Transfer deadline day came and went with no movement in or out at Arsenal – which wasn’t really a surprise at all. There were rumours but when the most realistic piece of gossip comes from some twat texting the BBC claiming to be a security guard at Highbury House you know you’re dealing with complete nonsense.
In general it was the quietest transfer deadline day I can remember, the Sky Sports News led hype machine failed miserably and nobody managed to get even slightly excited about Richard Dunne maybe going to Aston Villa. To be honest they should do away with the transfer window and go back to the old system. Firstly because it’d mean the market is more stable and secondly because it’d stop Sky Sports News and that phone carrying buffoon from making complete morons of themselves every time. I mean, we know they’re morons already, we don’t need them to prove it over and over again.
I have to say it has been probably the quietest summer I’ve ever seen in terms of transfers. Take Man City and Real Madrid out of the equation and it’s been deadly quiet. There are those who will say it’s a sign of the recession hitting football, which is probably true. Maybe the other thing is that deals have failed to be done because clubs are using Madrid and City to price their players. If Adebayor is worth X then my player is worth Y. The whole market has been distorted but the fact that so little money has been spent should open people’s eyes a bit.
From our point of view there’s the usual bleating about how we’ve blown any chance of winning the title because we haven’t spent. I can’t say I agree. I think we’ve made it more difficult for ourselves but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
We wanted a defender, well Philippe Senderos hasn’t gone, much to my surprise. Probably his as well. I’ll admit to jumping the gun on that one a bit but the information I got was reliable. It shows you how quickly things can change when it comes to transfers. The fact that he hasn’t been involved in one squad since the start of the season tells you something was going on. Nevertheless he stays and I’m quite happy about that. To me he’s a better player than Sylvester and adds depth the centre-half position. There are those who are unconvinced he’s got what it takes but 9 months ago pretty much everyone thought the same thing about Alex Song and now, to most, he’s considered a vital part of the team.
It’s Song’s position that and the failure to buy there that will trouble the majority. It’s where I’d have liked to see us spend our money as there’s no obvious replacement in the squad. I suspect that the manager is looking at Denilson as the one to do that job when Song is not around, using Cesc, Nasri, Diaby, Rosicky (heh) and even Merida as his ‘front two’ midfielders. At the moment, due to injury, Denilson is required further forward but looking at the squad as it stands he’s the only one I can envisage doing that role.
I’m sure a lot will be said about the fact we’ve ‘got £40m in bank after the sales of Adebayor and Toure’, but let’s not forget since January we’ve spent £25m on Arshavin and Vermaelen. It’s quite possible the money we spent in January was money we knew we weren’t going to recoup until the summer.
Will we hear talk of ‘strength in depth’? Possibly, but even without any new signings I don’t see us being weaker than Liverpool, certainly, and possibly United. Only Chelsea look better on paper, in my opinion. And before I get accused of pro-Wenger tub-thumping, I really would have liked to have seen us spend some money. I think Arsene is taking a risk again. This is essentially the same squad which failed last season and who generated an uncomfortable time for the manager. He’s put his trust in their increased experience and maturity and there’s no doubt it’s a gamble. If it doesn’t come off he’s going to be on a hiding to nothing.
Yet it’s his gamble to take. This is our squad, like it or not, until January at least. We’ve made a good start to the season. The United defeat, in the cold light of day, was eminently avoidable, and now it’s time to get behind the lads who deserve our support. Sure, you might not like that we haven’t spent any money but if you’re going to stress about that when there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it then you’re going to end up with an ulcer.
I’ve said all along this summer ‘que sera, sera’ and now this is what it is. This is our team.
In other news UEFA have banned Eduardo for two games, prompting the club to release a statement expressing their frustration with the decision. They say:
We have been deeply frustrated by the perfunctory and apparently arbitrary process that Uefa has followed in this instance. We believe it is imperative that Uefa’s explanation for its decision provides clear and comprehensive standards that will be consistently enforced. It is also critical that Uefa provides specific details of the processes it plans to adopt in reviewing all games under its jurisdiction.
They’re dead right too. I think it’s only fair that UEFA should be made explain their decision making and to give assurances that all subsequent incidents of players who intend to deceive the referee are examined and punished after the fact. Because that’s what Eduardo is being banned for. Not diving, but showing intent to deceive the referee.
From our point of view it’s not nice to see Eduardo made an example of but on a football level I think we can easily cope with his two match ban. I’m sure we’ll appeal but maybe we just should accept it because we can deal with it. What UEFA won’t be able to cope with is the precedent they’ve set in this case. Arsenal are not going to suffer unduly if Eduardo misses two games in what’s probably the easiest Champions League group we’ve ever been in, UEFA are going to suffer for opening this can of worms. And if it is a tool, as many suspect, for Platini for throw more weight behind his ridiculous 5 referee plan then I suspect the curly twat is making a very big mistake.
In other news Cesc reckons he’s going to be fit for Spain, having had a few days rest. We can only hope that the hamstring has cleared up fully. We need him back once the real football starts again.
Abou Diaby talks about the own goal at United, claiming he got a shout from the keeper to leave it and everything. Oh dear. There’s no point in going over it at this stage but I still feel like booting him one right up the hole.
And that’s about that. With the transfer window closed and no game until Saturday week we can ensconce ourselves firmly in the saggy bosom of the Interlull.
Joy.
