Arsenal: Lack of and unintelligent spending equally culpable

Many will bemoan Arsenal’s lack of spending, highlighting it as a reason for their uninspiring squad. However, their spending has been unintelligent also. Both are equally culpable.

There are many things wrong with Arsenal. That is why they are a distanced sixth in the table, were never really in the title race, are a long way off the top-four pace, and could face another season with Champions League football if they cannot find a way past Atletico Madrid in the Europa League.

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People have spoken on a vast array of reasons for the Gunners’ demise this season. From the culture of the dressing room to the stagnation of the manager; from the absence of leaders and characters in the squad to the happiness of Stan Kroenke no matter the results as long as his wallet is being lined.

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These are all fair and influential factors. But sometimes I think we often overlook the most obvious one: This squad just isn’t that good. Comparing the players that Arsenal have with even the likes of Spurs or Liverpool, nevermind the two Manchester clubs, it is easy to see the disparity in player personnel between these teams. Again, there are more reasons for this. The coaching development of the players — it is hard to say that Arsene Wenger improves his players in the way that Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino or Pep Guardiola do. The tactics that are used to tailor to the individual skill sets of the players. The harmony of the dressing room that allows players to blossom.

And while all these elements do, I am sure, have an impact, the cold, hard truth is that Arsenal simply do not spend in the same way that their rivals do. Now, I do not want you to read that as ‘Arsenal do not spend enough’. That is certainly true — their transfer record proves as much. In terms of net spend, for instance, they have actually made a £3 million profit this season. Only once in their history have they spent more than £100 million in a season. They have never bought a player for a price between £20 and £30 million.

But more than just not spending in the right quantities, Arsenal have also spent with the wrong quality. The money that they have invested has been poorly invested, unwise recruitments, misguided additions that have not lived up to the expectations that their price produces.

For instance, Shkodran Mustafi is the eighth most expensive defender in world football. He is a perfectly adequate defender, though nothing more than that. He is certainly not in the realm of the world’s best, however. Similarly, Granit Xhaka. when he was signed, was the second most expensive player in this club’s history. He is the second most expensive central midfielder in Premier League history behind Nemanja Matic, with the caveat that attacking midfielders like Mesut Ozil and Kevin de Bruyne are not included. He has not lived up to those expectations in any way shape or form.

Additionally, is Alexandre Lacazette worth £47 million? Is Lucas Perez worth £17 million? What about Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck at around £18 million? Or even Mathieu Debuchy at £13 million? I am not saying that all these players were overpriced. But there is a question regarding the value of every single one of them. And that raises a very clear and pertinent issue concerning the quality of Arsenal’s investments.

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Yes, we may bemoan the lack of spending of this club. And if they want to challenge for the top four and for titles and for trophies in the future, then they will have to match the greater outlay of teams like Liverpool, Spurs and Manchester City. But there is an equal responsibility on the discernment of the spending. Arsenal have been unintelligent in their spending, as well as lacking. Let’s hope that Sven Mislintat, then, can inspire a change.

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