Insight: That long summer…was it?
By Randy Osae
IN: Mikael Silvestre, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey, Amaury Bischoff
OUT: Alexander Hleb, Gilberto Silva, Jens Lehmann, Mathieu Flamini, Philippe Senderos (loan), Justin Hoyte, Nacer Barazite (loan), Armand Traore (loan)
SPENT: £18.5M
RECEIVED: £15.8M
Definitely not as bad as you thought is the answer any rose-colored fan, Arsenal player and board members will utter if you head up to them still lamenting.
And if it’s how dodgy the manager appeared after the transfer window was shut, then look back and refer to how nothing he does is what you simply lay out a sheet to sketch.
It’s always as if Wenger chooses to be ironic with whatever the outside thinks. At least, his team choices on match days will speak in volumes for that matter. For instance, when Senderos scores an own goal and keeps colleagues on the bench, or when Eboue is an ever present in the line-up.
One thing is, in the end, he always prevails over us. He makes you know it’s his decision, what he wants, and you should simply get used to it. By the time you are, that player would have been a firm favorite. Adebayor was never as prolific, Fabregas was not always the tigerish, intelligent midfielder, nor was Flamini bought to do more than make up the numbers in 2003. And while some took the course of a season or two to fledge, the departed latter, is now who we are compelling to replace.
And no, that “replacement” never came, at least not until January. But as always, there are men in the side, individually vying to come join the untouchable Cesc every weekend.
Before 2007, it was Gilberto that we knew, prior to that, there was a one and only Vieira – that same way, Mathieu Flamini has made his exit now a miss after randomly seizing the Brazilian veteran’s spot. Cast your mind back to this exact time last year, and we were waiting for Gilberto to return from his Copa America break rather than urge on “Flattuso”.
Mark these words, there will be a deja vu for sure.
Veloso, Alonso, whoever, did not arrive. It kept the club’s wage structure intact, remained the squad’s stability and as usual, left only one direction of reliance – it’s all in Arsene’s hands now.
Just like Arshavin’s agent said at some point; Wenger is indeed a cunning fox who says one thing and does the other.
Perhaps it’s not really the media reports that you shouldn’t believe, it’s the mendacious French manager’s words that are not to be read too much into.
