The Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has never been known to spend huge amounts on players but with this season starting in worrying fashion, Gunners fans have piled on the pressure for him to open his chequebook in January to ensure that the promising revival will continue until May.
The North London club has been linked with defenders, midfielders and strikers ranging from the usual unknown prodigies to players already on the world football scene. M’Vila, Gourcuff, Martin and even Pato are just a few of the many names rumoured to be on Arsenal’s wish list but it is certainly doubtful that any of them would leave their current clubs midway through the season, especially if they’re ineligible to play in the Champions League for the Gunners.
On top of this, the current squad – whilst not flawless – offers surprising amounts of depth and options, with five centre-backs alone. With the summer arrivals of Arteta, Gervinho, Benayoun, Mertesacker, Santos, Jenkinson, Park and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wenger clearly reacted to the disappointments of last season and the troublesome start to the current campaign. Stifling the squad with even more players will limit the chances of the newcomers and could end all chances of the youngsters achieving much game time at all.
Of course, there is never a problem with adding talent to an already in-form squad but Arsenal needed it far more last season than they do now. Wenger himself is not a fan of the winter window: “I question a bit the transfer window, because this is the period where you want everybody to be connected, you cannot be half in or out.” Therefore, do Arsenal fans really expect him to spend this time round?
Assuming there are no significant long-term injuries – to Van Persie, for example – and that the current run of solid form continues, would Arsenal fans be particularly surprised or disappointed if no money was to be spent?
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