Spend big or go for Wenger?

After Saturday’s demoralising and dispiriting defeat for Arsenal at the hands of Liverpool, questions were starting to be asked amongst the Emirates faithful about whether Arsene Wenger had perhaps lost his touch as a manager. There is no doubt that the Frenchman has been one of the Premier League’s most successful and capable managers during his 15 year spell at the helm of the Gunners, but there is an argument amongst some sections of the Arsenal support that it is time for him to depart and let another manager lead the club in another direction and put his own stamp on the team.

The main issues that have arisen from the summer so far have been the ongoing and tortuous transfer sagas of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. While many Arsenal fans would have been resigned to losing the talented and creative duo by the end of last season, Wenger’s reluctance to let them go quickly has potentially jeopardised an entire season. This is because he did not let Fabregas go until mid-August, and as Nasri has not signed a deal with City yet the money from his transfer has not become available for new signings. This means that Arsenal could be left on the 2nd September with a squad that is patently unequipped to challenge for the Premier League title. Without these two leaders in midfield, the centre of the pitch begins to looks dangerously inexperienced and lightweight.

Another concern is Wenger’s age-old refusal to pay over the odds for quality English players. Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill could have easily been bought if the Frenchman had just splashed the cash a little. There is no doubt that the money is there; by qualifying for the Champions League year after year Wenger ensures there is plenty of cash around to spend.

Maybe the time has come for Arsenal to move away from their image as a team that play fantastic football, but perennially give idiotic goals away and have a somewhat deserved tag as big-stage chokers. In my opinion they are in need of a solid, dependable centre-back to partner Thomas Vermaelen, maybe Cahill or Jagielka. Also, while the Gunners showed good character and skill in midweek to come through a massive game against Udinese and qualify for the Champions League, I believe they are still in need of a midfield general, an experienced campaigner to guide the likes of Wilshere and Ramsey through the season. Rosicky and Arshavin have so far not proved they are up to the latter challenge. For me, Scott Parker would be adept at this role.

For the last four years now, Wenger has not made any marquee signings (spending big money on quality international players), and Arsenal have not won a signal trophy. Would Gary Cahill have made the same mistake as Laurent Koscielny in the Carling Cup Final, allowing Birmingham to win the game right at the last? I doubt it. And would a top-class striker squandered a last-minute opportunity, as Nicklas Bendtner did against Barcelona at the Nou Camp? You decide.

My point is, that in order for Arsenal to succeed this year, having lost Nasri and Fabregas from a squad that wasn’t really good enough anyway, they need to spend money on quality players that will turn them into a trophy-winning outfit. If Wenger cannot or will not do this, and this season brings no silverware, then serious questions should be asked about whether he is the right man for the job.