Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Smart Not to Spend Wildly During January Window

Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal ownership group should be praised, not criticized, for the team's lack of marquee deals during the January transfer window. There was no reason for the Gunners to overspend on players now and risk screwing up the budget for the summer window and beyond.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis explained the team's economic situation in a report passed along by ESPNsoccernet:

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"It (our model) does mean we can't afford to compete with oil money, and we can't afford to compete with super-wealthy individuals from Russia,'' he told Fox. "But I think the more important thing about our model is that it's sustainable.

"If we've learned anything from the world's economic crisis, it has to be that football clubs need to have responsibility–not just for today, but for their own futures.

"And our business model means that we can continue to do what we're doing forever.”

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The winter window is not a good time for a team like Arsenal to make moves. The downside usually far outweighs the upside of any possible acquisition.

Big-spending contenders are willing to pay premium prices for players who will struggle to live up the the hype. Joining a team midseason while being expected to fix their problems is a tall task, and many players have struggled with it.

It all comes down to the Gunners being honest with themselves. They weren't going to make a run for the league title no matter who they brought in, and their chances of working into a European spot are still good without spending big right now.

Gazidis' comments make it clear that the team needs to be selective when making deals because the margin for error is a lot smaller than at other notable clubs. One window isn't going to make the team suddenly dominant, but it could sure screw things up.

That's why Arsenal's approach of building from within is smart—at least for now. The Gunners aren't going to be able to buy every piece they need to remain a contender, so producing their own talent to fill holes is the only way to keep things operating at normal efficiency.

A minor move like bringing in Thomas Eisfeld from Borussia Dortmund won't impact the team right away, but it will pay off nicely in the long run if his development continues at its current pace. Taking a chance on a budding star like that and hoping he pans out is more economically wise than throwing money around wildly, hoping to strike the right notes when all the new players arrive.

Wenger has taken a lot of heat during the current campaign due to the team's shaky play and loss of key players, but there's only so much he can do under the current model. He shouldn't become the scapegoat if the season doesn't finish as planned. His hands are tied.

Every fan in the world would love for their favorite team to make huge signings every window, but it's just not possible. Give credit to Arsenal for understanding that despite the mounting pressure.