It isn’t sadness I feel as Cesc goes back to Barcelona, for good this time, its the fact that it has come when the club need him. Don’t get me wrong, I fully understand his reasons for going but also think that if we had been more successful recently that he would have stayed a couple more years. Ultimately, his heart had been set on a move to Barca so much so that he started arsing around – he didn’t believe that Arsene’s ambitions could be fulfilled – that hurts more than losing the player himself.
We know Cesc is a wonderful player and a character that was very endearing to fans of Arsenal – not always as much to others it has to be said. The absolutely legendary shhhhh to Tony Pulis is one of my favourite moments, so too is the interview after that game and the Aaron Ramsey injury – I still bristle with pride when I see it.
His captaincy may well pass to Robin van Persie but the future he once embodied will now be loaded squarely on the shoulders of the prodigious Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere – they are the true future of this football club and we must ensure that the mistakes that were made with Cesc (and there certainly was) are not repeated again here.
Cesc was never properly supported when it came to the acquisition of additional class into the first team – had the move for Xabi Alonso been completed I think that we had probably one of the best central midfields in Europe. It didn’t happen, but it should have. Maybe Wenger had taken Cesc’s talent for granted – the thing is, all too often he was having to do it on his own for many of the years he was with us.
Given twelve months the departure of Cesc would probably have been a lesser blow. Ramsey is a player who can re-create Cesc like passes at will but needs a bit more time, Wilshere is a player who could wonderfully compliment him, as he did do Cesc last season. You just sense it’s a little too early for them to bare the brunt of our expectation. Eventually though, they will reach the levels that we expect – fitness permitting.
You may think its a little odd to have picture of Jack and Aaron at the top of this piece, the reason being is that I can’t see us getting a direct replacement for Cesc. We will probably inquire and bid for players but can you really see Arsenal being ruthless in the transfer window right now? I mean, can you really see it? I can’t.
So, its over to the two young Brits at least 12 months too early – its also a chance to thank Cesc for his commitment and efforts over the past eight years; in the most part, they have been sterling.
It is a shame it has ended like this, at this rocky time for the club. We need fighters like Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen to pull the club through what will be a terribly tough month, the experience of people like Tomas Rosicky and Bakary Sagna will be needed to support what is a hugely inexperienced squad at the moment.
Now though there is a massive, massive Champions League tie to focus on. Defeat can’t even be considered, its not an option – the damage it would do could be absolutely massive.
Step up Arsene, you have the funds and in most cases our trust. Please for your own sake as well as the clubs, use them.
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And now Wenger says they have to believe what a crack pot,the delusion and denial is almost as big as Hitlers when he was in his bunker and the russians were 500 yards away from him and he still thaught the war could be won.
Exactly Danish Gooner. Arsene and his grand delusions are sad bordering on the pathetic. I agree that ideally for us Cesc leaving next year would of been better for the embedding of Ramsey but quite frankly for him, another year of listening to Arsene and his ramblings probably would of turned him mad. Cant deny him the choice to leave. Shame, but we all move on.
Godwins law, Danish Gooner. LOL, youre such a dweeb. comment section done.
Danish Gooner, what an idiotic comment.
As one fan said Wenger is slowly destroying Arsenal. When a dominant cd is needed,he paid a big sum for an untried kid,Chmberlain. I know he will turn to be as good as Ronaldo. What happens if he turns out to be another Aladiere?You never know.
If Udines eliminate the gunners,believe me,Wenger will spend hundred of million of pounds to get back to fourth place when he could have easily improve the unners with an outlay of all the transfer fess collected from feb and Clichy.
Buying at least three quality players, including a centre defender, a defensive midfielder and a prolific striker, is a must, NOT an option. Failure to buy quality players to replace the ones lost at this critical time is akin to committing suicide. Arsenal needs to plug the loopholes in the team to remain competitive in the EPL. FemiAJAYI.
I wouldn’t say Cesc left 12 months too early. I think the plan was Samir to take over for couple of years and then Jack and Aaron to over from there. I feel disappointed that we have not been able to build a better supporting cast around Cesc, Nasri and Robin. Obviously the player don’t believe we can compete for trophies, so they wish to leave to where they feel they will win things. The fact that we cannot bolster the squad to remedy this is why I am disappointed. I find it hard to understand how a capable management team in Ivan and Arsene could overlook Nasri’s contract renewal. Are we in that a financial strait that we could not afford to extend his (Samir’s) contract last summer? Samir is right in not having to renew his contract. I don’t think it is a money thing at all. He would like to be competing for a trophies seems like Newcastle, Carling Cup and Wigan have taken there toll.
So sick of all the naysayers. Cesc was not exactly an obvious purchase. Nor was nasri for that matter. Niether were mega-purchases.
Yet all of a sudden they are “irreplacable” and if Wenger doesnt spend 20 million on an England fringe player or a south American superstar then he surely must have lost the plot!
Wow…
We can safely say we are now a selling club that polish rough diamonds until such time they are ready to deliver. And they move to an ambitious club.
The balance of the squad has gone too much in favour of youth. The players he buys seem to get younger as do the players that leave.
AW was once championed for his ability to sell players at the right time, although this is arguable in my opinion. But the last few years have seen players leave that are of an age where they can deliver trophies.
His refusal to buy a name that the press consider good i.e. a “big” name is quickly becoming embarrassing.
I can understand the early years where money was tight, but two seasons ago Arsene himself said we have money to compete with chelsea on the transfer market. Yet he still goes for bargain basement player like Silvestre, Squillaci.
He says he will not spend unless it improves squad and not for the sake of spending. But failure to spend the swollen kitty we now have is bordering on gross negligence and in my opinion is as bad as spending beyond your means like citeh and chelsea do.
Having millions in the bank with a threadbare squad from front to back will not make us competitive on the pitch.
ANY other manager in the world would spend the funds available on players that we need in the relevant position.
goonertank, my views are the same m8, he chooses to ignore where the problems lie, a cb, a cm and a good striker to partner rvp or cover for rvp, we cant rely on kids, hes been doing this for 6 years, where has it gotten us, No Where.
i said the same for fab leaving, he left because hes surrounded by jokers, what do people expect fabregas to walk out on the pitch holding hands with eboue and squilachi for the rest of his career, wake up, the best want to be amongst the best, weve got kids.
Agree! Great, balanced post.
Greg
Our football club is in crisis.We are far to short in numbers and quality,we are going to struggle this term unless we get 4 or 5 quality additions.Last nights narrow,lucky win only highlights this reality even more.What i cant believe is we keep getting rid of players as if we have a massive squad at our disposal.Where is our cover for gibbs,sagna,song,vermaelen and ill include rvp because chamakh is useless and thats how i see it.Between imminent departures,an already injured squad and how pathetic is that with only 2 games played and suspensions we are screwed.The club simply and disgracefully wont buy what we need,i cant understand this so help me out someone.