According to The People’s Person, Arsene Wenger has opened up on the reason on why they passed on the opportunity to sign AS Monaco’s 19-year-old Anthony Martial.
More than a few eyebrows were raised when the French forward made a whopping £36m move to Manchester United. However, after a fast start to the season in the central striking role, it seems like Martial has been a gamble worth taking.
However, the Arsenal manager – who had north of £150m to shell out in the departed summer – believed that Martial was more winger than a lone centre forward, and that he already had the requisite depth in that area.
“We [have] known him since he was a kid,” he said. “But he’s more of a winger-type.
“He’s an exceptional talent – I agree with you – but I believe that he plays in positions where we have players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis Sanchez and Joel Campbell who can play in the position.”
Arsenal’s inaction in the transfer window – aside from signing Chelsea’s shot-stopper Petr Cech – could have contributed to their start-of-season stuttering form, and more precisely their inability to convert goalscoring chances.
Wenger’s failed pursuit of Karim Benzema and his refused pursuit in the aforementioned Martial has meant that the Gunners have created the highest chances in the Premier League but have found the back of the net on their own merit merely three times.
As of this moment, it seems unclear if and when the manager will be able to sort out his squad’s scoring issues. With Arsenal already five points behind leaders Manchester City, he would be happy to find an “internal solution” quick.
