When Thierry Henry urged Arsenal to sign four world-class players Jose Mourinho pretended to fall off his chair in shock.
To add such a quartet to Arsene Wenger’s lavish squad would make them ‘invincible’ once again, chortled Mourinho.
Henry, like many others who watch Arsenal, envisaged four high-end players down the spine of the team: a top-level goalkeeper, dominant centre half, strong and athletic midfielder and 25-goal-a-season striker.
Imagine stitching Petr Cech, Mats Hummels, Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani through a side already rich with the talent of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil.
It is akin to what Chelsea did last year with Thibaut Courtois, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa.
Would it close the gap? Arsenal are cash-rich with saleable assets to boost funds but things work differently in N5 and Wenger has said how the fine form of 2015 has changed his mind about his tactics in the summer market.
CECH MATE?
Arsenal’s summer work must start in goal. This year’s upturn in form correlates directly to the moment David Ospina replaced Wojciech Szczesny as No 1. Yet the Colombian is not entirely convincing and Petr Cech is handily available.
Chelsea would prefer not to sell to such obvious rivals but Cech’s relationship with Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho is good and they are likely to allow him to leave if he wants to.
On the other side of this equation is Arsenal’s transfer policy. Cech (below) is 33 later this month and will be a big investment in terms of fee and wages. Blowing big money on thirty-somethings is hardly the modus operandi of Arsene Wenger.
Will he make an exception because it appears to be such an ideal fit? Sometimes it feels like the louder the clamour, the less likely Wenger is to do it.
IN DEFENCE OF PER
Even with the January addition of Gabriel Paulista, it feels as if Arsenal need more in central defence. Per Mertesacker has taken a lot of criticism this season, but he plays in a team which exposes its centre halves — unlike, for example, Chelsea.
A big-money upgrade on the 30-year-old German might appeal to fans, but Eliaquim Mangala was the hottest defender on the market last summer and it has gone badly for him at Manchester City.
Arsenal could do with strengthening at the back but even at £32million, there are certainly no guarantees.
This has always been Wenger’s mantra and his instinct will be reinforced by the emergence of teenager Hector Bellerin from the youth ranks and the rapid improvement of Nacho Monreal since Arsenal adopted a slightly more cautious style of play.
Calum Chambers, suddenly third-choice right back, may find his next chance appears in the centre.
RISE OF COQUELIN
Francis Coquelin is the key factor behind Wenger’s rethink. There was a long-standing interest in Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, although this has cooled since Coquelin established his place in the team.
Wenger’s principles will deter him from playing such a pair together in central midfield even if there have been times when Arsenal seem to cry out for more physical presence in midfield.
He has faith in possession and prefers more craft to more protection — and the experiment with Cazorla deep in midfield has proved successful.
He will also be wary of losing what he has found in the second part of the season. Cazorla is 30 and Wenger might spring a surprise by prioritising an alternative to him, like Paris Saint-Germain’s Yohan Cabaye, instead of investing in someone who is a slight upgrade on Coquelin.
JACK’S BACK
Wilshere returned to action at Hull with his trademark explosion of pace in evidence. He looked in good touch after five months out, but Arsenal have changed in his absence with players cementing their places in the roles where he plays.
Coquelin provides the bite and there is no touching Sanchez, Ozil or Cazorla at the moment. Aaron Ramsey is out of position on the right but Wilshere would be equally out of position if he were to oust him. Manchester City’s interest in Wilshere appears genuine, but Arsenal value him at £40m. It is a figure which includes the usual premium for an English player, and it seems an awful lot of money for someone with such a rotten injury record. It is a fork in the road for Wilshere, now 23. He needs regular football more than anything.
GIROUD AWAKENING
Henry fuelled this one when he claimed Arsenal would not win the Barclays Premier League with Olivier Giroud up front. It is harsh on a centre forward who has missed three months of the season and still scored 18 in all competitions.
While Sanchez is prolific from the wing, this is a decent goal return. Giroud also has the physical strength to operate with his back to goal and get the best from the creative forces which swarm around him.
Shop in the next tier where Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez reside and transfer fees are north of £50m. It is hard to imagine an English club laying down money for Radamel Falcao after this season. Wenger is much more likely to accept Giroud for what he is and search to improve options around him.
He is well stocked in these positions but if Wilshere or Theo Walcott is sold, it generates space for the likes of Lyon’s Nabil Fekir, a youngster who is right up Wenger’s street.
ALL IN THE MIND?
While Wenger is reluctant to fix what he thinks isn’t broken, there remain questions about this team that will not be answered by finishing second and winning the FA Cup.
They have yet to deliver under extended pressure, always promising more than they produce with a stylish recovery to repair a poor start or a dreadful collapse after a rampant opening to the season.
It is about maturity of character and mental strength and Arsenal could use a little more of it.
The heat will be on next season to challenge for the title — another reason to start the summer by paying whatever it takes to get a proven winner like Cech into the building.– Daily Mail