Remember when it was cool to be
an Arsenal fan? Do you remember when Arsenal were setting the bench mark for
English football? Gone are those days, now Arsenal has become a stepping stone
for players. Everyone seems to think the club cares only about financial profits rather than trophies.
It has been 7 years and 2
months since Patrick Viera’s penalty sealed Arsenal’s tenth FA cup. It was a
magnificent victory for Wenger and his boys as they defeated their arch rivals
Manchester United; ironically it spelt the end of Arsenal's trophy haul (for now
anyway).
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| FA Cup 2005: Arsenal's last major trophy |
Arsenal’s ex captain Patrick
Viera led the exodus of players after completing his move to Juventus. Other stars were to follow suit including
Theirry Henry to FC Barcelona, Robert Pires to Villareal, and Ashley Cole to
Chelsea. All of these stars have won major trophy since leaving Arsenal. Is the
pasture always greener away from the emirates?
Arsenal has simply become a
selling club but it’s time this policy changes or it will spell the end of one
of England’s biggest club. However, it will be unfair to say Arsenal has not
invested in the transfer market but the truth is they have not signed any experienced world class players in the
past few years. Come on; look at Chamakh’s
awful record. 12 goals in 63 games is simply not good enough.
They have stuck with Wenger’s policy
to purchase talented youngsters and turn them into world class players but as
soon as these players become established players, they leave in search for greener pastures. Samir Nasir is the perfect example. He was signed by Arsenal from
Marseille for £12 million. He was relatively
unknown but evidently talented. He became one of Wenger’s star player and a
vital part of the Arsenal set up as a world class midfielder. He has since left arsenal for £24
million to join Manchester City and has already won a league title in his first
season.
According to reports, Arsenal’s
captain Robin Van Persie has agreed to sign for Juventus. Nothing has been made
official yet, so there is still a possibility that RVP will remain at Arsenal
at the start of the season. RVP scored 30 goals in 38 games last season. It is
important for Arsenal to keep RVP if they plan to challenge for titles next
season especially after the addition of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.
Carzola has been added to the
midfield and with rumours of a loan move for Sahin surfacing the net, Arsenal
are looking stronger than last year. They need to buy another centre back and
they will be right
up there fighting for various titles next season but mediocre players like Per
Mertesacker, Johan Djourou and Abou Diaby need to move on first.
However if Arsenal go another
season without a title, surely it will be time to part company with their
greatest manager yet. Perhaps new club owners and a new manager? I believe Mourinho will be the perfect
candidate to replace Arsene Wenger because his enthusiasm for the game and his
ability to attract the biggest name in world football will take Arsenal back to
the summit of English football and perhaps lead them to their first European
title in their history. What do you think?
