Arsenal: Wenger’s Words Hollow Without Action

Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger has stated that he will spend big if the right player comes available. However, any such comments are hollow and unconvincing without action.

Integrity is a value that many modern men, not just footballers, possess anymore. Saying what you do and doing what you say is something that many see as a limitation. They would rather lie their way to success, rather than take the criticism for being honest.

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Arsene Wenger is a man of integrity. He is considerate, thoughtful and discerning and has developed a wonderful reputation over his 20 years as Arsenal manager. However, even a man of his standing must back up what he says, and this summer he is facing a crucial time in which he will be judged, rightly or wrongly, by his actions and not his words.

In light of Ivan Gazidis’ rather disastrous comments (Arsenal’s Chief Executive scored a massive own goal in which he suggested that a club does not need to spend big to win, which while true, is not the positive message that fans want to hear) Wenger was questioned, once again, on whether he is willing to spend the money necessary to build a side capable of winning the Premier League. His answer seemed resolute, defiant, and yet, empty.

Wenger stated:

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"“I am sure my chief executive didn’t want to dampen the expectations on that front. We are very active, and if we find the right candidates we will spend big money. We have already spent big. It’s not over. Today we are in July, and the transfer market finishes on the 31st of August. We know as well that a lot happens many times in the last week. It’s a long time to go, but we are active. We are working.”"

While he acknowledges the dreadful comments of Gazidis, his words seem repetitive of years gone by. How many times have we heard Wenger say that he is willing to spend money on the right player, and yet, even though all the world can see that the squad is crying out for significant investment, he remains unmoved in his blindly steadfast belief in his economic principles and development of youth?

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Ultimately, while such defiance is nice to read, it is useless without action. Arsene Wenger, a man of integrity, has stated that he is willing to spend on ‘the right candidates’. We’ll just have to wait to see if he delivers.