Should Arsenal Swoop for these Relegated Players?

When teams are relegated there are normally no rich pickings as the squads are so below par they would not bring anything to your team.  This season we have season on of the “giants” relegate in Newcastle United, whilst Middlesbrough are team laden with young talented players. 

Wenger should take a look at several players who could add to our squad.

Steven Taylor is 23 years old and has made over 100 appearances for the Magpies in the Premier League.  Taylor is a central defender, but can also play as a right back and left back; he is a player who has gone about his job quietly but effectively.  Had Taylor been at a top four team, he would have been an England regular.  Taylor is a London lad, so there would be no issue about him settling back in London.  Taylor signed a new contract last summer earning him £35,000 a week.  With the Geordies down players will be looking at their personal career progression. Wenger could acquire Taylor for £8 million. Taylor would be a major addition to our squad and the perfect defender.

Taylor’s defensive partner Sebastien Bassong is also a defender who is available.  Bassong is French, which makes him a favourite for the press to link him with Arsenal.  Bassong is 22 years old and can play a central defender or left-back. The player has stated that he is not interested in playing in the Championship.  There will be a scramble for his signature.  Bassong has been a stable player this season, but has been prone to a few errors of judgement.

If Arsene decides to sell Adebayor, then he will no doubt take another look at Obafemi Martins.  Martins is 24 or 27 years old and a Nigerian international.  He has a good scoring record for Newcastle, 28 goals in 88 games.  He has great pace, is strong, aggressive and scores from outside the area as well as from inside the box.  We have been linked with Martins for two seasons now, as far as Arsenal are concerned it is now or never for Obafemi.

Down the road Middlesbrough’s David Wheater has stated he will not ask for a transfer, but he will leave it up to the manager to decide his future.  There will be a host of clubs looking at adding Wheater to their squad.  He is a no nonsense defender, great in the air, a threat at set pieces and will develop into one of England’s great centre-halves. Wheater may be young at 22, but he will be a great defender to bring to the club, ticking all the boxes.

Wheater’s team-mate Stewart Downing would have been in demand this summer had he not been injured.  Downing, subject to recovering, is a winger in the true mode.  He has been much maligned in certain media quarters, perhaps because he does not have the trickery (and wastefulness) of Aaron Lennon, but he has accuracy in his crossing.  Downing will be a player who could supply the crosses for Bendtner or Adebayor.

Wenger should not feel guilty about taking players from clubs that have been relegated, that is the way of football.  At both Newcastle and Middlesbrough are three central defenders worthy of a look.  The two English players will add and strengthen our defense.