Arsenal FC: Gunners Will Win Nothing Next Season, Unless Wenger Bends His Rules

Six years.

It's hard to imagine it, but it's been six long years since Arsenal last lifted a trophy. They came close a few times: the Champions League final where 10 Arsenal men lost the lead against Barcelona; the League Cup final against Chelsea, where the Blues were barely able to beat the Arsenal youngsters; and finally the League Cup final against now Championship-side Birmingham City, where Arsenal quite literally gave Birmingham the winning goal.

This game started the saying, "Winning just isn't an Arsenal thing."

But all these were cup finals. Arsenal never even finished in second place in the league during the trophyless gap. They were always in contention.

But the traditional late season collapse was always there to remind the footballing world how fragile Arsenal can be, and leave Wenger a damned man, cursing his stars.

Wenger's alcoholic or gambler-like persona has cost Arsenal time and again. While the Frenchman should not take all the blame, the board of directors should be damned by association for showing that they only care about profits. Its their profits, but even so, the Frenchman never really took a stand and demanded transfer funds.

Once Ivan Gazidis, the Arsenal chief executive, declared that Wenger had $45 million available at the beginning of the previous season, the fans thought Wenger would buy quality players. The Frenchman signed three French players, as usual.

While Koscielny was able to adjust to the EPL eventually, he made many mistakes early in the campaign that cost Arsenal. While Chamakh, the French-born Moroccan, made a bright start in his first season and was impressive, he eventually became a bench player. He scored once in his last 20 games—a horror run to say the least.

Then there's Squillaci, a 30-year-old and way past his peak. While he isn't a bad player, he added nothing new to the Gunners' squad, which instead needed a physical player with a proven track record in the EPL, especially against teams like Stoke, Birmingham and the like.

Then, the Arsenal manager did nothing in the January transfer window. He signed the talented Japanese Ryo Miyachi, but Miyachi was loaned right away. Wenger never really added any reinforcements to a side that was fighting in four fronts.

Eventually, time proved Wenger was at fault as usual. Even RVP admitted that Arsenal's collapse is almost always identical.

Every season the Gunners crash in the final stretch of the campaign, and every year Wenger does nothing to show any signs of improvement, making the Frenchman look as helpless as the fans themselves.

This year, the transfer window is just like the past seasons. Key players are rumored to leave, while there appears to be no signs of Arsenal signing quality players looming on the horizon.

Nasri is demanding a $110,000 a week wage. While that seems like a lot, in the world of football, it's nothing compared to what he'd make at another club.

Wayne Rooney makes $250,000 a week. Nasri made one-fifth of what Rooney made before, he now is asking to earn slightly less than double what the Englishman is making.

At United, Nasri would make no less than $150,000. But instead of submitting to Nasri's demands, Wenger rejected it, making Nasri look like a villain in the eyes of the fans. This allowed other clubs to flirt with the player.

Arsenal hands players like Diaby, Almunia and Denílson money for being useless, instead of giving it to those who deserve it more—players like Nasri, Wilshere and RVP.

Eventually, those talentless players thought they were bigger than a Arsenal FC. Denílson stated that he's been at Arsenal for five years and has won nothing, instead of realizing he was a huge part of the problem. He took the place of someone who was actually gifted, and should realize that he's barely good enough to play for Stoke.

However, despite all these unsettling events, Wenger still has a fair chance to fix things. Arsenal are rumored to be closing a deal with Gervinho, probably (and hopefully) the first major Arsenal signing this season.

The funny-looking Ivorian can add depth to the squad and is very talented. He just came off a winning season where he won the double, and he will look to win the hearts of Arsenal fans. The fact that he stated in 2008 that he dreamed of playing for Arsenal one day helps too.

And even though Wenger is signing a talented player from Ligue 1, the Frenchman should also start looking at other leagues. A class defender from Serie A or the EPL could do wonders for the Gunners, who are in dire need of a physical presence on the pitch. For the Gunners, a defender from a physical league is a must.

Backup players are crucial as well, Arsenal need depth, a backup player in every position would help them win the league. It certainly helped Chelsea.

Traoré is supposedly returning from loan. Having him and Gibbs to cover Clichy would be helpful, along with having cover in other positions too.

Wenger needs to bend his rules. The Frenchman should not change his philosophy, but rather adjust it.

The EPL has changed drastically since Arsenal won the league back in 2004. Clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City are enjoying unimaginable wealth. Competing against them with a 15-year-old plan is certain to fail, especially when they've got millions on their side.

Wenger must prepare himself for the thought of spending $20 million on a player, especially if that player can help Arsenal bring in a trophy.

It remains to be seen as to whether Arsène Wenger will change and spend wisely for the sake of the club and it's fans. But it is guaranteed that the answer to this question will come sooner rather than later.