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The purchase of Lukas Podolski before the end of the current season marks a huge change in attitude from Arsene Wenger and perhaps is a warning shot to the rest of the Premier League that the Gunners intend to fire next season.

Most Gooners are still recovering from Monday’s announcement that the German striker will be lining up in the red and white next season. Not because we believed it wouldn’t happen but because we have spent big money on a proven talent AND signed him before everyone nipped off on their summer holidays.

But as well as the goals and experience the 26-year-old will bring, his signature is a bold statement to the rest of the Premier League and to a captain who, while adored by his people, is not yet in a position to commit his future to his kingdom.

There can be no doubt that confirming Podolski now is a huge nudge to Robin Van Persie that the club wants to win things and can still attract some of Europe’s biggest names. Follow that up with the rumoured capture of Jan Vertonghen from Ajax and it will be a case of ‘over to you Robin’.

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It’s been a strange season for Aaron Ramsey. His summer started with witnessing the departure of his midfield mentor Cesc Fabregas and fellow playmaker Samir Nasri. Then the news of the superb Jack Wilshere having to spend most of the season on the sideline only added to the pressure that he would face as being the creative force in the midfield for the season to come, with only the addition of Mikel Arteta as a central midfield player.

This all for a 21 year old who only in 2010, suffered one of the worst leg breaks a footballer can experience. Many of his performances this season have led to much criticism from Arsenal fans, especially in the recent defeat to relegation battlers Wigan, and this does seem to be affecting the young Welshman’s form.

Early Promise

Signing for around £5 million in the summer of 2008, Ramsey came as prospect with all the attributes of Arsene Wenger’s philosophy of football. Fantastic technique, a great range of passing and a good work rate.

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The more I speak to people who were football fans since the 50s, the more I notice how much The Beautiful Game has changed.  While we can dismiss these opinions as the ramblings of old men, there is obvious truth in how football has become less and less of a contact sport over the years. In this era of players getting paid millions and treated like superstars, will football ever return to being a contact sport?

Recently there has been a lot of debate around Ashley Young and his blatant diving antics to win penalties. People have been calling more than ever for the introduction of a “third umpire” like in cricket to check the validity of players going down as though they have suffered a leg amputation via a blunt axe. Wenger has been particularly outspoken against diving, and suggested that players get reviewed by the FA, and if they are judged to have dived they should face a three match ban.

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Mikel Arteta’s 87th minute winner against Manchester City not only all but ended the Blues title challenge but vindicated Arsene Wenger’s decision to splash the cash last August. Despite an 8-2 hammering by Manchester United, many labelled his shopping spree to bring in Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker, Yossi Benayoun and Arteta as ‘panic buys’. Fuming Evertonians even said Arteta was finished and would be in and out of the team because of injuries.

But the performance against City, allied to the recent run which has seen the Gunners make themselves favourites for a Champions League spot has closed the book on that awful August hammering by United. It also seems like a good time to take a closer look at these ‘panic buys’ and assess whether they are just that or yet more examples of ‘Arsene Knows’.

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I got in a bit of trouble the other day, when I made some comments about Aaron Ramsey in my player ratings for the City match. I called for his sale and described his poor performances as the norm these days.

Now perhaps I’d been rash. I don’t really enjoy looking stupid, so I decided to look further into the Welsh captain, and perhaps change my opinions.

Promising Beginnings

Aaron Ramsey signed for Arsenal in 2008, and gave some reasonably impressive performances, including a goal in a 5-2 victory at Fenerbahce, being one of the youngest scorers in the Champions League. Arsene Wenger has always been very confident in his abilities, but that didn’t stop him being sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest and then Cardiff City, his old club, until January 2011.

  1. Koscielny: from zero to hero
  2. “Just Wing It” may be easier said than done for Arsene
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