Fiasco or planned turning point? Time to take back our club

Earlier in the summer, there was much speculation about our transfer targets and calls for Wenger to go. I posted that I thought we should wait until the end of August to decide. Well now we know.This summer has been a catastrophe for the club.We have been reduced to a laughing stock in the media and with other fans. I have been receiving sympathy messages from friends and fans of other clubs. It is unprecedented.

(This is PART 2  of DJarse's review, Is-it-just-the-club-that-has-lost-its-way?-a-chaotic-year, to return to part 1 click here)

The catastrophe is that even though Wenger himself identified what areas we needed to strengthen in the team (for the umpteenth time), we appeared to do nothing about it until the last 48 hours of the transfer window and when we were already three weeks into the season. The catastrophe is that even though it was obvious to all that Fabregas and Nasri would leave this summer – directly in my view as a result of the team’s collapse at the end of last season – this was allowed to unbalance the team and wreck our pre- and early season preparation. The catastrophe is that the lack of depth was ruthlessly exposed in the most humiliating defeat the club has suffered for over 100 years at the hands of our greatest rivals – a defeat from which we will probably not recover this season.

Whoever was responsible for the transfer policy – the identification of players, signing them up, shipping players out, getting the best deals etc – should be sacked. No doubt.

The transfers – what is the balance sheet?

Let’s start with the midfield. Both Fabregas and Nasri believed, with some justification, that they would never win trophies with us. Fabregas has wanted to return to Barcelona for years – I do not begrudge him that. He was wonderful for us most of the time. Nasri is simply a money-grabber, albeit an extremely talented footballer. We should have brought matters to a head with both early in the summer and had plans for replacing them with similar quality. We didn’t and haven’t (though I rate Arteta). However you look at it though Arteta and Benayoun are a different class (below) that of Fabregas and Nasri. A huge burden now falls on young Wilshere – it may well prove too much. Rosicky should have been moved on and Arshavin given a yellow card and told to improve by January or face being sold.

Frimpong has been a revelation and may challenge Song, but can either avoid being sent off every five minutes? I am surprised we did not pursue M’Villa as a proven holding midfielder.

In defence, while the progress of Szczesny is encouraging, I still fail to understand why we did not buy Given, Schwartzer or Friedel (all of whom have been going cheap in the last year) as an experienced back-up and trainer. I would much prefer one of them in goal to either Fabianski or Almunia.

In replacing Eboue with Jenkinson and Clichy with Santos, I think in the short term we will be lucky to “break even” in terms of quality. Clichy was under-rated by Arsenal fans – his stats even last season were 2^nd or 3^rd best of the Premiership left backs.

In the centre back position, I have high hopes for Mertesacker. You don’t get 75 caps for Germany by the age of 26 unless you are exceptional. He has the dominance in the box we have long lacked and is a proven leader – captain of his club for years. But why did we stop there? Unless Wenger is cynically hoping to pick up Cahill cheaply in January. I think only Mertesacker and TV are proven top quality defenders. Djourou has regressed and Koscielny looks wobbly. Squillaci – well what can you say other than Cygan?!

In attack, I am very hopeful for Gervinho. I think he may prove our best buy of the summer. Park will probably be better than Bendtner and Vela. I am impressed with Myiachi too though his impact may be limited this season. My knowledge of Oxlade-Chamberlain is too limited to judge.

My judgement

Overall, the team is weaker, while all our major rivals are stronger. The heart says we may win something – on our day we can be great – but the head says don’t be foolish, it will be a major achievement to get back in the Champions League next year – and then Van Persie and Walcott may leave too. We face playing catch up and being a “feeder” club unless major changes are forced through.