Arsenal: Thomas Lemar brings Arsene Wenger back to his roots

Arsenal are progressing with a £30 million offer for Thomas Lemar. Such a transfer brings Arsene Wenger back to his roots: young, French, and technically gifted.

Arsene Wenger’s differing decades as Arsenal manager have been significant and stark. His first was littered with success: two double winning seasons, a historic unbeaten season and two other FA Cup victories. His second has seen the club retreat back to Champions League outsiders, with the only joy coming in the FA Cup, Wenger’s most trustworthy trophy.

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There have been many reasons for the failure to replicate the early success. A lack of finance, the move from the Highbury to the Emirates, the growing competition from big spenders like Manchester City and Chelsea. However, there is one reason that has been overlooked a little during the relentless analysing and scrutinising of Wenger’s reign.

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Wenger’s acquisition and development of young talent was sensational in his early years. While there were the customary misses — Francis Jeffers, Jermaine Pennant, David Bentley –, there were also a myriad of players that were the perfect embodiment of his talent scouting and coaching nous. Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Kolo Toure, Robert Pires, Nicolas Anelka. The names roll off the tongue like the goals at Highbury.

And there were a few key aspects that all shared. Firstly, they were French, or at least from a French background. Secondly, they were all athletically exceptional, blessed with the blend of pace, power and balance that Wenger demanded from all of his players early on his reign. Finally, they were not simply ‘brawn and no brains’; intelligence was a key attribute that Wenger prioritised.

Of the current squad, Arsenal have just three French players who are regularly featuring — Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin.

In addition, of the wave of young, French talent that is currently sweeping the modern game, a wave that, 15 years ago, Wenger would have been at the forefront of, none currently preside at the Emirates. Perhaps this summer, though, that is about to change.

Recent reports suggest that Wenger is readying an offer for Thomas Lemar, a member of the young sensations at Monaco. And while the vices and the virtues of the signing will be argued and discussed and debated and pondered for as long as it takes Wenger to secure a big-name signing, what cannot be doubted is that it is an indication that Le Prof. is returning to his roots.

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And for Arsenal, seeing Wenger revert back to what worked so well for him early on is never a bad thing. He is still a mightily influential, intelligent and competitive manager. He may have simply lost his way. Lemar could be the beginning of him finding it again.