No one can deny Arsene Wenger is a bit nostalgic.
Instead of putting
his energy towards acquiring a long-term solution, Wenger has decided to focus
his attention on the possibility of a second short-term loan for the Gunners
all-time goal-scoring leader Thierry Henry.
In seven games
last season, Henry scored two match-winners—a decent output for a player on the
wrong end of 30, but then he was gone and Arsenal were left with the same
problem.
Henry's
relationship with his former French manager is almost father-like, as Wenger
allows the striker to train with the club during the MLS off-season. Sure,
Henry still has something left in the tank, but, a second short loan spell is
not smart business on Arsenal's part.
Yes, it will sell
tickets and jerseys—making even more money for the responsibly rich club,
though, none of those funds are ever invested into the on-field product.
Gunners fans have become accustomed to their best players jumping ship, and
Wenger never properly filling the holes left in the aftermath.
That's not to say
Wenger doesn't deserve some credit for his summer purchases. Santi Carzola was
a steal, with Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud also great pick-ups. Given
Arsenal's track record, it’s only a matter of time before these players are
poached.
Wenger obviously
needs help in his striking positions. Gervinho is terribly inconsistent, Giroud
is fresh and still learning the ropes of the Premier League and Marouane
Chamakh is a lost cause. With Theo Walcott's long-term future still up in the
air, transforming him into an all-out striker is not the priority at the
moment.
The price for
Demba Ba seems like the best option—as a bid of £7.5 million would
trigger a sell clause in the Senegalese striker's contract. Surely, this would
be the smartest and easiest decision Wenger has to make—yet, he has talked down
of a move for Ba and continues to leave the door open for a Henry's temporary arrival
on a first team basis.
Sorry Gunners
fans, but Henry is not the answer to your woes.
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