Was a young midfielder really Arsenal’s priority this summer?

Arsenal have made a new signing and it wasn’t in the position that most Arsenal fans thought it would be either.

The Gunners have brought in young midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton for a fee which could rise to £15million.

I would imagine the signing came as a surprise to Arsenal fans, who thought the club were looking to sign a centre-back.

Defence

The Arsenal backline have looked really shaky in recent months. In fact if we are honest they have looked shaky for the last few years. Last season their Achilles heel was conceding goals from corner kicks. If it hadn’t been for that the Gunners might have actually pushed Manchester United a bit harder in the race for the Premier League title last season.

Finally

Last week it looked like Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had finally took his blinkers off, as the Frenchman bid £12million for Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka. However the bid was laughed off by the Toffee’s and most clued up football watchers.

Arsenal have since been linked with another bid for the defender. It seems though according to my sources Jagielka is not too keen on moving down south, even if Arsenal did match Everton’s valuation of the player.

So what does Wenger do? Does he bid for another centre-back to fill the gap in his leaky defence? No he decides to sign another attacking player who seems to be able to play everywhere but defence!

Talent

There is no doubt young Chamberlain has skills and is full of potential. It is a big fee but its became the normal to pay over the odds for British players. The youngster turns 18 next week and is definitely one for the future. However Arsenal need players for now as well as the future. They are in major danger of falling badly behind their biggest rivals if they don’t signing players in the right areas of the team.

Questions

It’s getting to the point where Arsenal fans can’t help but question Arsene Wenger’s methods and sanity. Wenger has done a superb job in his time with Arsenal but his star looks to be on the wane. He has to do something quick or the majority of Gunners fans will lost faith in him.

Priority

Every football fan in the world knew that the centre-back position was Arsenal’s priority this summer. If Wenger didn’t to increase his bid for Jagielka then he could have switched his attentions to Gary Cahill or Christopher Samba.

However it now looks like Arsenal will start the new Premier League season with the centre-backs they already have. It seems bizarre to me that Wenger is prepared to pay so much for a youngster who has never played in the Premier League. Yet he isn’t prepared to pay slightly more for an experienced Premier League centre-back, who could be the answer to his defensive preys.

German?

Rumours coming out of Germany are suggesting that Arsenal could make a move for Werder Bremen centre-back Per Mertesacker. The defender is apparently rated at £6million. If Wenger could secure his signature I believe he would be a great signing for the Gunners, especially at £6million.

Wenger couldn’t really lose with that deal. Mertesacker endured a nightmare of a campaign last season but has shown in years gone by his ability to defend.

Mertesacker would also have something to prove after last season’s poor showing. The trouble is Wenger will probably want to sign him for £4million and haggle over the fee.

Gamble

Arsene Wenger spends Arsenal’s money as if it was his own. The veteran coach just seems to hate spending and he has taken a real gamble on signing young Oxlade-Chamberlain for such a big fee. The youngster has potential but that’s all it is at this stage.

The situation reminds me of that of Theo Walcott. He arrived when just 17 with a big fee and big potential. Yet despite glimpses of his ability in the last few years Theo Walcott has flattered to deceive and we are still waiting to see the best of him.

Lets hope for Wenger and Arsenal’s sake that the youngster makes a quicker impact at the Emirates. He is a very different player to the England winger and hopefully he will fulfil his potential with both club and country.

Did Arsenal need to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?

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