Another day, another press conference, another round of Arsene Wenger transfer bingo. While quizzed on transfers ahead of the Manchester City game, the manager replied with this:

"In England you are always under pressure to buy. We are still working in the transfer market but we only want exceptional players.

“So far we have not found him. We have no problem in players wanting to join us. I’ll give you my phone for 24 hours! We can afford 90 per cent of them.”

We've heard this 'exceptional players only' line many times before. Either Wenger really is dedicated to only buying the finest players, or he's using it as an excuse for something. After the debacle at the end of the last transfer window, you'd have to think he's deflecting attention from somewhere else.

Prudence

Wenger's reluctance to give a straight answer about transfers is infuriating, but it does have some basis in practicality. All his quotes about being "happy with the squad" aren't necessarily true, but admitting you aren't happy with what you have is admitting weakness.

Furthermore, once you admit you want to sign players, price tags everywhere go up. It's not worth paying an extra five million or so just to make journalists and fans happy, and half the time the selling club aren't aware their player wants to move.

What's most interesting is the quote about Arsenal having 'no problem with players wanting to join us'. Players link themselves to Arsenal constantly, most recently Stopila Sunzu, a transfer that's gone very quiet all of a sudden. You will likely find that Arsenal have a number of deals on the go, only for them to be abandoned if the player isn't deemed right for the team. Which is annoying, but sensible.

We've heard the 'super quality' excuse too much. Let's hope that Arsene actually backs up his quotes this time, rather than using it to mask a lack of activity.

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Comments  

+2 #20 Bootroom 2013-01-12 23:02
Those of you who were around to have supported Arsenal in the early 1960's up until our first trophy in 1969 after 17 barren seasons made worse by the success elsewhere in London will realise how good Arsene Wenger is.
The loss of Fabregas, Nasri, RVP was nothing compared to the loss of one of our own, Charlie George. That was criminal, and saw the breakup of what should have been a powerful dynasty, apparently infighting in the board room, but probably the signature of Alan Ball as a superstar on bigger wages than his team mates blew the team apart, so is his strategy so wrong?
Arshavin , big money, big flop ,. Man City, spoiling the party, Chelski also, they are crippling the game, driving average players wages up, Leave Arsene to steer the ship, we will be okay. You cannot win every game. In six seasons, we will have been in the Top Flight for 100 years. By then, our young crop if kept together will be the dominant force. Why bring in new Alan Balls and ruin it ?
-1 #19 ChrisKg 2013-01-12 17:08
I'm tired of the lies. I'm in the US And don't pay the exorbitant prices gunner fans have to. It seems to me the top talent or exceptional players can't be found because they don't want to come to Arsenal and get paid pittance to ply their trade. The only exceptional players Arsenal have seen are the ones we've sold! Wenger and the board stop lying!!! We're not ***s and yet you continue to treat us as such. It's January 12th and we still haven't bought anyone...pull your finger out!
+1 #18 cyri 2013-01-12 11:40
what does he mean with exceptional players???
would like to know who's behind transfer policy coz we can't take it anymore
+1 #17 Andrew Smith 2013-01-11 21:09
Mr Wenger please spend some of our hard earnt money that we spend supporting Arsenal on quality players.
#16 Andrew Smith 2013-01-11 19:16
Wenger has turned into Richard Gere out of pretty woman. He needs to stop asset striping the club at put millions of pounds back into buying players.
+4 #15 Adex 2013-01-11 18:13
Wenger has anything good for arsenal,he is so stingy when is come to spending money to buy quality players. Him and the directors of the AFC are after their own pockets,not the interest of the club and fans,something must be done fast to stop their nonsense and curb their excesses.

Wenger can't afford exceptional players
+1 #14 Rudy 2013-01-11 15:47
Why am I not surprised.
+1 #13 Allan 2013-01-11 14:55
Wenger is a useless coach, he does not have ambition to win trophies, its high time now he go..i hope he will soon go...
+1 #12 paul 2013-01-11 13:41
exceptional players like eden hazard, mario gotze,juan mata,ferghouli,isco and so on, where are they now? , the exceptional players he has bought are gervinho, chamakh e.t.c, is mvilla, strootman, loic remy, and hosts of players that have been linked to arsenal not good enough
+5 #11 Gooner. 2013-01-11 13:37
I can't believe it, so much exceptional players in the market for a steal and he don't ***in see it?

Yes ofcourse: Arteta, Mertesacker, Gervinho, Park, Santos are all 'exceptional players'

Who do *** does he think we are?

Enough of this ***, please leave mr Wenger. If you don't want to see it, or don't take the risk because you 'believe' or should i say: stubborn, then please leave so we get our club back.

Ridiculous.. just ridiculous.
+4 #10 Arun 2013-01-11 13:32
Don't worry , we have exceptional coach so players not needed. It's a pity watching Arsenal play.
+3 #9 max 2013-01-11 13:28
"top,top,top talent"
#8 Hairi 2013-01-11 13:28
Wenger will not be leaving..he's the right man of Arsenal
+5 #7 Arun Dasgupta 2013-01-11 13:26
Exceptional players join or stay with clubs who compensates their special qualities and have exceptional coach. Wenger is finished and can make exceptional claims. Club fans realized it and it is time that both Gazdi and Wenger are donated free to any outfit who want to see exceptional downfall.
+2 #6 Mohd 2013-01-11 13:14
The epl is the English Pounds League. Get real.You have to spend money to get the players to help win it.
DO you think red faced could have won without outspending other teams except Chelsea and MC?He has spent billions to win the epl trophies with the help of mo and the FA.
Wenger is banking on ffp. Frankly it is better not to rely too much on it. His methods are out of date and I truly believe this will be the season when he will fail to finish fourth.If this happens he shd go otherwise his legacy could be in tatters. The problem is he is too arrogant to admit his philosophy is wrong but doesn't want to lose face.
That is why the gunners are a declining force and it will take a new guy at least two seasons to right the mess he has created.
+6 #5 sam 2013-01-11 13:06
'Exceptional Players' Said Wenger. Those types of players don't come cheap and Wenger & Arsenal always look for cheap options. If he doesn't sign any quality players this time around, he will very much regret his decision come February and will have himself to blame!!
+4 #4 Jarret 2013-01-11 13:04
Hey, why should Wenger buy anyone in January? Demba Ba already gone. M'Villa will leave Rennes and join a Premiership club, hopefully Spurs. I can't understand the people behind this club transfer policy. If they do really wanted to sign any player, they should've done it as early as possible, not till the end of the month. Wenger The ***. WENGER OUT!
#3 stevo 2013-01-11 13:01
waiting for a player from heven
+1 #2 Mohd 2013-01-11 12:59
He better make sure Arsenal can get the cl slot.Failure to get the spot with or without buying new players will hopefully be the final straw.
It could send the gunners into the wilderness for years with the gap with top teams increasing until Arsenal ill cease to be a top six team. You never know.
+8 #1 thundertinygooner 2013-01-11 12:57
Frankly I don't listen to a word Wenger says any more. He changes his mind with the wind. The current squad has glaring weaknesses but he is too tight to stump up for top reinforcements. January is not the best time to buy but if you do an inadequate job as he does every summer you are left with no option.