Arsenal: Griezmann Rejection Reaction Showcases Wenger’s Conditioning

Arsenal supposedly made an effort to sign Antoine Griezmann, but the fact that supporters barely even reacted shows just how well Wenger has conditioned us.

News surfaced around August 28th that Antoine Griezmann had rejected Arsenal. You could be forgiven for missing the story because it wasn’t even made a big deal of. Which in and of itself is odd.

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The Gunner’s supporters are usually rather outspoken when it comes to Wenger’s ability to attract top quality players. Yet when the apple of Wenger’s eye, Antoine Griezmann, actually turned away his advances, there was hardly a peep. It didn’t even hurt.

I don’t think there is a better example of Wenger’s transfer conditioning. There will always be the holdouts for that ambiguous ‘world class striker’ but nothing that would indicate an expectation that Wenger would sign one. How many world class strikers moved this summer after all? Zero.

I was actually pleasantly surprise that there wasn’t an outrage. After Griezmann ‘revealed‘ that he ‘rejected’ Wenger (which would be for the second time), Lucas Perez was made official. And just like that, everything seemed okay with the world. We had a striker, that’s what mattered.

Credit goes to Gooner’s worldwide for showcasing that even though some of them may seek out reasons to complain, they are actually a very sensible bunch. All we wanted was a striker we could get behind. That’s it. It didn’t have to be Lewan or Griezmann or Benzema. Just someone.

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Olivier Giroud is a trooper and a warrior but no warrior ever won a war on his own. He needs help and that has been the cry heard far and wide from fans over the past three years. When that cry was properly answered, it went away (except for those horrid holdouts mentioned earlier).

There is every reason to be satisfied with this transfer window. Not since the opening of the Emirates has Arsenal had a more complete squad than they have now. Everything is accounted for and while the Serge Gnabry departure burns, it doesn’t pull the shade down over the window. This was immensely successful and we will see the Gunners in every major competition, looking sprightly and healthy from being properly staffed.

And all of that will be happening without Antoine Griezmann.

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One man cannot make or break the Gunners. Griezmann is one man. I guess it all makes sense when you put it to math.