Under new boss Unai Emery, complacency will not be an issue in 2018 for the Arsenal Gunners. Emery will be under a lot of pressure as he replaces legendary Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, who retired after 22 years in the trenches. Emery’s most pressing task will be to raise the morale into a team that finished a competitive but disappointing 6th this past season.
In line with his new vision for The Gunners, Emery will be looking to sure up the defence and and midfield. While the team has already secured a couple of useful transfers in Stephan Lichtsteiner and perhaps Sokratis Papastathopoulos, much more needs to be done to compete with the likes of a powerful Manchester City team which is standing in the way of another Premier League title.
It’s fair to suggest that most of the new coach’s 2018 World Cup experience will be focused on scouting a slew of good players who could be signed right out of the tournament. For Arsenal fans, here’s a list of seven players that expert Charles Watts believes should be on Emery’s shortlist of players worthy of consideration.
1. Ouemane Dembele – A 21-year old French winger, currently at Barcelona. After just one season with his new club, things have not quite come together at Barcelona as Dembele had anticipated. If a change of scenery is in the cards, Arsenal has an offensive scheme that would match well with his strengths.
2. Emil Forsberg – 26-year old Swedish attacking midfielder, currently rostered with RB Leipzig. As an experienced playmaker, Forsberg knows a thing or two about running an offense. With his ability to set other players up, he would fit nicely with Arsenal’s current frontline. The team has already had some contact with Forsberg and good World Cup with Sweden could increase the team’s interest.
3. Aleksander Golovin – 22-year old Russian center midfielder, currently rostered with CSKA Moscow. While small by some standards, Golovin has shown a propensity for using his technical skills to control the flow of play. In the recent past, the midfielder has been a thorn in the side of Arsenal in the Europa League. A highly sought-aftertarget.
4. Thomas Lemar – 22-year old Frenchman left winger, currently rostered with Monaco. Occupies good space and more than capable of putting the ball into the net. A player on the outskirts but useful.
5. Hirving Lozano – 22-year old Mexican left winger/forward, currently rostered with PSV. With 19 goals and 11 assists with PSV, Lozano has been on Arsenal’s radar for a while now. A good showing with Mexico in the World Cup could provoke Emery to pull the trigger.
6. Christian Pavon – 22-year old Argentinian winger, currently rostered with Boca Juniors. Only recently has Pavon caught the eye of international soccer experts. With his star rising fast, several Premiere League teams, including Arsenal, will be watching intently to see how the young man performs on the big stage.
7. Lucas Torreira – 22-year old central midfielder from Uruguay, currently with Sampdoria. Not yet a star in his own country, Torreira seems to have a strong skill set that will play well at the highest level. At the right price, he deserves attention. Tonight, Sky Sports in Italy report that Arsenal are deep into talks with this player and a deal could very well be close.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has already signed a new long term deal which is great news.
Thanks Mr/Mrs Sponsored post !
Ornstein has spoken !
https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/1006637146235723776
Still nothing to brag about on the transfer front imo and it also looks like ALDI may have changed his mind to stay at PSG instead !
Still it will be interesting and exciting to see if Dick can do the business and to whether the expectant fans will be shouting either…………..
In Dick We Trust !…………..or
Get Dick Out !
I must add that if I see a fellow Gooner in Tesco`s I will not be shouting either !………mind you if I see a fit Goonerette in Tesco`s shouting ………I love Dick !……I will be first in the queue having my club card scanned for some extra points !
😀
Charles Watts!!!
An expert..?!!!
Somebody must have a great sense of humour, or irony….
……..a great drummer though, where would the Stones be without him? ?
I thought he was Dirty Den’s son Kev…
Morning all..
Morning Rico.
Morning Gooners.
A part of me was disappointed that Adli changed his mind, as is being reported, but it all seems very Anelka brothers to me, so we might have dodged a bullet with that one?
The other part thought ‘good’, now let’s focus on resigning Nelson, Dasilva and Dragomir as these three know the club, know English football and might be a whole lot less aggro…
If it means that our own get the chance then I am up for it. Our club is getting to be known as a starter where you get trained up to a standard and then get cast aside . I can’t see why a foreign 18 year old can be that much better than our own unless there is something amiss in our training.
Morning Kev, Potter. As you said the other day, getting him would block the path of one of our own perhaps and we have a few young midfielders. I’d rather a defence minded one personally, or two.
Leno rumours are gathering pace, he’s meant t be a very good keeper isn’t he?
Agree Potter, 100%.
G’day all.
Strange situation with former Arsenal forward Afobe. Eleven days after signing for Wolves (£9.5 million from Bournemouth) he has joined Stoke for £12 million. I can’t make that out.
Morning Rico and all. I believe Leno has a chequered reputation, littered with mistakes. He is seen as another Karius by those that have watched him regularly. We shouldn’t be skimping on goalkeepers.
Hi Adam, he looked good on Youtube… 🙂
Rico. So did Karius. 🙂
Touche Adam.. 😉
No Portuguese players in the list.
A big mistake|
Maybe we will see tonight . If Portugal turn up or Spain can’t find the stadium without their boss.
Morning Rico and the House.
First 2 games of the season
11 Aug home to Man City
18 Aug away to Chelsea.
With them first two games it`s quite possible we will see ……………………..Get Dick Out !………….quicker than I thought !…………..hahahaha
Morning all.
Morning Rick, all.
Great start as far as the fixtures go imo. Should have the players focused..
New post up now.