This summer’s transfer window is due to open on 1st July, and the rumour mill is in full force for Arsenal. The North London club has been linked with an array of world class talent including the likes of Arturo Vidal, Petr Cech and Karim Benzema over the last few weeks, and, given the club has signed a player of the aforementioned’s ilk in each of the last two summer windows, we may see another big signing at the Emirates. But what would acquiring another world-class player mean for the club?
Experience and a strong mentality– In the current squad, only one player (Danny Welbeck) has a Premier League title, and most of the squad have never experienced a genuine season-long title charge. Bringing a player like Cech in, who has won every major honour possible in his 11 years with Chelsea, brings a sense of leadership and experience to the team – someone who has “been there and done it” and is ready to inject a similar mentality onto the squad.
The same applies to Benzema and Vidal, both Champions League finalists and league winners, with the Chilean only 90 minutes away from a treble last season. It also will do wonders for the team in terms of belief and morale – when Mesut Özil was signed the team instantly began to win again, and win in style. A similar situation can occur with another marquee acquisition.
These players are certified winners in football and there’s a strong possibility that they will be able to pass on that exact mentality to the squad, bringing the team another step closer to a title challenge.
Squad with title winning ability- Over the last few months, the Emirates faithful have stood to witness what Arsenal can do with a fully fit squad, with the team only having lost 1 match in the last 3 months of the season. This form is nothing short of title winning potential, and a world class player could be the type to consolidate this run over an entire season.
Players like Benzema, one of the most complete in the world, who brings fantastic hold up play to his game that would bring players like Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sánchez into the forefront of the attack, would become pivotal for the team. A signing like Vidal, with his high energy game, would connect the defence and attack with such ease, and can further strengthen the passing play Arsène Wenger has made Arsenal iconic for. An acquisition like Cech would add the quality ‘keeper Arsenal have lacked since the days of Lehmann, and leadership that is essential in any trophy-winning side.
The added quality would push Arsenal even further to claim three points in nearly every match, similar to Alexis Sanchez’s impact in the first stage of the season, providing Arsenal with a spark that handed them the three points in matches they otherwise would not have won. Slowly but surely, Arsenal are building an incredibly talented squad and the calculations must point towards a first title win in more than a decade.
Sign of the times– If you had asked an Arsenal fan in 2011 whether they’d think Arsenal would sign three world class players in three years, the answer would be a resounding no. However, with the infamous Emirates debt being cleared a couple of years ago, we are finally seeing the progress the club are undertaking with access to funds that the Chelsea’s and Manchester City’s of football have experienced for quite some time.
The evidence is clear; back-to-back FA Cups and an exit from the CL play-offs next season isn’t a coincidence, the signings of Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez have been the primary catalysts towards this improvement. This trend, especially when coupled with Arsenal’s form over the last few months, can only mean that another world class player can solidify a genuine title charge.
Altogether, it’s clear to see what another quality signing can do for Arsenal, the last two seasons have shown so and how a title challenge may be the result of it. All it takes is for Arsenal to place the right bid and if such a situation does occur, we could be seeing the name of Arsenal etched on the prestigious Premier League trophy in the near future.
