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Arsene Wenger, one of the greatest managers to have graced the Premier League. He has made Arsenal the club it is today, world class in every way but one, transfer policy.

Over the years Arsene has been hailed for his signings, a plethora of world class talent that brought glory to the club, and all for relatively small money. However, it is now an area in which he is lost, an area he must relinquish control of if the club are progress.

It is well known since Dein’s departure that we have lost our zest in the transfer market. We have failed to develop with the hyper-inflation of the transfer market, a playground for the rich, which we claim we can join.

Premiership rivals have strengthened to an unprecedented level, yet at times, Arsenal fans have been left frustrated and even insulted by Wenger and the board.

Current Squad

Rewind to the first game of the season, despite the lack of signings, there was a positive air around Arsenal’s start to the campaign. What happened next highlighted the lack of depth within the squad. Despite this, knee jerk reactions are dangerous in football and the reaction after Villa could have a negative effect on the club before the window closes.

It has the potential to damage the squad’s moral, although, their brilliant reaction since the defeat must be noted, winning against Fenerbache (twice) and Fulham respectively.

In particular, Aaron Ramsey, who’s taken on a new level of responsibility and Szczesny, who have both impressed in the face of almost relentless negativity since the end of last season.

It is no secret that Arsenal have little to choose from in almost every single position, making it harder to understand Wenger’s staunch defence of his actions in the transfer market. Even if Wenger manages to get some business done, it is impossible to see how this will make us title contenders. The club could do without yet another injury prone ball playing midfielder, and need to inject steel in the middle of the park. Numbers are good, but we need quality in the right places.

Being dealt a tough European draw heaps yet more pressure upon a squad that is bursting at the seams. Realistically, it is a draw that we could get through, although, it is also one that could highlight even further a big Higuain shaped hole in the squad. It is also highly likely to make Arsene rue (even more) the damage that has been done in a summer of discontent.

Media/Fan relations

Wenger also seems to struggle with the media when it comes to transfers, as instances in the past have seen him come across angry and often insulting towards the fans.

To be fair to Wenger, he respects the teams with whom he does business with in the transfer window, by keeping a lid on the details. This is becoming increasingly tricky, possibly to the detriment of the club, as gradually more aggressive market players publically attack any offers for their prised possessions.

This insular manner of dealing with club transfers can often end up insulting the fans themselves. For years, Wenger has been suggesting to us all that the current crop of players is good enough to win the League. But for years, we have been selling off our best players to Premiership rivals, whilst relying on the ever younger squad to push for Champions League qualification, at best. Recently admitting this creates negativity throughout the squad, he has done little to correct it.

How can you be telling us we have a chance of winning, if our squad is consistently weaker year on year?

There is another example of Wenger’s comments alienating fans. Calling for the transfer window to be shut before the start of the season when; a) at least half of our signings in the last three years have been after the season has kicked off, and b) nearly two full weeks into the season, we are still trying desperately to strengthen.

Perhaps it is a result of Wenger being in charge of every facet of the football club, stringently moulding it around his ethos. But this shows a lack of respect for the fans from time to time. I’m not saying he should listen to Facebook or Twitter, but he should not believe Arsenal fans (and others who mock up and down the country) are naïve to the fact we need to strengthen to compete for trophies.

Swimming with the Sharks

There has been many whisperings about the way in which Arsene Wenger and Dick Law handle transfer negotiations around the club. One thing is for sure, they do not represent the modern world in which transfers are done. This is perhaps the area Arsene needs to relinquish most of his control.

Times have changed, and we need to change with it if we want to compete for trophies. The sooner that Wenger faces up to these facts, the sooner we can complete the great journey this club has been on over the past 15 years. Even the years without silver-wear, we have seen vast improvements of the quality in the club as a whole.

We are not ruthless enough in the way in which we do business; we are tight, but not ruthless. For one, letting go of our best players to Premier League rivals would seem unthinkable, highlighted a number of times by other clubs over the summer, but Arsenal are all to willing.

When it comes to buying players, world class talent can cost in the region of £30M+ and that’s nowhere near the top end of the spectrum. This has also been highlighted this season, and whether we will see a marquee signing remains to be seen, but this is looking less and less likely.

The way in which Spurs have handled their business this year must be a wake-up call for Wenger, a team that ran us to the finish line for fourth spot last year. Okay, they more than likely won’t have Bale, but they have the whereabouts to replace him, and then some, something we failed to do with a majority of our best players who we have let go.

Wenger must be more willing to swim with the sharks, as Premier League rivals can now be so deadly in the transfer market. It is okay if it costs us an extra million here or there, if it secures a better squad, and we cannot be afraid of doing this.

Could this be a bi-product of an all too powerful Wenger? Quite likely, and whether he will learn this lesson in the transfer market looks increasingly doubtful, as year on year Arsenal fans are let down by the level of our incapacity in the transfer market. It may well be he has to step aside in this area of the club, and show more respect to the fans in doing so.

Move over Wenger, let’s get some business done.

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