The summer transfer window shuts in just a few weeks and Arsenal has already confirmed the addition of 4 first-team players. Looking at Arsenal’s recent history in the summer transfer window, this is a fairly unfamiliar position for the club. For the last few years, Arsenal has made rushed and well-planned transfers; but most of the activity has happened in the last few weeks of the transfer window.
Mesut Ozil joining last season was a revolutionary transfer for Arsenal. It was the highest Arsenal had ever paid for a player in the club’s history and was a marquee signing that showed Arsene Wenger’s intent for the coming season. Arsenal had broken away from its regular transfer policy of only signing young players and developing their talent over years to prepare them for top-level football in the English Premier League. With Mesut Ozil, Arsenal had signed a player in his prime after he had established himself at another high-profile football club. Although not breaking the transfer record set in last season’s summer transfer window, Arsenal has done something similar with the signing of Alexis Sanchez.
Alexis Sanchez comes to the club for a rumoured £35 million. Considering he comes from Barcelona’s first-team, signing him is without a doubt the most impressive business Wenger has done in this transfer window. Sanchez is a physically small package with so many qualities, that he is probably going to be one of Arsenal’s most versatile players this season. His best attributes are his speed, creativity and strength which are all required from an attacking player in the English Premier League. While Sanchez is most adept on the left wing of a three-man attack, he is capable of playing down the middle as the target man and can also fit on the right flank if required. His time in Udinese proved that he can adapt his playing style to fit multiple roles including the number 10 position, playing in the hole behind the man striker.
Mathieu Debuchy joins Arsenal after spending 18 months in the Premier League at Newcastle United. Debuchy was a steal when Newcastle managed to secure his services in January 2013 from Lille where he established himself as a dependable right back. Newcastle got him for just £3 million. At the age of 29, he is now an Arsenal player and cost the Gunners all of £10 million. Not bad for a player who comes with Premier League experience and managed to keep Bacary Sagna out of the France national first-team; especially since he has come to Arsenal to fill in the shoes of Sagna himself.
Calum Chambers is a 19-year-old who comes to Arsenal from Southampton. He made his Premier League debut for Southampton in August 2013 and featured in 21 league games last season. At a steep price of £16 million, he is definitely one of Wenger’s investments for the future. Wenger is attempting to build a strong core of English players at Arsenal and Chambers fits right into the set up. He was one of Southampton’s most impressive players last season and many clubs were looking to sign him. Chambers played at right back for Southampton last season and will presumably be Debuchy’s understudy at Arsenal, but the youngster is also capable at deputising in many other positions. He featured at centre back for Arsenal’s preseason matches and can also play in central midfield. Chambers has a good physicality, good technique on the ball and good vision of the game. Only time will tell how exactly Wenger intends to utilise his many talents.
David Ospina joins Arsenal for £5 million from French club, Nice. It seems to be a pittance to pay for an established player in today’s inflated transfer market especially since Ospina was one of the top goalkeepers in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ospina helped the Colombia national team reach the quarterfinal stage of the World Cup and raised many eyebrows with his convincing performances. In club football, Ospina has a great reputation in the Ligue 1 for his 6 year stint with Nice. Wojciech Szczęsny is Arsenal’s first choice goalkeeper, but Ospina will provide cover in case of injury while also keeping him on his toes by vying for the number one position.
Shad Forsythe is not to be forgotten among the signings Arsenal has made this summer. While Forsythe isn’t a football player, he will play a role off the pitch which will make a huge difference on the field. Forsythe has been working as the fitness coach of the German national squad for the last 10 years. Forsythe is joining the Arsenal backroom team to provide new insights into training and fitness regimes which will help fix Arsenal’s first-team injury problems. Having worked with a World Cup winning team, Forsythe is sure to be a fountain of knowledge which will benefit the dressing room at Arsenal.
Interestingly of the 4 first-team players to sign with Arsenal, 3 are expected to play in Arsenal’s defence. Wenger has gone back to the basics of ‘building from the back’ which Arsenal was known for under George Graham and under Wenger himself in his earlier years. Debuchy is set to slot in the first team’s vacant right back position. His Premier League and national team experience will make him a stable option that Arsenal will be able to rely on for defensive duties and attacking play down the right flank. Chambers is probably not going to be one of Wenger’s first 11 for this season. What he will be though is quality backup when first-team players are injured. Chambers will develop under the tutelage of Steve Bould who has improved Arsenal’s defence tremendously and will take every opportunity he gets having already impressed in preseason games. Ospina will probably not feature in too many games either; that is, until he proves himself. He will fight for his place in the Arsenal starting 11. Szczęsny has admitted to being excited about working with another goalkeeper and has welcomed the competition for the position. This can only help improve the quality of the goalkeeping position since each player will try to outdo the other to hold their own in the squad.
Wenger will probably rely on the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 he played for most matches last season. Looking at the players that have come in, Wenger has made some intelligent transfers to give himself options in case needed. Here are the positions that can be covered by the 4 new first-team Arsenal players.
Ospina – Goalkeeper
Debuchy – Right back
Chambers – Right back, Centre back, Defensive midfield, Central midfield, Right midfield
Sanchez – Left winger, Striker, Right winger, Attacking midfield
In the 4-3-3 system that Arsenal has most utilized over the last few seasons, these are the options offered by the new signings based on the positions that can fit into:
Apart from having the players just fit into different positions of his already established formations, Wenger has the option of experimenting with different formations based on the qualities coming in with the new players. He could try a 3-man defence with the likes of Debuchy or Chambers filling in alongside Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. Chambers also provides the option for a 3-man midfield or a 5-man midfield if required. Sanchez can play as a winger or a second striker. He could also drop off into the ‘hole’ to provide passes and create chances.
Ideally, Wenger can experiment with any of the following formations this season:
3-5-2
3-2-3-2
4-2-3-1
4-3-2-1
4-3-3
4-4-2
Arsenal could be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the Premier League this season. The team could line up differently depending on the qualities of the opposing team. There is still plenty of time to go in the transfer window and with 4 transfers in the bag it is presumed that Wenger is satisfied with his dealings so far. However Wenger himself admitted that Arsenal may be in for further business in this window. It is an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan. The success of the FA Cup victory may just spur more high-profile players to join us before the window closes.
Sean is a part of the @Football_P family. You can follow him at @SeanSeq
