Arsenal Transfer News: Wenger's Decision on Samir Nasri Should Be Applauded

Following last season’s end of the season collapse, all Arsenal fans wanted the team to undergo major strengthening but with only Gervinho and teenager Carl Jenkinson being the major signings of the season, Arsenal haven’t embarked upon the transfer frenzy that several fans wanted to see this summer.

Instead the news has been dominated by talk of two of Arsenal’s best midfielders, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas leaving the club. Fabregas has been linked with a move to his boyhood club, Barcelona for quite some time now and the protracted saga has continued this summer as well with there seeming to be no end to the saga until Barcelona meets Arsenal’s evaluation of the player.

Nasri’s current contract with Arsenal is set to expire next summer and while Wenger has been insistent that he signs a new contract, the French midfielder has not yet put pen to paper. Last season, Nasri showed how deadly he can be when at his best as he was arguably the best player in the league for the first half of the season.

Despite fading away in the second half of the season, Nasri still remains an essential part of the Arsenal side with his creativity, flair and goalscoring ability making him one of the league’s best midfielders. His importance to Arsenal is only amplified by the fact that if Fabregas does depart, he is a natural replacement for Arsenal’s captain.

This entire summer we have been witness to reports of Nasri leaving the club with rivals like Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea being possible destinations. Several Arsenal fans are desperate that Nasri sign a new contract with Arsenal, as they cannot witness one of their stars adding obvious quality to their nearest rivals.

Arsene Wenger recently addressed the press regarding the future of Nasri and Cesc and was insistent that neither of them would leave the club this season. He said that both the midfielders would stay with the North London club despite all the rumors.

But interestingly, he never gave a guarantee that Nasri would sign a new contract which obviously shows that he is willing to keep Nasri irrespective of whether he signs a new contract or not. This I see has an extremely bold move with huge risks that could backfire or work in Wenger’s favor. Wenger is hugely extremely frugal in the transfer market, often selling his players when their value is at the highest and Nasri’s stock has risen massively in the past year with both Manchester clubs willing to pay in excess of £20 million to sign the French midfielder.

Wenger instead of showing his usual indecisiveness and frugal approach in the transfer marker is embarking on an ambitious move that I laud whole heartedly. Financially it is a huge gamble one that could backfire in epic proportions. In the worst scenario, Arsenal could fail to win trophies next season also and both Fabregas and Nasri could depart next summer with Nasri signing with one of Arsenal’s nearest rivals for free. One would rather lose him for a fee than for free.

Nevertheless I think it is a gamble that Wenger had to take. The 2010-11 season represented the sixth straight season the Gunners went without winning a major trophy, a period too long for any top club like Arsenal. That is why it is imperative that the Gunners win a major trophy this season, so that they remain a top club that can attract the best players, so that the fans don’t start to revolt and so that Wenger can retain his job.

If Arsenal are to win a trophy next season, then they need to retain their top players. By losing Fabregas and Nasri, Arsenal lose two of their most creative and experienced midfielders.

Arsene Wenger stated that if Arsenal lost both Nasri and Fabregas, it would question Arsenal’s stature has a top club and he was spot on when he made that statement.

Financially Wenger’s gamble on Nasri is not the smartest move. But for all this time, Arsenal have been financially smart in the transfer market and yet they haven’t won anything for all their financial prudence.

There have been calls from certain section of the fans that Wenger sell Nasri now and invest in a talent like Juan Mata, who is immensely talented. But there is no guarantee that Mata will adjust to the pace and rigors of the English Premier League, which has seen many a foreigners struggle to the pace of the league.

Nasri has slowly established himself in the league.  Mata could take time to start firing and like Robin van Persie recently started, the key to Arsenal’s success next season, lies in starting the season strongly and that involves having a set of players who can deliver from day one. Wenger recently stated that Nasri isn’t unhappy at the club and so Nasri has far more better chances than Mata in regards to making a positive impact from day one.

Another reason why Wenger should look to retain Nasri is because most of the good offers coming in for the Frenchman has come from within the league, from the Manchester clubs.

Now you may tell me that, the same can happen next season as well, and that he may leave on a free transfer.

This is where I think, Wenger has been extremely bold. Wenger is an extremely pragmatic man, a man whose financial prudence has kept the board happy despite the barren run. I am sure that he knows that to lose £20million is too big an amount just for the services of the player for a single season.

I think Wenger’s move with Nasri highlights his confidence that his team will win something soon. Two of the primary reasons why Nasri has been unwilling to extend his contract is due to issues over his wages and the other reason is that he doubts if Arsenal lack the drive and will to win.

Arsenal have offered to increase his wages but over the second issue, they can do nothing unless of course they finally win a trophy.

This is where I think what Wenger doing is a calculated gamble. Despite finishing fourth last season, Arsenal were United’s main contenders for the championship for large parts of the season and remained in the hunt for the quadruple until March.

Despite their poor end to the season, there is no denying the fact that Arsenal did come very close to winning a trophy last season. Wenger has come out and said that he believes his squad has the quality to win trophies. He remains right on this aspect and with a couple of solid signings, Arsenal have the firepower to challenge Manchester United and Chelsea for the league and they do have the ability to do well in the cup competitions as well.

If Arsenal do win a trophy next season and perform solidly, then Nasri will be persuaded to sign a new contract.

Wenger is banking on his team to finally end their trophy drought and thereby encourage Samir Nasri to sign a new contract with the club.

Wenger’s willingness to let Nasri run down his contract is a bold move from the Arsenal manager and is further indication of how desperate Arsenal’s manager is in his quest to finally bring a trophy to Emirates’ empty trophy cabinet.

Wenger has shown for the first time in several years that bringing a trophy is more important than maintaining a healthy financial return and ensuring profits.

I see this attitude from the Arsenal manager as a refreshing break from the usual attitude he and the board tend to show, one that deserves credit.

Right now, there are few men under more pressure to deliver than Wenger and he is come under a barrage of criticism, more from Arsenal fans than anyone else. His flaws are being accentuated and his pros being hidden under an onslaught of criticism. But for his bold move in trying to win trophies, we need to give the Arsenal manager his fair share of credit.

I see the recent developments regarding Nasri’s contract as a positive sign and if Wenger fulfills the call for a few more defensive signings, then he might have sent out a strong message before the season starts to his numerous critics and to his rivals.