Ex-Gunner Emmanuel Petit insists Arsenal will no longer be able to attract the top players as they do not win silverware. An honest, yet accurate statement from the former France international?
Petit, who was brought by Arsene Wenger from Monaco in 1997 and won the double with The Gunners in 1998, believes the club is nothing more than a stepping stone to bigger things for players.
The last time Wenger managed to acquire a piece of silverware for Arsenal was back in 2005 – when I was 19 – beating Manchester United in penalties for the FA Cup.
But since then it has been season after season after season of fighting to finish in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League.
And although Arsenal do have money to spend, thanks to their tight wage budget and structure, and European qualifications year in, year out, Petit firmly believes players will not want to join a club which is not winning anything.
The Frenchman was quoted in The Sun saying:
‘The big worry today is that even if Arsenal have the money who are they going to get to join the club now?
‘The idea they have been giving off for seven years is that it’s a club which doesn’t win trophies and at the end of the season their best players will leave.
‘The feeling is that Arsenal are creating a generation of players who will leave in the hope of going to another club in order to win something.’
I for one totally agree with what Petit is saying. Who, in matter of fact, why would any top player out there want to come to Arsenal, a club which is satisfied of just attaining a top four finish in the Premier League and making profits? The only reason they would join us is to develop their game then bugger off when the likes of United, Barcelona or Real Madrid come a knocking.
Although we are a big, famous club, the fact is no player, unless they are a young talent looking to develop into a word-class act, would want to join a club which is happy making money rather than challenging for the top honours available. FACT.
Like what you read? Then follow me on Twitter – http://twitter.com/Gunnersphere
Visit and Join our Facebook page, click HERE to do so.
Gunnersphere is currently looking for new writers to join the squad. Contact via twitter or at Gunnersphere@snack-media.com for further details.
A blunt talk, a player not joining tottenham, everton and some top small clubs. I do not agree with his dead talk.
yup, i agree with Petit. Watch, hear and read closely. Most of the top footballer will be thinking twice before joining arsenal. The one would take arsenal without considering is the youngster, cause it would be a big stepping stone to join before leaving for the bigger thing. Just look at the place where these ex-youngster end up, either barca, real or the rich cash city or else they would stay with a big pay even though some are worthless
well thats not a suprise
we won nothing for 7 years every play and fan knows we are going down hill…as v perise said this club has no ambition..the club just wants to make money and be an avrage team….but even so we never sign big players anyways if we had the money so it dont change much.
certainly no players wants 2 come to arsenal. Either it is financial or the trophy.. Our club is slowly going downhill n i think this jan seems that wenger will be only only lookin for hard fought cheap bargain players!!!!! N its annoying wen u look at the other top clubs … Wenger is becoming 2 cheap n economic … The other point is manager should be like ferguson .. Wen ur player isnt performing in a fuckin poor result u should give them a boot in a face not be defensive abt their performance ….. Sorry wenger u treat players more like a son … N father vice versa but u r a manager n should criticse wen their performance r fuckin down
Coming frm a disgruntled fan
It is very clear to any outside observer that things are very wrong at the club. It’s partly about losing our best players every summer, it’s partly about not winning anything for an extended period and now we have to add to the list not being able to beat Bradford.
It’s not a great mystery, Wenger’s been in the saddle too long, he’s gone stale and lost his mojo. He needs a new challenge and we need a new manager. Thinking otherwise is to allow sentiment to override rational analysis.
arsenal needs to get rid of Stan. this is one guy who is interested in profit making and hides behind FFP to sell top players and buy crap.
lady Smith can confirm this.
WE STILL WANT OUR ARSENAL BACK.
Couldn`t agree more but the rot had set in before Kroneke.The day David Dein left, then the board split up,was a sign of rough times ahead. I can`t see it happening but Usmanov and Dein seem to be Arsenal`s only hope.
Petit has made the point that myself, and many others ,have been saying for a long time.
Top line players are not going to risk their careers by joining a club (any club) that is in disarray like Arsenal.
It seems to me the best source for building a new Arsenal is with our youngsters who are still young enough not to be cynical and swayed by money. They just want to play football for Arsenal. Don`t expect trophies for a long time to come but get your thrills from watching the kids demolish the money bag.