Time for some brutal honesty... this team, as it stands, is in no better position to compete next season than they were 12 months ago, minus the fact that some fans have been easily snowed by the acquisition of Lacazette, the free transfer LB and the release of Sanogo... if you look at the facts carefully you will see a team that still has far more questions than answers... to better show what I mean by this statement I will briefly discuss the current state of affairs
on a position - by - position basis... in goal we have 4 potential candidates, but in reality we have only 1 option with any real future and somehow he's the only one we have actively tried to
get rid of for years because he and his father were a little too involved
on social media and he
got caught smoking (funny how people still defend Wiltshire under the same and far worse circumstances)... you would think we would want to keep any goaltender that Juventus had interest in, as they seem to have a pretty good history when it comes to that position... as far as the defenders
on our current roster there are only a few individuals whom have the skill and / or youth worthy of our time and / or investment, as such we should
get rid of anyone who doesn't meet those simple requirements, which means we should
get rid of DeBouchy, Gibbs, Gabriel, Mertz and loan out Chambers to see if last seasons foray with Middlesborough was an anomaly or a prediction of
things to come... some fans have lamented wildly about the return of Mertz to the starting lineup due to his FA Cup performance but these sort of pie in the sky meanderings are indicative of what's wrong with this club and it's wishy - washy fan - base... in addition to these moves the club should aggressively pursue the acquisition of dominant and mobile CB to stabilize an all too fragile defensive group that has self - destructed
on numerous occasions over the past 5 seasons... moving forward and building
on our need to re-establish our once dominant presence throughout the middle of the park we need to target a CDM then do whatever it takes to
get that player into the fold without any of the usual nickel and diming we have become famous for (this kind of ruthless haggling has cost us numerous special players and certainly can't help make the player in question feel good about the way their future potential employer feels about them)... in order for us to become dominant again we need to be strong
up the middle again from Goalkeeper to CB to DM to ACM to striker, like we did in our most glorious years before and during Wenger's reign... with this in mind, if we want Ozil to be that dominant attacking midfielder we can't keep leaving him exposed to constant ridicule about his lack of defensive prowess and provide him with the proper players in the final third... he was never a good defensive player in Real or with the German National squad and they certainly didn't suffer as a result of his presence
on the pitch... as for the rest of the midfield the blame falls squarely in the hands of Wenger and Gazidis, the fact that Ramsey, Ox, Sanchez and even Ozil were allowed to regularly start when none of the aforementioned had more than a year left under contract is criminal for a club of this size and financial might... the fact that we could find money for Walcott and Xhaka, who weren't even guaranteed starters, means that our whole business model needs a complete overhaul... for me it's time to
get rid of some serious deadweight, even if it means selling them below what you believe their market value is just to simply right this ship and change the stagnant culture that currently exists... this means saying goodbye to Wiltshire, Elneny, Carzola, Walcott and Ramsey... everyone, minus Elneny, have spent just as much time
on the training table as
on the field of play, which would be manageable if they weren't so inconsistent from a performance standpoint (excluding Carzola, who is like the recent version of Rosicky — too bad, both will be deeply missed)... in their places we need to bring in some proven performers with no history of injuries...
up front, although I do like the possibilities that a player like Lacazette presents, the fact that we had to wait so many years to acquire some true quality at the striker position falls once again squarely at the feet of Wenger... this issue highlights the ultimate scam being perpetrated by this club since the arrival of Kroenke: pretend your a small market club when it comes to making purchases but milk your fans like a big market club when it comes to ticket prices and merchandising... I believe the reason why Wenger hasn't pursued someone of Henry's quality, minus a fairly inexpensive RVP, was that he knew that they would demand players of a similar ilk to be brought
on board and that wasn't possible when the business model was that of a «selling» club... does it really make sense that we could only make a cheeky bid for Suarez, or that we couldn't
get Higuain over the line when he was being offered
up for half the price he eventually went to Juve for, or that we've only paid any interest to strikers who were clearly not going to press their current teams to let them go to Arsenal like Benzema or Cavani... just part of the facade that finally came crashing down when Sanchez finally called their bluff... the fact remains that no one wants to win more than Sanchez, including Wenger, and although I don't agree with everything that he has done off the field, I would much rather have Alexis front and center than a manager who has clearly bought into the Kroenke model in large part due to the fact that his enormous ego suggests that only he could accomplish great
things without breaking the bank... unfortunately that isn't possible anymore as the game has changed quite dramatically in the last 15 years, which has left a largely complacent and complicit Wenger
on the outside looking in... so don't blame those players who demanded more and were left wanting... don't blame those fans who have tried desperately to raise awareness for several years when cracks began to appear... place the blame at the feet of those who were well aware all along of the potential pitfalls of just such a plan but continued to follow it even when it was no longer a financial necessity, like it ever really was...
, Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home, We're Organized Wednesday at Organize and Decorate Everything, House Party at First Home Love Life, The Fun in Functional at Practically Functional, Inspire Me Wednesday at Mama Buzz, Wow Us Wednesday
on Ginger Snap Crafts, What's In Your Kitchen Wednesday at Kitchen Meets Girl, Whimsy Wednesday at Smart School House, A Little Bird Told Me at The Life of Jennifer Dawn, Your Whims Wednesday at My Girlish Whims, Inspiring Creativity at Dragonfly Designs, 100 Ideas Under $ 100 at Beyond the Picket Fence, Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple, Taking a Time Out Thursday at Mom On Time Out, Hooking up with HoH at House of Hepworths, Link it Up Thursday at Seven Alive, Thursdays are Your Days at 52 Mantels, Creative Thursday Link Party at Michelle's Tasty Creations, Weekend Wonders at Love and Laundry, Look at Me, Live, Laugh Linky Thursday at Live, Laugh Rowe, Thing's I've Done Thursday at Bear Rabbit Bear, Creative Juice Link Party at Momnivore's Dilemma, Sharing with Domestic Superhero, Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday, Blog Stalking Thursday at The Crafty Blog Stalker, Kiss and Tell at I Got ta Create, Craft,, Catch a Glimpse Thursday at A Glimpse Inside, Thursday Temptation at Two Yellow Birds Decor, Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Share Awesomeness Thursdays at The 36th Avenue, Thrifty to Nifty Thursday at A Jennuine Life, Talkin About Thursday at Designed DécorTaylor House Thursday at The Taylor House, I'm Lovin It at Tidy Mom, Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge, The Inspiration Gallery Link Party at Craft, Scappy Happy, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What's Shakin at Shaken Together, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It's a Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap - up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
on Ginger Snap Crafts, What's In Your Kitchen Wednesday at Kitchen Meets Girl, Whimsy Wednesday at Smart School House, A Little Bird Told Me at The Life of Jennifer Dawn, Your Whims Wednesday at My Girlish Whims, Inspiring Creativity at Dragonfly Designs, 100 Ideas Under $ 100 at Beyond the Picket Fence, Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple, Taking a Time Out Thursday at Mom
On Time Out, Hooking up with HoH at House of Hepworths, Link it Up Thursday at Seven Alive, Thursdays are Your Days at 52 Mantels, Creative Thursday Link Party at Michelle's Tasty Creations, Weekend Wonders at Love and Laundry, Look at Me, Live, Laugh Linky Thursday at Live, Laugh Rowe, Thing's I've Done Thursday at Bear Rabbit Bear, Creative Juice Link Party at Momnivore's Dilemma, Sharing with Domestic Superhero, Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday, Blog Stalking Thursday at The Crafty Blog Stalker, Kiss and Tell at I Got ta Create, Craft,, Catch a Glimpse Thursday at A Glimpse Inside, Thursday Temptation at Two Yellow Birds Decor, Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Share Awesomeness Thursdays at The 36th Avenue, Thrifty to Nifty Thursday at A Jennuine Life, Talkin About Thursday at Designed DécorTaylor House Thursday at The Taylor House, I'm Lovin It at Tidy Mom, Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge, The Inspiration Gallery Link Party at Craft, Scappy Happy, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What's Shakin at Shaken Together, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It's a Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap - up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
On Time Out, Hooking
up with HoH at House of Hepworths, Link it Up Thursday at Seven Alive, Thursdays are Your Days at 52 Mantels, Creative Thursday Link Party at Michelle's Tasty Creations, Weekend Wonders at Love and Laundry, Look at Me, Live, Laugh Linky Thursday at Live, Laugh Rowe, Thing's I've Done Thursday at Bear Rabbit Bear, Creative Juice Link Party at Momnivore's Dilemma, Sharing with Domestic Superhero, Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday, Blog Stalking Thursday at The Crafty Blog Stalker, Kiss and Tell at I Got ta Create, Craft,, Catch a Glimpse Thursday at A Glimpse Inside, Thursday Temptation at Two Yellow Birds Decor, Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Share Awesomeness Thursdays at The 36th Avenue, Thrifty to Nifty Thursday at A Jennuine Life, Talkin About Thursday at Designed DécorTaylor House Thursday at The Taylor House, I'm Lovin It at Tidy Mom, Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge, The Inspiration Gallery Link Party at Craft, Scappy Happy, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What's Shakin at Shaken Together, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It's a Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap - up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
up with HoH at House of Hepworths, Link it
Up Thursday at Seven Alive, Thursdays are Your Days at 52 Mantels, Creative Thursday Link Party at Michelle's Tasty Creations, Weekend Wonders at Love and Laundry, Look at Me, Live, Laugh Linky Thursday at Live, Laugh Rowe, Thing's I've Done Thursday at Bear Rabbit Bear, Creative Juice Link Party at Momnivore's Dilemma, Sharing with Domestic Superhero, Crafty Soiree at Yesterday on Tuesday, Blog Stalking Thursday at The Crafty Blog Stalker, Kiss and Tell at I Got ta Create, Craft,, Catch a Glimpse Thursday at A Glimpse Inside, Thursday Temptation at Two Yellow Birds Decor, Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Share Awesomeness Thursdays at The 36th Avenue, Thrifty to Nifty Thursday at A Jennuine Life, Talkin About Thursday at Designed DécorTaylor House Thursday at The Taylor House, I'm Lovin It at Tidy Mom, Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge, The Inspiration Gallery Link Party at Craft, Scappy Happy, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What's Shakin at Shaken Together, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It's a Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap - up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
Up Thursday at Seven Alive, Thursdays are Your Days at 52 Mantels, Creative Thursday Link Party at Michelle's Tasty Creations, Weekend Wonders at Love and Laundry, Look at Me, Live, Laugh Linky Thursday at Live, Laugh Rowe,
Thing's I've Done Thursday at Bear Rabbit Bear, Creative Juice Link Party at Momnivore's Dilemma, Sharing with Domestic Superhero, Crafty Soiree at Yesterday
on Tuesday, Blog Stalking Thursday at The Crafty Blog Stalker, Kiss and Tell at I Got ta Create, Craft,, Catch a Glimpse Thursday at A Glimpse Inside, Thursday Temptation at Two Yellow Birds Decor, Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Share Awesomeness Thursdays at The 36th Avenue, Thrifty to Nifty Thursday at A Jennuine Life, Talkin About Thursday at Designed DécorTaylor House Thursday at The Taylor House, I'm Lovin It at Tidy Mom, Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge, The Inspiration Gallery Link Party at Craft, Scappy Happy, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What's Shakin at Shaken Together, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It's a Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap - up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
on Tuesday, Blog Stalking Thursday at The Crafty Blog Stalker, Kiss and Tell at I
Got ta Create, Craft,,
Catch a Glimpse Thursday at A Glimpse Inside, Thursday Temptation at Two Yellow Birds Decor, Show Off Your Stuff at Fireflies and Jellybeans, Share Awesomeness Thursdays at The 36th Avenue, Thrifty to Nifty Thursday at A Jennuine Life, Talkin About Thursday at Designed DécorTaylor House Thursday at The Taylor House, I'm Lovin It at Tidy Mom, Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints
on the Fridge, The Inspiration Gallery Link Party at Craft, Scappy Happy, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What's Shakin at Shaken Together, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It's a Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap - up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
on the Fridge, The Inspiration Gallery Link Party at Craft, Scappy Happy, Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous, Flaunt it Friday at Chic
on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What's Shakin at Shaken Together, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It's a Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap - up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
on a Shoestring Decorating, The Pity Party at 30 Days, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, What's Shakin at Shaken Together, Freestyle Friday at Happy Hour Projects, Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Free For All Friday at Young & Crafty, Weekend Show Off Party at Ladybird Ln, Fancy This at Truly Lovely Blog, It's a Hodgepodge Friday at It's a Hodgepodge Life, Lovely Craft Weekend at Lovely Crafty Home, the Featured Friday Free for All at Five Days, Five Ways, the Featured Friday Linky Party at Blissful and Domestic, Shine
on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap - up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
on Fridays at One Artsy Mama, the Anything Goes Linky Party at Bacon Time, Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons, Do Something Crafty at The Crafty Nest, the Scoop Link Party at Lolly Jane Boutique, the Weekend Wrap -
up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chic
up Party at Tatertots and Jello, Strut Yourself Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different, Act Normal, Nifty Thrifty Sunday at Nifty Thrifty
Things, the Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime and the Before and After Party at Thrifty Décor Chick.