ARSENE WENGER MUST SPEND
Arsenal boss needs a star summer signing
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ARSENE WENGER must make the star signing needed to turn his team of young pretenders into proper contenders again.
Instead of trying to groom another clutch of potential stars, Arsenal boss Wenger needs to go toe-to-toe with big boys when the transfer window opens on Wednesday.
The Gunners have already captured a class centre-half in Belgium star Thomas Vermaelen and have Brazilian midfield enforcer Melo in their sights.Now the priority is a world-class striker given that Manu Adebayor looks to be on his way.
Wenger must not baulk at the prospect of paying big money. Rather than dabble with cheap options of Bordeaux's Moroccan Marouna Chamakh or Hoffenheim's Senegalese striker Demba Ba, Wenger should lay down a marker, upset Manchester United and Real Madrid, and shoot for real star in Lyon's Karim Benzema.
Yes, I realise United head a long queue for the 21-year-old France striker and Real are in the mix too.
But if Arsenal are to get back amongst the heavyweights they have to show they have the muscle to compete at the top end.
If the sale of Adebayor to AC or Inter Milan goes ahead, the Gunners could easily afford the £35m fee for Benzema. And since the player is coming from France, the salary would not bust Arsenal's £90,000-a-week pay ceiling.
Benzema would be attracted by the fact that at Arsenal he would become a focal point rather than being a bit-part player at United, Madrid or even Chelsea. Benzema could become the missing link for Arsenal - the new Thierry Henry.
Champions
If Wenger dithers in the transfer market this summer and goes for second best then it will be Arsenal who finish adrift. And so, come next summer, the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie will be off.
With the addition of a couple more top stars, the Gunners will not only just put the heat on a Ronaldo-less United, a hard-up Liverpool and a Chelsea with another new manager, they can fight to become champions again.
To do so Wenger must now opt for investing in gold not more rough diamonds.
This article has 2 comments
we need 1 signing in midfield of quality, whether its a name or not means little. if we go for Vieira i would sign another as well, but Vieira would galvanise the fans
By cheese. Posted August 2 2009 at 9:11 AM.
We are tired of cheap 2nd grade players. need one or two household names to make ARN a contender. Wenger must change his philosophy.
By Maxi T. Posted July 19 2009 at 10:03 PM.