Former Arsenal frontman John Hartson has come out in defence of manager Arsene Wenger’s lack of transfer activity during the summer transfer window.
With the lackluster start to the season, supporters were expecting some sort of activity from the club in the closing stages of the window. It is well-known that the Gunners are in need of players in key areas of the team – such as a new striker and also a midfielder. It wasn’t to be, but John Hartson has backed Wenger in a conversation with talkSPORT.
Why would he buy just for the sake of buying? Why would he just add numbers to give himself a problem and put players on the bench and pay them astronomical wages? I totally understand why Wenger has not bought.
With Danny Welbeck being announced injured post-transfer window, it was revealed that Arsene Wenger knew the extent of his injury prior to the closing of the market, yet opted not to sign a forward.
The Danny Welbeck situation is unfortunate now he has to go in for a knee operation. You look at Liverpool, and how much did they need Danny Ings? They signed him for a free, but what’s the point, Danny Ings has hardly kicked a ball for Liverpool. That’s not the way Wenger works. He protects the club’s money, he doesn’t just go out and buy bang-average players. If you’re going to get into his team, you’ve got to improve it and you’ve got to be better than what he’s got.
Hartson goes on to point out that it has never been Wenger’s style to just go out and buy for the sake of it.
We’ve all criticised Arsenal and would like to see them be a bit more active in the transfer market – he hasn’t been. He’s won two FA Cups on the bounce and they keep finishing in the top four.
They’re not as strong as Man City or Chelsea, but Arsene Wenger keeps producing and keeps building teams. He’s not going to buy players just to add the group.
You’ve got to bring in players that are going to enhance the team.
After a somewhat unconvincing start to the Premier League season, the Gunners boss will be hoping to overturn the club’s fortune as they look to prove doubters wrong and win their first title in over 10 years.
