re: Arsenal 2013/2014 Season Long Thread

quote:

---

Can't be understated enough. That in itself is almost equivalent to a big signing.

---

It's an amazing realization to make. We've lost some great players. If they all had stayed, or rather, if they all had been healthy at the same time (looking at you here RvP) we would have won the title in 2007-08 and 09-10.

quote:

---

I just can't believe Arsene didn't come into the transfer window with major conviction, especially considering all the things you just said.

---

Well actually this doesn't surprise me. Arsene is pensive and conservative in the transfer market to a fault. He's not a risk taker, unless that risk is a bargain.

Then again, I don't look at the transfer market and see a player who is affordable and who fits our style so perfectly that we shouldn't miss him.

I think his aim this market was to go after that underrated tier 2 player just below the likes of Suarez, Rooney, Cavani, and Falcao. Usually there is an underrated hidden gem who gets glossed over. I feel like Liverpool got a player like that in Aspas. But that tier 2 sort of player who can easily be amazing under the right circumstances has become more of a rarity than elite players. It's not like Wenger can unearth a youth player who can change games like he did with Anelka in 98. It's big news whenever an Arsenal scout is at a game because our scouting system has been right so often. This tier 2 market is where Wenger has mostly excelled, getting bargains after bargains. Wenger has to change his thinking now that he has money to spend. The last time he had money to spend was 2001, when he spent 26 mil and only brought in 5 mil. It's a different market with different prices and Wenger has to get out of that sort of thinking, which is hard to do.

What is highly likely is that there will be some overpriced castoffs in the January market that we will have to get, because of Wenger's reluctance this window. We just need some players to step up in a big way.