Arsenal Update: Arsene Wenger in the transfer market for central defenders
Arsenal may find themselves in with a shout for the title but the truth of the matter is that if their central defence remains as depleted as it is now then they will get nowhere near the title.
Arsenal have put in some very decent performances recently in the English Premier League to get some very good results but their defence remains their Achilles heel as they have been leaking goals left right and centre. However, so far they have been lucky
to be scoring more than they are conceding.
Arsenal have depended heavily on Samir Nasri in recent months for their attacking thrust and the midfielder has not disappointed as he has been their best player in the season so far. The Gunners have also been benefitted by the timely return to fitness
of some key players like Thomas Rocisky, Cecs Fabregas and Robin Van Persie.
But, the worry still remains for Arsene Wenger as he has to chop and change the heart of his defence for virtually every game they play.
Thomas Vermalen and Sebastian Squillaci are both out injured while koscielny and Djourou are far from decent as their central defensive pairing.
Just yesterday, Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he will be forced to spend in the January transfer window as his scouts are scouring the globe in search of a central defender who can fill in for Thomas Vermalen.
Thomas has not played for Arsenal since late August 2010 after suffering an injury while on international duty with Belgium.
Wenger had been hoping that the central defender would only be on the treatment table for a couple of weeks but some complications have kept him out for more than 5 months now. He is not expected to be back until mid February leaving Wenger desperately short
of cover at the back.
To make matters worse, Sebastian Squillaci also suffered a hamstring injury in the FA Cup clash against Leeds on Saturday. The extent of injury means that the defender will be out for at least a month.
The 18-year-old youngster and reserve team captain Ignasi Miguel was drafted into the first team for the FA Cup clash and was on the bench for the game but as the season progresses and games start coming thick and fast, Wenger will need an established centre
back in his ranks.
With even Bacary Sagna ruled out with a three game suspension, it could mean that Miguel may feature in the Carling Cup semi-final clash against Ipswich on Wednesday while Song may have to play at the heart of Arsenal defence.
Wenger is now suggesting that he will try and bring in some cover for Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny.
"Vermaelen had another setback on Saturday that we are concerned with. We are consulting top specialists around the world. He has another check today, and we will know more on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I can't give you any precise date, but I concede that,
with this little setback from Thomas, we are in a situation where we will have to look around," said Arsene Wenger at his team press conference ahead of the game against Ipswich on Tuesday.
On Squillaci’s injury, Wenger said, "Squillaci will be out for a maximum of three weeks, minimum two. It is a hamstring injury but it is not too bad - a grade one. He will be back in two weeks if all goes well."
Meanwhile, the papers have reported that Arsenal are interested in bringing in Gary Cahill of Bolton and Montpellier’s Bosnian defender Emir Spahic while Werder Bremen and Germany veteran Per Mertesacker is also being linked with a move to Emirates.
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