Arsenal finally set to attend to a key flaw
Arsenal have often been accused in recent years of lacking leadership and organisation at the back since the brilliant back four that Arsene Wenger inherited faded away and the partnership he built between Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure started to decline and moved on.
The Frenchman's inability or apparent unwillingness to address that problem has prompted constant criticism of the Frenchman, but his comments after his side's 2-1 loss to Bolton about the absence of a commanding presence has caused several newspapers to speculate that changes are on the way.
Ray Parlour has hit out at the extent to which his former boss is attacked in the press for the lack of silverware at the Emirates yet has admitted that he feels that a new defender could make a huge difference in their quest to end what is almost certainly set to become a seven-year trophy drought.
He said: "I'd buy Gary Cahill and try to mould him into Tony Adams. If Arsenal had a Tony Adams at the back now, they'd win the league - no doubt about that."
Ex-Gunners goalkeeper Bob Wilson has also commented on the situation in north London and reckons that the solution to their defensive deficiencies could already be on the books in the guise of long-term injury absentee Thomas Vermaelen.
The 1970-71 double winner doesn't appear to subscribe to the view that a single addition or even two or three will instantly transform Arsenal from a club frequently challenging for the title but always missing out, stating that "I can only believe it is character or personality thing".
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Published: 26 Apr 2011
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