For the first time since the 1997/98 season, Arsenal Football Club will not be represented in the UEFA Champions League after the Gunners fell to a fifth-placed Premier League finish.
As you can imagine, the Arsenal fans in the Transfer Tavern are divided in their opinion of the previous season and the achievement of the long-serving manager Arsene Wenger, which makes for some great debate around the pool table.
In between shots, our landlord caught up with a crowd of Gooners, wondering who Wenger should bring into the club this summer to launch a bid to return to the Champions League.
The idea of Gylfi Sigurdsson coming to the Emirates was put forward by our landlord, with the expectation of having a pint thrown over him at the suggestion that a former Spurs player should be an option, but Sigurdsson would be an excellent addition to Wenger’s side.
It is possible that Arsenal will lose a number of faces this summer, including – perhaps most notably – Alexis Sanchez, who only has a year left on his contract.
Wenger will need to inject creativity to his squad, and there aren’t many who consistently achieve this goal than the 49-cap Icelandic international, who boasts a record of nearly a goal every three games in his second spell at Swansea.
Last season he recorded 9 goals and a further 13 assists, a tally that would be sure to increase when surrounded by the talent stored at the Emirates.
It would be a nightmare if Arsenal do lose the talismanic Sanchez, but recruiting Sigurdsson would be a good start in replacing the goals and creative instincts of the world-class Chilean.
Arsenal fans – thoughts?
Let us know below!
