The purchase of Welbeck and failure to acquire the types of players Wenger now claims to recognise we need is a dereliction of responsibility.

Fans, commentators and every one with an opinion has years commented on Arsenal's deficiencies yet the club's recruitment policy has become an opportunistic stab in the dark with the club unable to secure the quality players needed.

After 3 years as a senior Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck was discarded with less respect than Nicklas Bendtner exited the English game.

Meanwhile, Wenger and his merry men have been searching the globe for a prolific striker clinical enough to finish all the chances created but at the usual market stall prices.  Welbeck's twenty goals in 3 years at Manchester United was not a goal scoring record LVG or an ambitious team accepts even from a player that team has nurtured for more than a decade. Yet this is the player Wenger expects to propel Arsenal to glory.

The club suggests there is enough money to buy top quality players and for half the transfer window was open to completing their acquisition. Given these riches at close of the window Wenger was content with the diminished offensive and defensive options that has today shown Arsenal as a touring embarrassment losing 2-0 to a Dortmund team for 6 key starters were injured.

Given the inflated prices of English players £16M represents good value Welbeck, provided he is regarded as a squad player or a replacement for Bendtner. However if he's expected to score to goals needed to win a bet £16M is a waste. Wenger has been polishing diamonds from chalk coal since Anelka but can he really make a striker of Welbeck who in 2 games has had opportunities at pivotal times but have missed them all.  He does offer pace down the middle.

The TV tongues are already wagging Shearer, Owen, McManaman, Redknapp, Neville and others surprised by the move but confident he'll fit the Wenger mould, but does he really? Theo Walcott thinks Welbeck will be better at Arsenal and Welbeck himself has envisaged spearheading the arsenal attack, but to what end? How will he compare to Walcott for pace and power down the middle (as Theo wants) or as an alternate to Giroud, or Sanogo or will he be the new Bendtner?

Arsenal needed dominant striker, DM &  CB, but after it all we settled for Welbeck. Whether he'll prove I be of value remains to be seen.

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