The Kids Are All Right: Why Arsenal Refuse To Splash Out

The new season is finally upon us as the world’s best football league prepares for what should prove to be another rollercoaster ten months.

Much of the pre-season talk has been of the big-spending Manchester City, personnel changes at Manchester United, the arrival of yet another new head coach at Chelsea, and why this could finally be Liverpool’s year.

Once again, the only talk about Arsenal has focused on the lack of big-name signings at the Emirates while rivals dominate the summer transfer window, with Arsène Wenger believing that his current squad of young players are up to the task.

Arsenal’s season could prove difficult following the departure of influential Ivorian centre-back Kolo Touré to Manchester City—the last of the invincible side from 2004 who finished the season unbeaten, ironically the last time Arsenal won the league. Wenger’s side could also miss the goals and experience of Emmanuel Adebayor—also sold to City—during a packed schedule over the winter period.

Wenger’s only signing of the summer comes in the form of little-known Belgian centre-back Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax, and while Arsenal continue to be linked with a number of players across the continent, Wenger will refuse to spend the £40m received in transfer fees unless he finds that elusive player who could add to the squad.

By Wenger’s own admission, Arsenal need one or two players to strengthen this summer, if the player can fit straight into the Arsenal mould, and they are available at the right price. With the right kind of player, like with Andrei Arshavin who signed in January, the former is more likely than the latter with grossly inflated transfer fees flooding the market courtesy of those bank-rolling Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Although never in contention for the Premier League last season, Arsenal did reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Champions League, and with another year’s experience behind them, Wenger could hold off until January to re-enter the transfer market.

Vermaelen will now serve as the replacement for Toure, but Arsenal are still light in the centre of defence, as they were last year, with William Gallas, Johan Djourou, and Mikaël Silvestre expected to stay. Philippe Senderos—who spent last season on loan at AC Milan—appears to be surplus to requirements, and has already been linked with a move away.

A leg break has already sidelined midfielder Samir Nasri, and Tomáš Rosický picked up another injury during pre-season after almost 18 months out through a series of unrelated injuries, leaving Wenger short of experienced creative midfielders, and how his youngsters cope in the difficult, more physical games will again determine how successful Arsenal are this season.

Supporters and pundits alike point to the lack of a tough holding midfielder following former captain Patrick Vieira’s departure in 2006 as the reason why they have struggled in recent years, a situation so desperate, Wenger has been considering re-signing Vieira.

Wenger has other targets, but none that seem to represent the value for money Wenger is looking for, and while a return for Vieira would be a u-turn in policy for Wenger, Vieira can mix the rough with the smooth, and his leadership will be invaluable for those around him for a year or two, with the hope of fashioning, or indeed finally finding, a replacement in Vieira’s mould.

Wenger has high expectations of his players again this season, and will believe they can win the league, and at least one additional piece of silverware. The fans, however, will expect at least one piece of major silverware, and would be happy with either the Premier League title or Champions League.

If Arsenal are still challenging for the Premier League come April, it will have been a major improvement on last season, and could signify another step closer to what Wenger has been building since the invincibles of 2003-04.

The young players will hopefully have learned from their failings last season. As in previous years, a perfect goal is only great if you’re winning. They have to become more physical, and more direct in the build up play. 20 passes is great, but if five can do it, and you get a crucial goal, it can be the difference between just settling for a Champions League qualifying place and still challenging for the title.

If the Arsenal fans get behind their players from the opening game against Everton, and stay with them through everything, the players will respond positively. Last season there were too many instances of fans jeering players, including a savage verbal attack on Emmanuel Eboué during a game against Wigan, which Arsenal actually won.

They need to believe in what Wenger is doing, and get behind the team he picks. If they be the twelfth man, the rest will come