Is Stewart Downing really the sort of player Arsenal need?

It seems that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is now ready to spend some money this summer.

According to reports the Arsenal boss has bid £18million for Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.

Money

Arsenal have money to spend this summer and could have even more in the bank if midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leave the club.

Arsene Wenger hasn’t spent much money in the past few years and he’s paid the price with his club slipping down in the Premier League pecking order.

Wanted

Stewart Downing is highly-rated and in-demand this summer. He is a decent player with a good left foot but he still hasn’t displayed the required consistency to play for a top club in the Premier League.

His value is so high because he is English and English players tend to be overvalued in the transfer market. If he was a foreign import I suspect he wouldn’t cost the same fee.

The 26 year-old enjoyed his best campaign last season and it has brought the player to the attention of Liverpool.

The Reds are believed to be interested in the England international and have already had a bid of £15million rejected by the Villans. It remains to be seen if the Reds will return with an improved bid.

Experience

What Stewart Downing would give Arsenal is experience of playing in the Premier League, unlike some of Arsene Wenger’s recent signing (Sebastian Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny). Downing played in the Premier League for along time with Middlesbrough before making the move to Villa.

Unhappy

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has stated that the England winger isn’t available to buy but the club could sell Downing if they receive an offer too good to refuse. Downing is also said to be unhappy in the Midlands.

Reports coming out of England’s second city claim the winger wants to play at a higher level of football. A move to Arsenal would give a chance of playing Champions League. A switch to Arsenal would probably also increase his chances of playing for England on a more regular basis.

Priorities

A left-winger really isn’t Arsenal’s priority, as most Gunners fans know. The Gunners priorities are at the back. I feel like a broken record always stating the point that Arsenal are in need of solid centre-backs.

Surely Arsene Wenger must see the need for a solid centre-back, so why is he looking to sign a left-winger. I just don’t understand the Frenchman’s thinking. Its this sort of thinking that has led to the club being trophyless for the last six years.

The Gunners have been linked with a list of centre-backs this summer. They have been linked with the likes of Scott Dann, Gary Cahill and Christopher Samba, yet no defensive backups have arrived at the Emirates Stadium so far this summer.

I am a big fan of Arsene Wenger but I am even starting to question his methods of late. Unfortunately for the Frenchman as the Gunners continue to fail to win silverware his methods are raising more questions than answers.

Challenge

Stewart Downing wouldn’t be the worse signing for Arsenal. However you have to question if he really is good enough to be part of a Premier League, title challenging Arsenal side. I don’t think he is the standard of player Arsenal need to bring in this summer to be serious challengers next season.

Would Stewart Downing be a good signing for Arsenal?