It's a family affair... (long post)

[VaVaVoom]

I've read a lot of newspaper rumours, message board posts, etc. about who Arsenal will be signing in the upcoming year. There are always lots of great names mentioned (Kluivert, Trezeguet, etc.). Many times these get dismissed because of the financial situation of Arsenal. That may often be the truth (as things are certainly tight at the current time), but I think there's one important thing that everyone misses when looking at the current squad, prospects in the reserves, and potential new signings... Wenger has built much more than winning club, he's built a family. The impact on the togetherness, spirit, loyalty, and determination of that family is as important to him as the talent that an individual possesses. And as such, he's extremely picky about who he's going to let into the family.

Certainly there are financial restrictions at a club like Arsenal, but the Reyes transfer proved that if the right player was out there, they'd be willing to open the purse strings big time to get him. However, with Reyes, he signed a youngster who showed great character and loyalty at his previous club. He's young enough that Wenger and the rest of the family can mould him and make him one of their own. And if not, then like Anelka, he'll be sold regardless of how many goals he scores.

Do you think a guy like Patrick Kluivert would fit into the mix? I doubt it, and regardless of the financial implications, I don't think you'll ever see Wenger sign a guy like that. I also think that's why a very talented youngster like Pennant will never play for Arsenal again. He's been given numerous chances to improve his attitude and become part of the family, but there are too many stories about events on & off the pitch to make me believe that Wenger will risk the team chemistry with this guy that no one likes.

I think this is a major reason why Wenger prefers to sign young players -- their youth gives them the time and adaptfulness to become part of the family. However, he's not against signing experienced players (though the bar may be set much higher if they are to be long term parts of the puzzle). He signed Sol Campbell. But Sol is a perfect example of what I mean when I say Arsenal has gone beyond being just a football club. When Sol's father died earlier this season, he was clearly very distraught and somewhat lost. After some reflection, he made the decision that the club was his new family, and since then, has been one of the driving forces behind bringing them even closer together. The pre-game group hugs (though it somewhat sickens me) and after-goal group celebrations were started by him after returning from his leave of absence. And he's repeatedly said that he wants to finish his career at Arsenal (something that I think he'll do). Is Lehman, the other recent experience signing, of the same ilk? Well, he's certainly a determined and strong character. However, I doubt whether he's really a part of the strong spirit that the rest of the squad exhibits, and therefore, is only a short term player for the club.

The leaders up the spine of this club (Campbell, Vieira, & Henry) are guys who have shown immense loyalty to the club. But beyond their own loyalty, it is clear in everything they do on and off the pitch, that they demand it from their fellow teammates as well.

So, what does all this mean for the current squad, it's prospects and potential signings? Well, here are a few implications...

- There will always be a spot for players like Bergkamp & Parlour, even if their skill levels drop. They may have to accept a different role and reduced salary (like Keown this year and what was offered to Seaman), but there will always be a place for them.

- Kolo Toure will break David O'Leary's club record for most appearances. His talent and character make him the perfect Wenger player and he'll never leave or be replaced.

- It may explain his loyalty to players like Kanu & Wiltord. These guys have both been valuable parts of the team (at times) and well liked members of the family. Though they have both gone through periods of questioning whether they wanted to remain part of the family, I think they'll both be offered contracts to stay. The contracts may be short term and not equal to what they are currently making (heck, Arsenal is a business as well), but I don't think their position as family members will be abandoned. If they want to stay, they will be offered contracts.

- This same loyalty has been shown to Edu, who is well liked off the pitch and a very loyal character. I'm not sure the same can be said of Gilberto. If he's not already considered a part of the family (and body language on the pitch of him & his teammates doesn't look like he his), his mediocre performances may spell the end of his Arsenal career (rumours have him going to Atletico Madrid this summer).

- Prospects need to do a lot more than just exhibit Premiership talent to be accepted. Pennant has got the skills, but he will be gone this summer. Jeffers maybe didn't have the skills, but he never got his chance because he never fit in. Will David Bentley be the next Pennant or the next Ashley Cole? He's supposedly a very arrogant lad, but is well liked because he's a card. Only time will tell whether he's funny enough to make everyone ignore that hideous haircut.

- As for big name signings, I think there may be one or two at most (to allow the team to compete for a treble), but wouldn't be surprised to see none...

1. I think Wenger's been on the lookout for a young goalkeeper for a while. Rumours were that he'd been tracking Sebastien Frey (Frenchman at Parma) for years, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was turned off by Frey's comments in the press that Arsenal & Chelsea were after him and they'd better make a move. With Lehman there, I don't he'll rush after someone, but I think he's always looking and wants someone in that position to solidify the spine of loyalty and strength existing with Campbell, Vieira and Henry.

2. If Kanu & Wiltord don't sign, I wouldn't be surprised to see him pick up another striker. If Trezeguet is available for the right price, he'd almost instantly be adopted into the family. He's great friends with Henry, and that endorsement alone says a lot about his character. He was at Monaco before Juventus (though I don't think Wenger signed him) and the connections are strong with enough squad members that he'd probably have an instant impact (and wouldn't it be wonderful to finally have someone who's strong in the air up front). Other than him, I haven't seen one established striker rumoured to make a move to Highbury that would fit in. However, with a first choice pairing of Henry & Reyes next year, and with Bergkamp in reserve, he may just go with Aliadiare & Bentley to fill in the gaps.

3. If Gilberto is sold, Wenger may buy a central midfielder to replace him. I thnk Edu will be Patrick's 1st choice partner next season, but he'll need another quality midfielder in the mix (with Parlour aging) and there are no obvious prospects in the youth system. I've searched high and low for a realistic name to fill this slot, but I'm at a loss. My gut tells me he'd want an Englishman in this position, but no one pops to mind (as I don't think Steven Gerrard or Jermaine Jenas are going to be available!). What I would have given to have gotten to Scott Parker before Chelsea...

4. Finally, I think he could go in for a right winger. He had to play Gilberto out there this year, so it's clearly an area that requires reinforcing (especially if Wiltord is gone). That said, Freddie is the (somewhat injury prone) clear 1st choice, so he'd probably opt for a no-name youngster vs. a big name. This may be Bentley's position to lose (though it's not his favoured position).

As for all the other names I've seen bandied about in the past few weeks/months/years, I don't think any of them over the age of 20 have a chance of being signed by Wenger. And remember, it's not because they're not talented enough to break into the team or too expensive, it's most likely because they wouldn't be a part of the family.

Well, if you've read this far I'd love to hear your thoughts on "the Arsenal family."

[tmaker]

What a brilliant post, just the kind that actually make me want to read these occasionally marshy blogs (sorry, couldn't avoid the pun). I'm hardly a soccer genius, and certainly have a long way to go before any of my opinions matter (not that I give a damn), but I'll certainly take you up on this thread.

I think it's pretty clear that Arsenal are indeed a family. I believe that Arsene Wenger thinks (as I do) that a consistent, fluid, miscible team is far better than any repository for "star players". It is at least partially a financial consideration, as well as an aesthetic and tactical one. When one hasn't the money for "stars," one becomes very creative at compensation. In Major League Baseball, for an analogy, the difference would be comparing the Seattle Mariners to the Oakland Athletics. Oakland has no stars, but then, who cares? They do run as a well-oiled machine, with each person contributing his best. This is a managerial skill that most managers (Kevin Keegan, for instance) sorely lack.

Chemistry has always been the hallmark of Wenger's tenure as manager, and I'm glad on that point. It is obvious that Arsenal cannot compete with Manure Unlimited in the pursestrings department, or Chelsea, or Real Madrid, or Barcelona et alia. Often people lament this fact. If Arsenal had that sort of cash at their disposal, they'd win the Premiership three years out of every four. Yet at the same time, look at the complete lack of chemistry of players at Barcelona, or Real Madrid. (Sidenote: I honestly think Edgar Davids was exactly the clubhouse presence Barca needed to settle down and play something like a team. More another time.) And of course, look at the political pressure to perform like a trained monkey at the aforementioned teams. Too many individuals trying to "perform" makes for a fragile team that can at any moment go either way. Witness Chelsea @ Boro, or @ Charlton. And while the Grove may increase the cash flow for Red & White, nevertheless, Arsenal will need players who "click" with each other, otherwise Wenger's managing becomes moot.

For that reason, I agree that an established player of *any* sort has scant chance of donning a Gunner uniform right now, and a "star" player even less so.

I am not a believer in Arsenal's impenetrable defense, despite what numbers say. But the likelihood of seeing, oh, Lilian Thuram or Javier Zanetti replacing Lauren is virtually nil; temperamentally and tactically, the defense is sound, if not perfect, and that's very much the conundrum. Similarly with Kluivert. Anelka--well, he can go to hell, for all I care anyway, but I think Arsene's seen enough of him for a lifetime.

I'd love to see Trezeguet up front, of course, because if Arsenal need anything offensively, it's someone who will 1) actually jump for a ball; 2) direct the ball toward the net with his head. At any skill level. Since Trezeguet is one of the better headers of the ball in the game, it would be ideal.

But...there are problems. I think (and I could be wrong) Wenger has said he does not want any more Frenchmen on the team, though he could have been indulging in irony. Even if he did, would he take Trezeguet, and relegate Bentley, Aliadiere and probably Bergkamp to the bench? Dunno. And if he actually wanted Trez, and Trez wanted Arsenal, could Arsenal afford him right now? And would he fit in with everyone who isn't Thierry Henry? Dunno. The other field positions are similar. It's clear to me that we need more defensive cover that isn't Pascal Cygan, but whom would anyone suggest that meets all the Arsenal criteria? And is about 20-24 years old? Name me a keeper that fits that mold, if you can.

One other thing: with the Arsenal moving to the Grove, I'm guessing (I don't know for sure, but I feel it) that Arsene Wenger really wants to build a young team that will not only mesh seamlessly together but also stay faithful and healthy on the new pitch for years to come with minimal turnover, not unlike Manure's Neville/Butt/Scholes (I'd throw in Beckham, too, but we all know that story). This makes signing established players very dicey indeed. Arsene has said repeatedly in interviews that he would sign the right player if the right player comes along, but who is that?

Only Arsene knows.

[Martin Daoust]

Let me add my compliments to tmaker's on a splendid post vavavoom. The lasting image for me of that night in Manchester two years ago is Kanu leap-frogging Wiltord as he celebrated by the corner flag. I think you are spot-on in your analysis of Arsenal as family. I think Wiltord could well stay anyway because he can play wide and upfront, but while he and Kanu will be allowed to look at other teams but would be more than welcomed to stay if they accept reasonable terms. But they are both well-liked in the team and that matters to Wenger clearly. If it didn't Jeffers and Pennant would have already replaced them. Wenger has built a small close family-like team here and that has made it so successful.
But on tmaker's point about players coming in-Wenger DID bring in Davor Suker when he was not a young prospect but an established star, so the precedent is there to move for a Trezeguet if a real opportunity presented itself. In fairness to tmaker, Suker only lasted a year before he was gone, but Trezeguet is younger and his friendship with Henry and experience playing with Pires and Vieira and maybe Wiltord, can only enhance the prospects for him being a success. As I said on another thread, in today's football, if Trez WANTS to play for Arsenal, he will play for Arsenal or remain at Juventus. That is to say even if we offer five million less than Barca, if he refuses to agree personal terms with them(as Kluivert did after 99 when we'd agreed a fee for him with Barca)Barca would have to accept that or keep him. With that in mind, Wenger might well be willing to take a chance on trying to land Trezeguet, as he did on Sol Campbell, which seemed beyond us too, even on a Bosman. Do not underestimate the draw of playing with Henry, in London, for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger for Trezeguet. It's a hunch to me just like I had a hunch that Campbell would want to play with fellow England Internationals Adams, Keown, Dixon, and Seaman because he would be able to get comfortable and fit in quickly here. And just as I remember thinking three years before he was availble it would really make sense for Campbell to play at Highbury, I began thinking Trezeguet would flourish at Highbury in 2001 and just putting that thought in the drawer. I think if Trez made it clear he was interested we'd find a way, or at least try really hard to.
As for centre-half, well Senderos completed 90 minutes of a 1-0 reserve victory and scored the winner, and generally impressed. If he is fit we may not need a buy at the back. By the way Congratulations to American Frankie Simek who was AGAIN named Captain-ahead of Ray Parlour(not bad...). Agree a regular partner for Vieira may be a priority too. If Gerrard were available we might consider it as we would Trezeguet-that is, you have to try and land him if there's chance, although Gerrard may not fit in with this team and its personality. I don't think that would be a concern with Trezeguet. It's certainly VERY interesting, isn't it....

[DBecks]

Ok, someone cue up Sister Sledge's "We are Family". . .

I say yes to Trez if he's cheaper than Reyes. He's as much of low-risk buy we'd find for up front. If he wants to play for the Gunners and Juve wants to sell him for a fair price, then why not? While I'm a big JA30 fan, he just hasn't looked like the "next big thing" up front for us during all of his appearances this year. (Granted all but one were on the tele). And Bentley still needs another year before his name is etched into the lineup next to Thierry. And Arsenal needs someone up front with a good head to the ball like my next-door neighbor (with his 12 stray cats) needs a bath. And trust me, he smells BAD.