Wenger’s issue with Arsenal forwards! by AH
Arsene Wenger’s stance on the current Lucas Perez saga has got me thinking about why he wants to keep a player beyond this season, that he clearly has little intention of utilising. Wenger has recently stated that he would like to hope Perez will want to stay at Arsenal next season, after recent rumours have suggested the Spaniard is in desire of a move back to Spain. But why an earth would he want to stay at a club where he isn’t getting game time built on the basis that he was originally going to challenge Arsenal’s current strikers for a starting position in the team.
Perez’s current situation has got me thinking of the other forward players Arsene Wenger has expressed a lack of interest over the years, some of which have actually been very talented.
Carlos Vela was a player that was rising through the ranks at Arsenal around the same time as Nicholas Bendtner. Vela was a pacy and hungry Mexican international forward, who clearly had the desire to take his career to the next level at Arsenal. He scored some lovely goals over the years with the club and became renowned for his cheeky chips over the keeper. However despite his best efforts, in a side which had RVP struggling with injuries, Eduardo struggling to make a comeback and Adebayor the only really target man in the side, Wenger seemed to be disinterested in Vela. Several droppings from the 18 man squad and loan deals later, Arsene Wenger chose Bendtner over Vela.
Lucas Podolski is for me one of the most powerful players we’ve had amongst our ranks in the past decade. He had a real eye for goal with a powerful shot that was unstoppable for most keepers. His range of abilities made him a real asset to Arsenal and we had secured a very predominate German international when he signed from Koln. However he was wasted on the wing and used sparingly by Arsene Wenger. His abilities were not recognised at Arsenal and having become frustrated with a lack of minutes, it wasn’t long before the World Cup winner desired a move away.
Lastly is a player who is still on our books but who I feel is going in a similar direction to the others. Joel Campbell, who is currently on loan at Sporting in the Portuguese league has had quite a few memorable matches in an Arsenal shirt and I think he’s been unlucky not to get more of a chance under Wenger. Campbell is no way a finished article and there is plenty of room for improvement, but he too like Vela, seems to be attracting loan moves time after time and I fear that we are going to lose quite a gem in Campbell if his exodus from the team continues.
Would you agree that Wenger has failed to recognise and utilise the abilities of these players?
AH