Confident in his squad.
Yesterday’s Press Conference (Telegraph agrees with AW)
“I believe we have the quality, and it’s now about how much we can be stronger together,” he said. “We have to move forward together, which for me it is more important than dreaming about finding a miraculous player who wins you everything.”
Arsène Wenger’s apparent inactivity in transfers market should be cheered by Arsenal fans, because it means it becomes increasingly difficult to strengthen our current squad. Realistically speaking, not many players in the world would genuinely improve our team and not many of them would be automatic starters in our setup; look at all players recently acquired by our rivals – both in England and Europe – and name one who would become the first name on our team sheet: Begovic? Schweinsteiger? Schneiderlin? Falcao? Khedira? Firmino? Milner? Sterling?
I am not sure any of them would, Sterling perhaps but the fee is simply insane.
Insane fee
That’s why I am really relaxed about this whole situation, because there aren’t many players better than ours and also because Arsène Wenger showed once again – for the third season in a row – that he doesn’t hesitate when the good opportunity comes up; he didn’t when Mesut Özil, Alexis Sanchez and Petr Čech became available, he won’t in case the likes of Benzema, Reus, Sergio Ramos or another top class player is suddenly up for grabs.
Ambition is not a problem nor is money or wages, within reason, as we have shown of late and London is always an attraction. Players want to join the Club, find the Arsenal attractive and are ready to embrace the challenge, from any other Club in the world. Let’s remind ourselves that Alexis chose Arsenal over Liverpool and Ozil us over United and PSG reportedly.
Done deal: Mesut Ozil agreed to join Arsenal early on deadline day
We have quality and numbers to fight until the last game, which of course doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be looking for better players, but we are not as desperate as the general mood seems to suggest; don’t get influenced by Manchester United spending spree – which looks like Tottenham’s and Liverpool’s in recent years, and we know how it ended for both; or misled by silly reports from sillier ITKs. In the second half of last season, our current players showed on the pitch how good they are and the pitch doesn’t lie. With all players fit and firing, we can compete with anyone.
Do you remember when Arsène Wenger used to say that Abou Diaby, Thomas Vermaelen or any other player coming out of a long spell in the treatment room was “like a new signing?” Many used to make fun of the man but he is right: players like Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere (and partially players like Mesut Özil and Olivier Giroud) will be like new signings for real and I challenge you to find better options out there! We now have many young but experienced, proven internationals already acclimatised to the league and didn’t cost us a fortune!
Meet our new signings!
Sit down and relax, Gooners, we already have enough quality and depth to challenge for the title, way more than we had back in 2003/2004.
Have a look at @Goonerdave66 s excellent blog about that wonderful, unforgettable season and you’ll find out that we had plenty of reasons to be scared and angry back then, more than we have today. I’ll let you discover his piece in full but basically we didn’t have any cover in many key areas and trusted some young, inexperienced players to step-up when needed or relied on soon-to-be-released veterans, yet we went on to win the league undefeated and get the golden trophy.
That season taught us that understanding, harmony and solidarity can win games; our Club’s motto reads Victoria Concordia Crescit, we shouldn’t really underestimate the force generated by a strong, united dressing room.
Italian living in Switzerland, Gooner since mid-nineties, when the Gunners defeated my hometown team, in Copenhagen. I started my own blog and podcast (www.clockenditalia.com) after after some experiences with Italian websites and football magazines. Covering Arsenal Women with the occasional rant about the boys.
Excellent write up.
I genuinely believe that this team, as it is now, can win titles as long as we stay fit throughout the whole season.
Hi Tricky, thanks for reading and commenting my article.
Fitness will be key, it would bring competition for places and keep everyone on their toes.
Let’s hope the backroom staff changes implemented in recent seasons will prove to be our unexpected asset.
I think it is very important for Arsene Wenger to buy one top striker who can help our striking force to win the League. He might think he has enough players, but I don’t think so, its either he can buy a fast striker. If Wenger do not buy a striker before the end of the coming season, he will start to give so many reasons why he could not win the league, but this is the time for him to look for a suitable player. I know Wenger very well right now he does not want to-much pressure from the fans but he will not buy, he is just fooling us by saying, if he find the right player he will buy, but he will not buy. He is taking time until the season starts.
Thanks for reading and sharing your opinion, Delford.
I do believe that fast striker is already in our squad, his name is Theo Walcott: the guy has plenty of goals in his feet, a full pre-season will do wonders for his sharpness and confidence.
I am quite confident Arsène Wenger is keeping an eye on the market, some interesting opportunities could come up by deadline day; he surely won’t buy for the sake of it, new players must improve the current team or won’t be signed.
Am in love wit dis italian’s write ups. Keep it up. COYG
Am in love wit dis italian’s write ups. Keep it up. COYG
Thank you!
The most important thing Arsenal has going for it now is; we won’t lose our top players. Walcott, Wilshire, and Ramsey in past seasons might have left. Grioud, too, could have gone after two good seasons at Arsenal. Today, these players stay. That alone makes Arsenal stronger. Today, if a player goes it is because Arsene Wenger believes the club don’t need him, not that the team can’t afford to keep him.
The next key thing is, as stated, it takes a truly world class player to break into Arsenal’s starting XI. I admit to disappointment over Khedira and some competition of Le Coq at DM would be nice, but if Arteta stays healthy and Arsene rotates the team against weaker opponents, Coquelin should last the season. At CB with Gabriel, Chambers, Mertesacker, and Koscielny, the Gunners look good. At right back, the clbu is loaded, and left be, with Gibbs and monreal, they look solid.
At CM and ACM no club in the league looks close. Cazorla, Rosciky, Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshire, Ox… On the wings we have Sanchez, Welbeck, Walcott, Ox, Gnabry and up front Welbeck, Giroud, and the youngster, Akpom, look very solid. One more striking option would be nice, but how to add quality without wasting money? If you add Benzema, Giroud will sit. I’m not convinced Benzema is a huge upgrade on Giroud. Benzema’s goal totals are probably suppressed by playing with Ronaldo, but in the Arsenal system, Giroud makes goals for his teammates as well as acting as target man. A player like Austin might do the trick, or even better, Javier Hernandez; a fourth striker who is a goal poacher. Other than that, I can’t see much out there that makes Arsenal significantly better.
Thanks Paul, very sharp comment indeed!
The Arsenal looks very, very solid and we’re finally seeing results of having a stable group of players.
I’m not sure about Benzema, tho: I see him as a proper upgrade on Giroud since he’s more mobile and have more solutions within; playing alongside Ronaldo has hampered his goalscoring record, I do believe he could score a lot if given a leading role as well as assisting his teammates.
Plus, he already knows Özil and Özil already knows his movements…
I must say..D hopeless of some fans and wenger still lingers on.No wonder d old idiot will neva change his ways.have neva seen a lost manager and fans like arsenal fc.Wakeup its d same process all over and over again..And mourihno may likely prove it,Listen.Arsenal will neva win d league or anytin dis yearSorry 2 say.But am not a foolish fan.Arsenal fans 4 once rise up against wenger and dis selfish board.U deserve better than dis ok