The year 2014 has been a mixed one for Arsenal.
This time last year the Gunners were top of the Premier League table and right amongst the title challengers.
Twelve months later, Arsene Wenger’s side are well and truly out of the title race having faded during the second half of last season.
However, Arsenal did manage to end their nine-year trophy drought with an FA Cup victory over Hull City in May and a favourable Champions League draw with Monaco and the goals of Alexis Sanchez give supporters reason to believe 2015 can yet be a year to remember.
There is plenty of work to be done however, starting perhaps in the January transfer window.
Here we have identified five ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ for the Gunners to think about.
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Click on Arsene Wenger to reveal FIVE ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ for Arsenal to stick to in 2015.
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Replace Thomas Vermaelen
Arsene Wenger has made some strange transfer decisions in his time but the summer’s failure to replace Thomas Vermaelen is up there with the strangest of the lot.
The former Arsenal captain was sold to Barcelona for £12 million and for whatever reason, Wenger did not move for a replacement and it’s fair to say he has been punished.
The injury problems at centre half have been a real cause for concern in the first half of the season and Wenger needs to make adding a top class centre back his top priority when the transfer window opens on January 1st.
Add a midfield enforcer
Wenger’s failure to add that coveted defensive midfielder in the summer has also come back to haunt the Gunners. Mathieu Flamini has not been up to the task this season and no side in the Premier League has lost more points from winning positions.
Southampton star Morgan Schneiderlin has been linked with a January move to the Emirates Stadium and given he would be eligible for Champions League football in the New Year, this might be the best piece of business Wenger could do – even if it means he may have to spend a bit of money.
Clear some of the deadwood
Despite the constant injury problems, Arsenal still boast a massive squad. Too many players have been under-performing for too long however and if Wenger is serious about strengthening, then it is time for some players to call it a day.
Mikel Arteta was linked with a return to Spain in the summer and the former Everton man has done little to suggest he deserves a long-term future at the club.
Mathieu Flamini, Nacho Monreal, Yaya Sanogo, and even club record signing Mesut Ozil are other players who should be fighting for their Arsenal future.
Resolve the situation with Mesut Ozil
Speaking of Mesut Ozil, the situation with Arsenal’s club record signing needs to be resolved in the New Year. For £42.5 million, Arsenal fans have not got anywhere near what they would have expected from the former Real Madrid man.
Ozil’s form and fitness have been an ongoing concern for the best part of 12 months now and reports continue to link him with Bayern Munich.
Arsene Wenger must make a decision one way or the other whether to sell and try and recoup some of that cash, or look to get the best out of the World Cup winner when he returns to fitness. Playing him in his preferred number 10 position on a consistent basis could be a start.
Give more support to Alexis Sanchez
The return to fitness of Olivier Giroud may well be Arsenal’s saving grace in the second half of the season as it is clear they need someone to help ease the goal scoring burden on summer signing Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal fans must dread to think where their side could be without the Chilean who has been scoring goals for fun since his arrival in England.
But the likes of Aaron Ramsey – who was scoring consistently prior to his injury last season – Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should all be looking to improve their goal tally in the New Year.
Arsenal have all the talent going forward; it is just a case of playing a system to suit everyone and finding that momentum and consistency.
