Arsenal Have Millions to Spend on New Players

Should Arsenal buy and sell?

At a time when news comes out of Arsenal making more profit than ever while other clubs are struggling, many are asking the question - why hasn't Arsene Wenger splashed out on big name players?

Earlier in the season, especially when Arsenal had serious injuries to a large number of key players, there was much talk in the blogsphere of Arsene Wenger buying players. This came to a head in late December and early January, and especially following the losses to Man Utd and Chelsea.

Money for Nothing

Wenger clearly has a budget (we've read in various places anything from £35M to £55M). And from comments directly issued by Wenger, he has a concern for the weekly wage budget, if not the purchase price - though we're not told what the wage budget restriction might be.

It is also true that the club has sent a large number of the younger players out on loan this season. To gain experience undoubtedly, but with the added advantage that it reduces the club's wage bill.

Kicks for Free

So let's assume that money is not the issue preventing Wenger dipping into the clubs transfer budget. Let's assume for the purposes of this discussion that the club can buy any player under £50M.

Who should they buy? and who should they replace?

The replacement question isn't supplementary - it's critical to the discussion. There is a current Arsenal squad, with 12 to 14 players making up a regular first team. There's a very definite team that picks itself if they're fit.

In goal Almunia is automatic first choice, with Fabianski waiting in the wings, Manone desperate for another chance, and young Szcsesny out on loan at Brentford looking very promising. With James Shea signing a new long term contract, that's 5 keepers.

If you're just approaching 19, as Shea is, then maybe 4-5 years isn't so long to wait to pull on the number 1 jersey, but if you're just turning 25 as Fabianski is, you can't afford to wait. I don't think there's any doubt Arsenal fans would want to see a new goalkeeper at the club given Almunia's recent performances, but you would almost certainly lose both Almunia and Fabianski.

Is that worth the exchange?

I won't go through all the other positions in detail, but to summarise:

Clichy, Vermaelen, Gallas, Sagna make up the starting back four. Clichy is coming back to his best after a long period of serious injury, whilst Sagna looks like he could do with a longer rest. Gibbs (when he regains fitness) and Eboue provide very good LB/RB cover, and Sol Campbell provides a steady old head as backup in the centre.

Song is the best defensive sweeper in the country - not a big deal since there are few teams that play such a role as clearly defined. But it's a role Song performs very well, and he couldn't be easily replaced. Diaby has been poor for some time, as has Denilson - but both have shown flashes of brilliance too, with Diaby coming into his own prior to his most recent injury.

Are they worth persisting with as Wenger insists, or have they run out of time?

Fabregas is an automatic choice in midfield, and the rest of the midfield depends upon what formation plays up front. Supporting roles that could be played up front or in midfield are currently filled by Nasri and Rosicky. We mustn't forget Arshavin either, and Walcott, whose time out injured has held his development back.

Bendtner is perhaps average as a striker at the moment, but in the right position is effective. He's also young and will develop more fully in the years to come. Van Persie, when he returns from injury is an automatic starter, but how good is he compared with some strikers we could buy? Eduardo hasn't yet come back to his best, not least being held back by niggling injuries, and Vela is kept waiting in the wings for a start.

Dire Straits

That's a fly-by view, and I haven't mentioned the youngsters yet. There's a team full of them currently on loan elsewhere gaining valuable experience, and hungry for a place in the first team. Jay Simpson, Jack Wilshere, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, et al (I won't name them all), not to forget Aaron Ramsey who will be back next year.

So it could be argued that Arsenal aren't in such dire straits they need to rush into the market.

Which is perhaps the point after all. Wenger has built up a team at Arsenal. One without superstars, but a team with a team mentality. And he has built another team of youngsters to fill their places should they leave or be injured. The future in those terms could be very good indeed.

As Wenger himself has stated, bringing in superstar players now could disrupt the team ethos, and also knock back some of the players on the verge of regular first team starts. Ramsey is the first to spring to mind in this category, but Walcott could fit too, as could Gibbs and even Vela.

Youth Club

I'm not proclaiming Wenger's youth experiment a success just yet - when Arsenal win the title, I will loudly proclaim that. But who would you buy in without affecting the team, the ethos of the team, the team's mentality, and the youth of the club? And who would you replace or get rid of without affecting those things?

Wenger is playing the long game (not on the field of course), and if it is a success he will be hailed as a great football genius. Until success comes he often faces ridicule. I believe the course he's chosen is good for the club, not only in the short term financially, but in the long term for success. only time will tell.