Wenger on D-Day: Adios Andre Santos; Ramsey and Giroud earn their spots

When a Robin van Persie led Arsenal went down 8-2 at Old Trafford, one would not have believed that the result would have everlasting consequences on the club. Though that particular mishap was definitely the reason why Wenger scourged the Deadline Day market and dug out season defining signing, the fans from then on have expected the Frenchman to follow a similar suit in every window D-day.

Though numbers might indicate that this is Wenger’s worst ever, no part of the blame can be attached to his summer signings. Santi Cazorla is easily amongst the top 3 midfielders in the league. Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud have been late bloomers and the duo have been highly influential in the recent weeks; but constant comparisons to a certain Dutchman are doing no good in lowering the pressure on the two.

Earlier Arsenal teams have often been defined by the French talent brought in by the manager. But Wenger youth project had to pay off sooner rather than later; and this can be seen currently with the exuberance of English talent like Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs.

David Villa who: Theo can finish; Giroud is alive

Theo Walcott’s rapid strides to the central striking role have sort of been the highlight of the season till now, but the Englishman’s definite lack of a ‘footballing brain’ and his recent reluctance in tracking back when played on the right, have certainly affected the team adversely. Backary Sagna would tend to agree.

Who needs Villa?

But the improvement in Theo’s finishing is undoubted, and with the recent spark in Giroud’s game, reports suggesting David Villa’s arrival at the Emirates seem foolish. First of all Villa’s wages are 1 and a half times what Wenger has reluctantly offered Walcott, and moreover Villa wanted to move only to increase his playing time. Since neither of the 2 were a possibility at Arsenal, no one should have been left surprised due to the lack of activity on that front.

Stand up Aaron Ramsey: Arteta’s out of sorts and Diaby’s crocked

A major worry in the squad has been Mikel Arteta’s position. This issue has been pertinent right from the onset where Bould was gelling well with the defence-line, and is still of grave importance considering the Spaniard’s lack of physicality and speed. Jack Wilshere’s return has reduced some pressure from Arteta’s shoulders, but alas Jack is no giant himself. So this leaves Arsenal having no height at all in midfield, and this led to fans begging to get in a rugged defensive midfielder in the mould of the one who left for Catalonia.

I have intentionally left out a certain ‘Abou Diaby 2 to 3 weeks away’ in the midfielder discussion. The “one who does not drink or smoke” has been receiving mixed response from fans in the last 5 years, during which he has miraculously recovered from 28 injuries. Now if that’s not heroic, I don’t know what is!

While Diaby and Coquelin are more fringe players right now, as injuries have not been kind with the French duo; the revelation of the past month or so has been Aaron Ramsey who has been played in Arteta’s role while the Spaniard has been out. Ramsey was earlier seen languishing on the wings in away games and on the bench at home. The Welshman was slowly phasing out of the squad, until Wenger brought him in to partner Wilshere at the centre of the park.

Ramsey: Stepping up to the plate!

Ramsey has not been blessed with immense pace or epic vision, but the Welshman’s work rate is where he stands out. And unlike Arteta, Ramsey being the lighter side of 30, he is becoming a refreshing option alongside Jack.

Despite this, Wenger definitely considered a few other more obvious choices like Yann M’vila and Mo Diame to come in and make a difference. But negative reports of the former’s character and reports of a certain heart ailment of the latter, left Wenger to take his usual choice and stick to his guns.

Apart from the obvious regulation in the fee structure to look into, Wenger also had to consider any of his targets being cup-tied. This naturally ruled out the likes of Villa and Adrian, who would definitely have been given a bench-role if brought in. Rumors of a certain El-Matador brought a few rare moments of hope for Gunners world-wide, but a last moment capture of a Spanish left back has at least not left a bad taste in the mouth.

No more jersey swaps, Andre: Spanish left-back Monreal arrives

Nacho Monreal was definitely not the name popping up in everyone’s head at the start of December. As a matter of fact he did not feature amongst the pundits until 7pm last night. Nacho was Malaga’s left back, who plays second fiddle to Alba in the national team.

The second fact there would seem horrifyingly similar to the currently available left back Andre Santos, who at the time of his capture was behind Marcelo on the international scene. Santos might have lightened up the twitter scene with his constant mispronunciations of the word ‘guys’ , but his senses on the football field left major doubts on Wenger’s scouting methods. Andre Santos has rightly been termed by many as ‘the worst player to have played for Arsenal ever’, and the Brazilian on many occasions has single handedly lost matches for the Gunners.

Monreal was personally recommended to Wenger by Summer-signing Santi Cazorla.

So a change in the left back position seemed a certainty, and Kieran Gibbs’ recent injury just aggravated matters. And from the looks of it, Wenger has got himself a more than decent player to replace Gibbs temporarily. Reports from Spain suggest, Monreal’s an accurate tackler and spirited attacker, and a personal recommendation from Santi and the fact that he is Spanish, only further brightens the prospects

So on the whole, Wenger secured a good deal at a position that required resurrection; the Frenchman chose rather to encourage the recent improvement of certain players rather than bringing in fresh faces; and last and in no ways the least: we wait in despair for the return of our only other winger, Gervinho, from the AFCON.