Depending on which newspaper or online publication you read, Arsenal either need to ‘spend big’ and make wholesale changes this summer, or simply make a few slight alterations to their squad. Arsene Wenger’s quotes appear to have been twisted this way and that over the last couple of days, as they’ve been interpreted by headline-makers in such a manner that will bring in the most viewers.
Most of this discussion comes on the back of what looks set to be another trophy-less season at the Emirates. After failing in the Carling Cup, FA Cup and Champion’s League all the Gunners have left to play for is the Premier League but even here they’ve flopped, sinking as they have recently to third place and seemingly letting the title slip away.
It’s clear that Wenger won’t make wholesale changes this summer. Though I’m sure there will be a few players leaving the club during the summer, talk amongst fans of a mass-exodus is way off the mark. I’ve seen some supporters suggest that Arsenal need to trim their squad of 8-10 players and bring in decent replacements. Such an eventuality is completely implausible and would be highly destructive over the course of the next couple of seasons. It’s difficult enough blooding a couple of player’s into the Premier League, let alone a whole troop of newbies.
Wenger has spent the best part of the last decade building this team and to start again from scratch would be highly detrimental. I expect that two or three players will leave the Emirates this summer and that they’ll likely be names off of this list: Emmanuel Eboue, Gael Clichy, Abou Diaby, Denilson, Andrey Arshavin and Thomas Rosicky. In turn, Arsene Wenger will likely bring in a couple of fresh players – players with the talent necessary to push for a place in the first-team and who add something to the squad.
The trouble with Arsenal is that their squad-players aren’t competitive enough. When they pick up injuries, they are forced to rely on the likes of the player’s listed above and that’s when they start faltering. Yet this can scarcely be described as a problem that requires wholesale changes within the squad to fix.
Teams do not get as far as Arsenal have in the Champion’s League, FA Cup and Carling Cup this season without having a modicum of talent. Arsenal fans are lucky to have Arsene Wenger at the helm of their club, because he won’t be reactionary – he’ll make measured, controlled decisions and will protect the future what he’s been building at the club. He recently told the Press:
“We live in a world where if you’re the second best by a little everybody says you’re rubbish… In a world where all teams are bankrupt, the man who spends nothing is called an idiot. Our squad is on average 23 years old. We chose to develop our own players, because players like Cristiano Ronaldo are not feasible. Our philosophy is to build our own team.”
Arsenal have come very close to success this season and Arsene Wenger’s youth experiment deserves at least another season to see if it pays off. It’s clear to me that Wenger doesn’t need to spend big. A few decent signings in the right positions should pay dividends for Arsenal. I hope Arsenal fans aren’t too reactionary following another trophy-less season and don’t start calling for the heads of half their team. This summer is hugely important for Arsenal – let’s hope that the right decisions are made.
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