Has Arsene Wenger revealed his blind spot once more?

The tired old joke about Arsene Wenger concerns his rather myopic view of any controversial act committed by one of his Arsenal players.

Not so amusing for his club’s supporters was Wenger’s long held reluctance to pay out for ready-made high-class footballers to augment the burgeoning collection already at his disposal.  Much of that criticism has abated since the Frenchman’s £42m capture of the sensational German playmaker Mesut Ozil and, indeed, his canny re-hiring of Mathieu Flamini.

Wenger’s summer pursuit of a striker, however, was not quite so fruitful.  The previously intransigent 64 year-old could not be accused of financial caution as he sought to buy from the elite end of the market.  Gonzalo Higuain and, chiefly, Luis Suarez were prime targets.  After neither of those South Americans arrived at the Emirates, an attempt to bring in Demba Ba on a season’s loan was scuppered by Chelsea’s re-evaluation of Arsenal as a title threat post their acquiring Ozil.

The answer to his quest for a fertile hit-man, though, might have been under Wenger’s nose all along – or over in West London anyway.  On August 5^th Newcastle United agreed to purchase Loic Remy on a year-long temporary deal from Queens Park Rangers.

This was a forward that had cost Harry Redknapp £8m only eight months earlier.  What’s more, in a poor R’s side, Remy shone.  He contributed six goals in a forlorn cause – one of those being an absolutely wondrous strike in a vital match against Wigan Athletic.

In his brief time on Tyneside to date, Remy has continued to do exactly what he has throughout his career – score goals.  It is a habit that the Frenchman makes look extremely easy – and one which never fails him regardless of circumstance.

Remy’s two brilliantly executed strikes won Newcastle three points at Cardiff City when, after an inconsistent start to their campaign, considerable pressure was building on the Geordies’ manager Alan Pardew. Equally composed efforts have been integral to his team’s recent victories over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

The 26 year-old’s seven goals in as many games, outstrip by two the number of times that Olivier Giroud has found the net in Arsenal’s colours this season.  Remy’s countryman has been superb in his lone front-running role, but it was plain during the Gunners’ defeat at Manchester United that the burden is beginning to take its toll.

Remy’s pace, movement, and assured finishing would have been the perfect foil for the more physical Giroud.  Additionally, the former Marseille player’s cutting edge is precisely what Wenger’s mesmerising assembly of ball players are crying out for.

This isn’t the first time that Arsenal’s manager could have benefitted from a slightly more open mind.  Shay Given and Phil Jagielka, both bona fide options to fill formerly troublesome positions at the Emirates, were ultimately ignored by the ex-Monaco boss.  Discontented Gooners will also have questioned why West Brom had Claudio Yacob and Youssouf Mulumbu – at a combined cost of £175,000 – starring in the Baggies midfield, while their team were screaming out for an operator of that duo’s specific ilk.

Wenger is getting plenty right, but his overlooking of Remy’s credentials could yet come back to bite him.

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