Though they’ve looked like their old selves in recent weeks, 4th/3rd place and no trophies just isn’t good enough for a club like Arsenal. Fans expect silverware and after 7 long years it’s only fair that the club starts to show some real ambition in the transfer market. Whilst their late rally has been stirring, it’s still clear that this squad isn’t competitive enough to challenge for real honours.
On the other hand, It’s equally clear that some players haven’t quite made the step up Arsene Wenger was hoping for. As a result there has been plenty of talk a ‘summer clearout’ as players move out to make way for new bodies who could actually contribute meaningfully to the Gunner’s chances of winning something next season.
But have we fans got a little carried away with our desire to chop and change and lost a little bit of perspective? The Daily Mail recently reported that Arsene Wenger is ready to let go of four strikers this summer. Of course they don’t provide any quotes or any real evidence that this may be the case and it’s unlikely that there’s much truth to these claims, but it’s a little worrying nonetheless.
I can’t help but feel that this kind of culling would be much too extreme. The players up for the chop are Marouane Chamakh (who when he’s not warming the bench likes to indulge in a bit of shisha) Nicklas Bendtner, Park Chu-Young and Carlos Vela.
The only way getting rid of this many players would be acceptable were if Arsene Wenger signed 3 or 4 quality replacements but can anybody see this happening? Wenger may well stretch to a couple of offensive signings, but the Gunner’s are going to need more than that in reserve.
Carlos Vela has done reasonably well during his time with La Liga side Real Sociedad and seems much better suited to Spanish football than to the Premier League. If Sociedad can afford to keep him on board then it’s probably for the best that he moves on.
Marouane Chamakh hasn’t offered Arsenal anything this season. With both he and Park Chu-Young in the squad the Gunner’s strikers have really struggled to get goals (unless their name was Robin Van Persie). If both ship off I doubt anyone will bat an eyelid (though that may be a little unfair in Park’s case as he’s made just one Premier League appearance).
But what about Nicklas Bendtner? Wouldn’t he make for a decent squad player? He has finally found his feet with Sunderland grabbing 4 goals in 7 games and troubling the likes of Manchester City with his build up play and his aerial prowess.
If Arsenal kept Robin Van Persie, brought in a Lukas Podolski and one other striker they could get rid of Marouane Chamakh and Carlos Vela and keep Park Chu-Young (possibly) and Nicklas Bendtner as back-up strikers.
Wouldn’t that be the most sensible thing to do? Whilst some players clearly haven’t made the grade this year I hope that a knee-jerk reaction in the summer transfer market doesn’t de-rail the Gunner’s title chances next season.
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I take your point but really can’t see Bendnter being happy to sit on the bench as a third choice striker. That would be worse than before. Better for us but I can see why he would want a move.