Arsenal: False optimism and the true Wenger deals

The mere action by Wenger has now led to Suarez’s every move being scrutinized, and just his arrival in Australia for the Reds’ pre-season has set off rumors that crunch talks are going in Arsenal’s favor. If Arsene is indeed able to pull of this Suarez coup, then the smokescreen, that was Higuain, will truly be revealed. Wenger had pulled of a similar act in 2008, when his signing of Samir Nasri was initially in the backdrop of his reported interest in Hatim Ben Arfa.

Could Wenger pull out Suarez from his magic hat?

While fans might have taken Gazdis’ statement with a pinch of salt, the most important eventuality of Arsenal’s reported financial backup will certainly have an effect on the club’s recent tendency to sell top talents. As Jack Wilshere had said earlier, and now Szczesny prods upon:

“You try not to think of the sagas — Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri. But it’s always in your mind you’ll lose another top player. This time, everyone is talking about who Arsenal are bringing in. That makes us feel stronger.”

Though this statement might seem a bit hypocritical at this point of type, but the Polish keeper indeed has a point. As has been claimed by pundits in the past seasons, Arsenal indeed do have an encouraging youth setup, and the likes of ‘the stars in making’ like Wilshere , Chamberlain and Gibbs need to retained as first priority.A very good example would be Gedion Zelalem, a 16-year-old midfielder that Wenger took along to Japan this time. The teenager displayed an exceedingly special temperament in the center, and his defense splitting passes were far more impressive than what Cesc displayed at a similar age.

His initial slowing down of the game is quite similar to Diaby’s style, but his eventual picking up of the game and creating chance for the cutting-in wingers shows true potential. Now talents like him and Gnabry need to be settled-in with long term contracts, and Arsenal’s current financial competitiveness should prioritize on this first.

After the initial mist of the window has settled, most of Arsenal’s reported targets have already made the move or have signed new contracts. Apart from Jovetic’s deal to City and Higuain’s impending one to Rafa’s Napoli, others like Clement Greneir have signed a new deal at Lyon.

As the pre-season tour went on, stronger reports of certain attainable targets crept up. Arshavin’s departure early in the window meant that Gervinho was the only wing option available, considering that ‘the Ox’ is slowly being developed by Wenger into more of a midfielder.

Wenger again tends to play a midfielder on the wings, as was the case with Cazorla last season and Rosicky in this pre-season. But yet again the repetitive errors that Gervinho commits on the left wing has started to hurt the team, and many feel that his best position would be as an emergency False No.9.

This opened up reports for yet another Brazilian’s arrival in London. Bernard from Athletico Mineiro has been touted as the next sensation from Brazil and the 21-year-old’s direct and spectacular approach to goal has been compared to Neymar’s by many.

Reports from Brazil and France suggest that the winger will come to London for a medical this Friday once he plays Mineiro’s last game on Wednesday. But as usual the target deflected away all such reports:

“I don’t want to talk about this in a week as important as this one. I want to talk about the game and I don’t want to be polite or ignore it in any way. I don’t know what will happen after the game. My future at Atletico Mineiro will be in the board’s hands from Thursday onwards.”

This speculation has now made all of the Twitterati to gaga over the Brazilian and stress that this is exactly what Arsenal needed. If indeed Bernard is the player Wenger brings in, then the 21 million spent on him will leave room for a much needed central midfielder.

In midfield, despite the return of Wilshere and the re-emergence of Ramsey, Wenger does need a substitute for Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard was influential last season, but he could not evade the opposition making use of his lack of physicality. This would surely indicate in the direction of the unsettled Marouane Fellaini and the Belgian’s clause of 26 million is also in Wenger’s favour.

The initial part of the window is past us now and Wenger’s only signing of Yaya Sanogo makes sense as he has retained the rest. The next stage of the window is completely based on Wenger’s decision making; like a call of not signing a central midfielder just because Wilshere is returning does not make much sense, as one can see up to four strikers fighting for a single spot in League winning sides like Man United and City.

Another side issue that crops up here is the Cesc Fabregas saga which gives Wenger to snap up an ex-captain for 30 million Euros in case Manchester United are adamant enough to get through a successful bid for the Barca man. Infact Wenger’s mere intent to pull off such a deal would be an inclination to the Frenchman’s title winning mentality.