Arsenal Transfer News: Paul Merson Says Arsene Wenger Cheating Fans, Top Rumours

Former Arsenal great Paul Merson has launched a scathing attack on club manager Arsene Wenger, claiming the iconic coach is "cheating" Gunners fans with his lack of activity in the transfer market.

The outspoken pundit told Sky Sports News HQ that Wenger needs to invest in his squad if Arsenal are to have any chance of competing with the Premier League big guns for the title in the coming years:

"

It cheats the fans. The fans think "what are we coming for? We turn up every week, we pay the highest prices and what for? Top four? We might get a day out at Wembley again in the FA Cup." Wow-wee.

There's a saying in life: Keep on doing the things you do and you'll get the same results. How different is this season going to be for Arsenal? It's the same team that finished 12 points behind Chelsea last year. Why, this year, will this team finish above Chelsea?

I can tell you now, there will be a phase this season when they'll be unbelievable, win seven on the trot and play the best football you've ever seen. But at the end of the season, with this team and no signings, I'd be absolutely shocked if they won the Premier League.

"

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Fans of the Emirates team were left disappointed and empty handed as the transfer window closed on Sept. 1, with Petr Cech their only core signing—meaning Wenger has failed to bring in a world-class outfield player for his side. 

It is certainly strange the Frenchman has not even dabbled in the market as both Manchester clubs once again invest heavily to solidify their Champions League spots alongside Chelsea. 

Arsenal's Supporters Trust have gone as far as directly requesting the club's board to "review" Wenger's transfer policy and the scouting of talent, as reported by Izzy Horsefield of the Express.

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Merson further laid into Wenger and his style of management, highlighting the lack of thought towards Arsenal fans, per Sky Sports News HQ:

"

If you're an Arsenal season ticket holder, you're paying top dollar. It's their money. It's the fans' money. It's not Arsene Wenger's money. It's not the club's money. It's the fans' money that they've paid to buy players. The whole idea of going to this big stadium that holds 60,000 people was to bring in top quality players. I don't know [why Arsenal aren't spending the money].

"

As a favourite former Highbury son, Merson's words towards the manager are very strong and overtly passionate.

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However, there is an argument that Arsenal only want to buy the very best, and they have acted swiftly in the past to capture Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez—two world-class entities. 

Cech is also a top-flight addition to the Gunners defence, in a position that has been one of Wenger's most troublesome over many seasons. And Wenger eluded to the fact of only buying the very best, saying, per Horsefield: "But when you have to invest you have to find the players to invest in. The problem at the moment is finding the players that guarantee you are a better team afterwards."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Denies Arsenal Switch

Mercurial forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rubbished claims he nearly ended up an Arsenal player on transfer deadline day, preferring to see out his last contracted year with Paris Saint-Germain. 

Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard said PSG were prepared to cash in on the talented striker, with the Gunners on the lookout for a big-name goalscorer. 

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However, Alex Harris of the Daily Star quotes the Swede refuting he was ready to move to London, preferring to stay put in Ligue 1: "No, so the interest that existed, I have not committed myself to. It is [agent] Mino [Raiola] who takes care of the pieces. When I give notice that I want something to happen I get involved. But this summer I have been resting up, I enjoyed the holiday.”

Arsenal fans were hoping to see a world-class striker arrive, and Ibrahimovic would have fitted the mandate at the point of the attack. 

It is difficult to quantify what type of player Wenger wants to bring in, but he has clearly opted to stick with the players he has until at least January. 

The Gunners have always remained sufficiently off the title pace in the past few seasons, and as Merson correctly states, this is unlikely to improve with the current crop.

Wenger needs to find himself a player in the mould of Ibrahimovic or Karim Benzema—then Arsenal can truly call themselves title contenders.