Markymark
Looking at this transfer window we have successfully moved on Theo Walcott, who I now hope can revitalise his career. A swap about sends Giroud to Chelsea. Our prime target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is purchased for a record signing fee, whilst the man who didn’t want to play for us (Sanchez) is sold. In return we obtain Henrikh Mkhitaryan and we tie Ozil to a contract at very least creating a price in the market for him. Other departures are Francis Coquelin and Mathieu Flamini, and a recruitment is the young Greek centre-back Mavrapanos. A massively engaged, high tempo window that has effectively pushed Chelsea, Man United and Man City into the shade.
Talking pure activity Arsenal have suddenly become a force and have become yet more Germanic in team balance. Previously a supine Board were beholden to Wenger, who also appointed the hapless Dick Law. We have been told that transfer business is an incredibly difficult business, that the Billy Beane Moneyball model over-rules all and previously the highest paid member of staff at the Emirates was Wenger.
Smashed and broken, the amateur model of missed flights and dithering has ended. I’m sure that Wenger has been consulted but there are different levels of consultation. Such as “This is who we are buying!” It is also interesting to note that the Dortmund’s Chief Executive Michael Zorc felt he could berate Wenger in the media whilst simultaneously dealing with Gazidis, Huss Fahmy and Sven Mislintat. This in my opinion was a tactical move to show Dortmund supporters he was being tough in negotiations whilst hurling an insult acceptable to all parties around the table.
The Old Guard is going, one by one they will fall. The transfer activity will sharpen up and expect the sale of Ramsey and culling of Welbeck. Expect the culling of internal staff. In fact expect the removal of Wenger’s key men, one by one. The future (delayed by up to 18 months) is suddenly an awful lot more competitive as we are dragged kicking and screaming to the new model of European Football management .
The great thing is we will be actually learning from very solid professional management so I expect rapid changes emerging from end of season 2017-18. Make no mistake Wenger will finally be removed inch by inch
