Arsenal? With transfer funds? Surely not, is that what we’re seeing here? If the papers are to be believed then the perennial penny-pinchers from the red half of North London seem back in the market for the world’s elite. So what does this mean for Arsenal? And for everyone else for that matter?
To suggest that Arsenal have been inactive in the transfer market over the last five years would be to sell short the talent possessed by Arsenal’s scouting network. No doubt Arsenal have been heavily recruiting the type of player that now seems to have become their trademark. Young, talented, unlimited potential and often unknown.
Arsenal’s youth recruitment network is the envy of most of Europe but this hasn’t always been enough to satisfy their hungry fan base. No trophies since the 2005 FA Cup triumph has left many fans yearning for the long game to be toned down in favour of a quick fix to the first team squad.
Even when Wenger has bought for the here and now it’s not exactly been household names that he has chosen to fill his squad with. Last summer saw the beginning of a change in attitude from the hierarchy with the additions for Giroud, Podolski and Cazorla but like most of Arsenal’s transfer activity it was accompanied by the loss of some irreplaceable talent, Robin van Persie in this instance.
This summer seems to be different. There seems to be no high profile exits on the cards for the Gunners yet the spending looks set to begin. A deal for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain seemed close and could still be resurrected. Arsenal are also credited with an interest in Manchester United’s unsettled Wayne Rooney and are reportedly the only side to have tabled a bid for Liverpool’s Luis Suárez.
This kind of business could mark a strong change in direction for Arsenal, they are not looking to have a stronger team in 5-10 years as much as they want to strengthen now, this season. And why not?
Arsenal can offer Champions League football in one of the most desirable cities in Europe, as well as a place in the world famous English Premier League. There is plenty there to attract some of the world’s finest players if that is what Arsenal are after.
Once upon a time it seems that, while still at Highbury, Arsenal took a gamble. They were willing to forego the type of transfer dealings that their nearest rivals were completing in favour of moving to a new, state of the art stadium that could help them fulfil their potential as a club. Today, they have the 60,000 seater Emirates stadium. It’s no secret that they have been paying for it since its opening in 2006. And the fact that no silverware was won during this period would suggest that they have been paying for it at the detriment of the playing squad.
But Arsenal have managed to (at times barely) cling on to their Champions League status, keeping them in striking distance of their rivals if nothing else. Now, with Arsenal on more sound financial footing and seemingly ready to invest in their squad once again, this could be the time they strike.
Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have new managers who will need time to bed in and a new and improved Arsenal under Wenger could be ready to challenge at the very top of the league.
To a certain extent, Arsenal have taken the last 7 years off from competitive football. Rather than trying to stay ahead of their title rivals as they improve and strengthen constantly, Arsenal have been happy to maintain. Paying for their stadium while clinging on to their top 4 status. Just trying to get through what they seemingly expected to be a lean period, nothing more nothing less.
It seems like this period could be over for Arsenal and their fans as the early indications show that Arsenal are no longer happy to simply maintain. They want to compete but more than that they want success. The kind of success that requires established stars like Higuain, Suárez and Rooney.
Of course, this is all conjecture at this point. Arsenal haven’t landed these or any other big names this summer as of yet. Maybe a failure to do so would suggest that the gamble hasn’t quite paid off yet and that Arsenal are more than one transfer window behind their rivals. Only time will tell if this is the case.
But one thing does seem certain. If Arsenal don’t significantly improve their squad this summer, it won’t be due to a lack of trying. Arsenal, for the first time in a long time, may be playing for 1st. Not just for ‘at least 4th’.