Going into this summer after six trophyless seasons, Arsene Wenger and his followers knew they had their work cut out.
They knew that their club captain, and their most influential player, Cesc Fabregas was going to leave, and were in all probability looking for replacements for the inspirational Spaniard.
Arsenal were linked with names like Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing at the start of the summer. None of them could replace Cesc, but all three of them, could have added something this Arsenal team desperately requires;
Class!
Then, Samir Nasri added to their woes by announcing (or not), that he wanted to leave the club and was extremely close to joining their rivals, Manchester United. Luckily, for Arsenal, that move didn't work out, but unluckily a few weeks later, a move to Manchester City did materialise, and Arsenal lost two of their best players in a matter of a few days.
This followed Gael Clichy's move to Manchester City. By then, Young and Downing had signed for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively and Juan Mata had agreed terms to join Chelsea. Others, linked with the Gunners included, Scott Dann, Phil Jones, Jose Enrique, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka.
Wenger got none of them.
He bid 6 million for Cahill (Bolton wanted close to 15). Arsenal were interested in signing, Jose Enrique. (He signed for Liverpool) They wanted Scott Dann. (He signed for Blackburn) They bid 9 million for Phil Jones. (Blackburn sold Jones to United for 16.5 million) They wanted Baines and Jagielka. (They got none. A club in desperate need of cash might have been lured in selling for money. They got Arteta, they could have got the others too.)
Then they got beaten 8-2 to Manchester United and 'The manager of the decade' took a leaf out of a great manager, Sir Alex Ferguson's book. He spent just like other great managers do, instead of being arrogant. He bought:
Per Mertesacker. Great buy. (He's the guy who stopped Messi and the rest of Argentina in the World Cup)
Better than Jagielka? Yes.
Better than Gary Cahill? Potentially yes. But Cahill would probably get the edge because of his experience in the English game. But in all fairness, he fits into Wenger's thought process of buying potential. While, he is experienced and has proved himself, a good season in England still awaits and whether he proves himself against Rooney, Young, Suarez and Bent etc, is another thing.
Good transfer business: Umm, yea
Andres Santos: Gael Clichy's replacement.
Is he better than Clichy? Doubt it.
Is he better than Baines? NO Is he better than Jose Enrique? Doubt it. ( a proven LB in the EPL)
Good transfer business: No. Simply because he replaced someone who was better than him. And 'The manager of the decade' could have got someone better (Baines or Enrique)
Mikel Arteta: Replacement for Fabregas. Other players linked included Juan Mata.
Is he better than Fabregas? NO
Is he better than Mata? NO
Is he injury prone? Yes
Good transfer business: No. You can't replace players like Fabregas. You can't replace players like Fabregas with Arteta for sure.
Yossi Benayoun: Replacement for Samir Nasri? Other players linked included Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.
Is Benayoun better than Nasri? NO
Is he better than Young or Downing? NO
Is he injury prone? YES
Good transfer business: NO. (Even though its a loan deal)
Park Chu
Don't know, won't comment. Apparently he's good in PES. (If that's the reason, please start playing FIFA, Mr. Wenger)
So all in all, was this a good transfer window for Arsenal, considering they signed five players on deadline day? I say, no.
The signings could end up being disastrous. Also, if Santos gets injured or doesn't adjust to England? Why is Armand Traore at QPR?
And oh, they were also linked with Eden Hazard and Karem Benzema.
Note: This could be one piece of opinion that could go horribly wrong, but I'm sticking my neck out and saying, in all probability this piece of opinion will be absolutely correct.
WAKE UP Wenger, WAKE UP Arsenal.
They knew that their club captain, and their most influential player, Cesc Fabregas was going to leave, and were in all probability looking for replacements for the inspirational Spaniard.
Arsenal were linked with names like Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing at the start of the summer. None of them could replace Cesc, but all three of them, could have added something this Arsenal team desperately requires;
Class!
Then, Samir Nasri added to their woes by announcing (or not), that he wanted to leave the club and was extremely close to joining their rivals, Manchester United. Luckily, for Arsenal, that move didn't work out, but unluckily a few weeks later, a move to Manchester City did materialise, and Arsenal lost two of their best players in a matter of a few days.
This followed Gael Clichy's move to Manchester City. By then, Young and Downing had signed for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively and Juan Mata had agreed terms to join Chelsea. Others, linked with the Gunners included, Scott Dann, Phil Jones, Jose Enrique, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka.
Wenger got none of them.
He bid 6 million for Cahill (Bolton wanted close to 15). Arsenal were interested in signing, Jose Enrique. (He signed for Liverpool) They wanted Scott Dann. (He signed for Blackburn) They bid 9 million for Phil Jones. (Blackburn sold Jones to United for 16.5 million) They wanted Baines and Jagielka. (They got none. A club in desperate need of cash might have been lured in selling for money. They got Arteta, they could have got the others too.)
Then they got beaten 8-2 to Manchester United and 'The manager of the decade' took a leaf out of a great manager, Sir Alex Ferguson's book. He spent just like other great managers do, instead of being arrogant. He bought:
Per Mertesacker. Great buy. (He's the guy who stopped Messi and the rest of Argentina in the World Cup)
Better than Jagielka? Yes.
Better than Gary Cahill? Potentially yes. But Cahill would probably get the edge because of his experience in the English game. But in all fairness, he fits into Wenger's thought process of buying potential. While, he is experienced and has proved himself, a good season in England still awaits and whether he proves himself against Rooney, Young, Suarez and Bent etc, is another thing.
Good transfer business: Umm, yea
Andres Santos: Gael Clichy's replacement.
Is he better than Clichy? Doubt it.
Is he better than Baines? NO Is he better than Jose Enrique? Doubt it. ( a proven LB in the EPL)
Good transfer business: No. Simply because he replaced someone who was better than him. And 'The manager of the decade' could have got someone better (Baines or Enrique)
Mikel Arteta: Replacement for Fabregas. Other players linked included Juan Mata.
Is he better than Fabregas? NO
Is he better than Mata? NO
Is he injury prone? Yes
Good transfer business: No. You can't replace players like Fabregas. You can't replace players like Fabregas with Arteta for sure.
Yossi Benayoun: Replacement for Samir Nasri? Other players linked included Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.
Is Benayoun better than Nasri? NO
Is he better than Young or Downing? NO
Is he injury prone? YES
Good transfer business: NO. (Even though its a loan deal)
Park Chu
Don't know, won't comment. Apparently he's good in PES. (If that's the reason, please start playing FIFA, Mr. Wenger)
So all in all, was this a good transfer window for Arsenal, considering they signed five players on deadline day? I say, no.
The signings could end up being disastrous. Also, if Santos gets injured or doesn't adjust to England? Why is Armand Traore at QPR?
And oh, they were also linked with Eden Hazard and Karem Benzema.
Note: This could be one piece of opinion that could go horribly wrong, but I'm sticking my neck out and saying, in all probability this piece of opinion will be absolutely correct.
WAKE UP Wenger, WAKE UP Arsenal.
