What do Arsenal need in order to compete again ?

Not many players need to be signed to be honest.. Just the right players.

To start with, they need to hold on to the current key players that have been linked with other clubs. I'm talking Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla, Arteta, Ox etc. Hold on to these guys and build around them, it's imperative.

Arsenal always build up, but then get knocked down in one way or another. This is the same story every season. Lost RVP and Song last season. Lost Nasri, Cesc and Clichy before that. Couple seasons before that it was Toure and Adebayor. Before that it was Hleb, Gilberto Silva and Flamini. Before that it was Reyes, Ljungberg and Lehmann. Before that it was Henry, Cole and Sol Campbell. Then in the 2005/06 season, it was Viera and Pires. It's no coincidence that that was just after Arsenal won their last trophy in 2005. Since then that common pattern of selling key players occurred in just about every season and in turn we have seen the Gunner's decline and not gain any silverware either.

So keeping the key talent they have is probably the most important step in actually improving.

Then we look at the areas in which they lack quality. I personally think Szczensny is a good goalkeeper and despite the rumours linking Arsenal with other keepers, I think they're fine holding on to him as their number 1. He will only improve. The defence is actually quite strong. Mertesacker and Koncielny are a good partnership with Vermaelen a decent option there too. If anything they can add a bit of depth in central defence, always good to have. The fullback positions look strong to me. Sagna is a top established talent who is one of the best in the league on his day. Jenkinson is an up and coming star in his own right who has put in some good performances. Monreal has proved to quality in my opinion, exactly what they needed at left back. Gibbs is another talent who is good in that role, but is still developing.

Moving to midfield, I think Wenger sees Ramsey and Wilshere as the future. Wilshere is obviously a class talent. But many people were disregarding Ramsey as not good enough after his injury. Wenger on the other hand really sees something in him and that's evident with the amount of game time he has gotten this season. To his credit, I believe he has really stepped up as a player this season and he still is improving game by game too. Arteta provides a quality option who can be absolute class on his day, so depth here is decent. One thing I think they can do with in midfield is adding a top class midfield enforcer. Someone who can sit in a withdrawn role and really tidy things up. Ideally with their style of play they could do with a Michael Carrick type of player.. someone who reads the game defensively and has a good passing game. Think this is vital.

Offensively they looks quite strong in options out wide. Cazorla has been a bit of a winger in the latter stages of the season. Walcott has been a great talent and they should keep hold of him. Ox looks promising every time I see him and I think he'll be given more game time next season. Not to mention Miyachi who may be given a first team role at Arsenal next season and he's a good young player too. The striking position needs some real quality. Podolski isn't good enough in my opinion and Girioud has just been a let down. So I think a top quality striker is needed and Podolski can be pushed out wide and Giroud can play a part off the bench.

In terms of signings, I think they'll do well in bringing in a defender like Ogbonna from Torino. He has been turning heads and big clubs are interested. Arsenal are one club however who can really do with him as a starter, so that could be tempting for him. That midfielder enforcer role could be filled by a host of names, but one that I think would fit Arsenal's fast paced football perfectly is Rasmus Elm from CSKA Moscow. Up front I think Arsenal need to splash out big for once. Jovetic is a strong link and he's a top young talent, could be a great signing. However I believe that Arsenal would do great in bringing in Benteke. He's young, extremely good and looking for a new club. Wenger could do wonders with a talent like him and his powerful presence and constant attacking threat is something Arsenal have lacked since RVP left.

3 signings, Probably cost 60mil max. Well worth it in my opinion.

In My opinion they need a World Class Star or 2 ... When you look through your Squad I see a Solid Team with "Good Players" most of the Way through but no Standout Player Like a Henry or Bergkamp was ..

You can tell they are a "Solid Team" Because they consistently Get Top 4 Every Season But Should be Challenging for Some sort of Trophy...... My Guess is that Wenger doesn't want a Big Star with a Big ego in the Dressing room But That's just a Guess.. Although I will Admit I don't know as much as some of the Arsenal Fans that will no doubt Answer

And no I don't think Walcott, Cazorla, Wilshire Etc. Are World Class Players

I'll put it as simply as I can. Arsenal need a leader on the field. A Gerrard or Terry. As seen yesterday, Weidenfeller.

It is almost impossible to see what else you need, until you have a player that can rouse the team and carry it forward as well as organize it.

A lot of people compare Wilshere and Gerrard, though Wilshere has really good technical ability, he isn't a leader yet no matter how hard he tries. It comes with experience.

Maybe this is all that Arsenal are lacking to be a top three side. If you include Munich, Juventus, Dortmund, Barcelona and Madrid in the top clubs, then you are a long long way from home.

I think just the return of Fabregas and a forward like Van persie will be enough. Even Giroud is a good forward, it is not enough for a big team like Arsenal. You can notice that the best times of Arsenal coincided with good forwards like Henry, Van Persie. This year Arsenal's main problem was forward. Also they need a good goalkeeper too. Scnezy is an expert but he always have health problems and cannot play during the season, Arsenal need a constant goalkeeper. With new transfers, Wilshere, Arteta, Walcott will play better too.

Arsenal need to use their money wisely this transfer widow. They need new players in GK and ST:

GK: Valdes is set to leave Barcelona this season and a possible destination would be in Arsenal. They need his experience and confidence (he has won several trophies in the past 5 years)

ST: Arsenal need a good striker in order to score more goals. I think they should sign David Villa from Barcelona. Villa is a great striker who has everything Arsenal are looking for.

Someone on the left of midfield. A all round striker. You don't have a striker that can score 25+ goals a season. A goalkeeper. Your one is horrible at times. Seriously, he can be real bad!

Other than that i think you actually have a good group of players.

Cheers.

What Arsenal needs is a leader.Sign Kaka from Real Madrid he might not be at his best but i think he will do well for Arsenal.

They need to sign some big name players ,their football style is great but lacks a cutiing edge that expierence and quality bring .RVP was never replaced by a player of equal quality or even close

I ll said about 5, a new goalkeeper, a defender, a midfielder, and a couple of good striker, maybe Villa

atleast 5 world class players