Why past week proves Wenger & Gazidis will blow Arsenal title chance AGAIN
COMMENT: Christmas week. Mark it in your diary, Gooners. It was the week Arsenal - yet again - blew the Premier League title. And we're not just talking about the humiliation at St Mary's.
Blow one: Arsene Wenger rules out tying up new deals for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Rather than be decisive and have his two best players go into 2016 with a pay-rise and their future secured, Wenger tells the pair they must wait until the summer before the prospect of a new contract is put on the table.
Blow two: Wenger, obviously bullish after turning over Manchester City, declares himself justified in not making any outfield signings over the summer. The Frenchman takes a dig not only at pundits, but also those fans calling on Arsenal to buy in January. "Society today always wants something new," he scoffs, "but let's not forget that football is as well about cohesion, about stability and that goes a little bit against the demand of what people want."
Blow three: News breaks Arsenal have had a £7 million offer for Mohamed Elneny accepted by Basel. The press is briefed by club sources that the Egyptian will be the only piece of business they'll do in January. Oh, and he'll arrive as 'cover' for Wenger's current midfield. The old adage of 'they must be better than what we have', doesn't apply.
KNOCKOUT: Arsenal go to Southampton and are promptly spanked 4-0. The capitulation helps Saints end a run of six winless games. For all of Wenger's finger wagging against his transfer critics, Alex Iwobi and Jeff Reine-Adelaide make the bench on Saturday.
So, where to begin? Let's start with Ozil and Alexis.
We know Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, is shopping around for a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. We know that Real have discussed Alexis. And we know a detailed analysis of his time with Barcelona, compared with what he's doing at Arsenal, has been put together inside Valdebebas.
The news of Florentino's interest is now being pushed by the press in Madrid and Santiago. Alexis is well aware of the speculation. And it could all be nipped in a bud if Wenger and Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal's chief executive, were actually decisive and opened negotiations with the Chilean about an improved deal.
Instead, he's been told to wait. Keeping playing on the edge, mind. Keeping playing in that 'red zone', Alexis. But a pay-rise? Nah. Well, not from Arsenal's end, anyway. But you can sure old charmer Florentino, aided by the Madrid press, will make him feel wanted.
Then we have Ozil. The German is in career best form. It's been his performances that have the Gunners back among the contenders. And while reports of a pay-hike were shot down by Wenger, the player has happily been discussing his future with the foreign press. A Bundesliga return? Maybe. Bayern Munich? Well... A return to Real Madrid? Who knows the future?
Again, this is going to run and run. Ozil is at his peak. He knows he's 'in play'. Maintain his current form, or improve on it, and he could walk into any team in the game. The "stability" Wenger espouses could be achieved by tying Alexis and Ozil to new deals. The longer they're forced to wait, the louder the noise from Madrid and Munich will become. Has he learned nothing from the Cesc Fabregas drama?
Then we have Mohamed Elneny. The Egyptian, insists club sources, is one for the future. The 23 year-old can step in now, but we won't see the best of him for another 18 months. This isn't Bayern Munich buying Arturo Vidal. Or Juventus landing Sami Khedira.
This is a lad who'll arrive as no threat to those already at London Colney. The same midfield bullied by Victor Wanyama (remember him, Arsene?) at St Mary's can breathe a sigh of relief - that regular appearance fee is still intact. It's business as usual, lads. No reason for change.
In Barcelona, change is constant. Indeed, coach Luis Enrique seeks it. Winning the Treble isn't enough. He's already declared he wants to buy in January. "I am always in favour of reinforcing the team", he says - and this is excluding the additions of Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan, who will finally be allowed to register for Barca next week. You're effectively talking about three, perhaps four, being added to the new club world champions next month. All the while, Wenger wags his finger at those who complain about his obstinacy.
Top four isn't Arsenal's level. It's their comfort zone. And the same can be said of Wenger. That's where they're happiest.
To go from second or third to champions, you need an edge. Wenger has lost it and this Gunners team, as was shown on Saturday, just doesn't have it.
