I suppose for some people, it’s never too late to change. Or perhaps the noise finally became too much to ignore. Or what if this summer was always supposed to be the year that Arsenal spent the living hell out of their money ( I can let you decide how likely this option is, but uhh..)?
Whatever it ultimately was, there has been a new side of Arsene Wenger on display this summer. Yes, the news of a club record breaking signing all but done and dusted, followed by the rumours that the club is far from done this summer is certainly welcomed by fans. What has been most interesting to me so far may be the deals that Arsene Wenger DOESN’T make this summer, and what that could mean for the club.
Buzz Off Barca?
According to Barcelona, they have been totally rebuked in their advances for former academy product, Hector Bellerin. What has been most shocking to the Catalan club, according to reports, is Wenger’s total unwillingness to even listen to an offer, never mind having a negotiation for the player. As a result, Bellerin has come out and given the company line, so to speak, stating that he will be staying in North London.
There of course still exist stories to this day that say he is inching toward a way out, and perhaps that is what he wants in his heart, but with over 5 years left on his deal, and Arsene Wenger making it clear that Arsenal are not a selling club any longer and are pushing for a title challenge, it would take a monumentally stupid offer to get the Frenchman to budge. I still think it is a couple years yet before we see the ‘Great Catalan Caper’ hit North London newsreels once again.
A Numbers Game
While Arsenal have the benefit of a significant term on Bellerin’s contract for leverage in their negotiations, the same cannot be said of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is in the final year of his deal. Some reports suggest that the Ox has turned down a contract offer of £100k from the club, a suspected £25k rise over his current deal.
It is clear that it has become a numbers game for the versatile Englishman, and the club must now sort out which number that truly is: wages, or games. While the wages are far more than most clubs in Europe are capable of paying to a player that frankly hasn’t reached his massive potential, it is that potential (and Homegrown status) that has other big clubs in England salivating at the chance to snap the midfielder up.
Arsene Wenger would probably be willing to overpay the Ox slightly if it meant keeping him, but with the majority of transfer rumours (after this weeks alleged second signing) linking Arsenal with talented wide players, and Alexis Sanchez still an Arsenal player, there simply may not be enough games on offer to appeal to him. Oxlade-Chamberlain is a hard worker who showed this past season his willingness to learn new, less glamorous positions for the benefit of the team. It would be simply crushing to lose him, especially to a team like Liverpool as is rumoured, but it would also be irresponsible to shrug off the possibility as much as some (read: myself) did when first hearing of the possibility. Let’s hope the Ox has dreams of Euro League matches in freezing cold, unpronounceable cities.
About Time or A Disappointment?
There was a time ( and that time was in each of the last three summers) when Arsenal fans, as a whole, would have been over the moon about the signing of Alexandre Lacazette. Some fans might even argue that his presence may have been enough to fire the team through its barren spells and injury woes of the 2015/16 season to pip lowly Leicester City to the title.
Times have changed at the Emirates, but in order to do so, they didn’t even really have to change. Being linked to an 18-year-old French striker at Arsene Wenger’s former club that is more or less a combination of Thierry Henry and a Wenger wet dream and worth over £100 million will do that to expectations. Kylian Mbappe is a dream that will live on for many Gooners, but Lacazette will be a quality addition to the club.
Lacazette is a clinical finisher. It doesn’t matter that he plays in France or that he scores a lot of penalties (a role you are not typically nominated for if you are not a composed striker of the ball), you don’t score as many goals as he has over the last 5 seasons if you can’t finish.
He has the quickness to combine well with the other Arsenal forwards, and he has added strength to his frame in recent seasons. As a converted winger, he still has plenty of pace to slip in behind defenders in the Premier League. He has really developed his movement skills at the centre forward position as well, and combined with more creative players than he has at Lyon, he could be an absolute menace to contain.
The one major potential drawback I see with him, is that at around 5’9, he will be far from an aerial threat at centre forward for the Gunners. This could be remedied some by playing him as a second striker off of Olivier Giroud (provided he stays), but the fear is that Arsenal could end up a one-dimensional attacking team, as they were at times last season with Alexis Sanchez as the lone striker. Still, goals are goals, whether from the head, foot, or (if Mike Dean is your referee) hand. If Lacazette is able to bring his production with him over the English Channel, Arsenal could be signing a very good player indeed.
Lemar Or Mahrez?
It seems that the papers are able to credit players with interest in joining Arsenal these days, and two such names that are both amenable to an Emirates move are Thomas Lemar and Riyad Mahrez.
While both players represent a creative wide option, they are at very different stages of their careers. Thomas Lemar is only 21 and still has years of his best football ahead of him. With Tottenham and Liverpool also credited with an interest, and reports of Arsenal having either one of two bids already rejected by Monaco in the £30-35 million range, he could be the more expensive and difficult of the two.
On the other side, Mahrez is already 26 and has already tasted the top prize in England. For Arsenal fans, it is this very fact that splits opinion so much, with some pointing to his incredible season the year that Leicester City won the title as proof that he would be a good addition, while others still view last season, with long stretches of questionable effort and production, as a red flag. Whichever player fans prefer, it is unlikely that the club will be able to purchase another talented wide player without thinning the ranks already here, like Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. That is of course unless Alexis Sanchez leaves…
Time For Departures
Though nearly all Arsenal fans would be loathed to losing Sanchez and to a lesser extent, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, there are some players in the squad whose career (and Arsenal) could benefit from a change in scenery. Among those expected to leave are Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs, Lucas Perez and David Ospina.
What has been most surprising is how few potential departures have even been reported outside of the big name, controversial transfer headlines. It has perhaps been difficult for the club, especially as they tried to unload Debuchy in the winter, to find other clubs willing to pay the sort of wages that these players are already on. Every player wants to play, but when you are at a massive club on £70k weekly wages, it is hard to agree to half of that, no matter how much playing time in on offer.
It is important to remember that it is still only July 3rd. Wenger still has much time to make additions and streamline the squad. What do you think Gooners? Mahrez or a Lemar? How do you feel about the potential signing of Lacazette? Who would you sell to make room for incoming players? This is a pivotal week for Arsene Wenger to get some major business wrapped before heading Down Under to open the preseason tour. Will he succeed?
Oh, and if you’re the sort who refuses to compromise on their desires, there are still stories out there saying Wenger is on the trail of Kylian Mbappe. For £125 million. Seriously. DO NOT get your hopes up.
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