On the eve of Arsenal’s ‘do or die’ Champions League clash with AC Milan, Massimiliano Allegri has told Arsene Wenger that the Gunners’ trophy drought will continue unless the Frenchman acquires big-name players.
The Serie A manager, whose side take a 4-0 goal advantage to The Emirates tomorrow night, was quoted in the Daily Mail today saying:
‘For me it’s impossible to win the title or Champions League without signing big players. You will never do it without big players.
‘That goes for Arsenal, Milan or any big club. You must buy big.’
Allegri guided Milan to the Serie title last year, Milan’s first since 2004, and currently sit top of the Italian league after thumping Palermo 4-0 on Saturday.
The Italian added:
‘I have a strong team but in that I have three big players, bringing experience, character, technical ability and leadership.
‘You need leaders. For me in every team there are two leaders. One technical and tactical leader and one with character.
‘In Milan our technical leader is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In terms of character, until last year, it was Rino Gattuso. Now Mark Van Bommel or Thiago Silva.’
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Wenger and the Arsenal board have come under severe scrutiny and questioning over the sales of several big-name players over the past couple of seasons. Only last summer did we see both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leave The Emirates and with Robin van Persie’s contract set to expire next summer, the Arsenal faithful may perhaps see history repeat itself once again (hopefully not!).
However, despite seeing the Gunners sell their best players, Allegri believes Wenger has done a great job at the club, claiming the criticism aimed at the Frenchman is unjustified:
‘It’s not fair to criticise Wenger so much and it is not right, because every year Arsenal sell one big player or two big players and the team still manage to play well and finish in the top four.’
However, he insisted that if the north London club want to win trophies then they must keep hold of their star performers, as well as sign two or three big-names:
‘But it’s also true that if they want to win trophies they have to keep their best players. And make two or three big signings. If somebody told me this summer we have to sell Zlatan and Kevin Prince Boateng I would say no. No. Noooo…’
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And how many of such “big name” players does Milan have?
According to Wenger, Arsenal must buy the right players.That means not paying big money for the likes of Bale,Modric,For him getting more wc kids is the way.
I’m afraid if he doesn’t make a statement of intent ie getting the international class quality players,RVP won’t sign,
Arsenal may be the best run financially club in the world but as far as winning matches and trophies,it’s distinct third compared toother big clubs.
The ES maybe full now but years of under achievement and trophyless seasons will drive fans away. It maynot happen now but maybe over a period of five to ten years.
While he’s not entirely wrong, at the same time he cannot be taken completely seriously as he is in charge of a club owned by a billionaire media mogul turned corrupt prime minister in a league that is known to also be corrupt. When Allegri can buy big name players and win without the country’s GDP as his transfer budget in a country that already is treading the line of bankruptcy then he can come back and talk to me.