Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger did a wonderful job of calming the storm around the Emirates Stadium on transfer deadline day.
The calls for Wenger’s dismissal had reached a crescendo after the 8-2 demolition suffered at Old Trafford. If the new signings succeed, that game may be forever viewed as the turning point that rescued the Wenger era and shunted the club back on course.
On the other hand, the current situation could be viewed as a bunch of panic buys that will merely be a false dawn, and the failure of the Wenger era will carry on. Here we will look at both sides of the debate whether Arsenal can continue their long run of playing UEFA Champions League football.
THE CASE FOR
Even the cynic’s would admit that Wenger improved some long held weaknesses in transfer deadline day. A physically imposing central defender has been on the wish list of many Gunner’s fans for years now.
The signing of 6 feet 6 inch German behemoth Per Metersacker goes a long way to pacifying those fans. Metersacker also brings with him top level experience having played in the Champions League for Werder Bremen (scoring against Chelsea no less), and won 75 caps for Germany.
The Arsenal defense was further strengthened with the addition of Brazilian international left back Andre Santos. Fullback Santos is a converted winger and will have no problem contributing to the attack in addition to marking the opposing winger.
Another criticism of Wenger has been his hesitance to sign ‘ready made’ performers, instead preferring to sign young talent that he was first to notice, but who will take time to develop. The signing of Mikel Arteta flies n the face of that theory, and adds a Premier League veteran to an already talented midfield unit.
When you add the injection of new blood into a team that is not only confident of qualifying for the Champions League, but has consistently done so it is a recipe for success.
THE CASE AGAINST
None of the deadline day acquisitions come anywhere close to filling the void left behind by Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. The flurry of new arrivals will silence the doubters temporarily, but will not last all season and cannot stop the ongoing decay of the Arsene Wenger empire.
Metersacker may be a tall, but the attacking philosophy of the Gunner’s will leave him exposed and ensure that Arsenal continue to concede goals.
Injuries will also plague Arsenal throughout the season, ensuring Wenger cannot consistently choose his best team. The forced rotation of Arsenal will mean they find if hard to find a rhythm and the familiar pattern drawing against lowly ranked teams to fall behind the league leaders continues.
Jack Wilshere is already injured until November, any Everton fan will tell you that a Mikel Arteta injury is only a few games away, and Robin van Persie may be chasing his third consecutive Golden Boot if he wasn’t made of glass. By the time Wilshere returns in November, how far off the pace will Arsenal be?
The quality of opposition is also formidable when competing for a top four spot this season. Manchester United continue to dominate the English landscape, moneybags Manchester City have an endless array of talent, and Chelsea and Liverpool are both capable of mounting a serious challenge for top four status.
Tottenham Hotspur are dark horses for a top four finish, and would take delight in taking any points they can away from their rivals as the season goes on.
Lastly it is difficult to ignore the fragile state of mind that Arsenal perpetually live in. This is the team that threw away a four goal lead last season only to blame the referee, and seems to have a ready made excuse for every failure.
THE VERDICT
So having read both sides, what do you think about where Arsenal will finish this season? Comment below and tell us whether they hang onto Champions League status?
On the other hand, the current situation could be viewed as a bunch of panic buys that will merely be a false dawn, and the failure of the Wenger era will carry on. Here we will look at both sides of the debate whether Arsenal can continue their long run of playing UEFA Champions League football.
THE CASE FOR
Even the cynic’s would admit that Wenger improved some long held weaknesses in transfer deadline day. A physically imposing central defender has been on the wish list of many Gunner’s fans for years now.
The signing of 6 feet 6 inch German behemoth Per Metersacker goes a long way to pacifying those fans. Metersacker also brings with him top level experience having played in the Champions League for Werder Bremen (scoring against Chelsea no less), and won 75 caps for Germany.
The Arsenal defense was further strengthened with the addition of Brazilian international left back Andre Santos. Fullback Santos is a converted winger and will have no problem contributing to the attack in addition to marking the opposing winger.
Another criticism of Wenger has been his hesitance to sign ‘ready made’ performers, instead preferring to sign young talent that he was first to notice, but who will take time to develop. The signing of Mikel Arteta flies n the face of that theory, and adds a Premier League veteran to an already talented midfield unit.
When you add the injection of new blood into a team that is not only confident of qualifying for the Champions League, but has consistently done so it is a recipe for success.
THE CASE AGAINST
None of the deadline day acquisitions come anywhere close to filling the void left behind by Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. The flurry of new arrivals will silence the doubters temporarily, but will not last all season and cannot stop the ongoing decay of the Arsene Wenger empire.
Metersacker may be a tall, but the attacking philosophy of the Gunner’s will leave him exposed and ensure that Arsenal continue to concede goals.
Injuries will also plague Arsenal throughout the season, ensuring Wenger cannot consistently choose his best team. The forced rotation of Arsenal will mean they find if hard to find a rhythm and the familiar pattern drawing against lowly ranked teams to fall behind the league leaders continues.
Jack Wilshere is already injured until November, any Everton fan will tell you that a Mikel Arteta injury is only a few games away, and Robin van Persie may be chasing his third consecutive Golden Boot if he wasn’t made of glass. By the time Wilshere returns in November, how far off the pace will Arsenal be?
The quality of opposition is also formidable when competing for a top four spot this season. Manchester United continue to dominate the English landscape, moneybags Manchester City have an endless array of talent, and Chelsea and Liverpool are both capable of mounting a serious challenge for top four status.
Tottenham Hotspur are dark horses for a top four finish, and would take delight in taking any points they can away from their rivals as the season goes on.
Lastly it is difficult to ignore the fragile state of mind that Arsenal perpetually live in. This is the team that threw away a four goal lead last season only to blame the referee, and seems to have a ready made excuse for every failure.
THE VERDICT
So having read both sides, what do you think about where Arsenal will finish this season? Comment below and tell us whether they hang onto Champions League status?
