Arsenal started the season with a disappointing loss to West Ham United at home. However, the manager Arsene Wenger insists that they will remain calm in the transfer window and will not be pushed into panic buying. Wenger wants to stay true with his squad unless there is an “exceptional solution”
The general reaction to a loss, when the transfer window is still open, is that the club should go and buy more players. The perception from the beginning of this transfer window is that the club would need more goals from a new striker – preferably Karim Benzema.
The French striker has always been at the center of attention from Arsenal for many seasons now. Even when he moved to Real Madrid, there was enough interest from Arsenal to get Benzema to the Emirates.
Petr Cech is the only new face to arrive at the club this transfer season – if you rule out the youngsters who joined the club. The former Chelsea stopper endured a tough start to his Arsenal life as a miserable debut saw him at fault for both the goals against West Ham.
Wenger, though, is not willing to be pushed into any panic buys. As usual, he maintains that he would dip into the market only if the right player comes along.
He said: “I can only repeat – if an exceptional solution turns up we do it. But after a defeat like that it’s important not to think we must take a solution from outside.
“I would like to think we are responsible to but the people and the coaches and not the media. We have to look at ourselves and think we were not good enough”
There is a sense of ironical truth to what Wenger has said. The side has let the fans down in the first match. Though it is too early to pass a judgment, if the club wants to post themselves as title challengers, this is not the right way.
The only silver lining is the fact that Chelsea also dropped points. Realistically if Wenger can win the next couple of games, everything will be back to normal. But, it doesn’t look as easy as that.
Wenger will have to expect that his side takes more responsibility and understand the importance of a good start. And if the solution doesn’t come from inside, Wenger will surely look for a solution outside….
Sridhar