Arsenal Transfer News: Thierry Henry Defends Arsene Wenger over Karim Benzema

Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry has come out in support of his former manager Arsene Wenger in the wake of a disappointing transfer window for the Gunners.

Speaking on Sky Sports (h/t James Whaling of the Daily Mirror), the Frenchman defended Wenger’s apparent failed pursuit of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, insisting it’s tough to lure players from the Spanish capital if they aren’t keen on a transfer:

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I do not know if the boss wanted Benzema or not, but the player must also want to come. What are you going to offer to the guy who is playing for one of the best teams in the world, knowing that he is playing there week in, week out, and performing well?

So I do not think that Arsene did not want to bring any other players - that would have been another story if he had really said: 'I do not want to bring in any other players.' But he said that if it can be done, then I will try to bring someone.

But how do you get Benzema from Real Madrid when he plays there and Cavani also from Paris Saint-Germain - he scored again at the weekend? It is a difficult one.

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Matt Dunham/Associated Press

The club's former midfielder Ray Parlour also admitted he was disappointed that the club didn't make some more additions:

It was a window that promised so much for the Gunners. Getting Petr Cech in early seemed like an indication that Arsenal were going to address some perennial problems with this team. The hope for the supporters was that a combative midfielder and a striker would follow, but as the days ticked by, those acquisitions became less and less likely.

As noted by John Cross of the Daily Mirror, it’s quite remarkable that the Gunners are the only side in Europe’s top five leagues not to have signed an outfield player:

While they have a quality squad, new faces are imperative at a football club to prevent things getting stale. Especially for a team like Arsenal, who should be challenging for the title. In addition, sides like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool have all made major improvements to their squads, with the Gunners, in the main, standing still.

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Cech will undoubtedly enrich their chances of overall success, but not adding to other facets means Arsenal remain a little short of being the finished article once again. It’ll be grating for the Emirates Stadium faithful, especially when their flaws are so obvious. Bleacher Report UK summed up the thoughts of many Gunners fans on deadline day who were hoping for some last-minute deals:

Benzema wouldn’t have been the only solution to Arsenal’s problems, either. Although the club could certainly have done with a world-class No. 9, a forward who could lend ample support to Olivier Giroud at the point of the attack would have sufficed.

David Vincent/Associated Press

As ESPN FC’s Miguel Delaney noted, limiting the options to a player of Benzema’s quality is a little naive on the part of Wenger:

The base of the midfield is another area of the team that remains remarkably unaddressed too. While the emergence of Francis Coquelin has given the Gunners a defensive, industrious presence in the middle of the park, he’s still learning at the highest level. Plus, in the event of injury or suspension, there’s no replacement up to the same standard.

It means Arsenal remain one absence away from disaster in various positions on the pitch and over the course of an abrasive campaign, that’s not sufficient depth for a title charge. The Gunners seemed set to make an impression in this window, but sadly for the club’s supporters, it’s been an all-too-familiar frustrating one.