I can’t blame Arsenal fans for being uniquely underwhelmed at the way their club went about their business (or rather, didn’t go about their business) on transfer deadline day. Expectations were high as the club had slowly spent their summer selling off their best players and Wenger had spoken of being ‘active’ in the transfer market. In the end, of course, it all came to nothing. As the hours rolled by it grew increasingly clear that the Gunners just weren’t in the market for anybody.
As Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City continued to get linked to all and sundry, Arsenal’s name was noticeably absent from all the ruminations. I saw somebody liken it to being in detention and watching your friends playing outside.
But why was this the case? Don’t Arsenal have just as big a need to strengthen their club as all these clubs? As mentioned previously, big players like Robin Van Persie and Alex Song have flown the coup and the Gunners have looked fairly lackluster in the opening two fixtures of their season.
Two goalless draws against mid-table teams will hardly get the fans excited for the new season. A lack of any real creative endeavor within the side is unlikely to get the Arsenal faithful believing that their side can be title-challengers this season.
Whilst Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea strengthened over the summer, I think it’s fair to say that Arsenal have got worse. They sold their best player, their only player capable of single-handedly turning a game on its head to one of their biggest rivals before carting Alex Song, a major part of their midfield to a Barcelona side who have spent the last three-four summers treating Arsenal like dirt in the transfer market. It’s almost embarrassing to behold.
Bringing in Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla were smart moves. But those players alone at most amount to a sideways step, not a forward one. Whilst I’m impressed with Cazorla, I’m not convinced that Giroud and Podolski will be able to replace RVP. It’s too big an ask of them, especially considering their Premier League newbies.
I’m fairly certain that Wenger recognized this too. That’s why he forewent convention to claim Arsenal were ‘active’ in the transfer market. For a manager who usually plays his cards close to his chest, it was pretty revealing. The fact that he then didn’t buy somebody is a bit of a mystery. Whatever the reason, however, it’s endemic of Arsenal’s lack of ambition and lethargy. You get the feeling that the club are just two-or-three world-class signings away from competing.
The real shame is that the Gunners haven’t shown much interest in doing that for 3-4 years.
What’s your take? Should Arsenal have spent some real money this summer?
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wot wxxxker has the nuts to write this shit when Wenger has forgotten morew than u will ever know about football
Yet another negative article. What a load of rubbish. RVP wanted to go. You cannot have discontented players in a squad. Before last season who would have wanted to give RVP a new long term contract.£24m for a player of his age and fitness must be good business. I wish him well and thank him for last season. Next. Remember TH. We all thought the world had come to an end, but reality was that he was not the same player in his final season. He wanted away. And so to the others. Arsenal will stay strong. We have one of the best managers in the game. He will cucceed again
Robin van Persie went because he,s manager could
n,t bring trophies to the club even after all the goals the Dutchman scored over the past four seas
ons ,he said so himself ,so players cannot be bla
med or damned if trophies are still in short supp
ly over this and coming seasons,the manager Wenger
must take most of the blame ?
Incorrect, whatever spin the players put on it RVP left because we could never offer the £200,000 a week he wanted. Nothing to do with trophies. Same as Nasri, Flamini, Glichy, Adebayor, Song its always about money. Only difference between these players and RVP is RVP looks like he will play just as well for United as he did Arsenal
harry cloke…i almost choke reading this piece of nonsensical writing… here’s some examples…
1)As Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City continued to get linked to all and sundry, Arsenal’s name was noticeably absent from all the ruminations => many managers will opt to buy & hope the mix will work out…they cried when not given the money to spend…
2) Bringing in Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla were smart moves. But those players alone at most amount to a sideways step, not a forward one => you must have missed the incredible speed the 2 internationals combined that left 5 or 6 hapless defenders clueless…btw, never knew Sahin was on the pitch until he was subed…
3) Whatever the reason, however, it’s endemic of Arsenal’s lack of ambition and lethargy. You get the feeling that the club are just two-or-three world-class signings away from competing => lack of ambition?? arsenal built a new stadium & Liverpool & Spurs are trying to follow suit but even as arsenal has shown it can be done…the managers at Liverpool & Spurs do not have the balls and the brains to work it out…building a 60+k stadium has shown ambition, energy & guts…
4) Arsenal transfer policy is lethargic??? in fact, Arsenal was the first club in signing a player this time round..
5) Arsenal is still able to attract players despite a lower wage is because players know they can improve further under arsene wenger & nit money per se…podolski, carzola, giroud’s attitude were fantastic…they look fresh for a challenge & seems to thrive in that challenge
your article is unfair to arsene wenger and is hitting below the belt…
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sorry, tuned out before the end of this pile of crap.
tired of this negativity. if u dont have something posetive better keep quet.
Articles like this is what’s poisonous. Signing Podolski, Cazorla and the Giroud (top scorer in Ligue 1) is not strengthening?!?!
Last time I looked, nobody in their right mind wanted Robbing Van Pursey to leave but what can you do when a player decides he no longer wants to remain at the football club?!
With the new signings, we now have intelligent, skilful hardworking players that fight for the team.
Instead of jumping on the poisonous media bandwagon and keep up this fallacy about Arsenal, why don’t you actually take a step back and try to be honest and objective in your article.
The fact is transfer day deadline is like sales at Next, where everyone scurries around like rats picking any item that looks half decent and sometimes just so you can say “hey look what I got in the sales”.
While real connoisseurs of fashion, carefully accumulate quality over a period of time and see no need to join in the last day transfer dealings.
As long as our squad stays fight, don’t lose form and continue to fight for each other we will be in the mix for titles and cups this season because the quality is there.
We need loyal supporters and loyal players who truly want to be at the club and fight for the club… Good riddance to disloyal players and supporters alike.
After the fantastic display the lads put on at Anfield, you decide to publish this poisonous bile?!?!?! Come on the real Gunners.
RVP left becuase he was greedy for money not trophies, Samuel. Great win yesterday show how much stronger we are than last season and how much better off we are with Carzola, Podolski and Giroud. 2-0 away at Liverpool whilst Man City we gifted a draw. Will be funny watching the money hungry badger drilled by Verminator and Kos. Can’t wait. Its so funny watching all the losers who predicted arsenal to finish outside top 5 last season, predict the same again this season. Stubborn losers. The best thing is we still have Wilshire and Sagna to come back into the team. John Gee you are so right.
Don’t you feel a bit silly this morning?
What’s so magic about buying on the last ady of the window anyway?
Players leave for money whilst saying they are going for trophies.
OK Nasri got a trophy on gosl difference.Cesc didn’t get a trophy; van Persie may be unable to carry ManU single-handedly.
Arsenal look really good.
Well all I can say is that we seem to be doing just fine so far considering our changes, but then as usual we will prove the Anti-Arsenal wrong just as we did last season.