Case for the defence yet to be made by Wenger

Last updated : 30 June 2003 By Jason Hogan
Carr - Following Sol to Highbury?
For some people, that would be like asking what came first- the chicken or the egg? Others will probably say (in an ideal world) that you are far better off having a side that are capable of doing both. If only, eh? If only.

From Arsenal's point of view, last season proved beyond doubt that we have a side that is more than capable of scoring a goal or two. The only problem was that we developed this habit of conceding far too many particularly when it really mattered at the business end of last season and, needless to say, it cost us oh so dear in the end.

Now don't get me wrong; being strongly linked with the likes of Harry Kewell (despite our supposedly limited budget) is highly exciting but I am a little bit worried that Wenger has virtually made no positive steps to strengthen our defence so far.

I'm not referring to the goalkeeping situation as such because I don't think that is necessarily a really pressing issue. Remember, the Arsenal still have Stuart Taylor and Rami Shaaban on the books. Both may lack top-level experience but when they have come into the team, neither one of them have ever let the club down and we could do far worse than give one of them a go.

Now when you are talking about centre backs – well that's a different story. I've said it before and I will say it again, Pascal Cygan and Igor Stepanovs are quite simply not good enough to play for Arsenal Football Club and, if I had my way, both would be on their way out of Highbury faster than you could say Marble Halls.

Assuming that both Tweedle Dum (Cygan) and Tweedle Dee (Stepanovs) will be given the boot, we will be left with two recognised centre halves on the books – Campbell and Keown.

Having said that, if you were to take into account the fact that age, wear and tear clearly caught up with Keown big style last season, you have to feel that Wenger should really be in the market for two new centre halves.

True, Wenger has brought in the young Swiss “whiz kid”, Phillipe Sanderos and rumour has it that the 18 year old will be drafted straight into the first team squad but let's not get carried away here; the Premiership has proved to be a very hard school for far older, more experienced defenders (foreign or otherwise) than him so it would be wrong to place any serious expectations on him.

I'm sure that most Gooners have heard all the whispers about the likes of Phillippe Mexes, John Terry and William Gallas but I will now throw another name into the ring – a chap called Christoph Metzelder.

Metzelder played against us for Borussia Dortmund in last year's Champions League and he was outstanding in my view. He missed the last third of last year's Bundesliga campaign due to an Achilles problem though I understand that has now been cleared up. The boy is young (22 or 23), has pace, reads the game really well and physically he is tailor made for the rigours that only the Premiership can provide.

I have to admit that I have started to go off the idea of seeing Gallas in an Arsenal shirt. Yes, he IS a quality player but the way he has conducted himself in the last few days through the press throws up a warning sign.

I know that he is not the first player to let rip about the club he plays for but the fact is that he biting the hand that currently feeds him and you have to question the integrity and the true professionalism of a player that acts in this way.

You cannot afford to have loose cannons on board if you are going to be successful and Gallas is giving off the impression of being one.

I personally would go for John Terry all things being equal. Yes, he has had his problems and got himself into a situation he shouldn't have done. But I believe this boy is tailor made for Arsenal I really do.

A few weeks ago, Ken Bates said that there is a contract ready and waiting for Terry to sign but there still has been no official word that he has done so. So, on that score, you can say where there is life there is hope.
The name of Jaap Stam also came up in the papers this morning where it was claimed that Arsenal had held talks with the Dutchman. This claim, unsurprisingly in my view, has since been shot down and though Stam may well leave Lazio, it looks highly likely that he will be staying in Serie A.

The centre of our defence is not the only area that needs strengthening. What about the full back positions?

Lauren has not let anyone down as a right back but I feel that playing in midfield is where his strength truly lies. Who would be my choice at right back? Stephen Carr.

I know. He is another Spurs player but right now, he is in almost exactly the same kind of predicament Sol Campbell found himself in. At 26 going on 27, he knows that he cannot hang around too much longer if he wants to play at the highest level.

He will not be playing Champions League football with Spurs in the remaining two years he has on his contract with them so if he is going to move the time is surely now.

Playing for Arsenal would surely be attractive (notwithstanding the uproar and vitriolic abuse that would generate from the Spurs fans). After all, would he really want to go to United and compete with Gary Neville for the right back spot? Would he want to uproot his family to move to the other end of the country in order to play for Newcastle? And, even if he wanted to go to Chelsea, would they have the cash to buy him anyway?

If he came to Arsenal then there would be a strong chance that he would get first team action, he wouldn't have to uproot his family and he gets his dream of playing in the Champions league with a team that is genuinely capable of winning things. Jeez, I should become a salesman with a pitch like that even if I say so myself!

On the other side, Ashley Cole is still very much the number one and on the face of it, there does not seem to be anyone at the club that is capable of challenging him for that spot. Ryan Garry came in at the back end of last season for a taste of first team action but if Wenger doesn't fancy Garry as a long term prospect then he could do a lot worse than go out and make a bid for Charlton left back, Paul Konchesky.

Still, having said all of this, I am not Arsene Wenger at the end of the day. All I can do is map out my own case for the defence. I just hope that Wenger is doing the same. With the start of pre-season training now imminent, the clock is ticking. Time to start making some moves, Arsene!