Comings And Goings Of Arsene’s Reign

A popular theory around Arsenal is that Arsene Wenger rarely makes a mistake when letting a player go, their form either dropping significantly or injuries striking to mar a career. In some cases, it is not hard to suggest that Wenger got shot of players who were simply not good enough for the club, Richard Wright and Francis Jeffers spring immediately to mind in this category.

The theory gets clouded when you choose the benchmarks for judging whether a player has been released at the right time. In general, Wenger has got his timings right defensively. The solid back four of the Graham-era all slipped into retirement at the end of their careers, seemlessly replaced by the Campbell and Toure pairing.

The former’s exit would not have been predicted in the same manner that his predecessors were. Indeed, it was entirely disappointing that he pitched up on the South Coast rather than the Balearics. Perhaps the whole thing was a load of balearics, masking his personal issues behind a desire to play abroad. We will never know the truth unless he decides to write an ‘honest’ autobiography at some point.

Further up the pitch, there can be little argument that Ljungberg, Parlour, Hartson, Wright and Merson all left at the right time. Injuries, age and form in general dictated that they be released at the time they were. Pires was to my mind let go too soon.

Despite his age, he showed during the run to Paris in 2006 that he was adapting his game successfully to the challenges provided by age. Injuries have marred his spell in Spain, as they have Edu’s but were he to have remained at Arsenal, would he have suffered them? An imponderable for which no answers can ever be given.

Where things become clouded are those who left for other reasons. Nicolas Anelka was a bright young thing, his fee funding other signings. Yet is it true to suggest that Wenger let him go at the right time. From a personal point of view, he may argue that he has more ‘cherished’ medals from other pastures; a Champions League winner and runner-up as well as a title in Turkey, along with runners-up in Spain and England compliment the winners medals at Arsenal. Has he lived up to his potential? I would suggest not.

Patrick Vieira might well have given the best years of his career to Arsenal but he has not stopped winning trophies. Every season since, he has won a title (although the Juve win was scrubbed due to the Calciogate scandal) which suggests he must be doing something right. Whilst his performances may not be as highly regarded as before, his medal count is increasing.

Henry may well be equally successful. Certainly this season has seen him performing as consistently for Barcelona as he has in his last seasons at Arsenal. His role is different now, less central to the Barcelona’s team than he was crucial to Arsenal’s.

The Catalans are an interesting destination, for every success that there has been, an equally despairing stay in the Camp Nou. Opposite to Henry and Overmars are Hleb and Petit. The latter was always seen as a makeweight in the deal whilst the former seems unlikely to force his way into a midfield of Iniesta and Xavi. Perhaps the second season will be better for Hleb, if he gets that far.

The key to deciding whether Wenger has let players go at the right time is not on any misery or joy they find in pastures new. The defining aspect of any judgement must be whether Arsenal continued, improved or worsened. Only once can Wenger be perceived to have been caught out. The summers of 2006 – 08 saw a large number of departures by key personnel which have coincided with a spell of injuries in each season that make decisions seem incorrect. It was a crucial time for the club with finances tight due to the construction of the new stadium impacting on the manager’s ability to delve into the transfer market.

The youth policy may have been pressed into action sooner than Wenger may have wanted but they have maintained the club in the top four. That is not enough for some, a short-term view maintaining that we must win now at all costs. Perhaps Wenger would have bought others had he known how things would turn out but hindsight is a wonderful thing. We are never wrong with it.

One departure rankles with me: Mathieu Flamini. Not because of the role he played in the team but more the mythology that has built up around him. One good season does not mean he was a God that some believe. Nor, on the other hand, should his contribution for the season in midfield be dismissed. I wonder though how he feels when warming the seats on the San Siro bench. I have a suspicion that he is a player who will end up moving through the doors of a number of clubs before retiring.

His departure is emphasised by those of Diarra and Gilberto. Had either of those two stayed, then perceptions would be different. Had Diaby been fit this season more frequently, he may have featured more, the midfield more settled than the disruption suffered. If’s, But’s and Maybe’s, the three worst words in the English language after ‘Health and Safety’.

The truth is that Wenger is probably no more successful in this area than any other manager at the game’s summit. Good players want to stay at successful clubs and that is key to longevity of careers. What matters most though is that the club’s long-term future is well

’til Tomorrow.