Arsenal: Thomas Lemar challenging misconceptions

Arsenal are reportedly ready to lodge a £45 million offer for Thomas Lemar. The numerous bids that have been made are, through a historically characteristic avenue, challenging the misconceptions that have engulfed Arsene Wenger and the club.

Throughout his tenure in North London, Arsene Wenger has often looked to his homeland to recruit young, talented players. Early on, he signed the likes of Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka, all of which flourished, quickly establishing themselves as some of the world’s very best players at the heart of a breathtaking Arsenal side.

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However, more recently that has been a tactic that he has not exploited to the same extent or with the same success. Wenger has ventured further afield, indeed turning to a plethora of Germans to bolster his squad, including Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski.

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This summer, though, Wenger is seemingly returning to his characteristic roots. The first sign that French revolution was in the air came when a remarkably unusual £87 million bid was made for young, Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe. The offer was rejected. But the intention was clear. That intention materialised not long after.

The club-record addition of Alexandre Lacazette was a classic Wenger signing. French, ferocious and attacking, Lacazette is a player built very much in the Anelka, Wright, Henry mould. He is extremely quick, with particular sharpness in and around the penalty area, is a ruthless finisher, both in instinct and with time to pick his spot, and has the intelligence and spatial awareness to join in with Arsenal’s tight, intricate passing.

And now Wenger is wanting to double down on his French recruitment. The Daily Mail are reporting that the Gunners are set to table a £45 million offer for Thomas Lemar, improving on their two previous offers of £30 and £40 million.

If such a deal can be completed, then it would take Arsenal’s spending up towards £100 million on just two players. That is not what is expected of a notoriously hesitant and frugal club.

Wenger has long been criticised for his unwillingness to invest heavily in the transfer window throughout his time, especially in the later years. However, such criticisms lack the necessary context to be accurate and valid. While Wenger is not as willy-nilly as Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola, he is not against spending altogether. Unfortunately, he has simply never had the chance to spend.

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And now Wenger does have that chance, one that he is taking with both hands. He is challenging the misconception that he hates to spend money by doing just that: spending money by returning to what brought him such great success early during his time in England.