New beginnings

You must agree that there is some sort of assurance and confidence of a better tomorrow that comes from starting over. That’s why people are often excited by a new year because of the possibilities. But what do you do when after about eight new years are gone and you find that you haven’t achieved the goal you have been setting all those eight years? Set another GOAL! Lool! Well the very popular quote says that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. So I think when you have tried to achieve something for eight straight years using a particular system and it doesn’t work maybe its time for some changes Duh! I guess Wenger would disagree with me but well it still has to be said. Arsenal cannot compete effectively with other big teams and win trophies without bringing in very GOOD players. With big emphasis on good…

  

Following my last piece on “Dumping excess weight” Here is a list of five players linked to Arsenal that can revive the team next season.

Stevan Jovetic

The biggest move Arsenal are linked with this summer is for Fiorentina's Stevan Jovetic. 

The Gunners are prepared to break their transfer record to sign the £20 million rated Montenegro striker.

The Fiorentina striker is believed to be the top ­summer target for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal after scoring 12 goals in 24 league games for the Champions League-chasing Viola side. The 23-year-old Montenegrin has impressed in Vincenzo Montella's 3-5-2 formation this term and is Serie A's standout striker behind Napoli's Edinson Cavani.

The Fiorentina striker is well aware of the interest he is generating in North London and Manchester. Recently he issued a "come and get me" plea to both Wenger and Roberto Mancini via (The Daily Star):

“It sure is nice when you are interesting big clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City.

“I’m very comfortable in Italy but the Premier League is at the top of the football world – and perhaps the best.

“We will see what happens in the future."

Arsenal playing in the Champions League may be the deal-breaker here.

Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal and Barcelona have long been bed-follows when it comes to transfers between teams. Usually the players travel away from the Emirates, but this time it could be the other way around.

Alexis Sanchez is now surplus to requirements at the Camp Nou for Tito Vilanova and the Daily Mail has the Gunners leading the charge for the £22 million-valued star.

The 24-year-old left-sided forward and attacking midfielder would instantly change the entire complexion of Arsenal's attack. Sanchez is another in a growing list of world stars who learned their trade in Serie A, having started with Udinese. He would bring another level of creativity and penetration to an already creative Arsenal side.

All Arsene Wenger has to do to capture him is hold off interest from Manchester United, Juventus and Inter Milan.

That might not prove all that difficult considering his agent's recent words on the matter:

"Sanchez needs to play the ball on the ground, just like Arsenal. That would be his ideal game."

Ashley Williams

Arsenal have conceded 32 goals from 29 games this term, so it is little wonder that they are linked with good defenders, especially defenders of the central variety.

Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen have all performed far below expectations this term. The Gunners' captain, Vermaelen, has particularly enjoyed a decidedly poor season.

The Premier League player Arsene Wenger is being linked with by the South Wales Evening Post to shore up the Gunners' porous back line is Swansea City's Ashley Williams. The Welsh international has been nothing but impressive for the Swans over their last two seasons in the EPL.

He is a commanding ball-playing centre-back and would slot straight into any Wenger team from any era.

Adil Rami

Adil Rami is one of the best centre-backs in Europe at this very moment in time. He is the type of player any ambitious club should be linked to.

Metro has Arsenal and Arsene Wenger tracking the Moroccan-born French international for some time now. With his contract due to end in 2015 the time to strike is now.

The 27-year-old is a calm presence at the back for Valencia, and if Wenger can capture him for a modest fee it could signal that Thomas Vermaelen is about to move on. There can be little doubt that Rami would be an immediate improvement on the Belgian this term. However, Vermaelen has far more potential which could be the deciding factor in his sale.

Rami has been quoted recently as saying he feels good at Valencia and is contemplating their contract offer. However, he also stated his desire for first-team football. This, in negotiation-speak, means he will join whoever plays him and plays in the Champions League regularly.

James McCarthy

Wigan Athletic's James McCarthy may just be the best midfielder in the Premier League not currently playing for one of the traditional big-guns.

The Irish international, at the tender age of just 22, has already played over 220 professional games. He made his debut in the rough and tumble of the Scottish First Division at just 15 with Hamilton Academicals.

Arsenal have long been linked with the jewel in Wigan's crown. His intelligence and versatility mean he would be the ideal partner for Jack Wilshere or Mikel Arteta in midfield. Comfortable anywhere along the spine in a support or defensive role, McCarthy has shown maturity beyond his years for Wigan and Ireland, and he could bring a bite and drive sadly lacking in this modern Gunners' team.

As the season draws gradually to an end, lets hope Arsenals new season is truly a new beginning

Till next time stay true 2 soccer...