Last season ended on a false high, as
the Gunners pulled off an escape by finishing strongly and securing fourth
place by a mere point. And then we were given real hope that the pecuniary past
would be replaced by a more aggressive approach to the transfer market. With
mere weeks left until that window closes, the 70 million pound war chest we
heard so much about seems destined to go largely unspent. There have been
rumours galore, near signings and the largest bids Arsenal have ever made – by
a country mile. Yet here we stand with one free transfer for the future as our
only signing, while a whopping 17 senior players have left. No major signings
have been secured and we’ve let a number of close calls go wanting, as usual
over a few millions pounds.
Jovetic ended up at “rival” Man City,
Higuian was snapped up by Napoli as we dawdled over Suarez, Capoeu has signed
for Tottenham and we might have just lost out on a real need, in Luis Gustavo
of Bayern. So where does this leave us? With an extremely thin squad, with
several injuries, and no marquee signings. We have clear needs in defensive mid
(or at least a reasonable holding midfielder), center back (only two senior,
non-injured players at present as we let Miquel go out on loan), one right back
(Sagna, as we let Jenkinson go out on loan), one right back (as Nacho Monreal
is currently injured), no real backup to Arteta, a more reasonable mix of
midfielders (in Cazorla, Ramsey, Ox & Wilshere) and one striker (Giroud –
given that Walcott and Podolski will probably start as wingers on either end of
the center forward most games). We clearly need a backup goalkeeper (and Cesar
still sits in the wings), a d-back (why not Ashley Williams?) and a world-class
striker (with only Suarez possibly available).
The problem appears to be Wenger, as
some of us have assumed for so long. Many claimed it was the board that kept
him from signing players, but the board seemed to back him to spend this time
around. But his tendency to let transfer sagas build and go on endlessly, often
tussling over a few million quid, results in us losing targets. Far too many
players we want would rather go elsewhere and he seems to miss out on far too
many available options. Looking at Man City and Tottenham, for example, we can
see a host of players we could have competed for – as they strengthen and we
become paper thin in depth. Don’t get me wrong, all of this is not Wenger’s
fault, but he must take much of the blame. He doesn’t seem to draw player
interest like he used to and has made the Gunners into a joke in the admittedly
brutal English press. He takes too long to make decisions and changes his mind
on the cusp of signings we arguably need. Now the market lays largely bare and
we need at least three or four players, arguably more. If we don’t sign Suarez,
the summer has become a failure and Liverpool knows this – allowing them to
push the price ever higher. Why haven’t we just made a 50 million pound bid to
see where this puts us? The reality is the Gunners increasingly look like a
bumbling bus of idiots, unable to make good decisions in a timely manner. One
hopes we don’t end up with all the dead weight we inherited two summers ago,
though Arteta did end up being a good signing, but reinforcements are
necessary, and now. Otherwise, it might finally be time to take the advice of
the “sane contingent” of fans and finally part with our French professor. COYG!
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