkeeping talent.

Despite some of his wonderful goalkeeping displays for Arsenal, his ability is still questioned as he had a couple of howlers in the latter parts of last season. The most memorable one was when he let in a late winner in the League Cup Final against Birmingham. In the dying minutes of the game, a header caused confusion between Szczęsny and defender Laurent Koscielny where the latter pulled out of a clearance at the last minute causing the Szczęsny to lose control of the ball, which rolled right into the path of Birmingham player Obafemi Martins, who tapped the ball into the back of the net.

“I feel I have a big chance to be the Arsenal number one and I’m going to do my best to convince the boss that I’m worthy of wearing the number one shirt” said Szczęsny. His rapid development is something that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be working on, in preparation for the new season.

After a disappointing last season, Szczęsny will be looking to put an end to Arsenal’s goalkeeping problems and more importantly, the six year spell without a trophy. He definitely has the potential and ability to be an all time Arsenal great.