To start with, it was a very quiet and peaceful deadline day experienced in past few windows. As our record goes by, we have made 4 signings in the last four windows on the 'D-day'. We got Nacho Monreal in Jan '13, Mesut Özil in Sep '13, Kim Kallstrom in Jan '14 and Danny Welbeck in Sep '14.
But this time around, we finished our business early for a change. The key issues were addressed. We got what we needed and we let go what we didn't. Let's have a look at what we have at our disposal to have a successful ending to the season.
Defense
Since the start of the season, we've been short of at least one experienced defender. We started with 6 defenders and later added youth prospects Bellerin and Hayden to provide cover. But it wasn't enough as we used midfielder Coquelin at LB in the League Cup tie and when we faced the crisis here, we used our fullbacks at Centre-half. First Monreal and then Debuchy. Then in the first half of January, we lost the latter along with Hayden to long term injuries.
So there was clearly a need to reinforce and thankfully Wenger realized it and got rid of a potentially problematic situation by using his cheque book! He roped in Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal. A young versatile two-footed Central Defender with great talent and potential who can play anywhere across the back-four. Plus, he can form a partnership with both Mertesacker as well as Koscielny.
He's signing got everyone excited who genuinely wishes for well-being of this team. Though he was never close to making his debut, but seeing him featuring in the matchday squad for the game vs Aston Villa speaks volumes of his readiness to be thrown in action. Let's hope he performs well and lives upto the promise when presented with an opportunity to do so.
Midfield
Arsenal has had a great wealth of talent in this area for the past few seasons and its not any different this time around. The quantity has been ever present but quality and form of few were questioned at some stage this season and those included the likes of now-hit Santi, Ramsey, Özil and Coquelin. First three of those were accused of underperforming and the latter for lacking quality. But all have silenced their critics to a large extent with their recent run of forms.
Here again, we were hit severely by injuries and were stretched to the limit but somehow we managed to see the hard times through without much difficulty. The call for new recruitment under those situations is what needs to be digested but not necessary to react by splurging cash. And Wenger did exactly that by showing faith in his current lot of players and trying to find solution within. So we didn't needed any addition for this season.
But considering that few of our players may depart after the end of their contract this season, it was important to foresee such situation and prepare for it. We did it by bringing in 17 year old central midfielder Krystian Bielik, touted as a player for the future. Though he is being added to the first team squad, but is unlikely to make any significant contribution between now and May.
So he is the only showing in this area for which no one asked for. But it talks of planning by the management who were blamed for lacking it in the last few windows.
Attack
12 months ago we were struggling to get a striker to provide cover for Giroud. At that point, we had lost Walcott, Sanogo was getting back from injury, Bendtner was not trustworthy and our only available option was Lukas Podolski. We were leading the points table but was fearing of being derailed due to superficial attack. And the worst happened!
But this time, the story is exact opposite. We had numerous players in this department and such was the irony that despite of the injuries, Podolski, Sanogo and Campbell found game-time hard to come by. They all departed in search of it.
Still we have Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott, Welbeck, Chamberlain and Akpom available with the first two names probably in form of their life. Not to forget Serge Gnabry who was recovering from a long term injury is also back. So we didn't had room for anyone to move in.
All in all, we look well balanced to challenge for remaining titles between now and May. Lets hope we get some more silverware this time as well.
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