Wengerball: Return of the King

Yet another injury crisis at the Emirates (it must be something in the lasagne) has left Arsène Wenger contemplating emergency loan deals in January. Meanwhile, the gaffer has also conceded Arsenal's unlikely title charge over after the narrow loss to Man City as Wojciech Szczesny claims the focus is now on finishing higher than arch rivals Tottenham.

Wengerball attempts to chart yet another season in the Arsenal red and white, one that hopefully culminates in much anticipated glory in England's highest footballing echelon.

Striving for Per-fection

"Let me play a season and you can get the full picture of my personality and my ability as a footballer."

So said central defender Per Mertesacker last week (and with it comes the temptation to slip in the words 'giant', 'towering' or 'beanpole', but I shall resist for this week). Signed from Werder Bremen as the transfer window drew to a close, the German international has struggled to impress in the Arsenal first team this season. Although the return of Arsenal favourite Thomas Vermaelen has papered over the cracks a little, there is no arguing that Mertesacker's form to his point has been anything but patchy. While his pace (or rather the lack of it) was a factor early on, Mertesacker seems to have realised the magnitude of the task at hand and made efforts to adapt.

"[EPL players] have a lot of strength, a lot of speed, it doesn't compare to the Bundesliga." the 27-year-old explained. "The technical ability is similar, but the speed and the physical power is different."

The ship has been steadied since the early season horror show, but there is still much to be done for Arsenal's newest central defender. With fullbacks dropping like fleas at the club, Mertesacker has had to learn to pair up with various different team mates in the centre of defence, sometimes even in the same game. For while Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou and Ignasi Miquel might be called on to deputise on either flank, Mertesacker stays put in front of the box.

There are signs that thing are starting to go right for German though. His heading prowess is as good as always, and while he will always struggle to keep up with the speedier players in the league, his timing in the tackle is usually impeccable. Mertesacker's large frame means he can slide in to nick the ball off a charging striker with minimal fuss, and if there's one thing you can say about him, it's that he definitely offers something different to the Arsenal defence.

Just like Koscielny took a whole season to adapt, Mertesacker might just grow into his role at the club. Koscielny was panned as a second-rate signing when he first arrived at Arsenal from the French second tier but has found another gear this season and displaced Djourou from the starting lineup. It was also Koscielny mopping up around Mertesacker earlier in the season in Vermaelen's absence and has also done a solid job at right back after Bacary Sagna's leg break.

For now, Arsenal fans will have to be patient. But if the past is anything to go by, it'll just be a matter of time for Per Mertesacker before he takes the Premier League by storm.

A No Confidence Vote

Just when Manchester United are running out of central defenders (welcome to the club, Sir Alex!), Arsenal have lost the services of all their fullbacks. With Kieran Gibbs suffering yet another setback in his recovery and requiring another operation, Arsène Wenger admitted that he might have to magic up some emergency loan signings come this January.

"If you have to sign a player for three or four years and then you have three or four left backs, only one can play, so they are not happy," explained the Arsenal gaffer. "I will see what's available and if there's a good opportunity [to loan in someone]. Why not?"

Some sections of the media have fallen over themselves trying to add two and two together to get twelve. Wayne Bridge has been pinpointed as the obvious target, given the unhappy stalemate at Manchester City. Notwithstanding the former England international's inclination to move to Arsenal, is he really good enough for the team? Do remember his debut for West Ham against Arsenal and how he single handedly handed our team the match on a platter. This is very much a footballer on the decline and not worth whatever wage he will be demanding (while some might point out that Man City could pay his wage for the duration of the loan, Roberto Mancini's insistence that a player should look toward his career rather than the money he earns should be an indication that they are not willing to do so for much longer). At this rate, even Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn would be equally viable, and no doubt cheaper targets.

Of another matter entirely is Thierry Henry's mooted return to the club. With the MLS season over, the former Gunners captain has returned to London to catch up with old friends and reminisce as a statue of himself is unveiled outside the Emirates. Just like his counterparts at LA Galaxy, Landon Donovan and David Beckham, Henry has been thinking about signing a short-term loan deal at the highest level. Arsène Wenger, it seems, has heard the call.

"Short-term is ideal for us but I haven't made any enquiry yet," Wenger said a day before Christmas. "Thierry is not here at the moment. January 1 is the vital date and we have seven days to make decisions. I will make my decision in the next seven days."

But is it such a good idea after all? No one can deny that Henry is a much loved Arsenal legend, and deserves to be feted as so. But besides the chance that Henry might do a "Michael Schumacher" and tarnish his legacy by returning to his old stomping grounds whilst a pale imitation of his former glories, we must also consider the long-term implications to the club. What happens when the loan deal runs out and Henry leaves again for New York?

Robin van Persie has been in the form of his life, and it is no secret that Wenger is keen to safeguard his notoriously fragile charge. It is the backup strikers however that are the problem. Marouane Chamakh has never been the same since burning out half a season after he arrived. His cameos for the first team since then have been utterly disastrous, showing both an inability to score goals and a total lack of confidence in turning things around. It remains to be seen if a sidetrip to the Africa Cup of Nations will help him rediscover his scoring touch, but he will be back in February and Henry will still be at the club. The other striker on the Arsenal bench (and sometimes not even making it there) is one Chu-Young Park. The South Korean skipper has been a forgotten man at Arsenal. Signed on deadline day, his lack of opportunities in the Premier League has led some to question why he was recruited in the first place. Take into consideration that his time is limited and Arsenal will lose him for nothing when he returns to Asia to serve his national service in two years time, and you wonder if it was a waste of time bringing him to Arsenal.

But back to Thierry Henry and the situation at hand. Imagine if you are Chamakh or Park and you know your form has been bad. Arsenal plays with one lone striker up forward, which means your opportunities are already limited. Then comes a veteran former player back on a short-term loan deal and even he gets selected ahead of you (can you imagine Wenger loaning Henry just to put him in the stands?). What do you think then? What does that mean for your career?

If you think back to last season, this scenario has already been played out once. Following the injuries to all four first team goalkeepers, Wenger re-signed colourful goalkeeper Jens Lehmann on an emergency loan deal. While Manuel Almunia eventually returned to first team duties, the press was constantly speculating if the Lehmann would replace a woefully out of form Almunia. After the Spaniard was injured in the warm up against Blackpool, Lehmann came on to become the oldest player to play for the club in the Premier League. That was significant for you knew from then on that Almunia's time as a first team player at Arsenal was well and truly up. If a washed up player who's retired and is actually only in London to do his coaching badges is preferred to you in a professional match, you know your days are numbered. While it isn't as extreme with Henry, it has to be pointed out that Chamakh and Park are not as old as Almunia either.

Being dropped in favour of Henry might just be a sign to the two strikers that their careers would be better served by moving elsewhere. While van Persie is in scintillating form for the moment, a club like Arsenal cannot rely on just one striker. Henry's return will be brief, but it might have more lasting repercussions than the length of his stay. Arsène Wenger would have to consider the implications of such a move before playing his hand.

It's going to be an interesting January for all involved.

Your Opinion: Thierry Henry's proposed move back to Arsenal. Is it really worth it, and will he struggle to make an impact in the modern EPL game?

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