What a horrific disaster!
Whatever you do for a living, you’re better at it than Arsene Wenger and company were at summer transfer business. They really did specialize in failure on every single level here. “Silent Stan” may have to finally start caring about something more than the financial bottom line, because the supporters are going to grow even more malcontent.
You thought the #WengerOut crowd was loud before? The pitchforks will be out in full force now, gathering momentum like a tropical storm strengthening into a category 5 hurricane.
The worst possible outcome for this team was Wenger deciding to stick around for a couple more years, and taking his sweet time in deciding to do so. Every other misstep and mistake follows from there, because Owner Stan Kroenke is only ambitious about profits, not winning. The club being in shambles begins at the top with him, the crumbles down to the board, and then Wenger and so forth. Wenger is the public scapegoat, but the issues start above his pay grade.
Arsenal FC Summer Transfer Window Major Additions: Striker Alexandre Lacazette
You notice how short this section is! By the way, forward was far from their biggest need. Lacazette broke the club transfer fee record, but why the hell was he relegated to the bench versus Liverpool last weekend?
Arsenal FC Summer Transfer Window Major Subtractions: Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
It’s not so much what they let get away, it’s the fact that now Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are still around, and that they will almost certainly get nothing in return for them when they likely walk next summer. In the case of the former, he’s clearly disinterested in being there, and it’s toxic to the changing room. The players want Alexis gone for a reason.
Also, the plan on trying to replace him with Thomas Lemar was about as well thought out as the Republican Party’s healthcare repeal and replace. It looks like no due diligence was performed at all; by anyone.
Arsenal FC Summer Transfer Window Grade: F
Wenger has been fairly inactive in recent windows, and they’re really starting to pay the price for that now. It legitimately insults their devoted, zealous base that the Emirates could not be bothered to buy even one midfielder or defender. This north London club has all the money and resources to be consistently elite, but instead they have ineptitude in magnitude. The 2017 summer transfer window was like the period of two years ago when they added no players but Petr Cech…only much worse.
It’s like if that transfer window was leftover food that you took out of the fridge and left it outside in the sun for a few days.
The Sports Bank Summer Transfer Window Grades
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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