Bard
The off-season is usually a time for reflection and renewed optimism. Wherever you stand on the Wenger issue there isn’t much to look forward to if truth be told. If you look at Arsenal’s league position you might reasonably conclude that it has been a successful season. Runners up spot, albeit a distant second, replaced the perennial 4th place. Did it represent a triumph of sorts or was it in fact a fantastic opportunity blown?
Looking back over the course of the season I can’t remember a game when we put in a spellbinding performance over 90 minutes. There were moments undoubtedly; the first half at home against Man U comes to mind, but for the most part it was functional at best and at times dire. We had our usual spate of long-term injuries and the absence of a top class striker cost us dear as we all knew it would.
With the notable exceptions of Monreal, Bellerin and half a season from Ozil no one stood out and many like Walcott, Ramsey and the Ox look to have taken a huge step backwards. Despite our deficiencies we were there or thereabouts at the turn of the year but true to form we collapsed when it really mattered, not for the first time our lauded mental strength proved to be something of a mirage. My view is that the season was a fantastic opportunity blown. Our league position says more about the state of our challengers than it does about Arsenal’s progress.
So what about next season? Can we approach it with renewed optimism or is it likely to be more of the same? Wenger will be in charge again, that’s a given and it is rumoured that a new three year deal awaits his signature. If we take the league position in isolation it’s possible to argue that Wenger has done his job. But my view is that the team has gone backwards and is in need of an overhaul. At the end of every season Ferguson would ask himself this question; what do we need to be able to compete with the likes of Real Madrid ? It was a question but also a statement of intent. Arsenal don’t have either that level of ambition or even the same focus, the Arsenal question is a very different one, what do we need to do to convince the fans that we are competing while in reality we just need to stay in touch with the challengers and maximize profits?
If I’m wrong we will need to see a statement of intent this transfer window. A good case can be made for moving on at least half a dozen players: Per, Walcott, Gibbs, Ox, Ramsey, Campbell. They have all been found wanting for a variety of reasons and are not at the level required to make a serious challenge. We have also lost Flamini, Arteta and Rosicky. It is clear if we are serious about competing we need to be active in the transfer window. Is that likely? My view is that it isn’t for the following reasons. The massive increase in money sloshing around the league will inflate transfer fees and we know from experience that Arsenal’s valuations exist in their own microclimate that is Arsene’s valuation of worth. This is usually a lot less than the market price. Secondly Arsenal don’t get into bidding wars. With agents touting average players around for massive fees, I don’t see Arsenal competing in this kind of market. Thirdly it is a well known fact that Wenger procrastinates and dithers, relatively simple deals take forever to sort out, so I don’t see major activity in the transfer window. At best I see a couple of relatively unknowns coming in for Elneny level transfer fees.
Will it be enough to seriously compete? No it won’t. For too many seasons we have gone into campaigns 2/3 players short, and still managed to hang in there, why should it be any different this time? Much as I would like to feel more positive about the coming season I suspect it will be more of the same. For me the really interesting question is how the club manages to spin this to the fans. Discontent is bubbling under the surface, will this be the season when it erupts ?
(Ed's note - The end of season Gooner survey should be online tomorrow)
