Arsene Wenger and Arsenal: The Good vs. The Good Enough?

As Arsene Wenger and Arsenal fans alike are gearing up to welcome the long-awaited return of Theo Walcott to first team action, there is no doubt that the Englishman’s recovery from injury could not have come at a better time. With only 3 wins from our opening 9 matches, Arsenal sit 5^th in the table with 14 points, 9 points behind the league leaders Chelsea.

This may not seem like a bad position to be in, but when you consider that we are currently behind Southampton in 2^nd, West Ham in 4^th, and we've drawn the most amount of games this season so far (5- including draws against Leicester and Hull City), you may start to rethink how well Arsenal have actually played this season.


The "Invincibles"

The truth is, Arsenal have underperformed. Coming into the new season having won our first pieces of silverware for 9 years (FA Cup in May 2014 and the Community Shield in August 2014), there was great optimism and anticipation among the fans, players and the whole Arsenal community that this could finally be the year they win the Premier League title post the 2004 “Invincibles” era. That year, the Gunners went the entire 38 game season unbeaten, and unprecedented feet in the modern era of football. This season so far has not come anywhere close to replicating that achievement. Players constantly look tired and lethargic, sometimes lacking the passion, drive and desire to perform well and win matches. I personally have stopped watching Arsenal matches because it is just too frustrating and saddening to watch a team with such great potential and talent, struggle match after match.

I don't however, place the blame on the players for their poor performances (well not all of it). I blame the manager, Mr Arsene Wenger. It is due to his sheer reluctance to spend money and bring better players into the club that has caused the current squad of players to be overplayed and tired. Why do you think Arsenal players are always dropping like flies with injuries? It’s because the squad is too thin. The same players are being used game after game, until an inevitable injury eventually forces them out of the side altogether. What’s perhaps even more frustrating about this vicious cycle is that everyone (and I do mean everyone) in the entire world seems to realise that Arsenal needs to buy more players in order to stay competitive and in the hunt for the Premier League trophy. Everyone except the only one whose opinion truly matters:- Arsene Wenger.

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager for 18 years and counting

The sad thing is, Arsenal are only a couple of world-class players short of being a formidable team. Every year, they have managed to finish in the top 4 of a highly competitive league, with the minimal number of players they have. With a bit of quality reinforcements, just imagine how truly awesome Arsenal could be?

Arsene Wenger always says, “Show me the players and I will buy them”. Well challenge accepted!
Here is my list of  players I believe Wenger should have brought to the squad this season:

Strikers

1.       Diafra Sakho

Diafra Sakho

Since the Senegalese striker joined West Ham in the summer, the Hammers have been a completely different team. With a club record of 6 goals in 6 consecutive games, the striker has catapulted West Ham to the top 4 in the table. Not only is he a goal scoring machine at the moment, but he can also defend pretty well too! His hunger and desire to get on the ball and do well for his team is something that is severely lacking in the Arsenal squad. They could really do with his attitude and quality.

2.       Enner Valencia

Another brilliant summer signing for West Ham, Valencia has already scored 2 goals and got an assist for the Hammers’ opening goal in the victory against Man City. He has a dazzling turn of pace, great energy and is a nuisance to defenders. His strength on and off the ball is also something Arsenal could greatly benefit from.

Midfielders

1.       Cesc Fabregas

Only God knows why Wenger didn’t resign Fabregas as soon as it was made clear that he was leaving Barcelona in the summer. Baring in mind that Arsenal had first refusal with the player, we had the option to take him first before any other club in the entire world! So what was Wenger’s excuse for letting him go to Chelsea instead? He already has Mesut Ozil playing in that same position. And where is Ozil now?



Mesut Ozil (front) and Cesc Fabregas

 

Injured.

 

For 3 months.

 

Wenger, what is wrong with competition? What’s wrong with having a back-up player for every position on the field? If we had that, then an injury wouldn’t be so costly to the team. And considering that Arsenal players seem to be more prone to injury than any other club in the league, having at least two players competing for the same position wouldn’t be such a bad idea.


2.       Alex Song

Yet another former Arsenal player that became available this summer from Barcelona, albeit only on loan. Even so, Wenger knows Alex Song better than any other manager in the club, so he knows what attributes he brings to the team. Strength, agility, pace, and a no-nonsense, simple style of football. What logical reason is there not to bring him back to the club that made him? As it happens, he is now on loan doing wonderful things at West Ham, and how it hurts my heart knowing he could have been doing the same thing for us.

Goalkeepers

1.       Mark Schwarzer

As a proven Premier League shot-stopper, he currently finds himself sitting on Chelsea’s bench as their 3^rd choice goalkeeper (which is testament more to the strength of Chelsea’s team rather than Schwarzer’s lack of ability). Had Arsenal bought him in the summer transfer window, they would have gotten a strong goalkeeper that injects confidence into the Arsenal defence and would no doubt ensure that Arsenal keep more clean sheets.

 



Pepe Reina

2.       Pepe Reina

Another proven Premier League goalkeeper, Reina was the formidable backbone in the Liverpool defence for years. He has a very strong presence in between the posts and is extremely agile, able to catch balls from the air as well as stopping them low on the ground. He has currently made no appearances for his new club Bayern Munich, and had Arsene Wenger recruited him for the Arsenal squad, it would provide very healthy competition for the at times unreliable Arsenal goalie Wojciech Szczesny.

Truth is, it’s highly unlikely that Arsenal will be able to bring any of these players to the club now. But with the January transfer window coming up, I really do hope Wenger brings new talent to the squad and realises the potential for Arsenal to be a great team, rather than just a team that’s good enough for 4^th place.

 

I won’t hold my breath.