Arsenal awake into 2009, 5th in the Premier League looking for fresh meat and new blood. Loads of rumours about who's coming in, who's getting their coat and a few comments over why is that bloke STILL here.
The most interesting signing is the new man upstairs, Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal CEO - who took charge of the club on the 1st January 2009.
He's the man who will be handling the must anticipated new signings that Wenger "has" to make this winter. Wenger has been in the news recently again expressing his concerns over the economic climate and how a majority of clubs will be caught up by it. Whilst Wenger (a professor in economics) could very well be right in this fact, he is walking a very fine line between ensuring the club lives financially within its means and its ability to reach at least 4th spot to secure the financial benefit of the Champions League next season.
Reaching the Champions League is not only a financial must, but also a standard requirement in order to retain key players in the squad. Failure would mean that even with the best manager in the world at the helm - few players promising or accomplished; would keep blind faith in a team that has for the past 6 years consistently failed to win meaningful silverwear and is not playing in the highest level of European football. Again a double edged sword - if the current key players leave, who would be prepared to come to the club to restore balance (and what would be their motives... Money ? or to put themselves in the shop window to be seen by the "bigger clubs" ?).
Wenger's management style is very much focused on moulding impressionable minds. His style does not lend itself to tactically influencing a purchased team of Galactico's - one of the main reasons he has rejected Mardrids' overtures time and time again. He just simply could not buy a Ronaldo for £100m without it breaking everything he has instilled in his team over the years. A perfect signing wold have to be A) Young, B) Intelligent and most importantly... C) Cheap. Finding the first two isn't much of a problem with Arsenals' extensive global scouting network. Cheap is the problem. As he mentioned before the world is going through an economic meltdown and any selling club will inflate the price of any player sparking interest. It's also no secret either that Arsenal need new blood. Enter stage right - Ivan Gazidis.
The new boy on the board has not only got his hands full with Peter Hill-Wood's fetish for sackings, but he has to prove himself to some degree and demonstrate his strength at the contract table in Europe, after managing the central contract system the MLS in the States.
Whatever his skills, he needs to perform from day one - he'll have no honeymoon period at Arsenal. The team can ill afford any mistakes during this transfer window. From Gazidis or Wenger.
