Thursday, 27 June 2013

Arsenal set sights on title shot

By David Lee Wheatley


After several years of thrift, Arsenal are finally ready to splash the cash to take their team on to a higher level just in time for a title tilt next season.

Under pressure boss Wenger is rumoured to be keen on acquiring the services of a plethora of stars, including Pepe Reina, Marouane Fellaini, Gonzalo Higuain and Wayne Rooney. Should he get his wish, an Arsenal ‘Dream Team’ to match the ‘Invincibles’ of 2004-05 could be in the offing.

Arsenal will also need to bring in a solid centre-back to complement their options in that department, but bringing in world-class players in the midfield, up front and in goal would surely bring about a renaissance of their title hopes.

For too long now, the club have stuck rigidly to their policy of bringing in young players to develop while ignoring the need to sign established footballers who command big wages and significant transfer fees. With the income from the Emirates Stadium and various sponsorship deals coming to fruition, it appears the time is right for the Gunners to finally shed their tight-fisted tag.

Bringing in an experienced head between the sticks would provide help and strong competition for the young Szczesny. Due to Simon Mignolet’s recent introduction at Anfield, it opens the way for a bid to tempt Liverpool to part with Spanish international Reina. Another possible target is veteran QPR man Julio Cesar, the Brazilian having made a big impression in the last Premier League season despite Rangers’ relegation.

The central midfield area has been crying out for a unit of Fellaini’s ilk since Patrick Vieira tootled off to Juventus and the big Belgian with the even bigger hair fits the bill perfectly. He is Wenger’s number one target for the midfield department and a reported £22 million asking price no longer presents a problem.

Up front is where the biggest excitement lies with the mouth-watering prospect of two world-class internationals joining forces in north London. Gonzalo Higuain was linked to Juventus, but the Gunners bounced them out of the race and the Turin club turned their attentions to Carlos Tevez from Manchester City instead. Arsenal and the player are said to be close to agreeing terms after Real Madrid allowed them to speak and the deal should be completed within days.

To complement the Argentine, it’s a widely-held belief that Wenger wants to snap up want-away England star Wayne Rooney from Old Trafford. The Manchester United man seems intent on leaving the club and it would be an absolutely massive coup for Arsenal should they beat off reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid. If any of those clubs make a concrete bid, it would make life very difficult for the Gunners to convince Rooney to come to the Emirates. However, with the concerted efforts they’re making to increase the level of talent within the playing squad, the former Everton forward might well feel happy to join up for the project on offer.

Should Arsenal manage to seal deals for all of their potential targets, plus a centre-back, they can look forward to next season with more optimism than recent years. If they capture the star names they’ve singled out, Wenger’s men will be in a fantastic position to mount a serious Premier League title challenge come the new campaign.
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