Pain In The Arsène – Part 1

Now that September’s round of international fixtures has passed, and last week saw UEFA club competitions officially begin, I often feel that this is when a new season really kicks into gear. Players are starting to near their peak from all the pre-season training undertaken during the summer, to become both physically and mentally ready for the new season ahead with games coming thick and fast. Teams are juggling domestic league duties with the rigours of cup games, along with a prolonged European campaign in the Champions League or Europa League for certain clubs. Not to mention top players participating in autumn international qualifying fixtures. So if you thought the summer off-season was a long one, well folks football is back with full force!

The main subject matter that was going to be put under the microscope in this article, was going to feature a certain Premier League club that wears red in North London. Clearly the article title and picture featured was a bit of a clue. But fearful of any backlash from Arsenal fans who may think I am having a go, I was not sure if I should still go ahead with the post. But as a long enthusiast of Arsène Wenger’s brand of football, I thought it would have been a waste if I did not proceed.

I must stress that this was written before the events of last Sunday and those who know me, if I wrote about Liverpool’s dire performance we would be here till kingdom come. Rest assured Liverpool fans, an article about Liverpool’s season will be coming soon. So with all that said readers, in a first for Frankly Speaking there are two parts to this post so keep an eye out for part two in the coming days.

Let’s get down to business, many of the key stories that have dominated this season so early on, have all seemed to feature Arsenal. Headlines which have focused on the players to depart the Emirates Stadium, to the club’s supposed inactivity to bolster a current squad of players perceived to fall short in keeping pace with its major rivals both home and abroad. Last Saturday’s loss against Blackburn have not helped matters, but the biggest story that sent Arsenal fans into a state of distressed panic was their humbling defeat by Manchester United.

With an 8-2 outcome, many might have thought that this was a scoring update from the famed cricket venue of Old Trafford. Needless to say, it was the end result from Manchester United’s home ground as they entertained perennial Premier League rivals, Arsenal. Thankfully a few weeks have past, and the crazed frenzy declaring the terminal decline of Arsenal as a major force that followed the result has died down a little, in which we can pick the bones of what’s gone wrong and where Arsenal go from here?

But before that is looked upon, one must give credit to Alex’s Ferguson’s men. With new summer signings being integrated into the first team with academy players such as Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverly given a concentrated run into team, you may be forgiven that the ruthless streak associated with Ferguson, and many of his sides during his 25 years at the helm would be lost with new look United side. Well this has not been diluted in any way shape or form with United scoring at will in what was jaw-dropping match. The faces may change but Fergie’s winning machine just keeps rolling on.

With the plaudits taken care of, United’s win compounded more misery and pressure on the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger. We have all heard the theories from people suggesting what is going wrong at the Emirates. Thoughts have ranged from the club selling quality players and not adequately replacing them, to not being positively active in the transfer market and relying heavy on potential rather than proven players. But whose fault is it, and more importantly how does Arsenal improve their present plight?

Wenger clearly is in the firing line, and quite frankly he does have to shoulder some of the blame. However, as an outsider looking in, it is not for the reasons many currently place at his door. A near 15 years at Arsenal, half of Wenger’s reign could only be described as nothing more than stellar. But in the latter half of his tenure I have often felt that Wenger has allowed his own personal ideologies to overshadow the club’s possible fortunes on the pitch.

Fortunes perhaps being the operative word, as during most of Wenger’s time he has brought little name players with poultry transfer fees and turned them into either global superstars or players who furthered enhanced their reputation. Either disgruntled or under-performing once they left the London club, their departures has always commanded high transfer tags that have looked good on the Arsenal balance sheets. Former players such as Nicloas Anelka, Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Viera, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Kolo Tourè are a few that come to mind. Clearly top names, but perhaps unearths the first major problem at Arsenal, where has all this money gone? Has it been used to fund or payoff the spectacular Emirates Stadium?

If so, then perhaps this demonstrates that Arsenal to a degree have actually been over performing for a few years now in mounting any sort of major trophy challenge. With restrained resources compared to their rivals, maybe now it is a question that Arsenal is now being exposed. Maybe Wenger’s managerial skill had papered over these cracks, and constructed a team to perform far better than what lies behind the changing room.

Conceivably, in performing these wonders and the manager himself putting a brave face on things on the field, perhaps naively Wenger has taken on the club’s business short-comings squarely on his shoulders, and drawn such ire from certain disgruntled home supporters who call for his head. If this is the case, and Wenger has been game to do this whilst those above at board level go unaccountable, then Wenger really only has himself to blame for covering the failings of others.

But another major question that has to be queried is the player business policies at Arsenal. What top club in this day in age can allow one of its marquee players to enter the last 24 months of their contract without a solution being found that is beneficial for the club? And by solution I mean either the player gets tied down to an extended contract, or the club cashing-in and willing to sale at a top price. Rather than letting a negative course of action being taken and the transfer valuation of the footballer drop, and the player being in a strong position of leaving absolutely free to another top club?

Well in Samir Nasri’s case, he only had one year left on his contract before leaving for Manchester City this summer. Granted Nasri did not leave for free, but Arsenal were hardly in a strong position as it was clear with one year left on his contract, Nasri would be leaving definitively either this summer or next summer. As a club, why was there no suitable replacement lined up or already acquired for a player destined to go? Along with Wenger, what are the key executive men who thrash out player contracts doing at Arsenal? And here’s a worrying thought, newly installed captain and current talisman Robin Van Persie is entering his final 24 months of his current contract, are the lessons being learnt?  

Keep an eye out for part two coming soon in the next few days.............