Barren Arsenal summer leaves title dreams in tatters
The only thing more predictable than Arsenal’s failure to add to their squad on deadline day was the complete meltdown from their supporters when they finally accepted that the club would not sign a single outfield player this summer.
Having signed Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck on the final day of the last two windows, fans had desperately clung on to the hope that Arsene Wenger would pull something out of the hat.
It didn’t come and having finished 12 points behind the champions last season, Arsenal will now have to mount a title challenge having spent only £10 million - on a goalkeeper - in the transfer window.
Compare that to the £154m spent by league leaders Manchester City or the £120m of new signings for Manchester United. How can Arsenal genuinely expect to win the title for the first time since 2004?
Petr Cech is a top-class goalkeeper and exactly the level of signing the Gunners needed to build on the marquee arrivals of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez over the last two years.
But the Gunners can boast the unenviable record of being the only club in the top five European leagues not to sign a single outfield player. Arsenal’s failings last season extended far beyond the performances of goalkeepers David Ospina and Wojciech Szczesny between the posts.
Arsenal’s last accounts in February revealed cash reserves of £138m and the supporters pay the most expensive ticket prices in the country - yet in the three months since they won the FA Cup they could only find one player to improve the squad.
While it is too harsh to say the club prioritise profit over success, it certainly isn’t a stretch to say that Wenger’s indecision in the transfer market has been a source of considerable frustration to many at the Emirates Stadium.
It’s not like they didn’t have any targets, with Wenger saying countless times he was in the market for an “exceptional” talent having identified the need to sign a proven striker and a holding midfielder.
Arsenal desperately wanted to sign Karim Benzema from Real Madrid as their major summer arrival and were willing to spend around £40m to bring him to north London.
They hoped that Benzema would become available towards the end of the window and ignored other targets to concentrate on the Frenchman before it become clear that Real Madrid would not sell him at any price.
When photos emerged of Arsene Wenger finding his cramped economy class seat on a flight to Paris earlier this week, social media went into meltdown but there was never any serious interest in Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani. It appears Arsenal's approach to signing a striker was 'Benzema or bust'. They went bust.
For the defensive midfield role, Wenger initially wanted Morgan Schneiderlin but baulked at Southampton’s £25m asking price before Manchester United made their move. The balance of the team is now reliant on the form and fitness of the inexperienced Francis Coquelin, who this time last year was on loan at Charlton.
Arsenal will point to a lack of available top quality players, the signing of six players in the previous two transfer windows and several new contracts handed to important members of the squad in the last 12 months.
But they need more than just Cech to become title contenders.
The true frustration for Arsenal supporters is that they are only one or two players short of winning the league. There just wasn’t the ambition or urgency to make a real move this summer in the same manner as some of their rivals.
Meanwhile, several players have left the club. Lukas Podolski and Abou Diaby left permanently while several exciting youngsters were given loan moves. The likes of Serge Gnabry, Chuba Akpom and Gedion Zelalem all have bright futures.
Arsenal fans are tired of hearing about the future. The foundations are in place to win the biggest prizes now, especially after back-to-back FA Cup triumphs.
The greatest frustration is that they have again missed out on an opportunity to complete the squad. Sadly, it is no surprise.
Over priced deela gattha unproven player kenekManchester United walatath une okama thamai
.hena moda wadak anthima wenakam balagena inna eka
moyes gaththa Mata,fellaini dennama success una.mehema pissu natuwe nae
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easy match nae dan
Oya 3ndenama patta bro matanam
meh wagenam pissu kelina 1kak naha...1ka sure
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