Whilst the
transfer of RVP away from the Emirates would not render Arsene Wenger’s
position immediately untenable, fans and commentators would yet again make
claims that Arsenal are a selling club and thus, will not challenge for the
title this season.
Unfortunately
for Wenger, Arsenal have previous; the inability to persuade Cesc Fabregas that
they could compete for trophies and the sale of Samir Nasri to rivals
Manchester City do nothing to help dispel the rumours that RVP is also set to
move on.
For all the
criticism of Wenger and Arsenals’ transfer policy, the Gunners secured a 3rd
position finish last season, finishing above rivals Tottenham and guaranteeing
Champions League football this season. Unfortunately this has failed to appease
the fans that have cited the imminent sale of RVP as yet another moment in
Arsenals’ recent history where they have failed to compete, or give themselves
the chance to compete, with the best the Premier and Champions League have to
offer.
Reasons
to be cheerful?
Not a day
has gone by this summer without an RVP rumour. This has allowed Arsenals
incoming transfers to almost slip under the radar. The signings of Olivier
Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla are not to be scoffed at.
Giroud
comes to Arsenal on the back of a goal return of 39 in 86 for Montpellier over the last two seasons. With 93
goals in 216 career appearances, one would have expected Giroud to have made
more international appearances than the 9 (scoring one goal) obtained already (perhaps
suffering from the lone forward system used by France, fronted by Karim
Benzema).
The
indifference shown by some Arsenal fans to the signing of Lukas Podolski is
somewhat surprising. Still only 27, Podolski has scored 44 goals in 101
appearances for Germany, amassing 112 in 291 career
appearances. The left sided Polish born forward has a left foot that would
rival that of a certain Dutch forward well known to Arsenal fans…
Santi
Cazorla provides Wenger with a further wide threat; Cazorla has plied his trade
from wing positions, making 323 career appearances scoring 52 goals whilst also
making 41 international appearances for Spain. Although a fringe player for Spain (not at all a criticism) Cazorla
was the second top scorer in a Malaga team that last year secured
Champions League football.
Write
Arsenal off at your peril
It must be
made clear that at the time of writing, RVP is STILL an Arsenal player.
Although it would be folly to suggest he will remain as such, it is worth
pointing out that Carlos Tevez was “never going to play for Manchester City again”.
With
Juventus and Manchester United knocking on the transfer door, some fans have
accepted RVP leaving is inevitable and are looking to see how the Arsenal squad
will develop in his absence. Arsenal have amassed a squad with depth; Diaby,
Walcott, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Ramsey, Cazorla, Song, Frimpong
are all vying for starts in the Arsenal midfield for example.
It will be
interesting to see how Wengers’ new look side lines up on Day 1 at home to Sunderland…
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