Do I think Arsene Wenger was forced into panic-buying players after being thrashed 8 - 2 by Manchester United? - To some extent.
Have Arsenal, as some people have suggested; entered a period of decline that will see them struggle to compete with other top teams? No I don't think they have.
Do I think Arsenal will finish in the top four this season? - Yes I do.
Three questions that have been thrown around a lot in recent weeks, both by journalists of the tabloid and the armchair variety alike. But although Arsenal's torrid win against Swansea on Saturday was both gritty and untidy, it remains an important 3 points from which this new-look side can gather some confidence and move forward.
The game was ultimately decided by a goal keeping error of the most ludicrous variety, however nothing should be taken away from the Gunners, who kept their heads during what was perhaps the most turbulent time in the club's recent history. This was for Arsene Wenger a must win game, and all eyes where on recent signings Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker.
Arteta, as so many have reminded me in recent weeks is "no Cesc Fabragas" nobody can argue against that, Fabregas is one of the best players in the world and his presence will be sorely missed. But Arteta was not brought into the club because of the things he isn't, it's what he can do on the pitch that makes him a special player and a valuable asset to the team. I thought he played particularly well on his début, making neat runs, playing some very good looking balls, and leading the team from the centre in a way which has been lacking at the Emirates for some time. It is clear that he will become the main man in Arsenal's set pieces this season, replacing Robin Van Persie, which is good, as I've never understood why Wenger wanted his top goal scorer taking corners as opposed to darting around in the box making things difficult for the opposition, his presence alone in those areas being enough to unsettle even the most internationally experienced of defenders. Furthermore, Arteta's drive to want the ball, and desire to win was something that Arsenal have sorely lacked in recent games, and his attitude in general was a real inspiration, especially to some of the younger players. For me I think that Arteta will be a key player for us over the next few years, and providing he stays fit, as injury has plagued him in the past, he will be a major contributor as to whether or not Arsenal are able to achieve any success this season.
Per Mertesacker critics are quick to comment on his pace, or lack of..... and this was evident a few times during Saturday's game, in particular when a burst of speed from Swansea's Danny Graham left him in the dark, and Szczesny (who in my opinion is showing signs of becoming a world class keeper) was forced to make a save. However his lack of pace aside, this is a man who is 6'6, has been capped 76 times for Germany and managed to keep a clean sheet on his début. Clearly he is an experienced defender of the highest (excuse the pun) order, and the real test for him will come when Thomas Vermaelen returns from injury to play by his side, a defensive partnership which has all the solid makings of Adams and Keown. On top of this Mertesacker's hight and physical presence is sure to add an attacking quality to set pieces, and increased the overall aerial threat of the team.
I don't think that either of these two players were Wenger panic buys. I believe that he had been looking at the both of them for some time, as well as South Korean striker Park Chu-Young, and that he had planned to purchase at least two of them before deadline day anyway...... Andre Santos and Yossi Benayoun however are examples of and 8 - 2 scoreline forcing a manager's hand. Santos seems to have come about from doubts that Kieran Gibbs lacks the experience to take over from Gael Clichy at left back, however whether Santos is the solution to this problem or not is yet to be seen. At least from what I can gather from what I've read, Gibbs is the better of the two anyway, so this is an area which definitely requires further strengthening. If I were the Arsenal manager, I'd go all out for Leighton Baines as soon as the January transfer window opens as Everton seem to be struggling and the lure of champions league football to such a talented player might help to force a move..... but that's unlikely to happen. As for Benayoun, I don't see really how he fits in at all, but his late introduction as a substitute on Saturday helped to see out the game and perhaps his experience will mean that he plays out the rest of the season in that capacity, time will tell.
This is an interesting period for Arsenal, as for the first time in many years Arsene Wenger has opted for bringing experienced players to strengthen the team instead of relying on building up a team from a young age..... that was Wenger's great experiment, to see if after the departure of the remnants of his world class sides of the late 1990's and early 2000's could be replaced by a new team, crafted entirely by him with the goal of playing some of the most attractive football in the world, which they did, and although Arsenal has remained a side to be reckoned with, ultimately Wenger's experiment failed, culminating in the 8 -2 defeat at Old Trafford.
That game for me, marks the end of an era at Arsenal, an era in which the team came close, but never quite made it. So now with an attractive blend of experience over youth Arsenal move into a new era in which they have everything to play for, this team still needs a lot of work and a few strong additions before it can really say it's one of the best teams on earth however...... This is a top football club with top players, and it seems very silly to me for those who try to write them off as major contenders just 4 games into the season.
- Mark Butterworth
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