It’s not all bad at Arsenal

OK I know what you’re thinking. We have had a bad start to the season and the other top four teams have spent money. But I still don’t believe that Arsenal are in as bad a position as everyone thinks. In this blog post I’ll try to explain why.

No signings….

It seems that everyone believes Arsenal need to buy and I agree. However Arsenal have been in the market for players, but have simply missed out to other clubs. Phil Jones choose to move to Manchester United and it’s looks like Juan Mata wanted Chelsea over Arsenal as well.

I hear you crying out that that is the problem, but we can’t expect every player we look at to want to come to us over every other club that may be interested.

There’s still time to bring in players, but Arsenal really will not overspend for players. Yes we need at least one centre back, maybe a left back, a couple in the midfield and maybe a striker, but I’ve been looking at the new players Arsenal have signed and we haven’t done too badly with those.

Gervinho
He’s an experienced international player, whose start at Arsenal has been somewhat mixed. he may have been sent off in his first game but he does look like he can play in the Premier League. Let’s see how he does after the winter, without a break.

Carl Jenkinson
The signing of Carl came out of the blue. Talentwise I think he can play in the Premier League, but his confidence is low. He needs experience around him to help him through the start of the season. He has played for Finland at Under-21 level and now England are looking to bring him into their Under-21 squad, so the potential is clearly there.

Ryo Miyaichi
Ryo was signed in January and sent out on loan to Feyenoord, where the fans loved his direct style of play. I’m sure we’ll see Ryo in the Carling Cup team and I’m expecting a lot from him as the season goes on. His pace and dribbling skills look great and players that come from Holland have traditionally been able to make a successful transition to English football. It must be remembered that he is still only 18, but he could push Theo and Gervinho for a starting place in the second half for the season.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Alex looks like he has all the tools to be a hit signing, but getting into the team this season will be hard. Arsenal fans will ask why we’ve bought a player that will not make an impact this season when we have more pressing needs elsewhere, but the market for Alex was large. Getting him now will allow him to integrate himself within the team and improve under Arsene Wenger. Expect to see Alex in the Carling Cup run in the early rounds.

All is not rosy at Arsenal but I don’t believe all is as bad as the wider media is making it out to be.

The Gunners have had a tough start to the season with injuries, suspensions and few experienced new players. At the end of the season all could look much better than it does now.

Wenger has to stay and anyone that says he has to go should remember what happened at Charlton when Alan Curbishley couldn’t take them forward. They’re now mired in League One and they are finding it hard to get back to the Championship.

Arsene is still the man to take Arsenal forward and on the budget HE has chosen to use the team are still in the Champions League and are always expected to make the later stages of the competition.

Questions should always be asked of the manager and board, of course, but Arsenal fans and some of the media need to pull back on the questioning a little and realise that, despite his caution in the transfer market, Arsenal are a club in good financial shape and in a great position to progress under the new financial fair play rules.

Despite all their money, some of our rivals may find life a little tougher.