10 defenders Arsenal should look to sign to solidify their title challenge

Arsenal are a team who have literally taken the Premier League and Champions League by the scruff of the neck and shown the media what they can do and that they won't be going anywhere in a hurry.

Journalists have taken a swipe at the Arsenal machine in a faint hope they can stop it, but they simply can't. At the start of the season there was doubts over the Arsene Wenger and his business on the transfer window. He silenced those by buying Mesut Ozil.

Then they said that the squad was to thin, they're five points clear at the top of the Premier League despite having many key players out with injury.

They said that Arsenal wouldn't get out of the group stage for the Champions League, now they can qualify as group winners if they avoid defeat against Napoli.

They said that Arsenal's strike force wasn't good enough and the defence wasn't strong enough - they have the second best goal difference in the league, joint third highest amount of goals scored and least amount of goals conceded at the time of posting this.

That suggests that Arsenal are ready to go all the way but one or two injuries in the defence and the machine will slowly fall. Here are 10 defenders that can potentially stop that happening.

1. Seamus Coleman

'You can buy 500 Seamus Coleman's for that much' is phrase often used (with obvious variations) by fans on Twitter and Facebook to describe this player. He was dirt cheap but he's proving to be one the Premier League's top performers. If Bacary Sagna chooses to leave then Arsenal may look into purchasing Coleman to provide depth and quality at right-back.

2. Mats Hummels 

The German has been unfortunate with injuries but he's an extremely talented centre-half that could be on the move shortly. Arsenal will do very well to get hold of him because he is wanted by many big clubs, however, the German core at the Gunners may attract his attention.

3. Eliaquim Mangala 

The highly-rated FC Porto defender has been on the shopping list for a number of big clubs around Europe for a while now but it looks as though this could be his final season in Portugal. He's a big, strong, powerful and pacey centre back, a devastating combination of such attributes makes him so highly sought after.

4. Ezequiel Garay

 Manchester United have held an interest in this player for a number of seasons now so it would be devilish of Arsenal to snap him up from under the noses of United. A quality defender though so there's more to it than just signing him to provoke your rival.

5. Leonardo Bonnuci 

The Juventus star has formed a fantastic partnership with Giorgio Chiellini and it will be hard to break that bond should Arsenal ever make an effort. His price will go up as a result.

6. Kyriakos Papadopoulos 

I've harped on a lot about this Greek international in many other articles so I won't bore you with he details. He's a young, talented, brave, strong, quick and passionate centre-half that could be a long term replacement for Per Mertesacker or Laurent Koscielny.

7. Alex Sandro 

Arsenal have plenty of quality and depth at left back but Kieran Gibbs can't be trusted to stay fit and Nacho Monreal still needs time to adapt to the Premier League despite picking up form in recent weeks. Sandro can play further up the pitch as well in a left midfield role which could serve him well in this Gunners team. A quality young player that could give Arsenal depth

8. Lukasz Piszczek 

Another Dortmund player with a rotten injury record but still very talented. Piszczek is a a player that can provide more experience than Coleman but can also bring a bit more quality than the Evertonian. An option that Wenger should explore, I think.

9. Micah Richards

Yet another player with an awful injury record but too much talent to be wasted at a club where he's not likely to be played much even when he is fit. If Arsenal could put up with his injuries then they'll have a talented and versatile defender which will be perfect for them.

10. Domenico Criscito

 Another versatile left-back that can bring the same to Arsenal as Alex Sandro, only Criscito brings experience and the fact that he can play centre back as well. This makes him the better option, for me.