Written by Ahmed El Hawary on Tuesday, 23 August 2011 14:57

Ok, so finally we got rid of two of our four world class players.......only now can we really mount a title challenge. I'm not going to talk about how these deals should've been finalised ages ago so we could have gotten their replacements in time, or how wenger looks completely clueless, or that last season Van der vaart was available for 8mil and ozil for 12 mil, nor am I going to talk about what message 
the sale of two of our best players sends out to other teams and more importantly to our players ( eh, Arsene? ).

What I am going to talk about though is "what now?". Is there time to get the players we need to try and end our trophy drought? Is it all over before the season even starts?

Realistically speaking we're only two games into the season and anything can happen, but ofcourse it all depends on wether we go through to the champions league group stages. If we do then through the 20 mil we get for progressing plus the money from the clichy, nasri & cesc sales we should have aroung 70-80mil that we should really spend all of it if want to challenge for silverware this season. But the big question is will we spend it?? I really don't see the board or the boss having any other choice but to do so.

So who to buy?? Our problem is not just finding good replacements but finding world class players that send out a message to the rest of the league, players that hit the ground running, players that lift the team, players that can win us games. We need at least three of those players!! A striker, an attacking
midfielder & a defender. We might even need a defensive midfielder considering that both song & pong will not be available during january due to the african cup of nations, which incidently is on for the next two successive seasons.

So the least player we can get in an attacking mid role is Eden hazard, he looks quite a player and i personally think he's better than juan mata but if we are going to spend almost 25mil on a belgian player playing in the french league ( no offense for both the league & belgian players) I'd rather we go all out and submit a 40mil offer for Sneijder.
I know  Inter have come out lately and said they were not willing to sell, but his silence during the summer suggests otherwise & I honestly believe if a high enough bid is submitted inter would sell & the player himself had suggested he would love to play in england, & what better way then to try and be the savior of a sinking ship?

For our defender, well actually i would be happy with any of the three defenders we've been linked with but mostly gary cahill with maybe a player (Bendtner) plus money deal to lower the fee a little.

The striker is a little more interesting, as we only have Van persie as a real threat from a central position, but god only knows for how long before he gets injured. & with Chamakh looking more and more as if he's never played football before added to that he would not be available during january then the need for a class finisher is a must. I would say why not try for Diego forlan? he's a proven international and would be a great stop gap for a year or two until one of Walcott, Chamberlain or Campbell makes that position his own. Although I still think we should have tried to take tevez on a six month loan untill he returns to brazil as part of the nasri deal.

While I'm dreaming a year long loan for KaKa doesnt sound like a bad idea as well but only if we buy the three players we desperately need, so that would be the icing on a very very nice cake.

So to sum up, its not all doom and gloom provided we re-invest our sale money on proven, world class & big name talent. This will not only transform the team from the mid-table mediocrity we find ourselves in to a force to be reckoned with, but will also make opposition teams that little bit more afraid of us and more importantly will give belief to the rest of our players that we are capable of challenging for top honors.

If we don't go through to the group stage, no world class player would want to join, and it would be a disaster of epic proportions that I cannot even begin to comprehend how the rest of the season will turn out. Fingers crossed & lets hope for the last time that Arsene at least knows something....

Mean Lean's Response

Thank you for the article,

Everyone is scratching their heads right now as to why we haven't brought in all our targets so far. Is it a case of the club having a plan that hasn't gone right so far because of outside influences? Is this part of the plan? or is it something completely different? Either way, we are not very organised for the start of the campaign but there is time to put that right, as long as we manage to get a result in Italy, well a result that isn't a defeat.

I agree that investment into the team is necessary but I think the idea of bringing in Wesley Sneijder is somewhat wishful thinking. Manchester United were very interested and could still be interested in bringing the player to England but his wage demands are huge. Much higher than our pay structure would allow.

If we are to keep hold of our stars in future them we are going to have to reach deeper into our pockets to pay our top stars in line with the bigger clubs minus Manchester City which just wouldn't be possible. But certainly on Manchester United wages. Even if this means no longer spending £10m+ on players, that money should be added to the wage budget and continue to bring in the best youngsters into the club.

Keeping our players is more of a problem than buying big name players in my eyes. We have broken up too many teams that have yet to reach their peak and were close to success. The Flamini, Adebayor and Hleb side was the best team in the country when they were together and two of those three left for financial reasons.

Samir Nasri is another who we now see as a mercenary but at the end of the day, he didn't do anything wrong. He worked hard during his contract at Arsenal and when it was time for renewal, another team offered him a much bigger pay packet.

We have to make sure that our next crop of very talented players do not get their heads turned because the whole of Europe will be looking closely at what has happened this summer. Jack Wilshere, Emmanuel Frimpong, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Chamberlain and so on will become top quality players and when Manchester City or whoever come calling we have to make sure we are paying them enough to be able to refuse their advances.

I agree that we need another striker on top of Joel Campbell but who is anyone's guess. A player that can play as a false nine, who can make the final pass, who can score goals and is technically superb. They do not grow on tree's and clubs want to keep hold of their best players.

As for Tevez, I think you are somewhat dreaming. Unless we have moved to Argentina and I haven't been made aware of it. A quality footballer who has the hunger and desire to be a success at Arsenal but one who is being paid probably what one or two of our top players are being paid collectively. He doesn't want to play in England and his transfer fee would be considerably more than our record transfer fee of £15m or so. Wishful thinking indeed.

I think you are jumping the gun on the midtable mediocrity as we have yet to finish outside the top four under Arsene. Yes, that would be under threat if we didn't invest this summer but I do not see that being the case.

I guess we should all watch this space. Fingers crossed for a result this evening.

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Comments (21)

• 24-Aug-2011 13:30 | | Jack Jones  - a plan
  

  SZC
  
  Baines
  Cahill
  Verm
  Sagna
  
  Song/Frimpong
  
  Wilshere
  Walcott
  Gervhino
  
  RVP
  Benzema

• 24-Aug-2011 13:35 | | Bob Walker  - if only we win
  

  SZC
  
  Baines
  Cahill
  Verm
  Sagna
  
  Song
  Wilshere
  Nasri
  Cesc
  
  Gervhino
  RVP

• 24-Aug-2011 13:56 | | Harry Jennings  - What is needed !
  

  Arsenal have now got 90 million pounds and the arsenal board has told him he can use it to re-invest in the team I for one think we should use it on a Centre Back, Centre Midfield, Attacking Midfield and a Striker.
  
  Centre Backs: Gary Cahill-Phil Jagielka-Scott Dann-Chris Samba
  Best Option: Gary Cahill he is strong in the air and he tough
  
  Centre Midfield: Yann M'Vila- Marek Hamsik-Kaka-Maruo Zarate-Lucho G
  Best Option: Yann M'Vila or Marek Hamsik both young and have proved they are already world class.
  
  Attacking Midfield: Eden Hazard-Mauro Zarate-Andre Ayew
  Best Option: Eden Hazard(the new Ronaldo) he is fast skilful and is just what arsenal need.
  
  Striker: Carlos Tevez- Didier Drogba-Darren Bent
  Best Option: Darren Bent I know you are probably thinking this boy is mad but hear me out Tevez would have been a good deal in swap for nasri plus 20mil but that was just a rumour. Chelsea wont sell one of their best players to a title contender. But Darren Bent is perfect he adds goals and can play balls through for fun. just look how many goals he scored for Sunderland and Aston Villa and then tell me if he isn't what Arsenal need.
  To conclude: this is the team that i think could win the league
  4-2-2-2. Szczensy ,Sagna, Vermaelan, Cahill, Gibbs,Wilshere,M'Vila/Hamsik,Walcott/Gervinho,Hazard,V.Persie, Bent

• 24-Aug-2011 14:07 | | Dagenham Gooner  - Nothing
  

  I am fairly certain no one will be bought in this transfer window wether we win tonight or not . I do not blame Arsene entirely but the board who even the most loyal fan must realise they are only interested in clearing debt and trophies are an optional extra dont be deluded .

• 24-Aug-2011 14:20 | | richard morgan
  

  yeah board have said he can spend money but disagree on major points. wenger wants to up our wage ceiling of 90k to 150 k for the top players such as the departed nasri and van persie but board disagree saying that 90k is big enough. Secondly bringing in a player of 30-40 million is a good idea but only if you can match the wages paid and that has to be near the 150k plus mark for that calibre of player but again the board are unwilling to pay those kind of wages. Dagenham gooner the only debt we have is the stadium loan and once we pay that off each season plus normal costs in a season we still operate at a profit so whats your point. Wenger does however believe that cahill is no better than koscelny or verminator and whats the point buying someone of same calibre to improve the team you need next level player thats why he has been reluctant to bid for cahill or over the odds for Jagielka. I believe some more signings will come in before next week because Wenger knows how thin the squad is at this moment in time but don't expext more than two or three.

• 24-Aug-2011 15:27 | | savo milosevic
  

  well of course..the plan is to repay stadium ..not trophies..trophies are gonna have to wait .through trick and thin..arsenal for life !

• 24-Aug-2011 15:41 | | Northbanksy
  

  If this is the case the board need to get real & back Wenger, otherwise a mid table Arsenal & 2/3 full Emirates is on the cards.

• 24-Aug-2011 16:05 | | Matt
  

  I will be amazed if any player of any REAL quality is brought in, I also believe that there is too much rebuilding to be done to save this season. It's about time we set a rule that we do not buy in any player who will be involved in the African Nations Cup... just how many layers will Man U lose?? City And Chelsea have some but they now have the squad size & quality to cope!. I also think that there must be a stop to Wnger buying in end rate French League players! Anyone who knows anything about football will tell you that the French league is about the standard of our Championship and it is way behind the EPL,Spanish,German,Italian & possibly the Dutch Leagues.
  
  We still do not have the quality needed, I think that likes of Song & Fringpong are both average players who need replacing with quality, personally I would like to see Vermaelen in that position and 2 Top EPL centrebacks bought no matter how much it cosrs. We should also buy a top left back as Gubbs is not only not good enough he is also injury prone and Traore is also not good enough. I have said about buying 2 centrebacks...the likes of Squillachi, Djourou must be got rid of they are not good enough, I am not yet convinced of Koscielny I would lke to see him as a 3rd string for now as for Miguel - too young and at the moment too small for the EPL. On midfield we need 1 if not 2 top class players bought in , certainly schneider would be perfect as 1, realying on Ramsey and Wilshire to carry us through is insane to even contemplate, we need experience and strength mental and physical in there. Wingers, well Walcott has hardly looked world class and neither has Arsehavin so at least 1 more is needed there Gervinho has yet to prove himself as capable of coping in the EPL. Attack well RVP is our World class man...but if he is injured we are completely lost. Chamakh was a poor buy by Wenger, and Bendtner has never been a Quakity striker except in his own mind! So at leat 1 World class player required there if not 2.
  
  So in total we need to buy 2, cb's - 2 m/f - 1 wing - 2 strikers total = 7 Top Quality plauers..... And that is just te basics..... we then need another 8 quality players to back them up in the squad..... not these teenagers that Wenger keeps axquiring, they can be gradually used in stages and bit parts in the cups.
  
  All of this is never going to happen as I said before I don't expect us buy anyone of the quality we really need.
  
  Just watch - There will probably be the odd buy to try and keep us happy and from being able to say that no-one was bought at all.... cbt this is not good enough. A radical rebuild cpsting something in the region of 200million is what is really necessary to boost us into a position whereby we would be up there seriously challenging for the top honours,,,, in fact that is almost what it has cost Man city & Chelsea. This situation has all been caused by Wengers bumbling mismanagement + a Board who are happy with being able to sit in there nice seats, milk their exalted positions as directors and enjoy their nice new lounge in the Emirates stadium.
  
  I might add here one of the lies we were told in that the reason we were moving from Highbury was so that we copuld be able attract the top players and challenge the likes of Man U, Barcelona & Real Madrid on a more even basis. Now we see the reality is that we are further away from Challenging the top clubs, and we are NEVER in the running to get any top players.
  
  Maybe we should have listed to USAMOV and let him take over the club....I seem to remember he was hell bent on making 200 million avaiable for players.... in fact I believe he actually offered this to our board and they TURNED IT DOWN....????
  
  At the moment all we can relistically hope for is a top half of the table finish, BUT I believe it is absolutely vital that we remove one of the biggest failures in modern day management - Arsene Wenger, he madehis reprutation at Arsenal on the success of previous managers who had set up the basis of a great team, all Wenger did was come in and apply the final touches.....since he has had to build a side on his own we have only gone one way ........ DOWNWARDS!

• 24-Aug-2011 17:08 | | GUD NYARI
  

  buy CD-Cahill/Per, CDM-M'villa, CAM-Hazard/marvin martin, ST-Zarate

• 24-Aug-2011 17:56 | | john  - Rumour
  

  I have heard that we still go through even if we lose, because fenerbache have been disqualified and we are ranked highest. again its just a rumour, but i think it may be true.

• 24-Aug-2011 18:29 | | Anonymous  - If only
  

  Where did you hear this rumour?

• 24-Aug-2011 18:34 | | john
  

  le-grove. should have said i read it.

• 24-Aug-2011 18:57 | | Anonymous  - Wakey Wakey
  

  Errrr hello bob we've sold Nasri!

• 24-Aug-2011 19:32 | | Fatso
  

  The UEFA Emergency Panel has decided to replace Fenerbahçe SK with Trabzonspor AŞ after the Turkish FA withdrew Fenerbahçe from the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League
  
  Meanwhile, Udinese 1 Arsenal, (agg 1-1)

• 24-Aug-2011 20:05 | | Fatso
  

  Udinese 1:1 Arsenal (Agg 1-2). Udinese now need two goals

• 24-Aug-2011 20:40 | | Fatso
  

  Full Time: Udinese 1:2 Arsenal (Agg 1-3). We are in.

• 24-Aug-2011 21:23 | | timmyafc  - your nuts mate
  

  I hope I'm not the only one here that thinks your living in a different world to every1 else. We need 2 or 3 players now and maybe 1 more in january. That's it. Arsene Knows, I think?!

• 25-Aug-2011 19:18 | | kev11
  

  Blame the board and CEO mate its not Wenger who's involved. He identifies the players he wants and its upto the board to get it done. How do you expect a player who would cost 30 mill to play for wages of 70-80k a week. the board is to be blamed on our failed transfers. Wenger wanted The Brat Nasri's contract to be done in jan but the board refused. They wanted to wait. Americans have been spoiling everything in england. Greedy Stan, Gazidis and that fool Hill Woods. I'm gonna bring along a banner against the board for the next match at the emirates. If no players come in i'm gonna shout slogans too.

• 26-Aug-2011 22:41 | | Ahjan  - Players
  

  The team needs players that shine. Arsenal should take kaka from real madrid, and sneijder. They both would play a great part of the team. Arsenal have money to spend, not on small players that we dont know, but on big time players that we can afford. DONT BE SCARED TO SPEND CASH

• 04-Sep-2011 20:29 | | HP
  

  I couldn't agree more with you Mean Lean! Everytime time a number of key placers leave the club we have to buy new players (that often aren't as good as those who Arsenal have developed). Then they have to get settled and learn how to play the Arsenal way. Then it takes time to rebuild the team with the new players and when some players the suddenly feel they are too good for Arsenal they will leave and we will have to rebuild a new team. I'm really dissapointed that Nasri and Fabreags left. I can of course understand why Fabregas wanted to leave. But why did Nasri leave. You talked about how we needed to give the star players higher wages, but I don't think that's the reason why Nasri left (well at least not the only reason). I think he felt too good for Arsenal and he didn't see Arsenal competing for any trophys this year or years to come. He wanted silverwear and didn't see that happening at Arsenal so he moved.
  So I don't know if it's enough to give high wages to the likes of Wilshere and Frimpong when they become top quality players (I hope they do as Wilshere for instants is already an important player in the Arsenal squad). Because if the team is still missing one or two world class players and still not winning anything in the future we might see players like Wilshere and Frimpong leave. Players that like Fabregas were developed by Arsenal since they were young.
  I don't think Fabregas moved to Barcelona for the money. He moved there to win trophys and if Arsenal was winning trophys every season or every other season I'm sure he wouldn't leave for Barcelona or at least he would wait a little longer since I'm sure that no matter how successful Arsenal was/is he would at some point leave to play for his childhood club

• 04-Sep-2011 20:38 | | HP
  

  (I just forget to write this which is why I'm writing it in the reply section)
  
  So to sum up how to keep the players at Arsenal. I don't think that higher wages is the the only solution. It's part of the solution, but it's also very important that Arsenal keeps (or starts) winning trophys, playing Champions League football, being one of the top clubs in England and have a squad full of quality players and talents

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