Arsenal Transfer Rumors: 5 Keys to Rebounding from Personnel Losses

For Arsenal FC supporters, the past week has been a disappointing one.

Cesc Fabregas has completed his protracted transfer to former club Barcelona. Samir Nasri seems certain to depart, likely for English Premier League rivals Manchester City.

And the side's opening weekend fixture against Newcastle United demonstrated the problems and limitations of the current squad.

Most Arsenal supporters will admit that something needs to be done in order for the Gunners to cope with the personnel changes this summer transfer window has brought about.

Here are the five keys to ensuring that Arsenal stay a force in Premier League football.

Spend Some Money on the Players Needed

The obvious point that needs to be addressed, with the sale of Fabregas for a reported £35 million and with the coming sale of fellow midfielder Samir Nasri, the Gunners are turning a tidy profit on their midfield creativity.

While Arsenal have demonstrated that they are arguably the best-run football business in the world, a large portion of that money needs to be reinvested into the playing squad.

Does that money need to be spent on the transfers of big-names like Wesley Sneijder? Not necessarily—but when you lose players the quality of Fabregas and Nasri, something must be done.

This weekend's match at Newcastle demonstrated that the Gunners are seriously lacking creativity in the side, and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Over the last two seasons, Arsenal have also been screaming for defensive reinforcements, and the early summer departure of Gael Clichy to Manchester City has only exasperated this. With this new transfer money, it allows the club to address the issues.

Rumors have linked the Gunners with a number of big moves all summer, with only Gervinho and talented Southampton youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to show for it.

But links with Valencia winger Juan Mata, Bolton defender Gary Cahill, Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba and Lyon attacking midfielder Yoann Gourcuff may change things.

While it is doubtful that Arsenal are going to splash out on a number of players the quality of Sneijder, these targets are both realistic and would significantly improve the squad.

Increase the Opportunities for Youth Players

As a club, Arsenal and its supporters have always taken great pride in the excellent quality youth players that the team has invested in over the years.

While talents such as Fabregas and Nasri may leave, they and fellow players Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere demonstrate that manager Arsene Wenger excels at identifying talented youth prospects.

There are still a number of other players, however, who are simply deemed surplus to requirements.

Some leave the club on temporary loans, hoping to have the opportunity in the future to impress. Some—like Wilshere—get the chance to step onto the big stage and seize that opportunity. And others, still, are forced to move on, with a great number managing strong careers with other clubs.

Should Arsenal choose not to reinvest the majority of transfer money back into the playing squad, the youth players in the team need to play an even greater role than they've been allowed previously.

Left wing-back Armand Traore is just one of a number of players who should be given the opportunity to solidify a starting place this season, especially with the departure of Gael Clichy. Along with Kieran Gibbs and Henri Lansbury, they have impressed in preseason and on loan with other clubs, and may well provide an answer to Wenger's personnel issues.

Allow Arshavin Creative Space

In 2008, Andrey Arshavin absolutely lit up the European Championships for his national side, Russia.

Plenty of major European clubs were interested in bringing in the winger and, in the end, he opted for a move to the English Premier League with Arsenal in the January transfer window of 2009.

Those brilliant appearances for Russia in the European Championships were followed by a sensational debut season with the London club. Creativity flowed from the midfielder, he assisted plenty of goals for those around him, and scored more than a few himself.

Last season, however, things were different. Chances were few and far between for the Russian, but with the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, Arshavin needs to be given creative space.

Give him support, and he'll take advantage of it.

Be Honest with Supporters Regarding the Club's Ambition

American businessman Stan Kroenke completed his takeover of Arsenal last April by increasing his shares in the club to 62.89 percent, promising that transfer money would be available for the manager this summer.

Little, of course, seems to have been made available. Big name players have been linked to the club, with the only major piece of business being completed with the arrival of striker Gervinho.

Underwhelming.

The reality, though—as I have written before—is that the Arsenal board have more to answer for than most supporters have recognized.

The transfer dealings done this summer were always going to demonstrate just how seriously Arsenal intended to be taken; whether it was more important for the club to compete for the Premier League title and for Champions League glory, or if to was more important to remain as one of the most profitable businesses in world football.

The reality is that if players the quality of Fabregas and Nasri are leaving, it's because the boardroom simply hasn't demonstrated that the club intends to compete any longer.

Nothing, however, is really shared with the supporters

Champions League qualification will always be an important goal for a club with the stature, facilities, and business acumen of Arsenal, but if things remain the way they are, supporters need to come to terms with the fact that the Gunners are going to struggle to genuinely compete for Premier League glory.

Give the Manager Time and Support

Over the last year, Manager Arsene Wenger has bore the brunt of criticism leveled at the club by supporters from around the world.

Many have criticized his judgment and his ability as a top manager, and some have even vehemently declared that it's time to for a new manager at the Emirates Stadium.

The reality, though, is that Wenger is no less of the quality manager that he was when he took over the club in 1996.

Or for that matter when he led them to their "invincible" undefeated season on the way to their last Premier League title in 2003-04.

What has changed over the years, however, has been the ambition of the club's board and the direction of the club from the people above Wenger.

It's true that players the quality of Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry don't simply appear for sale every year.

But the reason those two players had such successful Arsenal careers was become Wenger identified them, Wenger signed them and Wenger provided the infrastructure and guidance that grew them into some of the finest football players of a generation.

Arsenal supporters have a right to be frustrated at the failing fortunes of their club since the 2005 FA Cup win.

But I suggest that the boardroom are far more the blame for the failings of the side than Wenger and his coaching staff.