Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal Domino Effect

Arsene Wenger is on the fast track to losing his reputation as one of the finest managers the EPL has ever had. While his youth policy is popular by football purists, it has a very serious adverse effect which is being seen extensively by Arsenal supporters this whole summer. 

Before Patrick Vieira left Arsenal in the summer of 2005, Arsenal were a force. When Vieira left, the fans expected a big signing to carry on Arsenal's supremacy in the Premier League. Instead, he looked to young Cesc Fabregas.

When Thierry Henry left Arsenal in 2007, Arsenal were again devoid of a talisman: Wenger did not buy big and depended on his youngsters to carry out the job. Arsenal did get painstakingly close to domestic glory the next season, but a lack of inexperience showed massively.

There is a glaring problem with Arsenal's image. Young players always laud Arsenal for developing their careers, and many want to join Arsenal to develop their careers. The only problem is that once they have fulfilled their potential, many want to leave.

You see that with Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri this summer. After establishing themselves as two of the best attacking midfielders in the world, they feel they have better chances somewhere else. How many world class players have actually played out their careers in Arsenal in recent memory, save for a Dennis Bergkamp?

Alex Hleb thought his development was finished, so he moved to Barcelona. Flamini thought that he had established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders after the 2007-2008 season, so he moved to Milan. Adebayor thought he was one of the best strikers in the world and deserved more pay, so he moved to Man City.

This was a summer where Wenger simply had to buy. We are only 20 days away from the transfer deadline and who has he bought? Apart from Gervinho (who might prove to be an astute buy), why do the club need Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? There are so many youngsters still waiting to prove their worth in the form of Ignasi Miguel, Ryo Miyaichi, Carlos Vela, Emmanuel Frimpong, etc.?

What infuriated me as an Arsenal supporter was the fact that $12 million was spent on Oxlade-Chamberlain, an unknown quantity in the Premier League, whereas the immediate demand was for a central defender? Add $3 million or so more to that fee and you could've got Gary Cahill, one of the best defenders in the country, currently 25 and in the last year of his contract. Bolton would have no choice but to sell. What will happen now?

I'll tell you. Oxlade-Chamberlain may as well develop into a great player, only to then realize that he is too good for Arsenal. The above may apply for Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott as well. This is the domino effect. When the need was for quality signings, Wenger remained his stubborn self.

Man United and Liverpool finished most of their transfer business by mid-July and look geared to start the season. What Wenger doesn't realize is that quality signings may have had Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri stay.

Instead of offering them teammates who will guarantee instant success (a Wesley Sneijder, a Juan Mata, a Gary Cahill), he offers them players who may or may not come good in a few years (save for perhaps Gervinho).

If two or three strong additions had come in good time, these two would still have stayed and Arsenal would be considered one of the main challengers. Now, with Fabregas on the brink of Barca and Nasri on the brink of City, they risk dropping out of the top four.

There are rumours that Arsenal will sign Brazilian Jadson and Spanish wiz kid Juan Mata as replacements. While Jadson is certainly inferior to Fabregas, the same domino concept may yet apply to Mata, who after three or four years at Arsenal, may feel that he is too good for it.

This is the most important season that Arsenal has ever had. They must win trophies or risk being blown to oblivion. If they do win trophies (major ones, even the Carling Cup won't suffice, I'm afraid), Arsenal will re-establish itself as a force, and the best players in the world will want to join Arsenal.

When Felipe Melo snubbed Arsenal for Juventus, it said a lot about what established players feel about Arsenal. The young kids will always want to join Arsenal, no doubt about that, but it's not enough.

But let it be clear that it will be no easy feat to win a trophy this season. Man United are easy favorites, Man City have some of the best players in the world, ditto with Chelsea, who could be a major force if Fernando Torres regains his form.

Even Liverpool have invested and look strong. If Arsenal can come through all this adversity and win major trophies, their players will want to stay and the best players in the world will be interested in coming to Arsenal. The world will be their oyster.

Now comes the bad part. If Arsenal do not win anything next season, it risks being stuck in a loop. The likes of RVP and Jack Wilshere might leave for greener pastures come next summer, followed by Walcott, Ramsey and even Oxlade-Chamberlain in the coming seasons.

Arsenal will have no other option than buy young, potentially good kids, and they will want to leave Arsenal again once they feel they have better chances of winning something elsewhere.

We're been talking about every season since 2007 being make or break for Wenger and Arsenal. Finally, the real season has come. It's time to nut up or shut shop, Wenger.