International weeks are notoriously dull from the club’s perspective; the only real interest is whether or not this or that player has crocked themselves on duty. Just for once it would nice if they could all return sufficiently fit and healthy.

Arsene explained his decision not to spend during the closing days of the transfer window,

We have the squad to cope with every problem we face during the season. I really think it’s more interesting for us to look at our strengths and at our quality rather than looking outside. I know that makes headlines but it doesn’t win games

It is that which was touched on here in recent days in both the post and comments. The transfer window is the only time of a season when speculation about players converts into (in)action. Media comparisons comparing who spent what, whilst fuelling debate, are ultimately meaningless for they ignore the starting points. For example, it is not surprising that Tottenham spent considerably more than Arsenal. An eleventh place finish compared to third (and four points behind the Champions) suggests that more work has to be done on their squad than on the one under Wenger’s command. Under those circumstances, Arsene is right to be confident about the players he has.

With youth on their side, it is a squad that could be at the top for a long time. There are obvious dangers to this as well. Firstly, youth turns to maturity quickly and the absence of trophies can put players into a state of flux, torn between loyalty and the desire to win things. That is not true of all and cannot be specifically pointed toward one or two individuals. Some are motivated by money and a pay structure that is more egalitarian than most also has drawbacks, as Adebayor tried to prove this summer.

Speculation is the most distasteful part of this three month spell (and in the lead up to January’s window also). As Wenger himself noted,

It has been a transfer window largely of talk

It has and agents have been the source of this. It is their job to do so, talking up their clients to get a better deal from existing employers, enticing more money on the basis of the (sometimes un) substantiated interest of others. Anyone who has suffered the self-inflicted misfortune to read Ashley Cole’s book will have seen the mentality at work. The crucial thing now is that the window is over; there is little to be gained by picking holes in the lack of Arsene’s activity, save for self-inflation of egos. Now it is time to refocus on supporting the team in their efforts to win silverware. That does not preclude criticism of poor or under-performance but at least we should make such comments constructively.

There is a tangible sense of disappointment, brought about not least by Arsene’s own comments, that the midfield has not been strengthened. It would be interesting to know exactly what has happened to change his mind in the space of a few weeks; was it price, was it availability? Whatever the case may have been, the answers fill in a few gaps in our knowledge. I do not expect to find out why, Wenger has no obligation to explain every move to us. It would have a positive effect, I think, to be told this and be a good PR exercise. More likely, we will have to wait until his book comes out in however many years time.

’til Tomorrow.