Arsenal: Arsene Wenger adaptability shows lack of foresight

Arsene Wenger has stated that the decisions he makes this January will depend on the contract talks with some of his players. While it is smart to be adaptable, the reactionary stance, rather than a proactive one, shows a lack of foresight on the Arsenal manager’s part.

Arsenal are entering one of the most significant January transfer windows in their history. The futures of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are yet to be determined, their top-four place is in serious jeopardy after a run of poor performances and results through in December, and Arsene Wenger needs to freshen-up a stale and stagnating squad.

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There are many problems to answer; there are many solutions to be found. But Wenger seems to be taking an adaptable approach to the decisions that he and the club must make over the next month.

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When asked about how he would handle the transfer window with the Sanchez and Ozil situations still undetermined, Wenger revealed that he would have to be willing to change his approach depending on how the talks between Ozil, Sanchez and potential buyers progressed:

"“I must say, it [recruiting new players] depends on who will manage to extend the contracts of the players who are on the end of their contracts in June. We will have to take the consequences of these decisions and respond to it. In our jobs sometimes one day you think you’ve made progress [on contracts] and the next day you move back again, so as long as something is not signed you don’t like to talk too much about it.”"

Now, an adaptable and changeable approach seems like a smart one. Football is an ever-evolving world. It is important to be on your toes as a manager. And in one sense, that is exactly what Wenger is doing. He ensuring that he is in a flexible position such that, if things do change, he can change with them. It is very reactionary. It is not, though, proactive.

In fact, that is something that Wenger has not been throughout this whole process. He was not proactive in trying to secure Ozil and Sanchez to long-term contracts. He was not proactive in trying to secure a replacement for either player. And, now, he is not being proactive in trying to prepare for life after the pair. His adaptability belies a foresight that is just not present. Wenger has been on the back foot this whole time, and Arsenal have been harmed as a result.

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No one knows what will happen regarding Ozil and Sanchez. Wenger himself admitted as much. So being able to react in different ways is useful. But being proactive is so much better, and that is something that neither Arsenal, nor Wenger, have been.