Right. Had a good lunch. A couple points dinho:
I believe it was Wenger who said in 2006 that with the move to the Emirates and the subsequent financial constraints, it would take 4-5 years for Arsenal to challenge seriously for silverware. Given that the team has still managed to make it into the latter stages of the CL on a consistent basis, I not happy with the no trophies but I will take that.
I think, given all Wenger has done for the club, he earned the right to challenge for the title with his young squad. I remember at the beginning of the 2009/10 season he said that the team as was could win silverware. That team was destroyed by injuries (in the 4-1 defeat to Barca there were 5 starters on the pitch). This year was much better with injuries but it was made clear that the team still had too many weaknesses to win trophies.
I also should point out that Arsenal under Wenger has almost never signed big stars. Henry was riding bench as a winger in Juventus and Vieira was playing for AC Milan reserves. The last "big stars" Arsenal signed were Bergkamp and Overmars (unless you count Arshavin which is a matter of debate).
Given that Wenger was given a fully deserved chance to win titles with a team he built from youth, a team that while not having won silverware has done some great things, it is now up to him to strengthen the team to the point at which they can challenge credibly.
I don't understand the problem you have with him getting French league players. It has worked before, France has been FAR more successful in football than England in the last 15 years and many of the best players in the Premier League including your side's own Drogba, Anelka and Malouda came from that league. There is nothing wrong with him hiring players from the French league. Where you think Vieira, Pires and Henry got their start?
As to their being cheap, I cyah contest that fact other than to say that Arsenal doesn't think they can afford 50 million pound signings and none of us is really in a position to question them so I don't bother trying.
You contend that not signing Schwarzer was cheapness. I fail to see how Schwarzer would benefit the team given that Fulham conceded the same number of goals as Arsenal and more from open play. In such a case, why spend the money? You think Schwarzer would guarantee 8-10 more points? I have to disagree.
Finally, you claim that "every other team around them is making significant moves to improve". City sign Aguero, a striker who is at best a replacement for Tevez, and Clichy, who is one of now 4 left backs of good but not great quality. United sign Phil Jones (a youth international, much like Arsenal signings), Ashley Young, a very good player, David de Gea (another promising player with some youth caps). Chelsea sign a youth international midfielder for Spain on loan and a backup goalie. Liverpool sign Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, 3 decent players but not great. The best of that bunch is Downing and he ent no big star. Arsenal sign 2 promising youths like everyone else and the only Ligue 1 player to make double figures in both goals and assists. I doh see how you could say they any worse off in transfer business than the rest of rivals with 3 weeks left in the window. Yes they need a good aerial defender but until September 1 I can't condemn Wenger for not signing just as people can't condemn United or City or Chelsea for not signing a creative midfielder.
This anti Wenger/ anti Arsenal management slant in the media isseriously lacking in substance. It is mostly hype because Arsenal frustrate by not signing big names (a policy I admittedly wish they would break sometimes). I think if they don't do the necessary transfers this season then it is on Wenger and the board but up to now I can't fault them for the job they have done. If september 1 reach and we don't have a new centre back I will be the first to say Wenger "out", but until then I have to say I think you wrong.
Dansteel, i might be a Chelsea fan but I have a soft spot for Arsenal because I respect how they try to play the game. But for a side that supposed to be challenging for trophies I think what the board is doing is a disgrace.
Allyuh need to read back an interview with Fabregas from a few months back about the invincibles team when he was coming into the side.
Basically what he said is that the great thing about that team is that the onus wasn't on any one player to be a leader and take responsibility in all the matches. The team was full of leaders who could all step up and pick up the slack when another player was off his game or out injured. Inspiration came from a number of places, Henry, Vieira, Bergkamp, Adam, Keown etc.
You look at the side now and is Fabregas, Van Persie and Nasri and nobody else, everything falls on their shoulders. They cannot sustain that for an entire season. If one is injured or if a team lock down any two then there is no one else who can step up to fill that void. Only a setta young promising players but no battle hardened warriors.
And who fault that is?
When young bucks Sczesney and Koscielney beps on theyself in the Carling Cup final who fault that was.. Fabregas fault or the manager fault for putting faith in inexperience? When allyuh side let Newcastle come back from 4 goals down and when allyuh throw way points season after season due to lack of experience and leadership at the end of the season, who fault that is the players??
Who fault it is that the squad players allyuh buy have to be cheap and have to be French or from the French league regardless of if they shitty like Silvestre, Squillaci and Koscielney?
Come nuh man allyuh wake up and smell the coffee. Last year, Wenger pull out of buying Schwarzer over a measley extra 1m pounds. That is frankoment cheapness, Schwarzer's experience and the impact on the defence was guaranteeing at least 8-10 extra points for the season. But no, he cant stretch a lil bit to spend an extra 1m pounds.
If i see Arsenal make a big signing or two before the transfer window done, I'll say ok they doing something.. If they don't, it would be unbelievable that they carrying their fans through the frustration for a next season especially when every other team around them is making significant moves to improve.