It’s finally over. While Jim White may have be the obnoxious, loud, attention-seeking twerp who danced his way out of the examination hall, Arsène Wenger is certainly the quiet boy, sat at the back, who closed his paper with confidence that he’s earned himself a good result – while breathing a big sigh of relief!
The transfer window isn’t something that Arsène is particularly fond of, that much we know. It’s everything that he isn’t: bold, tumultuous, agitated and horribly, unceasingly turbulent, as demonstrated by yesterday’s deadline day deal to bring Danny Welbeck to the Emirates Stadium. Yet Arsène continues to slog on through it. Asked the same question over-and-over again by transfer scoop-hungry journalists – who resemble a flock of seagulls, battling for a discarded bag of chips (they often have the personality of a seagull, too) – Arsène remains true to his values, true to himself, and replies with great charisma and eloquence. It’s a testament to the man.
Arsenal have spent £80 million this summer on 5 new additions – around £44 million of which was spent on signings from fellow Premier League clubs. Such outlay, and preference towards domestic-based signings, is unprecedented in Arsène Wenger’s era. It’s no surprise, too, that such considerable investment has been made in the much-fabled summer of 2014, a year which bumper commercial deals have come into effect and a year which the club has often talked about as the start of a new financial epoch. Around £15 million was recouped from player sales, with the departures of club captain Thomas Vermaelen and long-time servant Bacary Sagna the most noteworthy. All in all, over 10 senior players joined and left the club – a busy summer, certainly by Arsenal’s standards.
David Ospina joined from OGC Nice, following an impressive Ligue 1 season and an equally so World Cup for Colombia. £3 million believed to be the fee, he conforms to the template of positional depth seen at left-back and continues the good competition between the sticks from last season: two very accomplished players backing and competing with each other, in this case, Ospina replaces Fabiański in competing against the greatly improved Wojciech Szczęsny. A fantastic shot-stopper, Ospina is someone I’ve admired for some time. He’s also adept at claiming high balls. It’s not unfathomable that Ospina does surpass Szczęsny this season, but what is for certain, it will push the Pole onto another level – with very little levels left to climb until he can be considered as an elite goalkeeper. A very good addition who will prove his worth in season’s to come.
In front of Ospina, the departure of Bacary Sagna left a gaping hole at right-back which has now been plugged by Mathieu Debuchy, who seems a solid replacement. While a better footballer, he isn’t a better defender; although being so would mean he’d be one of the best defenders around. What the 29-year-old does bring is greater efficieny in transition from defence to attack, while his tendency to sniff out danger does make him a valuable component of our backline. His performances so far – coupled with his aggressive nature and audacious, altering hairstyles – have certainly made him a fans’ favourite and suggest the absence of Sagna will not be as horrible evident as some thought. One worry I do have, though, is his penchant to leave space in behind him; although that mentality can be changed in time.
Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck are new subscribers to Arsène’s thread of British players – and they too look like excellent additions. The former (Chambers) epitomises Wenger’s football philosophy: he’s young, mature, confident, composed, versatile and possesses great potential, coupled already with surprising quality. He’s demonstrated all of the aforementioned attributes during his first 6 competitive Arsenal appearances. Predominantly used as a right-back at Southampton last season, he’s adapted to a new centre-back role and new surrounding seamlessly – he’s tackled the added challenge of having to play with three seperate centre-back partners expertly well. He’s only 19-years-old, which is blatantly obvious at times, but you can be forgiven for thinking that Chambers has made over 100 Premier League appearances and is an established England international. Club vice-captain, Per Mertesacker, claims Chambers “will be very important for the club over the next few years” and “has everything.” That’s one of the biggest compliments that Chambers can collect.
The latter (Welbeck) is Arsenal’s joint-third most expensive signing. Another deadline day signing. And very talented. He may not be the recognised world class striker many, not including myself, crave, but he’s a striker who’s been mishandled and misunderstood. He’s project for the manager and his staff; he’s at a perfect age at which Wenger can begin to mould the 23-year-old into the striker he wants him to be. He scored 9 goals in 15 as a centre-forward last season, recording a chance conversion rate of 31% and scoring 70% of clear-cut chances he was presented with. Those are statistics which contradict the widely-held opinion that he’d a poor finisher, a poor footballer and, ultimately, a poor signing. Welbeck has struck the balance of pace, power and poise which Yaya Sanogo hasn’t yet. His link-up play fits into our style, while his work rate and intelligence when pressing opponents further substantiates the belief that the manager is evolving his team into a unit adept at pressing high up the pitch. Welbeck eases the, what was, significant pressure on Alexis Sánchez to adapt to a new position as well as country. With Yaya Sanogo still learning, Olivier Giroud out, Theo Walcott being eased back in and Podolski being Podolski, the England international will be presented with a great opportunity to make himelf Arsenal’s first-choice striker and prove a few people wrong. I firmly believe he has the ability, confidence and hunger to do so.
While the aforementioned signings are all very good, it can be argued that the one true – and only – addition made this summer is Alexis Sánchez. I don’t quite subscribe with that argument but nevertheless, Alexis Sánchez is some addition. Just two summer’s ago, Alexis would be a player of great interest but frustratingly unattainable. But this is a new Arsenal now, great credit to the excellent work of the indomitable Ivan Gazidis. As reflected by the memorable Mesut Özil signing, we’re now a new force in the transfer market. World class players, who earn over £100,000-a-week, now join the club for £30+ million fees, as opposed to leaving the club. Alexis is the striker-cum-playmaker which we’ve seriously lacked. He adds a new dimension to our attacking ensemble; able to create and complete typical Arsenal moves, as well as being excellent in harrying and pestering opponents, like Luis Suárez. He continues Arsenal’s progression towards returning to Europe’s elite – his relentless demeanor reflects Arsenal, Arsène Wenger’s and Ivan Gazidis’ pursuit of such a reputation too.
One thing that Arsenal fans, almost unanimously, demanded of the club this summer was to add pace and power to the forward line: with Alexis Sánchez and Danny Welbeck, it looks as if Arsène Wenger has achieved exactly that. We shouldn’t forget the return of Joel Campbell from a string of loan deals too. Had Arsenal spent £10 million-or-so on the Costa Rican following his form during last season and the World Cup, I’m adamant the general perception of what he brings to the squad (pace, technique and quality-in-depth) would be far more favourable and many would be far more exciting. There also seems to be a downplaying of Héctor Bellerín as a genuine option at right-back, despite his prominence in pre-season and inclusion in the first-team squad.
Off the pitch, the club have been working hard to improve. We can only wait and see what sort of impact Shad Forsythe will have on the club since joining up following Germany’s World Cup winning campaign. Forsythe seems to have settled well, while the players seem to enjoy his new methods. Again, Ivan Gazidis is deserved of praise having orchestrated the process of adding the highly-respected American. There’s plenty of change within the club’s youth set-up as well, with Andries Jonker deemed the man capable of re-aligning the academy following Liam Brady’s unfruitful tenure. Once an assistant of Louis van Gaal, he’s another well-respected football man who has great experience in teaching and nurturing youth. Encouraging steps are being made to make Arsenal a well-rounded, well-run club at every level.
Despite the plethora of positive, we have failed to address some long-standing issues within the squad. Our defensive options are sparse and inexperienced, following the departures of Vermaelen, Sagna and Jenkinson, while we once again go into a season with two real options at defensive midfield: Mikel Arteta, whom we should have at least found an understudy to, let alone replace, and Mathieu Flamini, who’s Mathieu Flamini. The failure to add an established centre-back is particularly frustrating as at least that would allow Calum Chambers to be used more frequently in a holding midfield role. Laurent Koscielny’s battle with an Achilles problem is also hideously, sickeningly worrying. Arsène Wenger was quick to point out that Calum Chambers is still young and that we shouldn’t ask too much of him, which is exactly what he is doing now, having failed to add another defender. At least people have something to moan about…
I’m sure Arsène is very much looking forward to January.
