Significant but not out of our reach. this is what many fail to understand. Wenger has on many occasions cited "withholding development of youth" as a reason for not being players we were able to buy. Even he admits he got it wrong when quoted in L'Equipe as saying: The players I feel we need cost between £10m and £25m each, that price bracket IS within our reach. Wenger needs to address the issue of our bloated squad also, trim it down and focus on "squad quality" because we know how demanding the English league is. Players out contribute to players coming in, it is something that Wenger should have been doing since the Invincibles, we we need a marquee signing per season to keep up with the Joneses if our squad had good depth. But, as you say, 2 or 3 good signings PLUS keeping our best players should see us where I want us to be. I for one would have no problems not winning trophies if I saw the correct level of investment, but to not try is criminal.
Fair comment. I think we all want to see some decent investment in the squad. Not £2m and £3m bit part players.
I love it when these articles turn into crazy fantasy football. First and Foremost the squad needs to be trimmed down. OUT: Bendter: Sell/release Chamakh: Sell Arshavin: Sell Vela: Sell Fabianski: Sell Mannone: Loan Denilson: Sell Miyaichi:loan Squillaci: Sell Afobe : Loan Djourou: Loan/Sell Benayoun: returned Bring Lansbury, Campbell and Frimpong into the first team squad. BUY: Matt Hummels Craig Gordon - backup for Chezney M'Villa I would be very happy with this squad: ------------------Sczezney------------------ Sagna---Hummels----Vermaelen--Santos -----------Song-------M'villa---------------- -----------------Wilshere-------------------- Walcott---------VanPersie---------Podolski that leaves a second team: ------------------Gordon------------------ Jenkinson---Merts----Koscielney--Gibbs ---------Frimpong-------Arteta---------- -----------------Ramsey-------------------- TheOX---------Campbell---------Rosicky and to be honest I dont think its too unrealistic. Well within our financial capabilities. (If RVP does go I would try and tempt Higuaine of Benzema from Real.)
I have decided to follow in the footsteps of the Leicester fan (who, may I dare say, looks as though he's a Football manager player with regards to knowing about Ter Stegen!) and comment on this thread which I have no right to. As a Shrewsbury fan, we've gone through considerably longer periods without any vague success. This season, we got promotion after missing out last season by a ridiculous decision in our 1-1 draw against Wycombe, whom we finished a point behind at the end of the season, and it felt so good. The barren periods are what make the success so good, and you guys should realise how lucky you are to be supporting a team right at the top (although tickets are more and most fans seem to prefer the atmosphere and banter of lower league!). My take on your position is that you simply cannot compete with Man City and Chelsea financially, irrespective of profits you're making, and are also slightly behind Man United and Liverpool in terms of the cash available. Some people say that it's just an excuse, but I am led to believe that the money you are making is currently going to pay off your stadium debts ahead of schedule, although I could be wrong. On the face of it, your budget is not the third biggest in the league, and if a player is courted by every club in the league, then you'll probably not be his first choice. Man City, Chelsea and United will all be able to offer more money and have won silverware this season (except for United, but they remain the third biggest club in the world). Therefore, you are performing higher than you should be with regards to your budget, and that's what Wenger's good at - signing players for less than they're worth and developing them. However, I feel that you actually have a stronger team than you have showed this season, if that's not too confusing bearing in mind the previous paragraph. I think your squad is on a par with Man United's, yet you have finished some way behind. Therefore, is the problem the quality of the players, or their mentality? Probably a bit of both. I also feel that Wenger's weak tactically, as opposed to someone like Di Matteo or Hodgson - good at working with relatively poor players and getting their players to over perform, yet not as good at signings. I do think Wenger is the best man for you, and one does have to bear in mind that Club managers have actually got less control than everyone seems to think.
Good post, but i'm not so sure that Wenger is the right man any more. He's (as you said) tactically weak, but it's his stubborness thats the main flaw, his failure to adapt an ailing system. It's easy to beat us, you just load up the midfield, and watch as we pass around aimlessly.
I appreciate your post - well written - but I cannot accept any comparisons to Shrewsbury. I do agree that our mentaliy is the key issue though.
Lansbury could not even make it at Championship level. He is inconsistent and clearly inferior to Benayoun. Sell. Campbell is nowhere near Arsenal level - in his own words playing for a relegation French team was "an eye opening" for him. Another loan. Frimpong is just a young wood cutter - he was not good enough last Autumn, and he is if anything worse now after the injury. Another loan. I can not understand the idea of ditching our senod best player of the season (Koscielny) and pairing Hummels with an average Vermaelen. And Wilshere is not ready yet for the main playmaker role.
Well its all just opinion. Personally I highly rate Frimpong and think Joel campbell has all the raw ingredients to be amazing. Just the kind of signing Wenger excels with. I cannot accept anyone calling Koscielney our 'second best player of the Season'. Especially considering Arteta and Rosicky's contribution. We concede 49 league goals this year our defence was ****ing diabolical. All of it - including Koscielney. vermaelen has had a poor run of form but i personally believe him to be our best centreback. Either way though Matt Hummels is the best defender in a strong German league and has been absolutely World Class for the past three seasons.(Dortmund have conceded only 44 goals over the last TWO Seasons while still playing a very attacking system.)
Campbell looks fantastic, no way we should be letting him go elsewhere, the guy is silky smooth and technically fantastic, doesn't look like a waif either. Frimpong may need a 2nd season on loan to make up for what he lost this season, but I could see an improvement even during his short stint at Wolves. - they loved him up there.
And I'm agreeing wth you again. Frimpong should go on loan again when fit and Campbell seems quality (can't wait to see him in the Prem)
Fiver says Campbell flops. Hardly set the world alight in France, a far weaker league defensively than the PL.
He is still only 19, think you expected too much in his first loan spell. Also, France is not that bad compared to the Prem. We saw some shocking defending in the PL last season. Plus, last season, was his first in Europe, and he did alright. Scored a few beauties and for his country scored against Spain. Hopefully he gets his work permit, Ryo did and I could argue that Campbell was far more impressive in loan spell. He probably does need another loan move and he will probably need it in another PL club.
As SJW says, he has been wonderful for his country and he has been decent for a mediocre French side. But what gets me going is his technical ability and his directness, fantastic, reminds me of Jack Wilshere for the youth team. his shooting is top rate as well. Certainly a player to be excited about. OXO - I can be normal ... sometimes
Agree about Frimpong. I think he's going to need another season (or half season) on loan. But he was doing well for Wolves and getting stuck right into it. I think he could have a big future at Arsenal, especially as it's a position that we've not filled since Flamini left. What I like the most about Frimpong though is that he is a die hard Gooner and will lay down his life for the club. Szczesny, Wilshere, Frimpong are exactly the types of players Arsenal need at the moment
Frimpong is a nutjob (in a good way), he's a bit like Tiote at newcastle, he flies into challenges without thinking, and is an imposing figure in the middle of the park, something we badly lack.
