Arsene Wenger: The Promise

(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

"If we buy players, it will certainly not be players who lack experience, we have enough of those..."

The words of Arsène Wenger following our Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United back in May. Not only that, in the article from which I lifted this quote on Arsenal.com, the article states that Wenger "vows" to strengthen the team in "key areas".

Hello again. Though it seems like only yesterday when I pointed out the need for a takeover for us to have any say in anything major in English football, it also seems like an age ago, where, with my stress of endless exams and deadlines, and the somewhat convenience of a relatively quiet summer of football; certainly as far as Arsenal are concerned, I have now come back to share one or two bones of contention regarding Ithings Arsenal.

How apt it is then to begin with the aforementioned snippet straight from the horse's mouth, with Wenger himself having acknowledged the need for strength and experience if we are to progress.

However, rather alarmingly, and with Wenger having previously pointed that he had wanted to tie up his transfer dealings prior to the team's pre-season tour of Austria and Hungary, the experience and strength that Wenger had suggested he had finally recognised we were lacking, two qualities Gooners have been gagging for, have not arrived.

In fact, they do not look like they are arriving any time soon, with Wenger "not in a hurry to buy" and having a "great belief in our squad"!

It has taken Le Boss two months and two pre-season friendlies (where we all know at least half of the players involved won't play much of a part next season) for him to seemingly go back full circle and declare his contentment at the talent at his disposal.

Now whilst I wholeheartedly believe that we do indeed have a squad full of quality, and whilst Wenger has moved to bring in Thomas Vermaelen, seemingly addressing one major weakness in the team, it is fair to assume that everyone agrees with me when I say that we are, despite the talent and technique, a defensive midfielder short of winning the title or Champions League. A strong, toweringl, holding midfielder, of the highest calibre.

It all looked set to happen with Wenger's apparent pursuit of the then Fiorentina hardman, Felipe Melo.

Admittedly, I had never heard of the guy prior to the Confederations Cup; however, watching his performances and reading up on his rise to stardom in Serie A, I quickly realised that here was potentially another Gilberto Silva, perhaps even with a bit more class and passing ability, with the Arsenal legend himself advising Melo to sign on.

Ultimately, Melo opted to stay in Italy and Juventus helped themselves to a class act.

Now whether our failure to land him was due to Melo's preference for the Italian job, or because Wenger did not want to let go of his prodigal son (that's Eboué to you and me) we shall never know, but you sense that Wenger was indeed ready to chase that elusive midfield player.

It remains to be seen whether he intends to carry on the chase, and such intentions will surely unfold in the next few weeks, but as it stands, I won't be holding my breath!

For it seems that we are now after a striker. Yes, another goalscorer. Following on from perhaps one of Wenger's best moves ever in the transfer market in getting rid of one of the laziest, greediest and most ungrateful men I have ever seen in an Arsenal shirt (and ripping Manchester City off in the process), all the talk surrounding the Club has been with regards to signing a replacement for the enigmatically foolish (and terminally offside) Adebayor, with rumours regarding a new defensive midfielder slowly subsiding into non-existence.

Once again, and although the manager himself has intimated that we do indeed possess the necessary firepower, it seems that Wenger's love for attacking football is forever getting the better of him, as the names keep getting bandied around.

Now, whilst I initially agreed with the view that the £25 million gratefully accepted for Adebayor's departure should be spent on a striker and defensive midfielder (as we do not seem to have any other cash available), on reflection, I realised that we have an embarrassment of riches in attack, so much so that, with van Persie seemingly a given for a starting role, we can even deploy Arshavin in the "hole", not forgetting Eduardo, Walcott, Vela, and, painfully, Bendtner, all vying for a starting spot alongside the Dutchman. Which renders our supposed chases for Chamakh, a good but by no means prolific marksman, and Huntelaar, a massively talented goal poacher, rather futile.

Not that I would complain if we got either of them, of course, it is just simply time to address that glaring hole in the midfield.

So the chase goes on. And having mentioned the names of the members of our artillery it is easy to back up my claims that next season will be a fruitful one, but only if we can augment that attack with a strong spine.

Although unproven, Vermaelen comes with many positive reviews, ones which I am unable to comment on as I have not seen him in action. With such a fine line between success and failure, Wenger would be best advised to use every ounce of his energy and experience to lure a truly domineering figure in midfield that would stand up to the rigours of football at the highest level. A player who can be a match to the engines of a United, or a Chelsea, or a Liverpool, all of whom have recognised holding midfielders, and all of whom have finished above us last season.

With at least £25 million in the bank, there will be no excuses should that signing fail to materialise. Unless of course, Le Boss brings in £25 million's worth of 7-foot, 100m sprinting 15-year-old Franco-African prodigies...

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?