Arsenal Football Club released an incredible 24 players since the end of the last season and have acquired just one, Yaya Sanogo, who was signed on a free from Auxerre.
The club has recouped a net figure of £10,000,000 from its transfer activity so far and with the embarrassing performance against Aston Villa last weekend it looks like being a repetition of last year when Arsene Wenger was forced into what many people perceive were panic buys to placate the fans.
Granted, some Arsenal fans can be accused of being a tad over-reactionary, as with just one game gone it seems harsh to be so critical of Arsene Wenger or the club; or is it? With the mass of expectation at the end of the last season, Arsene and Arsenal have again proved to be a massive let down with the clubs transfer policy. The club is printing money for fun and their fans pay top dollar, so far to have seen a humiliation at the hands of a team which were very lucky to stay up last season. There is serious talk of demonstrations against the club and there is already a boycott of the clubs new kit being organised by a fan group (see link).
Arsenal have reportedly made a bid of around £10M for Newcastle Utd’s Cabaye. He is a good player but whether he adds genuine value to the squad is debatable, especially when you consider Arsenal already have numerous midfield options. The bottom line is this: Arsenal has an excellent squad. They have players who on their day can turn on the style and beat the best there is. What Arsene Wenger has achieved in the past matters not in this day and age. The signs are looking ominous for Arsenal already and there will be more pain to come at the Emirates. I expect them to overcome a very weak Fenerbahce team who themselves lost 3-2 at the weekend to a team who has been promoted to Turkey’s Super Lig for the first time, and this was after they were leading 2-0 at half time.
Arsene has again missed the boat when it comes to transfers. His time is up. Even if he spends big now, there is no real quality about and any signings will be speculative at best. Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars are quietly doing a good job at Ajax and Arsenal could do a lot worse than bring in these two Arsenal legends of the past to bring back the good times for their fans.
Source: DSG
