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The Path to Success Part One: Arsenal
Published by Ian John on April 27, 2011
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It has been another season of ‘almost’ for Arsene Wenger’s Gunners. A spirited league performance seems to have fallen flat in recent weeks with disappointing last gasp draws or defeat against Liverpool, Tottenham and Bolton Wanderers. That combined with the last minute sucker punch of the Carling Cup Final and going out of the FA Cup and Champions League in the space of a week, meant that it was another season which promised much, but delivered little for the average Arsenal fan.
As always, Wenger’s team played some outstanding football but once again found themselves wanting come the final third of the season. It is an endemic problem for Arsenal and one that Wenger needs to sort out quickly if he is to take his team to the next level. So let us take a look at Arsenal’s path to success this summer and the steps that Arsene Wenger can take if he is to finally see this Arsenal side break through into the big time and lift some meaningful silverware.
Step One: Resolve who is the leader of the club.Althouth the ownership issue has probably not affected the on-field performances too much this season, it cannot help matters when the leadership of the club is still open to debate. Stan Kroenke’s takeover needs to be finalised quickly to allow the hierarchy of the club to settle down and give Wenger the stability he needs at boardroom level to press forward with plans to take the club.
Step Two: The Transfer Market
Players to be allowed to leave Arsenal in the summer: Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas, Nicklas Bendtner, Andrey ArshavinManuel Almunia has hardly impressed this season and while Gael Clichy may well be a wise sale given his relative value and the fact that he has not enjoyed the best season. Bendtner is a striker that flatters to deceive on a regular basis and Arshavin blows too hot and cold to be anything more than a contributory squad player. While the sale of Fabregas would be a huge loss, as Liverpool have shown with the sale of Fernando Torres, sometimes a world class player can be sold and the money used to markedly improve the team as a whole. Who would bet against Arsene Wenger doing the same should he choose to cash in on Fabregas for a hefty sum this summer?
Players to be brought into Arsenal this summer: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers), Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)Buffon’s signing would be an immediate upgrade at goalkeeper, even though he is past 30 now and somewhat injury prone, he would be a huge presence in goal and would be the perfect role model for Szeczeny to develop under and would be relative cheap compared to other mooted options such as Stekelenberg and Reina. Cahill would provide some of the steel that has been missing at the heart of Arsenal’s defence since the retirement of the likes of Martin Keown and Tony Adams and is still young enough to develop still further under Wenger’s careful tutelage. The bulk of the money from the sale of Fabregas would be spent on players who would fit into the current Arsenal style beautifully. Ribery has had his problems off the field, but on it he is an elegant winger whose skill on the ball would be a perfect accompaniment on the left hand side and would allow Nasri to move inside to fill in the spot vacated by Fabregas. Arsenal have lacked a proven goalscorer ever since Thierry Henry left and while Rossi is no Henry, he would be a genuine goal threat and his darting, inventive style of play in the penalty box, would provide Arsenal with a much needed partner for Van Persie, while offering them the alternative of pairing Chamakh with Rossi in a somewhat orthodox style attack. With Armand Traore back from his year long loan at Juventus and Kieran Gibbs coming through to replace the departed Givet, this would be an exciting new look Arsenal team.
Arsenal 2011-2012 : Buffon, Sagna, Gibbs, Cahill, Vermaelen, Wilshere, Nasri, Ribery, Walcott, Van Persie, Rossi
Step Three: Target a major signing in the January transfer window.
It may not be Arsene Wenger’s style to conduct business during January, but as has been seen from clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool, a major signing can instigate an improvement in performance. Given Arsenal’s tendency to drop away in the latter stages of the season in recent seasons, perhaps discussing a deal or two for January during pre season may be a good idea. Even if it serves only to freshen the squad up at a critical point of the season. As the last window showed, quality players can and will be sold in January, if you are brave enough to spend the money.
The good news for Arsenal fans is that their team is very, very close to being a title winning side once again. Although the surgery advocated above may appear major, the replacement of Fabregas apart, it actually does little but enhance what is already a very good side and one that is just a player or two away from being genuine league title favourites next season.
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