Late transfer assault could see Arsenal still win league

When Sir Alex Ferguson dedicates a glowing reference towards his long-time fierce adversary Arsene Wenger in his after-match media comments, you know something is wrong. And though it’s stating the obvious, things are definitely wrong with Arsenal at the minute. Ferguson, who didn’t seem to be intent on patronising Wenger but who was clearly loving it inside, even said afterwards that he didn’t want United to score any more goals because Arsenal were depleted in playing personnel. Come on. This is spooky. Arsenal’s problems were stacking up prior to Sunday’s match at Old Trafford, but the humiliating 8-2 defeat reduced them from a big club in crisis to a topic of ridicule. It’s not often that Tottenham supporters can watch their side lose 5-1 at home (to Manchester City) and still end up having a good day. Their north London rivals are in a far worse place. The loss to Manchester United was Arsenal’s heaviest defeat in 115 years, it’s now their worst start to a league campaign in 20 years, they’ve managed just two league wins since losing the Carling Cup final in February and they have already had three players sent off in as many league matches this season. And midfield prodigy Jack Wilshere is injured. But at least they scored two goals at Old Trafford for the first time since 1984 (that was intentional sarcasm, by the way). These issues are all on the back of the departures and long morale-sapping, drawn out ones at that of former club captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri to Man City. Reliable French left-back Gael Clichy also left for City. The first two were not any old players either. They formed the creative heart of the team. Nasri made his debut for City on Sunday and one can only imagine his thoughts later in the day: joy, relief, possibly reminiscent to someone who had just taken the last seat on the last lifeboat before the Titanic went down. Despite all this, I don’t think Arsenal should even consider sacking Wenger because he has a track record second only to Ferguson in Premier League history. It’s true that even the best do eventually reach a stage when they have given their all, when they have run their race and have are unable to retain their greatness of a previous era. [caption id=“attachment_72536” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Even some of Arsenal’s senior players have let them down. Andrei Arshavin has not lived up to his early potential. Getty Images”]  [/caption] However, I believe the Frenchman is wise enough and shrewd enough to know himself when he has taken Arsenal as far as he can. He has a knack of bringing on new teams through perceptive nurturing and recruitment. But where he has fallen down unlike Ferguson is that United have still been able to carry on winning silverware during times of transition. Arsenal’s supporters, I believe, still appreciate Wenger but are growing increasingly tired of his penchant for the future rather than the here and now. Having banked around £45 million in Premier League rights for the season, about £25 million from their Champions League qualification, and almost £80 million from the sale of the trio mentioned previously, Wenger should have a significant transfer kitty. And I believe he has to spend it before Wednesday’s transfer deadline. Given the fact there is a gaping hole in Arsenal’s midfield left by the exits of Fabregas and Nasri, it is perplexing then that Wenger should not seem interested in challenging Tottenham for the signature of England’s reinvigorated midfield general Scott Parker, who may have been relegated with West Ham last season but their demotion would surely have occurred much earlier without his dominant influence. Parker may be 30 and not the typical face of the future with generous resale value that Wenger prefers, but the boss owes it to himself and the club to abandon his strict philosophies in pursuit of an upturn in fortunes and, pointedly, silverware. Wenger has to spend big and quick. He knows the talent out there on the continent a lot better than I do but new arrivals must be established talent. Maybe top Germans such as Thomas Muller, Bastien Schweinsteiger, Philip Lahm or France striker Karim Benzema who is in and out of the Real side, and who would surely respond well to a respected French manager. England central defender Gary Cahill should arrive from Bolton – he would be a good buy and even at the apparent asking price of £17 million could still have significant resale value if he chose to move on to a club like Real Madrid in four years. Although goalkeeper Shay Given would have been a wise buy at £3.5 million, which is what he eventually went to Aston Villa for, it seems that Poles Szczesny and Fabianski could solve that role between them. Another midfielder is needed, though. The likes of Aaron Ramsey, Henri Lansbury and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are not players ready to excel for Arsenal. Ramsey should be allowed to go out on loan to a smaller Premiership club to further his development just like Daniel Sturridge benefited from his spell at Bolton last season. And like United’s Tom Cleverley at Wigan – he’s now an England player. Even some of Arsenal’s senior players have let them down. Andrei Arshavin has not lived up to his early potential, Tomas Rosicky has never been consistent, only consistently average, while the jury is still out on Marouane Chamakh. But in Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Alex Song, Bacary Sagna, Wilshere, Theo Walcott and new recuit Gervinho, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The ironic thing is, with the right, Manchester City-style spending over the next three days – and Arsenal now have the funds – Arsenal could still be realistic title challengers. Maybe that sounds crazy after an 8-2 loss to United but there is a nucleus of quality and Wenger has the strength and know-how to come back from this serious plunge in fortunes. They just need to spend, spend, spend, and not on risky unknowns or kids!