'Ozil, Alexis & Xhaka are not top class'

7 years ago

'Ozil, Alexis & Xhaka are not top class'

The Gunners have only signed the Switzerland international so far this summer but have been warned they must spend big if they are to challenge for the Premier League title

Arsenal need to make some "wow" signings this summer because they lack star quality and Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Granit Xhaka are not good enough, according to Stan Collymore.

Arsene Wenger has brought in only Xhaka this summer but has insisted he is willing to spend “big money” on the right players before the start of the season.

The Gunners have already missed out on Jamie Vardy while Gonzalo Higuain is set to join Juventus, and Collymore feels they need to make a signature signing to have any chance of the Premier League title.

“I still believe that Wenger's team could be right in the top-four mix, I only think that will happen if they sign a boss central defender and/or a boss central striker, otherwise they could just as easily miss out,” he wrote in theSunday Mirror.

"That, for a team which relies on finishing in the Champions League spots season in, season out, would be a disaster. It would also, I’m sorry to say, leave Wenger’s reputation shredded to bits.
"It is as clear as day to the rest of us what Wenger’s squad needs, yet for some reason he is so stubborn with the Emirates chequebook. Sol Campbell, you could argue. He offered great defensive stability.

"But I still don’t feel Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez or Granit Xhaka are of the highest level. They’re very good players. Xhaka is the right type of signing, mobile and aggressive.

"But his arrival didn’t light up the eyes of Arsenal fans in the same way that Zlatan Ibrahimovic's did with Manchester United's, or Paul Pogba's will do, if his deal gets done.

"Wenger could have done it with Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan could be banging in goals for Arsenal now rather than Barcelona.

"Wenger and his Arsenal paymasters don’t seem to possess that ruthless streak. We know he has money to spend, but he is unwilling to take risks.

"But sometimes you have to gamble and pay whatever it takes to get a Gonzalo Higuain or similar striker.

"That’s why Wenger needs those one or two "wow" signings and fast – otherwise Guardiola, Mourinho and Conte could taint his legacy for ever."