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Nigel Winterburn: Arsenal need two or possibly three more players next season

Written by Jeffrey on April 21, 2011 – 4:45

Arsenal Interactive - Player RatingsNigel Winterburn

Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn believes the Gunners have to sign “two or possibly three more players” if they are to be competitive next season.

Speaking to talkSport, the Englishman started by saying that no-one really knows how the Stan Kroenke situation will evolve as he however added that as manager Arsene Wenger said, the club will continue to move forward in the same way it did for the last 20 years.

Believing there will not be a lot of “extra cash” made available for the Frenchman, Winterburn explained that the Gunners are close to be a finished product but one or two tweaks are needed if they are to end their six-year trophyless crisis.

Asked how many signings the Gunners need next season, Winterburn concluding by saying they need two, maybe three new players as that will finally help them to win the English Premier League title.

Ahead of next season, Winterburn said:

We’ll have to wait and see what happens on the Stan Kroenke situation. But even Arsene Wenger has said that the club will move forward in the same way. I don’t think the club is going to be run any differently than it has done over the past 20 years.

I just wonder whether Arsenal have had as much money to spend in the last few seasons as many people believe they have. I still have my doubts, I don’t think they’ve got a huge pot of money to spend and I don’t know whether that will change under Stan Kroenke.

The pressure is definitely on because they haven’t won anything in six years and the supporters expect success. I would think the board are saying to him that the club needs to be winning things but you need to understand the direction of the club.

The club wants to be stable before any risk-reward scenario and Arsenal have made good profits over the last couple of years so maybe Arsene Wenger will spend more money this summer.

But they are close, they are not as far away as people think. Arsene just needs to tweak one or two areas to make sure that when they get in the position of challenging again that this team can be the one everybody is talking about that has overcome the barren spell.

Winning the league isn’t going to get any easier and winning cup competitions is going to get harder too but with two or possibly three more players I believe Arsenal will be right up there again next season and eventually, at some stage, they will cross that line and win the title.

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  • Nishaad says:
    April 21, 2011 at 6:32

    out: squillaci, eboue, diaby, denilson, rosicky, bendtner, clichy (wouldnt mind if he stayed, actually)
    in: sakho/cahill, benzema, hazard, baines (if clichy leaves), blaise matuidi, cheap RB.
    6 players go out, 6 come in. hardly any change to the first team, and if we have ryo miyaichi back, even better.

    4-2-3-1:
    chezza; sagna, cahill/djourou, vermalean, baines/clichy; song, fabregas, wilshere, nasri, walcott; van persie.
    or 4-4-2:
    chezza; sagna, cahill/djourou, vermalean, baines/clichy; song, fabregas, nasri, walcott; benzema, van persie.
    or 4-3-3:
    chezza; sagna, cahill/djourou, vermalean, baines/clichy; song, nasri, fabregas; walcott, arshavin, van persie.

    the bench strength in both teams is terrific, with the likes of arshavin (first and second line up), hazard, sakho/djourou, ramsay, chamakh, benzema (first line up), wilshere (second and third line up) sitting out. think of the competition this generates. if someone isnt performing or is injured, he is simply replaced by the better performing/fit player.

    Reply to this comment »
  • gfd says:
    April 21, 2011 at 7:07

    2 or 3 players = frimpong, vermaelen, vela, fabianski, lansbury, afobe, aneke, coquelin, ignasi, JET..

    Reply to this comment »
  • Subin says:
    April 21, 2011 at 7:56

    I have completely lost my trust in Arsenal…it’s better not expect anything from them next season!! Maybe doing just that might eventually win us something…It’s utterly disappointing!

    Rosicky, Bendtner, Eboue, Denilson and Almunia have to go…it’s a crime if they stay on!
    But Shava(Arshavin) should stay!

    Reply to this comment »
  • Collin Sibiya says:
    April 21, 2011 at 8:17

    He is right we need new players not just new but very good players this current team does not have confidence i think we will end up finishing 5th Wenger must go

    Reply to this comment »
  • Femi Jacobs says:
    April 21, 2011 at 8:51

    Rosisky, Bendtner, Arshavin, Diabi, Denilson, scolachi and Almunia have to go. We need two good and experienced defenders and a striker to pair and put VanP on his toes.

    Ryo to come back and replace Arshavin.

    I believe they are getting resilient and matured. If they can come back together next year, something could happen. I will like Henry to come back to Arsenal.

    Reply to this comment »
    • King Zed says:
      April 21, 2011 at 10:54

      Who does scolachi play for?

      Reply to this comment »
      • Hunter says:
        April 21, 2011 at 17:46

        And who is getting matured? In my eyes they seem to be going backward.

        Reply to this comment »
  • Luca says:
    April 21, 2011 at 9:08

    do you think that arsenal are out of title race.

    Yes/No I reckon they are out of race because Wenger hasn’t done well for past 6-8 weeks and i think before next season when season starts on August 13th he needs make some changes to GK position and the Centre halves.

    This is what i think that wenger needs to add to squad & spend big money this summer like 20- 30 Million not shit money like 8-12 million,

    Players he should bring in the squad this summer are

    GK someone like Given or Lloris , Stekelenburg because i would choose a world class goalkeeper not szczesny because i don’t think he shouldn’t be No1 goalkeeper, because one he never save any penaltys two i don’t know why he shouldn’t gave the penalty to Tottenham Hotspur last night.

    next we need two center backs

    someone like Cahill because he is english and its about time getting english players not foriegn french players.

    second center back I would choose is Mertsacker from Germany because his very experience defender he is tall roughly 6 foot 5 he is very cheap to buy roughly around 10-12 Million and he has been linked with us since last summer and we do need someone tall like Vermaelen at the club.

    last bit i need to say is possible do you think that arsenal need a defensive midfielder like a viera to push in with holding midfield with song or do you think they need someone like Nigel De Jong, because Mancini doesn’t really use De Jong any more he drops him out of first team squad sometimes.

    Reply to this comment »
    • michael tanzer says:
      April 21, 2011 at 16:56

      Forget mertesacker as whoever talks about him who knows german football says that he is too slow and is at the centre of a defence that has let in more goals than any team in the german league. It will be like buying another igor stepanovs!!

      Reply to this comment »
      • Hunter says:
        April 21, 2011 at 17:49

        Central defense is little about speed and a lot about intelligence and positioning. Do you think Keown or Adams were blazing fast? No, they were both relatively slow but because of their intelligence they were two of the best England has ever seen.

        Reply to this comment »
  • Dave says:
    April 21, 2011 at 9:32

    As long as Wenger is manager you won’t see that happening. He’s either going to buy some mediocre player playing in an inferior league to save money or bring in some inexperience youngster who will mess up at some point and eventually sold to a club in the Championship.

    Reply to this comment »
  • tuneric says:
    April 21, 2011 at 9:44

    yes we need players that can win games on thier own but can we get them?all the players you are linking aren’t different from our current squad.i can bet it,bring ronaldo to arsenal to play under wenger he will definately turn crap in a season.he will be played out of position,given a stupid belive and menthal strength.bring back the invicibles for wenger and you will realise what i saw in 2004 when i told a friend that if there were to be more than man utd and arsenal challenging for titles in england,we don’t have a chance.he argued and fought and also told me that should not come from me as a top gunner and someone that love wenger so much but i told him i was thinking ahead.i feel bitter after every season because when jose M and rafael B were coming on board,i told him the time as come and also highlighted that it will be more difficult as we are moving to a new stadium he didn’t believe and we went as far as placing bet that by 2011 we wouldn’t have won any trophy now he calls me to ask what is the way forward and he has given me a title as chiefgunner.although i saw it coming but i am not happy about it because if not for some stupid mistake from arsene W we would have won @least three trophies in last five season.so i believe the way forward is for the board to give heat on wenger and make him believe the game has changed from when it used to be arsenal an man u.let me drop me pen here.sad!

    Reply to this comment »
  • A.j says:
    April 21, 2011 at 9:56

    Hi guys,when you mention of three players straightaway they come on my mind in the names of Gary cahil,Scot Parker and Ashley Young with no first team players moving out…we need english blood more in the team,.lets wait and see what will happen only time will tell

    Reply to this comment »
  • A.j says:
    April 21, 2011 at 10:01

    Hi guys,when you mention of three players straightaway they come on my mind in the names of Gary cahil,Scot Parker and Ashley Young with no first team players moving out…we need english blood more in the team,.lets wait and see what will happen only time will tell…

    Reply to this comment »
  • Akwasi Frustrated says:
    April 21, 2011 at 10:05

    I think we need to keep the current players plus add three more. I have been saying this for the last four years.

    I am not sure Mr Wenger is as stubborn as some people suggust. May be he had not been given the money.

    Anyway, to win something we need more players. We do not need to sell three and bring in two.

    Reply to this comment »
    • Hunter says:
      April 21, 2011 at 18:55

      Based on both the financial reports AND the board’s statements he had up to 40 million in the summer. Not to mention he could have sold Denilson, Rosicky, Almunia, Diaby, etc. to raise even more money.

      Reply to this comment »
  • jay kay says:
    April 21, 2011 at 10:17

    This has been the story of our season for the past 3yrs and hope with mr krokenke investments in the club it encouragres wenger to look for new overdue world class talent at arsenal honestly as much as we can be frustrated with wenger. The players have let him down. I believe with the addition of world class players it could give arsenal the pedigree that they desrve also we have some players who don’t derve to wear the red and white of arsenal . Arsenal need the following types of players : a strong defensive midfielder who marshallls the game and is able to be a bulldog in the midfield preferabley sumone who cn be an understudy to song someone whowho doesn’t hold the ball lyk dioaby. Most importantly a world class defender that that is physicall commanding and techinicallyy goood. Also a n innovative wide man who is able to feed in cross for chamakh to feed off which I believe hass been the reason chamahk hasn’t had the best of sesons sumone who is able to bring the same quality rober pires had . Lastly a natural born finisher hu can give us an extra option wen RVP is injured . Players who must go rosicky,denilison,eboue ,alumina ,squilacci,benddtner. Clichy if his contis still having problems Player we nEed to be a formiddable side mertesacker,mvilla ,hazard,baines ,benzema or papis cisse ,

    Reply to this comment »
  • GoonerPete says:
    April 21, 2011 at 11:22

    Why can we not play Walcott centrally in a Henry-type role? Bring in Eden Hazard to replace him on the wing.

    If it’s possible with the work-permit, recall Ryo from Feyenoord. He is playing awesomely and deserves to give Arshavin/Nasri some competition in the wide areas.

    Bring in Mertesacker/Cahill to demote Djourou/Koscielny to the bench. Bring in Vertongen and play him left-back (I don’t feel Gibbs has what it takes at the moment to be 1st choice left-back, controversial I know).

    Bring in a defensive-midfielder to give Song some competition/cover. Someone like Melo. I don’t think that we can look solely at a few good games from Frimpong and declare him the future.

    Get rid of Denilson, Almunia, Clichy, Squillaci, Bendner, Rosicky & Diaby (this list seems to be a recurring theme amongst most Gooners!). We should get £30m for all of this lot.

    The core of the team is already there. We have excellent attacking midfielders. We just need a reliable defense!

    I personally believe Wender is a great manager and should stay for as long as he wants to. However he really needs to admit his experiment using home-grown youth alone has failed. He needs to bring a few new names in to provide competition to those complacent few and to give variety to our play.

    Reply to this comment »
  • Ray says:
    April 21, 2011 at 12:44

    I will like to have:

    1. A strong striker that can bag in 20 goals per season to share the burden with RVP. No, Chamakh and Bendtner won’t score even 15 goals.

    2. A strong DCM like Vieira that can scare the hell out of every player and can control the midfield. Song is not there yet but I like to see him becoming such a defender then we don’t need to buy a DCM to replace him but we need someone to cover him.

    3. A good winger like Hazard. Rosicky can leave any time. Arshavin was good but now looks like not good enough.

    4. A CB, Sakho, Vertoughen, Metasacker or Garry Cahill.

    5. I like Nigel’s idea on GK in another interview. I will like to bring in Steekelenburg and at the same time continue to groom Szczesny. Szc is still a under develop product.

    6. Left back, if Clichy wants to leave, I don’t mind replacing him with Baines.

    Diably, Denilson, Squilacci, Almunia, Rosicky, Arshavin, Bendtner, Eboue can leave. The door is always open for them.

    Walcott, Nasri, Fabregas, RVP, Djourou, Vermaleen, Sagna, Wilshere, Ramsey, Szczesny should stay.

    Clichy, Koscielny, Gibbs, Chamakh are optional.

    Reply to this comment »
  • ck says:
    April 21, 2011 at 12:57

    are you serious Wenger go most stupid thing I have ever heard we have not finished 5th in ages all we need is a leader at the back so either bring someone in and make him captain or make Vermaelen captain

    Reply to this comment »
  • ck says:
    April 21, 2011 at 13:03

    Koscielny go retarded much it is his first season and also Diaby has impressive recently so I would not sell him and Walcott said next season he might get a run in the cup as a striker

    Reply to this comment »
  • Ben says:
    April 21, 2011 at 15:08

    Hopefully we buy some good players and not some kids. Kids doesn’t make the others work hard for their places. They just think meh my place is safe for another 2-3 years.

    Reply to this comment »
  • jason says:
    April 21, 2011 at 18:34

    Winterburn is spot on here in everything he saids.

    Arsenal Need a keeper, Centre back and a striker.

    If we get these we will win something.

    Reply to this comment »
  • egg kormas says:
    April 21, 2011 at 22:31

    If Everton can manage to draw against ManUre – then game on! BUT AFC will end up drawing vs Bolton to mess things up again! If, however, they beat Bolton..then the game vs ManUre will be of monumental proportions! I thnk we may see a few red cards…And a Manure win, alas.

    About wenger….What a manager..loyal and dedicated. If the baord sack him then WE are all mugs….Nobody on earth can touch wenger. He will deliver…as long as we all keep faith and the players get more savvy!

    N W

    Reply to this comment »
  • Adams says:
    April 21, 2011 at 23:48

    OUT AW!

    Reply to this comment »
  • Brian says:
    April 22, 2011 at 3:00

    To be honest we need a squad overhaul, next season the squad should be as follows:

    Sketlenburg, Szcecsny, Mannone,

    Sanga, Eboue, Baines, Gibbs

    Vermaelen, Cahill, Chilleni, Koscielny, Djourou, Campbell

    Song, Muntari, Wilshere, Ramsey, Vieira

    Walcott, Jesus Navas, Zidan, Arshavin, Hazard

    Nasri, Gourcuff

    Van Persie, Benzema, Chamakh, Lukaku, Henry

    Campbell, Vieira & Henry included for experience & to show rest of squad a true love for the club

    That would give us a 30 man squad which should provide sufficiant cover for any injuries and suspensions, which brings me to my next point;

    If The Arsenal are to win anything we need to replace the whole medical team as they seem unable to keep anyone fit for more than 5 games, we have the worst record in the league when it comes to injuries. This can’t all be bad luck, the physio’s should take some responsability too.

    I do beleive the squad above is affordable given the extra transfer budget brought by Stan Kroenke and the sale of the following players with reasons for sale and likely transfer fee;

    Almunia – Championship quality at best – 0-500k
    Fabianski – Not good enough to play at top club – 4-5 mil
    Squillachi – Poor Defender – 1-2 mil
    Clichy – Contract rebel & not as good as he once was – 15-20 mil
    Traore – Never been good enough – 500k-1 mil
    Diaby – mistake prone, has never learned – 5-7 mil
    Fabregas – Heart not in Arsenal & claims injury every time we loose – 35-50 mil
    Rosicky – Too far past his best – 2-3 mil
    Denilson – Poor in every position he plays – 1-3 mil
    Bendtner – Poor forward with little ability – 5-7 mil

    Total recived 68.5-98.5 mil

    If we don’t make the changes needed we can kiss goodbye to any league hpe and probably the top four too.

    Reply to this comment »
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