BBC pundit Alan Hansen has ridiculed Arsenal’s summer transfer window so far and cannot believe that the club are yet to spend money on strengthening their squad.
A lot was expected of Arsenal in this transfer window after it was announced that they would have up to £70million to spend on making big-name signings, but so far, they have only managed to sign Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer.
The club have been linked with names like Gonzalo Higuain, Stevan Jovetic, Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez and Luiz Gustavo, but unfortunately for Arsene Wenger, none of the potential deals could materialise.
The add further salt to the wound, The Gunners started their Premier League campaign with a 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend and now face tricky ties against Fenerbache for a place in the Champions League.
Speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day 3, Hansen revealed that the club need to spend and need to add more depth to their side if they are to mount a serious challenge for silverware.
“Arsenal have had frailties for the last three or four years in certain positions,” said Hansen. “They have the money to fill those positions and Wenger hasn’t done so.
“The goalkeeper, back four and certainly a holding player that is destructive are much-needed.
“They have got multi-talented midfield players and the massive pace of Theo Walcott. OK, they haven’t got a potent goalscorer – but it’s when they haven’t got the ball that the problems are there as we saw against Aston Villa.”
Hansen added: “I’ve mentioned four or five positions he needs to fill but he also needs a leader on the pitch.
“Manchester United showed that last season how to pick up points when you play poorly. When Arsenal play poorly then usually it is a disaster.
“They need someone on the pitch that when it is going badly is going to say to the players, ‘right you get in that position and just sit for a while’.
“You never see that with Arsenal. You see that with every other team in the league, even for the poor teams you see somebody on the pitch being a leader. With Arsenal you never see it.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
