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The fair bit of kerfuffle over Arsenal’s paradigm of the ideal transfer activity is an early sign of the Premier League proceedings drawing closer. It’s almost as if the English Football season isn’t supposed to kick-off prior to the mass-scale vituperation of the Gunners’ state of absolute and utter shemozzle in terms of their summer business, following which the rest of the rituals concerning Arsene Wenger’s exit, Ivan Gazidis’ ineptitude and Dick Law’s inability to negotiate are duly performed only to see the Arsenal faithful’s efforts blown into smidgens and kindly snubbed by you-know-who, but let’s not go into that.
As it stands, Arsenal are all set to begin with The Emirates Stadium playing host to a number of glowering faces and brooding eyes staring right at Arsene Wenger’s tensed face, which, in itself suggests the stage of desperation the club has reached, such stage where anything other than a Premier League trophy would be termed underachievement, just as it was last season as the North Londoners managed to finish second to Leicester City.
Lucky as Arsenal were to end where they did in 2015/16, they may well be rendered hapless once their campaign begins because of how they have let their direct rivals leave them behind in the quest for glory and done next to nothing about it. While other clubs have proclaimed their intent to not leave anything to chance or fortune, Arsenal have so far only ensured themselves a sure dependence on the two very factors, plus, of course, the belief that their antediluvian philosophy in an age wherein Paul Pogba’s worth a terrible £100M, will lead them to glory. Jeopardising the present to prepare for the future doesn’t really make sense, does it?
It gets shamefully obvious when one keeps talking of the missing links and Arsenal in one sentence year after year. There’s not a corner in the world where their familiar shortcomings haven’t been discussed, yet, when the time comes, Arsene’s side fall prey to their own obduracy and that only widens the gulf of class separating their rivals from them, as it has thus far in the transfer window. A few more weeks of unsuccessful pursuits and Arsenal’s title challenge could appear an impossible task with all the other favourites running out of sight, which, mind you, they already are (beginning to).
It’s largely stupefying why would you not like to (or even delay to an excruciating extent) add quality players to a now stale-looking squad that is crying out for some fresh energy to be imparted. A majority of Arsenal’s current crop of players isn’t as inspired or as encouraged to get going for the new season, which is down to the fact that the club is stalling and the previous disasters are all part of the baggage they are going into the new season with. Add Alexandre Lacazette, Julian Draxler and Shkodran Mustafi to the team and all of that changes – simple. The earlier they get the business done, the better it is for the team so they can finally focus on developing cohesiveness and unity within the dressing room. Consequently, that’ll only eventuate into a belief that they are ready to challenge anyone and everyone to win major trophies.
At the moment, the team doesn’t feel like it has that belief to go on and win the Premier League, and the same can be said of the fans. They rightly expect a lot from Arsenal but are aware that the current squad – even with players like Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Granit Xhaka and Laurent Koscielny – doesn’t have enough ammo and support to serve the purpose well. They may still be in the reckoning for a top-four finish – that’s pretty much ensured – but who cares about a UCL spot anymore? Paul Pogba doesn’t.
So, it’s down to Arsene Wenger as to how does he get rid of the air of far-fetchedness to the Gunners’ bid for the title. Whether he goes for the extravagant or his own trusted approach, only and only a title would do. Possible? Yes.
