Reshaping of the club has begun, but it will only end with Wenger by Konstantin Mitov
The transfer window is slammed shut finally, and we’ve ended up better in attack than we were before. The major thing that happened this window for me is the influence Sven Mislintat had on this. We appointed him and Fahmy and they’ve done the transfer business with Gazidis.
This is really big, because it takes some of the power off of Wenger. Now if those players fail, other reputations also sit on the line. And since today, Raul Sanllehi is starting his work as something like a “Director of football” but called differently.
In the summer we heard a lot about Gazidis leading a group of board members willing to part with Wenger, but the connection with Kroenke was too strong. Still Ivan has managed to pull some of the power away and Wenger has somewhat accepted this. Sure he has approved the signings, but he isn’t involved in the contract negotiations.
The next major thing is Ozil’s contract breakthrough. It’s still to be announced on Arsenal.com, but if he signs it’ll be a massive boost, because this is a sinking ship and it was easy to abandon it, like some players who went to Manchester. Sure we’re paying Ozil more than anybody else would, but if he left for free, he would’ve surely found a champions league team wanting him with better chances to win a title.
It’s taken to the end of the window, so it’s easy to assume that Mesut might have waited to see where are going, but adding that to the fact that we convinced PEA to join us and Mkhitaryan I can’t believe it’s just about the money. Those players are 28-29, this is likely their last big move and coming to Arsenal with Wenger in charge is very strange.
Have we convinced them that we’ll do enough player and backroom reshuffling to get us back to a fighting chance at the top? Did we sell them a project that we couldn’t sell to the Ox so he left for Liverpool? And it’s interesting to touch on the good form of players like Walcott and the Ox who never really succeeded here and think about whether we used them right?
Arsene has failed quite a lot of players throughout his career. And our current squad sometimes (especially away games) looks like it just doesn’t want to play for the manager. And look, with all the new blood influencing some of the clubs decisions, it still goes down to Wenger on the pitch.
Late subs, bad tactics, lack of defensive capabilities. This is all Wenger and I’m doubting Kroenke will move him on, but he’s been given 110 million for striking talents! If you don’t achieve anything with this, questions should be asked. But even if we signed Messi, defending like at Swansea will leave us 6th and we are 6th for a good reason.
The Europa League is the only thing that can salvage the season, because the top 4 is impossible in my opinion. And it’s not because other teams are so consistent, but because you cannot make the top 4 with just your home form.
Gazidis mentioned in an interview that the board will have a “mature conversation” with Wenger if targets are not met this season and you can read between the lines thinking this means Wenger could be gone if he fails us, and adding to an interview where Lacazette mentioned our target is the top 4, so far we’re not doing pretty.
The reshaping of Arsenal has begun, but Wenger is being left behind and I wonder if that could finally spell the end of his reign?
Konstantin