Following on from his preview of the North London derby, Sunit Thakurta explores the potential consequences for ‘The Gunners’…
After the North London derby which ended in an entertaining goalless draw at White Hart Lane, prospective dark clouds have gathered over the futures of some of Arsenal’s star players at the Emirates stadium.
The Gunners are currently occupying fifth place, five points adrift of a Champions League spot. Given the inconsistency of Arsene Wenger’s men this season, five points seem a long way off from the reach of the North Londoners at this point in time. If current reports are to be believed, Arsenal stars Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas are considering moving out of the Emirates should the Gunners fail to qualify for the lucrative Champions League.
According to a report in Sunday’s News of the World Tabloid, the three Gunners are getting frustrated by the club’s lack of ambition which has seen the Arsenal fans endure unsuccessful seasons since 2004. This could really be a problem for Arsene Wenger who insists the club’s long term success plan is still intact; yet one can sense time is running out for the French manager and the Arsenal boardroom to get back the trust of the fans and the star players.
The club may have signed Andrei Arshavin last week yet it is not clear whether the flair of the Russian magician will be enough to take the club out of the doldrums. Furthermore there is a growing feeling within the Arsenal camp that the club has plenty of flair among the current group of players but not as much grit. Sources reveal that some of Arsenal’s senior players believe that Arsene Wenger should have brought in a strong and experienced midfielder in addition to an old fashioned Premier League style centre half who would demand respect from the opposition on match days.
A source close to the North London club has revealed to the News of the World, “There is a real problem developing because the big names are bemused at the way things are going. If Arsenal finish outside the top four, there’s no way the likes of Van Persie, Adebayor and Fabregas will hang around. They love playing for Arsene Wenger but they also want to win things. And as things stand they can’t see that happening. It’s not about how much money they can earn, it’s about winning trophies for these guys. They want to see some ambition and they want to see the club buying the right kind of players.”
Well, as an Arsenal fan and a big supporter of Mr. Wenger, I do feel that Arshavin’s arrival at the club has at least provided a fresh impetus to a relatively uneventful season and to me, whatever others may say or analyse, Arsene Wenger’s football vision is still a quality to be admired. The Russian playmaker could be the catalyst to the improvement of this proud club. The fans, it has to be said, have been waiting for a big name signing and folks the 27-year old Russian’s reputation precedes his name in the European football arena. Whatever may be the controversies attached to the player’s long-drawn out transfer saga, the signing is ultimately a big boost at a difficult time being an Arsenal fan.
When problems arise at a club, negative rumours surround it like dark angels from hell compounding the crisis. However a club’s strong inward foundation and tradition sees it through dangerous waters and Arsene Wenger, over the past decade, has developed such a base for Arsenal to withstand the dark times. No matter what the papers write about, this club will stand up to the test of being an English Premier League champion once again in the not too distant future.
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