How many signings have Arsenal made so far in this transfer window? I think you know. A couple of kids, someone with a freakishly large head, and, erm, that’s it.
There’s been far more talk about players going out than coming in.
Now Ivan Gazidis has said that Arsenal are negotiating things in private, and that they don’t shout about deals, not least because shouting about them tends to cause them to derail. As we know.
Somehow news about Arsenal’s bid for Phil Jagielka has come out, and at £10m there are those who will say he’s overpriced. But then again – he’s English, and that adds a hefty premium to any price. Yet our bid has been rejected. £20m? They’re having a laugh! Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s not a bad player, and definitely got potential – but he’s not worth £20m.
Which has led many people to hanker back to Cahill. But Bolton want £17m! For Cahill!? No. No, I don’t think so.
It’s not that these players aren’t very good – I’m sure they could do a job. Better than who we’ve got? Who knows. Maybe as good – but absolutely never worth the prices being asked.
Which leaves us (and Arsenal) with a conundrum. Should they give in to fan pressure and irresponsible outrageous purchase demands? Or should they be more prudent with Arsenal’s money, and attempt to get the best value for money they can?
Put that way, I think prudence is the best bet. Prudence which leads them to negotiate largely in private, lest the price immediately skyrocket and come off the rails (sorry to mix my metaphors but you know).
However…. if those deals done in private don’t come off, or are not as high profile or experienced as (most) fans want – what does that say about Arsenal? Does it mean they’re not actually as ambitious as, say, Man City? or Man Utd? Clubs that, whilst perhaps less prudent than Arsenal, are clearly signalling their ambition by just going out and bidding, damn the press.
Do you think Arsenal are ambitious? Does their ambition encompass winning the premiership, or simply finishing in a Champions League position?
Surprisingly, I don’t agree that signing lots of new star players is the only way to signal ambition. However, signing a few young players with “potential” is absolutely NOT the way to let your fans, or your existing players, know your ambition is real and committed.
I’d be looking for something like a few changes – don’t have to be stars for me, but they do have to be ready to take centre stage in places where we probably need strengthening. The key is experience. Not necessarily Premiership experience, at least not for me.
I’d even be pretty happy to some extent to see some of our existing crop of “promising youngsters” promoted to the first team at least in a “giving them a realistic chance” capacity.
Of the existing crop of “promising youngsters” then, we have JET, who we’re apparently going to sell, according to some sources. Henry Lansbury, who we’ve had an offer for from Norwich, and refused, but can still only find it within ourselves to promote him to the youth team (what?!?).
I have to say that I’m not impressed so far – not because we haven’t signed any stars, or English players – but because there have been no visible significant changes (I’m sorry but I don’t really count Gervinho as significant).
I don’t want to end this on a downer, so I’ll end like this:
I do believe Arsene Wenger is working very hard to not only purchase the right players to boulster the team in the right places, but to keep Fabregas and Nasri into the bargain.
And I’ll leave it there.
