Having looked yesterday at the possibles for the remainder of the season, perhaps now is good time to look ahead to the Summer and beyond. Specifically, at the personnel and movements in and out of the Club. As I have stated this week, I do not think that there will be a major overhaul of the squad this year because it is not necessary. Genuinely, that is what I believe. There is sufficient talent already realised that needs to have experience added to it and but realistically, we have to accept that there will be departures and arrivals. First of all though, I will divide the current first team squad into those who I think will stay and those whom I believe may be leaving Arsenal:

Remaining

Goalkeepers: Almunia

Defenders: Hoyte, Eboue, Gallas, Toure, Senderos, Djourou, Clichy, Traore

Midfielders: Hleb, Rosicky, Fabregas, Gilberto, Diaby, Denilson

Forwards: Henry, Adebayor, van Persie, Baptista, Bendtner, Walcott

Possible Departures

Goalkeepers: Lehmann

Defenders: Gilbert

Midfielders: Muamba, Ljungberg

Forwards: Aliadiere, Lupoli

Now some of those on the way out have already affirmed their intention to go – Lupoli – whilst others on loan have seen their potential routes to the First Team blocked by the emergence of others – Gilbert & Muamba.

Lehmann may yet stay and to be honest, it would not surprise me if he did yet there is a real possibility of him being offered a two-year deal elsewhere which is his right to accept. Nobody can have any complaints about that decision were he to take it and whilst he is still able to hold down the Number One spot, perhaps this is a good time to bring in some new blood. Which leaves Ljungberg and Aliadiere. It is not a sign of a mystic gift to believe they will be shown the door, somewhat unwillingly in Freddie’s case but I believe that they hold two positions that need changing. In JA’s case, much will depend on whether Baptista stays. It is my belief that he will and that will not be a universally popular decision with fans if Arsene decides to do so. With Bendtners return to the Club, JA though slips further down the pecking order, even further if you consider that Theo sees himself as a central striker rather than a winger.

So if they leave, who do we bring in? Below is my view on the “current” replacements:

Goalkeepers

Nominations are: Akinfeev, Buffon, Carson, Coupet, Gomes, Gordon

No doubt Arsene has others but these are the ones that anyone has heard of. Buffon for me is a non-starter. He will blow most of the Clubs transfer budget, something that AW will be reluctant to do in one go. The other reason that I don’t believe that Buffon will come to The Emirates is that should he become available, the public utterances that were made last Summer lead me to believe that he will stay in Italy with Internazionale or AC Milan being the probable destination. Of the remainder, I believe Carson to also be unlikely on the grounds that Liverpool will be reluctant to release him to a rival. Plus, there is no certainty that Reina will remain their Number One if Carson returns given the form shown by the two this season. Which leaves Akinfeev, Coupet, Gordon and Gomes. Of those, most of us will have seen the Russian and Brazilian at close quarters in the Champions League this season. Neither did anything that shook the belief both will be capable of holding down the main Goalkeeper role at the Club; both have reportedly been in imperious form for their Clubs, Gomes credited with being responsible for PSV’s eight point lead. Akinfeev has kept goal well for CSKA and has European honours to match his reputation. Neither would be cheap, probably around the £5m to £8m mark. Coupet though is the one that I believe Arsene will plump for. It is also likely that he has seen more of Coupet than any of the others in recent years and knows his game inside out. The Lyon ‘keeper has plenty of Champions League experience which is something Arsene will want. Moreover, he is now ensconced as France’s first choice following Barthez’s retirement and that in itself carries some kudos. Craig Gordon at Hearts has been strongly linked but at the risk of those hailing from North of the Border, I’m thinking Alan Rough, Frank Haffey and Stewart Kennedy. Or perhaps more pertinently, George Wood and Jim Leighton. Sorry, but I just cannot get my head around the concept of a good Scottish goalkeeper. Kind of like a good Brazilian ‘keeper, it just doesn’t sit comfortably in the mind. Gomes? Brazilian? Yea Gods, the Sky is falling in! Gordon is a genuine contender for The Emirates, putting in solid displays for Hearts in recent seasons, being the Player of the Year in 2005 / 06 Season. At twenty five, potentially he could be a long term replacement for Lehmann, something that weighs heavily in his favour.

Defenders:

No nominations here because I genuinely do not believe that we need a new Centre Half, Right Back or Left Back. There is clamour building for Senderos to be replaced but with Connolly coming on in Reserve, do we need to look outside of the Club for any replacement? That said, I am not convinced that Senderos will be sacrificed. He reminds me of a young Tony Adams, the same criticisms were heard of him from without and within during the early days and look at the career he had. Senderos has much to learn still in his trade and with Djourou there, showing a considerable amount of potential, with Gilberto available in emergencies, I would suggest that there are more than enough defenders to cover injuries and suspensions. However, an outside punt may be worth looking at is signing Vincent Kompany from Hamburg. Unlikely that he would stay around in the event of Hamburg’s relegation although at the moment that seems unlikely, he could be available for around £5m. He would be a worthwhile addition to the squad, comfortable on the ball and with Champions League experience. Personally, despite his good season at ‘Boro, I would be surprised if Woodgate was signed in view of his injury problems in the past and it would mean a serious plethora of Centre Halves at the Club.

Midfielders:

Candidates: Babel, Barnes, Quaresma, Ribery, van der Vaart

There are a lot of wide players whom you could see Arsene signing but I have picked just four; Barnes would be an archetypal Wenger signing. He is young and full of promise , performing well for Derby. From my limited viewing, he has shown plenty of trickery but I feel on this occasion AW will require experience something that Barnes totally lacks. Babel would be a signing in the mould of van Persie and Walcott. Essentially a central striker but for the rigours of the Premiership, AW would probably put him as a wide man. He is a close friend of RvP and has visited The Emirates, the source of the transfer speculation. Marco van Basten believes him to be the best talent in Holland at the moment, something that is praise indeed. Babel knows where the goal is so can theoretically contribute goals, something lacking in the current midfield. Quaresma like Ribery is an out and out winger and he has an impressive touch. van der Vaart surprised people by signing for Hamburg yet is another who would fit well at The Emirates, his pace and vision would be a welcome addition. Ribery is the one though that I believe most Arsenal supporters will plump for. Highly rated by all and sundry, he has played outside of France before with a short spell at Galatasaray. He strikes me as the closest to Robert Pires of the three and I have to say, is someone who would be a welcome addition at The Emirates.

Forwards:

An interesting decision for Arsene to make and I am not sure a forward is high on his list of priorities as I have a hunch that RvP and Henry are going to be his first choice strikers next season. However, there is no certainty he will sign Baptista but a reasonable one that Aliadiere will leave. With Bendtner back, but unproven, the squad looks light in the forward line so he may want another goalscorer around to cover emergencies, injuries and suspensions.

Nominations: Eto’o, Robinho, Torres, Villa

Of that particular bunch, none. Robinho would in my opinion offer nothing that we do not already have. Eto’o is a Fantasy League signing, the money demanded if he were available simply out of Arsenal’s reach. Torres I remain unconvinced by but is undeniably talented whilst Villa is the one that everyone wants in the shopping basket. He and Eto’o are the goalscorers that the team really needs and I would expect Arsene to sign someone of that style. Given cash is not as plentiful as at Old Trafford or in seemingly endless pockets of Abramovich, any auction would see us priced out of bidding for both. Villa and Torres I am not convinced will come to this country in any event with Barcelona the supposed chosen destination for Torres and Villa I have a feeling, staying put at Valencia.

Looking around Europe, Fred at Lyon could be a potential target at a cheaper price, and has a record of a goal virtually every other game for the French champions; Steve Savidan to me could be an outside punt as well, the Valenciennes forward seems a Wenger player with goals every other game or so, low profile and currently leading scorer in Le Championnat. Counting against him though is age and at 29, he may be a touch older than Arsene wants in one who is unproven at the highest level. Bremen’s Miroslav Klose in Germany has been averaging around a goal every other game for the past four seasons and would add some aerial threat, having the requisite CL and International experience. The usual suspects of Luca Toni and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are mentioned regularly when looking for experienced forwards but I suspect that the former is deemed too old at thirty whilst the latter comes with a Government Health Warning on his temperament. Finally, in Spain, Diego Milito at Zaragoza is a consistent scorer whilst Robert at Betis has the advantage of not being able to hit a Cow’s Arsenal with a Banjo from the penalty spot.

Realistically though, I expect Arsene to pull a rabbit out of the hat with a low-profile forward who can be schooled in the Arsenal ways.

One final word, there is no inside track on this one; I have no knowledge of targets as you can tell. But given this is the first Summer for quite a few seasons where there appears to be scope for genuine transfer activity, i.e. the Club have money and several players appear to have reached the end of the road, it could be interesting times ahead.