Wengers Transfer Policy.....Diabys Returns

Greetings, roaders!


The Summer was busier than expected so I had (reluctantly) decided to put the blog on hiatus.

BUT

The return of our beloved Premier League has swung yours truly back into action once again. Huzzah

After 3 matchdays, now we are well back into the swing of things, only for the pesky international break to interfere. gah! oh well, we can but hope that break applies to a certain Dutchman whilst on duty for Holland.

no malice of forethought of course. alas......


The transfer window slammed shut on Friday night and certain clubs that should have been desperate to add to their ranks were conspicuous by their absence. Notably Arsenal and Liverpool. We shall focus on the latter later.

Arsenal have had one of their most successful - at least on paper - summer windows in recent memory. Having already snared Lu-lu-lu-Lukas Podolski before the season finished, Wenger swooped for Giroud and Santi Cazorla. Cazorla, might I add for an absolute pittance. Malaga's loss was hugely Arsenal's gain and for just £11.9m also, due to the fire sale taking place in both southern Spain and a certain Kuwaiti billionaires mansion. (perhaps literally) . Arsene you say? ;)


However after then selling a certain dutchman, who shall not be named, (ever again) and the rather overrated Song, combined with missing out after Nuri Sahin, following Arsenal's unwillingness to be held to ransom by Jose and co. (rightly so in my mind), the consensus was that the Gunners were a man or two light. Cue transfer window deadline day; much expected, but as usual much disappointment. There were rumblings of a loan deal for Chelsea's Michael Essien, but Di Matteo, rather wisely would not allow it.


So 11pm struck and no deals. Oh.

I, as an impressionable young man, started to panic; How could we not replace one of our starting 11? make that two of said 11. I was raging, albeit quietly. Arsenal still have a pleasantly strong squad, now that elements of the deadwood are disappearing, however I felt that we were still too light in the centre of midfield ; Ramsey is too easily bossed off the ball and is prone to sloppyness, certainly at the moment; Wilshere is a while away from full match fitness, Eastmond is crap, Frimpong is out, as is Rosicky and Diaby is well injury prone TO SAY THE LEAST. Other options are to play the Ox or Coquelin centrally, but both are still learning.


Prior to the window closing he had said he will bring in one or two quality players. But as the windows began to ease shut, that statement began to look hazy, at best.

On the eve of Aug 30, Wenger was heard to say;

“We are active but we don’t want to bring average players in. I am relaxed…if we find a top, top, top player we will do it. We are working hard.”

This is what I have an issue with. Who is a top, top quality player?

* Eden Hazard? 32m. 6 assists and 1 goal in his first three games for Chelsea.
* A certain dutchman.
* Radamel Falcao who is prolific for Atletico Madrid, but who has a £50m buy-out clause.


just a few there, but the top, top players will cost an absolute bomb and chances are you will only be able to have one of these 'toys' if your owner happens to be a Russian or Qatari gazillionaire. Arsenal have Stan Kronke. Yes........


But thats not really my issue with Wenger's statement. You don't necessarily need 'top,top' players. Teams just need a certain jeu-ne-sei-quoi to add to the mix. Take for example, Tottenham. Perennial door-knockers to the top 4 places, but unable to break into the top 3 or even challenge for the title. last summer, 'Arry added Scott Parker to their ranks on Deadlne day. Parker is not a world class player, nor top, top. He is however a very good player, and works like a trojan. He is like the christmas present that keeps giving.



When Parker was installed into Spurs' midfield, everything seemed to click; Adebayor, Bale, Modric, Walker. He only added a small amount but that amount was the final ingredient, that for the majority of last season made the Lily Whites real title contenders. To the point I was scared. Of course I take no joy in the fact that the wheels on the Spurs bus fell off, but the point remains that that 5'7 of Scotty Parker made Spurs a force. There are plenty more examples out there.

So it has been a lovely surprise that one Abou Vassiriki Diaby, has started the season much like Tomas Rosicky did last season. bouncing about, passing like a maestro and generally dominating the oppositions midfield. There are currently no signs of his injury problems that have plagued him so often of late.

Yet......

At times yesterday, there were glimpses of Patrick Vieira, as we all know that Diaby could be and more. Jack Wilshere's timeline for recovery is unclear. He is due back in a month but there are bound to be setbacks. All long-term injury sufferers after a year out hit a wall. Especially Arsenal players. So it is more key than ever that Diaby stays as fit as possible. Already for me, he should be used in league games only. He should be wrapped in cotton wool. There is no doubt in my mind that if Diaby stays fit, the absence of Alex Song will not be felt and Arsenal will be a force.