After missing out on Champions League football this season, Arsene Wenger seems to have had enough, as he has now spent big on two star-strikers, in the space of five months. But there are other issues in the squad, that need to be addressed before they can compete with the best again.
Petr Cech’s position in goal is one area Wenger is concentrating on and one player he wants to bring to Emirates as a long-term fix is Atletico Madrid star, Jan Oblak.
Sanllehi Takes Arsenal Close To Oblak:
According to reports from Spanish news outfit Sport, former Barcelona executive Raul Sanllehi, who only joined Arsenal recently, is now working on a deal to land the 25-year old this summer as a long-term replacement for Czech Republic star Petr Cech, who is now 35.
Also wanted by the likes of PSG and Liverpool, Oblak could cost close to €100m. So should Arsenal sign him up?
Oblak And His Numbers:
Having moved to Spain from SL Benfica back in 2014, Oblak did not take too long to establish himself as the first choice under the bar for Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital. He made his international debut for Slovenia as a youngster, back in 2012 and is now the first choice for the side, making 18 appearances to date.
He also has 100 La Liga appearances, where he has let in just 54 goals, keeping 59 clean sheets. He also has 34 UCL appearances, where he has 19 clean sheets and is widely regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe at the moment.
At 25, Oblak is still learning the trade and has a decade of his best game to showcase in Europe. He is smart with his handling and distribution but his strengths are his reflexes and shot stopping abilities. He was a part of the La Liga team of the season in the last two seasons and is one of the best options available in the market for Arsenal.
Long-Term Replacement For Cech?
Wenger sold Wojciech Szczęsny to Juventus in the summer and is left with David Ospina as the only backup in the senior side to Petr Cech. Matt Masey has done well when called upon but is not ready for top flight football while Dejan Iliev is the only other player who puts on a glove at the Emirates.
Oblak is certainly an attractive option and though his price tag might scare the English outfit, he has enough potential and will probably win Arsenal at least 5 points a season, as he has been doing in La Liga.
There are not many top class options available in the transfer market but do you think Arsenal should spend €100m on Oblak?
