Sorry - with all due respect, I think we've got to stop kidding ourselves with this kind of ultra-optimist squad depth vision. Sol Campbell next season is a huge doubt, he will be 36 in September. Kyle Bartley? He's played, what, ten games for Sheff Utd? Counting on him for anything is asking for disaster and unfair to the lad, anything we get from him should be a bonus. Nordveit's been frozen out in Nurnburg(sp?) and isn't guaranteed to come good, either. Finally, Djourou we know to be good enough to get by at least, but he's going to need time to come back. So we have Vermaelen, Gallas (if he stays) and Djourou (in recovery) as the only real options in centre-back.

One signing, provided it was quality, might still be alright... If Gallas leaves, it would have to be two.

My criteria are:

1. Two first top class centre backs - 50 matches each
2. One experienced cover
3. One developing with potential and some experience
4. Two potentials for depth

1. Vermealen + Another
2. Gallas or buy someone
3. Djourou
4. Bartley + others

I'm happy if we keep Gallas as one of three fighting with a new player, but at £90k a week I'm no sure that offers value. I think he's off in search of a less demanding league and two year contract.

Djourou - How I really suffered knee injury
By Nick Teale
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archiv ... nee-injury

Johan Djourou's knee injury was NOT sustained while on international duty with Switzerland. In fact, the defender had been suffering for some time before needing to have the operation that kept him out of action before Sunday's substitute role when replacing Mikael Silvestre. The 23-year-old made the revelation in an exclusive interview with Arsenal TV Online's 'Spotlight' programme, available on demand now. He also told the show that manager Arsène Wenger had told him the reason he allowed Kolo Toure to join Manchester City was because it was time for Djourou to become a first-team regular. The Swiss international featured prominently in Arsenal's pre-season campaign, starting five of the seven matches. However, the Gunners' final warm-up match - a trip to Valencia - was the last time he was seen in an Arsenal shirt. A week before the start of the new term he was forced to have an operation on a swollen knee. The problem had been causing Djourou concern during the pre-season but Arsenal's medical team had been keeping on top of the issue. However, it flared up during training ahead of Switzerland's friendly game with Italy, forcing the defender to require an operation.

"To be fair I had a knee problem already," he said. "So that is why the Valencia game was my last game. It wasn't something that happened with the Swiss team as has been mentioned - I'd had it for a while. I had been playing with it since the end of the season before so sometimes I had my knee being swollen up after games but it wasn't that painful. It got to the point that it was very painful and I just couldn't do anything so I had to go in [for an operation]. At the time I wasn't [aware how serious it was] because I thought I had swelling for no reason because I had no pain. I was wondering why so we had to do scans and things like that. Then, when I heard [the extent of the injury], it was a bit of a shock for me because it was something quite big and you never know what can happen with injuries like this with the knee. It is always difficult to take."

Adding to the defender's woes was the fact that this was meant to be his season to break into the first team. Last term he made 13 Premier League starts and was hopeful of more to come this campaign. The departure of Kolo Toure to Manchester City was set to open doors for the 23-year-old to make more starts this term and Djourou has revealed that is precisely what Arsène Wenger had told him over the summer. "I was really confident about being able to play this season," he said. "The boss said to me, 'I let Kolo go for you to play'. It is the thing you don't want to hear when you are injured but it is the truth. It is difficult to take on but I swallowed it and I will fight for my place next season, that is for sure."

The defender has been subject to months of rehabilitation in an attempt to be fit before the end of the season. He finally made a return to the Gunners' matchday squad at Blackburn on Monday but didn't feature from the bench. So for Djourou, the nightmare is finally over. "It is safe now," he said. "It is better than it was before, I have got no pain and it is like I have a new knee! When I look back now I just don't know how I did it. You can't move for at least two weeks, you have your leg in a brace for two weeks and you are just sitting at home. Then you can start to walk with crutches but you cannot put pressure on your knee. Then when it starts to get a bit better is when you start going in the water because then you only have a little bit of weight on your leg because you are in the water. Then you start to strengthen the leg and then do a lot of physio in Switzerland and here as well."

"The boss said to me, 'I let Kolo go for you to play'."
That's a bold statement. Is there a possibility we'll see a back-up centre back coming in and Djourou and Vermaelen being first choice?

He has all the ingredients.

Height, power, pace, atheletic and very good passing. A good age and should be able to play week in week out. Only weakness is reading of players runs in behind him but that is something on the mental side of the game that he can improve upon. Vermaelen and Djourou are a good age and can be the mainstay together so I can understand Wenger not looking for a first choice centre back. We'll need someone who can play there though, perhaps a utility man. Campbell and Bartley plus one more as cover. Djourou should learn from Campbell, it's a good punt I think to back Djourou. We'll have a good age back four: Sagna 27, Vermealen 24, Djourou 23, Clichy 22.

So you are seeing Djourou as one of the Two first top class centre backs - 50 matches each you mentioned one month ago? I don't know. I mean, I see your point, Djourou has potential and can become a very good defender, but he has been out for six months. Let's not bet on him not getting injured after being out for so long, there could be some niggling injuries following (some of them could occur in the pre-season). I don't think he is there yet, and if he is - fine, let him prove it by displacing the top class centre back we have brought in.

Planning with Djourou and Vermaelen as our first choice would (again) be a big risk to take going into the season.

I think it would be a HUGE risk, and a big mistake if he was to start the season as number 1 alongside Vermaelen. He was hardly brilliant before his 6 month injury. I think his prolonged break has clouded peoples memory, he was behind Senderos in the pecking order for club and country don't forget. I would rather him than Silvestre don't get me wrong, but the thought of us doing things on the cheap as usual and promoting this guy to save a bob or two scares the hell out of me.

I'd imagine that Djourou will start the season as 3rd choice, but could play more games than our 3rd choices have this past season. He's going to need to play more games and clearly the manager has as much faith in the lad as I do, I'd have no problem with him rotating in and taking some of the burden of one of the 1st choice pair so they don't have to play through the pain barrier should they pick up a knock, like Gallas did so many times this season. Hopefully he can step in when required and put up a fight for a starting spot but more than that he can improve his game in the best way possible, by keeping fit and getting games under his belt.

I saw him then as third choice, but knowing Wenger I can see the case for him to do it. I can make a case for backing that as well. If we have £30m then a keeper and perhaps winger / or other position could easily swallow that amount. We have to improve at the back, one area is the keeper. Campbell for the whole season plus Bartley as cover and Djourou could provide a strengthened unit. The more I think of it the more it appeals actually.

I would like a proven choice but even in transition there is a risk of that proven player reaching the level here. If there is a £30m pot you could argue that we will be stronger by strengthening other areas.

Due to being out so long I see him as 3rd choice. But I like the potential blend of him with Vermaelen. For some reason I like one CB that has good control, passes, and keeps calm, with the other guy being more physical, determined, and tackles. The fact that we were interested in Smalling may indicate that Mr Wenger will choose a youngster for any strengthening, but it is a bit of a risk when Djourou has been out so long, and wasn't established anyway.

That's a fair point, it's a risk area. An uncertainty.

Can we afford that?

Considering that the defence is the undoubted priority and major weakness of this Arsenal side, perhaps not. Wenger needs to make a clear statement of intent by purchasing a top defender and balancing that by allowing Djourou to progress too.

A quote-less article in the Telegraph says that Djourou is back from injury and so is in line to play this weekend. Good news considering our only viable cover, Alex Song, was himself suffering with a calf problem.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... fence.html

So far there's an article on arsenal.com saying that Djourou has "suffered a knee injury", with no additional info.

realy hope he is not out for to long we are 100% better when he plays.and it showed yesterday

Agree his ability in the air makes such a difference to the defence, once TV comes back him and Djourou will make an awesome partnership