Three things Arsenal must do in the next season..

This is an article I wrote for eyefootball.com in January 2012. Here's the original article. I am reproducing the article here after Arsenal lost the Champions League round of 16 match against AC Milan and the FA cup match against Sunderland in a week's time. Post the downslide, Arsenal have made a stunning comeback by winning the North London derby and the match against Liverpool (1-2) and AC Milan (3-0, but lost on aggregate 4-3). I am checking if I can do justice to soccer oriented topics. If you are reading this post, feel free to respond.

After being eliminated in the FA cup and the Champions League, Arsenal is again looking at an uncertain future. After the 8-2 loss Arsenal had with Manchester United, Arsene Wenger went into panic mode and bought players on the very last day of the transfer window. With another loss (1-2) against Manchester United, we thought Arsene Wenger might just be forced to make some changes and bring in new faces to strengthen the squad in the transfer window - eventually, that didn't happen. But time is what he wished he had! If Arsenal were to challenge the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea in the Premier League, FA cup and Champions League, reinforcements seem to be the only way forward.

Following are some of the areas Arsenal should concentrate on, in the next season -

We've seen this expression for the past 7 years..

1. Arsene Wenger must regain the trust of Arsenal fans - "In Arsene we trust" is slowly losing its charm (momentary gains but loses it almost immediately). It was clearly evident from the response he got when Chamberlain was substituted by Arshavin in the match against Manchester United. And now with reports of him being on the shortlist to replace Mourinho in Real Madrid, the trust factor isn't helping! With every passing day, Wenger leaving Arsenal is gaining momentum! Even a coach wouldn't want to continue with a team who hasn't qualified for the Champions League. His desires will be the same as that of his players, after all. With all these negatives against Arsene, he still is expected to lead his team to win the silverware. As Arsene himself said, finishing the season in the top 4 is equivalent to a silverware this season! The mountain this season may be too much for a certain Arsene Wenger to climb.

2. Buy a striker - On current form and the formation (4-2-3-1), RVP is the only person capable of scoring goals for Arsenal. In case of any injuries, Arsenal will have no one to replace RVP. By buying a striker, Arsenal can have a suitable backup in case RVP considers leaving Arsenal - which seems to be a possibility considering the recent results and possibility of missing out on Champions League next season. Hence, one outright striker is what Arsenal needs - ASAP. Podolski could be an option. Thierry Henry was a temporary solution. Gervinho has speed and skill, but hasn't exactly pleased Arsenal fans to the fullest. One of either Chamakh / Arshavin should be sold. Their presence on the bench is not adding any visible value to the team. Selling one of them will be a win-win situation for both the parties as Arsenal stands to gain monetarily and the sold player will have more options to impress their new team. This will be a make or break summer transfer window for Arsenal. They will have to buy talent - no second thoughts.

3. Retain quality players - There's no doubt in anyone's mind that RVP should be retained. He is Arsenal's mainstay. Chamberlain should be considered as a long term prospect. Extend the contract of Walcott despite his current form and going by the latest information, Walcott himself seems to be ready to extend his contract. Extend Tomas Rosicky's contract (even for a year) – despite his age. He can be utilized in the midfield along with Arteta, Wilshire, Song, Ramsey, Benayoun. This way, Arsenal can rotate among the current crop of players to ensure everyone has match practice and are most importantly, fit to compete! Arsenal's defense will definitely improve once the injured players return. Arsenal should persist with Mertesacker. He is slowly adapting himself in the premier league and despite his lack of speed, his height is a distinct advantage.

In sport, it's only natural to climb the ladder of success and fall right back to where one originally started. What defines a successful team from the rest is how quickly they make the changes and adapt to the new set of opportunities that arise with every obstacles they face.