Transfer Crazy Time

Arsenal is on a fast slide into mid-table status.  This is confirmed by the inevitable sale of Alexis--almost certainly to a rival (well, stronger) team--and the looming loss of Ozil in the summer if not sooner.  Walcott needed to go for quite some time; Coquelin's was a loss I'm finding it hard to fathom given our problems at DM.  Wilshere is being low-balled in his contract in typical Arsenal fashion, meaning he is probably wondering why the hell he's being taken for granted in a position we're not exactly strong in.  Aubameyang is a good player, and so is Mkhitarian.  I hope we get Malcom. 

Does anyone think the new team will be an improvement on what we had a month ago?  Our disorganized, tactically daft formations will continue.  Our defenders aren't going to get healthy instantaneously.  Mustafi seems to get worse every month; Cech is getting old and showing it.  There's enough talent in there to probably pip Burnley to sixth place, but the chances of catching Liverpool, Tottenham, or Chelsea are so remote as not to be worth contemplating.

I'm convinced that the players respect Wenger as a man but not as a coach.  Why should they?  Even they must see how he's playing people out of position and frequently is very slow on the draw when a change has to be made.  They're not being properly prepared or organized.  It's a shambles.

The situation could be improved, but I don't think it will be.  We're here because we have an owner who simply doesn't give a shit about the success of his teams, in any sport.  He's doing what good businessmen do:  make money.  This is not a hobby for him.  Okay, that explains why we're behind City and Chelsea, but if you want to see a well-run club, look no farther than Tottenham.  They're doing it right, as we used to do.  They haven't won anything in ages, but they're on the way up, and are clearly the better team at this time, with better prospects for the future.  They'll lose some stars, but they'll get Gareth Bale type money for Kane and spend it wisely.

I hope we do well in the cup competitions we haven't been dumped out of so far.  An unlikely Europa League championship would be a ticket back to the ECL and a potential draw for more recruits this summer if Stan opens his wallet (don't bet on that).  But I'm seeing an extended period of Spursiness in our future.  Even the guy they get to replace Wenger (he has to go, right?) won't change that.  I can live with it; I have to.  The upside is they don't televise mid-table teams as much and I'll be spared some suffering.