est wrote:
Would be hilarious if we just went in and signed Van Dijk after Liverpool had been chasing him for months.
Don't see it happening though. Would cost too much and he'd kill the likes of Holding and Mustafi. And we're not pro-active enough to start replacing Per and Kos before they're gone.
A back three of Koscielny, Van Dijk and Mustafi would be a great way to start the season. I think Holding is still at the stage where he needs to fight and win a place rather than be handed minutes on a plate. As good as some of his appearances have been, he’s been downright poor in some others and has got a lot to learn.
Despite being a powerhouse in the final, I’m not expecting Mertesacker to play much this season. Or rather he shouldn’t, but we all know the position Wenger’s squad building usually leaves us in. I don’t think he’d be able to replicate the performance of the final across a string of games, and I think it’s clear he was able to raise his level for a one off high pressure game. I still think he'd be a competent back up to call upon, alongside Holding, but it's a stretch to assume he'd have any real part to play in our season.
