I’m fully aware that I am one of Wojciech Szczesny’s backers and I agree that Petr Cech pretty much kills his chances of a long term Arsenal future, but what can I say? The thrill over nabbing such a brilliant player to pretty much solve the goalkeeping situation thoroughly outcasts the grief over Szczesny’s Arsenal demise.
And look, when it comes to the success of Arsenal Football Club, there can’t be any compromises made. Szczesny is the perfect example of a casualty toward the path of success. If we want to win the Premier League and compete for the Champions League, complacency is not an option.
Arsène Wenger has been guilty of complacency before, when he rejected Xabi Alonso because he had faith in Abou Diaby and Denilson. It’s great to see him learn from elementary mistakes like that.
Cech would offer us a wealth of experience and accolades. Despite his age, he would give us three solid years of world class shot-stopping before the downward slope begins. Not a bad £11m return, considering the inflation going on in football at the moment.
To me, at least, Cech’s arrival has pretty much stomped the last bit of excuse regarding Arsenal’s lack of competitiveness. Right now Arsène Wenger has at his hands not only the most talented Arsenal squads since Invincibles 2004, he also has a squad that can, and should, win the title.
Agreed, we don’t have a world class striker. Agreed, we don’t have another Coquelin-esque player. However, what we do have is tons of quality, depth and cohesion. Giroud, Walcott and Welbeck is not the best strikeforce in the world, but it’s a fairly decent one that can provide trophy-worthy output, if Wenger finds the balance between form and fitness.
Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky may well not be part of the starting XI. Think about that for a second and realize how dynamic and energetic this squad has become.
Our midfield is exemplary. The defence has its depth. As mentioned above, Cech has solved the nit-picky goalkeeper debate. Squad-wise, we’re good enough to sustain a league challenge. Failing to win this season under guises of injuries or incomplete transfers will prove, beyond any doubt, that Wenger cannot guarantee genuine success.
Not that I’m rooting for him to fail. Indeed, for the first time in a while, I’m allowing myself to fantasize. To fantasize about an Arsenal who, despite Wenger’s tactical incompleteness and his tendency to overplay his key men, have the cojones to pull themselves out of ruts and go toe-to-toe with Chelsea. To fantasize about an Arsenal who are winners enough to not let it rest if they’re 2-0 down in a Champions League tie.
To fantasize about an Arsenal that genuinely competes for what should matters, rather than what we delude ourselves to.
-Santi [Follow me on Twitter @ArsenalBlogz ]
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