Matthew Harris
Over the past two years, Arsene Wenger has dramatically changed tack in terms of recruitment. In 2013, Mesut Ozil arrived from Real Madrid for upwards of £40 million, while Alexis Sanchez joined the club last year in a deal worth around £35 million.
After nine trophyless years, Arsenal have now won consecutive FA Cups, and the signings of Ozil and Alexis have contributed towards the reinvigoration of a club that had forgotten how to win honours.
Prior to the signing of Ozil, Wenger practised a reserved and precautious recruitment policy, thoroughly researching potential targets that wouldn’t break the bank. Arsenal have always spent a lot of money on player wages - they are Champions League mainstays after all, and players joining an elite club often believe they are deserving of elite salaries. But until 2013, the Gunners’ record signing was still Andrei Arshavin, who joined for around £15 million in 2009.
Even North London rivals Tottenham were shelling out higher transfer fees at the time, splurging £16.5 million on Darren Bent and Luka Modric respectively. Arsenal spent the next four years finishing within the top four, qualifying for the Champions League but not really getting anywhere. Wenger knew something had to change.
The catalyst
After a 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa on the opening day of the 2013-14 campaign, Arsenal almost tripled their record outgoing fee by signing Ozil, a palpably crowd pleasing deal at the time. Although the German struggled in his first season in England, Arsenal went on to win the FA Cup.
The following year, Alexis joined. He enjoyed an excellent debut Premier League campaign, going on to score at Wembley and contributing to another FA Cup win. Two trophies in two years has seen the Gunners tipped to go for further glory this year and perhaps even challenge for the league title.
Petr Cech, dubbed the signing of the summer by many, arrived from Chelsea to the delight of the Arsenal support. But his performance in the opening day defeat to West Ham, coupled with the Gunners’ generally flaky display - one we’ve seen many times before - has raised serious questions regarding the team’s title credentials.
The goalkeeper has been a problem area for Arsenal for a number of years now and, despite his uncharacteristic mistakes last weekend, Cech is a useful signing. But perhaps what Arsenal really need is another arrival similar to that of Ozil or Alexis. An impact player who will win games when Alexis can’t. A world-class playmaker who can thread the ball through the eye of a needle when Ozil is out of form. Arsenal have some superb footballers, but not enough depth.
Karim Benzema continues to be linked with a move to the Emirates. He’d be ideal and would match the ambition Wenger has shown in recent transfer windows. But it’s not just the business side of things the Arsenal manager has changed in order to instil a winning mentality.
Other concerns
By introducing Francis Coquelin to the side last season, Wenger resolved another issue that had plagued Arsenal for much of the last decade. Particularly at home, the Gunners’ back four have lacked protection in recent seasons, and Coquelin has gone a long way in preventing the defence being exposed. His youthful desire (the Frenchman is 24, but is a young man in terms of Premier League experience) means his shortcomings are often forgiven. Arsenal fans would prefer a better passer in the holding role, but with a lack of recruitable alternatives, Coquelin is a plausible option to continue in defensive midfield. In addition to that, he is proof that Wenger is willing to rectify issues in the team he may have previously ignored.
In terms of the team’s tactical system, not much has changed since before the FA Cup wins. Wenger is still stubborn with his 4-2-3-1 formation, switching between Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud up front depending on the opponent. The Arsenal manager has been criticised in the recent past for moving the likes of Ozil and Santi Cazorla out wide instead of utilising their strengths in the middle. Maybe this year he’ll find a way to use all of his players in their ideal positions, but it’s a difficult task given the quantitative depth Arsenal possess in midfield.
Without question, Arsene Wenger has instilled a revamped approach at Arsenal over the past couple of years. It will be interesting to see whether they can kick on this year, but another marquee signing may be needed if they are to really challenge the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.
