Talk is cheap, so they say. It certainly seems to be when it comes to Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal Board, transfers and transfer deadline day in particular.
And yet again, it comes as no surprise for many of us to wake up this morning feeling deflated, let down and even betrayed.
It was a good start to the summer with lessons apparently learned from last year.
We splashed the cash and bought top notch international players in Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla for a combined total of £35 million.
We were excited, hopes raised in anticipation that the season ahead would see us be genuine contenders for the title again. The Boss was talking about bringing in at least two more players, about transfer surprises and about continuing to strengthening the team.
But then we sold Robin van Persie to Manchester United and shipped off Alex Song to Barcelona for £39 million. On top of that, the management team tied the club down to protracted but ‘amicable’ negotiations over Theo Walcott for another 3 months, and who can now leave pretty much for free if he so chooses. In addition, Nicklas Bendtner and Park Chu-Young were packed off to Juve and Celta Vigo – not sold, but loaned out for the season, with the club allegedly retaining a large measure of responsibility for the wages.
But it was ok. The transfer window was still open, the Boss assured us everyone was still ‘working hard’ and that movement in the market would happen. With hindsight, we should have known better, particularly when, with 48 hours still to go, Arsene started trotting out his usual phrases about only adding ‘top, top players’. At least he avoided that wretched word ‘qualitee’, which he says in a particularly annoying voice when making a point to the cameras.
What happened? Nothing.
There were vague rumours we were in for a loan deal for Chelsea’s Michael Essien. But in the end, absolutely nothing ensued.
So yet again we finish the summer transfer window having sold, bought and made a profit. And in future, that is all we can and all we should expect from Arsene and the board.
It’s not about quality. It’s not about adding top players to the squad. They are out there, playing in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The vital word missing here is ‘cheap’.
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We dont need so many transfers. The three we bought is enough
Good enough is never good enough at the Arsenal, shove.
“we’re only after top top players and the injured players returning will be like new signings”. the moment this mantra was spoken earlier in the week, then the writing was on the wall. i didn’t even bother to watch any of the transfer window programmes as i can’t get excited about other teams signing other players knowing your own team is going to do fuck all. i looked at the internet on my phone last night and noticed garcia had signed for city in a £17m deal. this is the same garcia that has been linked with us on a number of occasions and can play centre half as well as defensive midfield. £17m is just £2m more than we got for song. sure he might have always chosen city because of the cash on offer but had we swooped for him as soon as the song money had hit our account, then who knows. i though we had learnt our lessons when we bought relatively early this summer, but that was yet another smokescreen. just what exactly is it that gazidis does? i keep asking this question on all the blogs and sites that i read and nobody seems to be able to give me a definitive answer, if any answer at all. funny that.
I love how you act as though you are proud we are not spending money as if it is your money they are saving. They got in the football game and buying players is the game. Dont cry for me Argentina when its time to pay up to get in the game….
Spurs suck, you tool.
You seem to be the tool my friend, never understood why some fans enjoyed being pumped by wenger/board’s giant red and white di#$do, but hey mate, most fans have wised up, perhaps one day you will as well.
The name of the game is not spend spend spend…ask Leeds, Rangers, Pompey fans what they think!!
The name of the game is to have a successfully run club that can pay its way and will not be held to ransom by one mans whim (what was the spanish club bought by an oil magnate who now has lost interest?)…just like life really isnt it???
You are obviously held ransom to one man’s vision of mediocrity.
AHHHHHH!!! the end of the world!! i wish we signed 3 three players, maybe strikers and a world class attacking midfielder, but noooo we signed noo one. arsene out, kroenke out, tea lady out!!
nah: that’s harsh. I’m sure the tea-lady is a development project who we can sell next year to Chelsea for a profit!
then we must buy three more after that!!
I take for granted that all the complainers spend more than they earn with their own monney. Try to convince me how that is successful in the long run.
Be patient. FFP will change the game for ever and we will come out on top of it. Our time starts now and we will only become stronger for each season.
Wrong.
I believe it is mainly the fans fault who do not react all these years as they should and do not kick their ass out of Arsenal, both AW and the Board.
If this Arsenal comedy took place in any other big club in Europe or South America both the coach and the Board would be a history.
So we Arsenal fans, let us blame ourselves.
@ANDREAS I HEAR YOU ON THAT!! AND YOU ARE SO RIGHT! WELL SAID!GOONERS STAND UP AND FIGHT!!
fight what???
Correct.
I’m nt proud of 7 years trophyless……i’m nt proud of nt havin the quality to challenge 4 titles……i luv arsenal but if the board is gaining we the fans should also be gaining, nd wots our gain??…..nt good football but TROPHY’S…….or is it a crime to ask 4 that?? Arsene is it a crime to support arsenal and to buy evrything they produce??…pls make us proud….IN ARSENE WE TRUST
I think i will support ManCity this year even Im not really like Nasri..hopefully next year Arsenal will be back to be the club I once loved… Sob3…
Good, thats one down another twenty to go and then we will have the real gooners supporting their club through thick and thin!!!!
If by ‘thick’ you mean ‘less than smart’, this has to be the dumbest period in AFC hundred hear plus history. Billionaire owners and shareholders, one of whom is willing to do the business(and clear the club’s debt) to bring us a realistic shot at the top and some fans(yourself apparently) are terrified of it. Now that is thick.
Terrified!!!!!
Of what?
Being a well run club?
Having a new s tadium?
4th richest club in world?
Oh ys, I am really terrified!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_XvxcK1lqc
why did he let song go, who didnt pressure to leave the club. who told that he was happy at the club..
still he was sold without having his cover…
n wenger thinks diaby is his cover.. shit.
why did our One Song start talking about a new contract/higher wages, two years in to a five year contract? Or, more accurately, his agents start agitating and hawking their client around like pimps in the Paris redlight district in Taken? Rarseclart all around.
He was undervalued. The guy had been a rock for 4 years, and yet he was on the same as denilson and less than theo.