Complete Summer Transfer Analysis: Arsenal

In the last few years, Arsenal have always been dormant during transfer periods. Arsene Wenger has never had the policy of spending lavishly for players who are already established. Instead, he goes for young talented guys who come at a bargain price yet useful in the long run. The famous examples include Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie. During every transfer window, Wenger just picks and chooses one or two players who would fit in slots which become vacant due to the departure of stars from his squad. But this year he has recruited almost 12 players to try and resurrect the Arsenal team which has been struggling to win trophies since 2004. In the season which marks the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Arsenal FC, there is an element of doubt over the credibility of the team. These doubts have been fueled by the departure of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, who have the saving grace for the team over the past few years. The plethora of players signed by Wenger have a huge task at hand to earn back the faith of Arsenal supporters. Let us analyse the transfer deals of Arsenal in the summers of 2011.

The Arrivals:

Value for Money buy: Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen at 7 million pounds. His experience will be vital if Arsenal’s defence was to improve in the coming weeks after the 8-2 nightmare at Old Trafford.

Best Buy: Mikel Arteta from Everton at 12 million pounds. Arsenal were desperately in need of an experienced midfielder post the departure of Fabregas and Nasri. Mikel Arteta was the right choice to fill one of those big shoes.

The X-Factors: Ryo Miyaichi and Park Chu Young.

The Departures:

Other Departures:

James Shea (loan, Dagenham & Redbridge)

Wellington Silva (loan, Levante)

Pedro Botelho (loan, Rayo Vallecano)

Roarie Deacon (free, Sunderland)

Henri Lansbury (loan, West Ham United)

Joel Campbell (loan, Lorient)

Gilles Sunu (undisclosed, Lorient)

Mark Randall (free, Chesterfield)

Best Deal: Cesc Fabregas to FC Barcelona at 40 million pounds. Not only did Arsenal get huge money, they were also relieved of a huge headache which was affecting their performance last year.

Bound to hurt deal: Gael Clichy to Manchester City at 7 million pounds. The brittle Arsenal defence was further weakened by this deal. While Mertesacker may be the ideal replacement, Clichy’s departure certainly made a huge dent in Arsenal’s defence.

The Bottom Line:

Total Revenue Generated by departures: 72 million pounds

Total money spent on player signings: 55 million pounds

The above stats show the shrewdness of Arsene Wenger. He’s bought nearly 10 players and yet has saved nearly 20 million pounds for the owners. Arsene Wenger’s ‘NEW ARSENAL’ captained by Robin Van Persie certainly lacks the stars, but filled with plenty of utility players who are capable putting an end to the trophy drought in this season. My best wishes to the new gunners to do their best and make their fans proud.