Surf’s up...next Top Trumps?
And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to portray him as anything other than a grumpy old man, railing against progress, harking back to a time when he and Sir Alex Ferguson ruled English football. “£100million for Pogba? Pah!” We know he treats the club’s money as his own. That he’s as stubborn as a proverbial mule. And that he runs Arsenal with an iron grip which Vladimir Putin would be proud of.
But on Planet Wenger nothing needs to be rushed.
The club needs a goalkeeper? He got round to it eventually, signing Petr Cech. A holding midfielder? Well, Granit Xhaka has been brought in for that very job. Took him two years.
Per Mertesacker injures his knee four weeks ago. And we are still waiting for sight of any replacement – although West Brom’s Jonny Evans is on his radar.
One thing we do know, of course, is that Arsenal is personal to him. The Emirates stands as a permanent monument to his past brilliance.
In turning a profit, year-on-year. Of paying back the loans and still presenting a brand of football to the world which is pleasing on the eye.
We’re all impressed. The supporters’ gratitude, however, is wearing thin.
Personally, I’m a Wenger fan, but that split in the Gunners’ fan-base is threatening to widen.
It’s hard not to sympathise with the dissenters. For instance, if Arsenal’s manager i s so concerned about money why didn’t he see how the market was about to turn? The first £ 100m player in Pogba? And, let’s face it, £ 35m for Newcastle United’s Moussa Sissoko proves the world has gone bonkers. If Wenger was alive to the possibilities of saving a few quid, he would have signed a few gems in 2015. But, instead of going with the flow, Wenger was incapable then of putting his hand in his pocket. And he’s incapable now. Every Arsenal fan is crying out for him to make a statement.
You could argue that Xhaka counts in that respect, but does he really think the capture of the Swiss international plus a Bolton reserve player is enough for a title challenge?
Sleepless
So, just what is Wenger’s issue? If he goes into the market now, everyone knows he’s up against a ticking clock and the asking prices will rocket.
Mourinho had no problem spending Roman Abramovich’s cash. Judging by the Pogba deal, he’s not changed. Over the road at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola hasn’t spent sleepless nights over the price paid for Leroy Sane. Or the second coming of Jesus – that’s Gabriel, not Navas.
Antonio Conte will happily induct Romelu Lukaku back into Chelsea’s fold, irrespective of the £75m Everton want. Jurgen Klopp went ‘Mane-mia’ and slapped £36m on the table for the Southampton striker six weeks ago.
Even Spurs have bought wisely. Adding Victor Wanyama and Vincent Janssen to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. And Wenger? Who knows? He’s probably still staring out of that window... thinking about the good old days. AS if the International Olympic Committee hasn’t got enough on its plate in Rio, they have this week released the latest five ‘sports’ to be admitted into the fold. You can half understand the likes of karate and baseball – but surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing? Don’t mean to be rude but I’m very much looking forward to seeing how land-locked Hungary or Paraguay manage in the surfing and exactly how many countries have a big skateboarding culture. And as for sport climbing...what? Seriously, let’s open it up to card games. Break open the Top Trumps! So much for the Olympic ideal. The Olympic ‘I deal....’ is more like it.