Allez du shopping

Public Enemy had it right all along - the golden rule of the transfer window is simple: 'Don't Believe The Hype'. Increasingly since the advent of rolling sports news channels who need something to report, and blanket internet coverage with more bandwidth than the 3 pages on Ceefax, the number of rumours about comings and goings across the world of football are just insane.

I tend to go by the simple rule that a player has joined another club when and only when you see them holding up the scarf, doing kick-up's on the hallowed turf of his new employer. Until then, don't get too worked up about it. This position does render the following blog somewhat moot however, since my upcoming missive is based on speculation and not concrete fact.

The speculation in question, is that surrounding the potential exodus from Arsenal. Gael Clichy, the preferred left back of the past 5 years or so has moved to Manchester City, but more significantly there appears to be a mounting likelihood that both Cesc Fabregas and (perhaps less inevitably) Samir Nasri will also be moving on to pastures new before the 2011/12 season. Clichy can be forgotten about, since the existence of a ready made replacement in Kieron Gibbs had already placed his importance to the team in some question. The other two however are rightly regarded as two of Arsene Wenger's most important assets.

Since vanquishing the spectre of Patrick Vieira in an imperious Champions League display to eliminate Paddy V's Juventus, Fabregas has been the talisman of the club and unquestionably their best and most relied-on player. In his absence at the start of last season, it was Nasri who filled the void, producing displays through to Christmas that, if maintained until May, would surely have seen both his and Arsenal’s trophy cabinets with something to end this drought.

Clearly therefore, to lose both of these would be something of a hammer blow to the aspirations of the club. Or would it?

My fear for Arsenal is that Arsene Wenger is going to allow both of these players to leave, and may well fail to reinvest the significant money that will come his way in return. The reason is that Wenger has shown himself to place a huge, almost damaging, amount of faith in the players he has at his disposal, and arguably his own ability to develop promising players into superstars and champions. The evidence is there to support his belief, after all he has done it time and again. This myopia – a word rarely associated with the all-seeing Arsenal manager (ahem) - comes into play when you consider who might fill the void.

Ramsey.

Song.

Wilshere.

Three young players, with increasing amounts of game time and influence over the Arsenal starting 11. Three young players whom Wenger spotted/purchased/inherited at a young age and whom therefore will have him to thank for the eventual playing level that they reach. Three young players furthermore who would actually provide a really rather strong midfield trio that many teams in the Premiership would envy.

This is all well and good, however it is a hell of a lot to place on such young shoulders. Furthermore, whilst it could place the superb Robin VanPersie up front on his own as the focal point, it either removes Walcott and Arshavin from the areas where they can operate with the most threat, or gives Arsenal a serious lack of width. The key point of all though is not related to Wenger's playing staff. It's his medical team.

Arsenal, year after year, have horrendous injury problems with pbscene numbers of first team players out. Players succumb to uber-lengthy lay-offs initially diagnosed as nothing serious. Players are brought back from injury only to sustain another problem straight away. This can't be a coincidence, and questions surely have to be asked about the efficacy of the people paid to keep these players playing. To rely on such a small number of players, with very little in reserve, is a highly risky strategy when history suggest they are all likely to go snap at some point.

So does Wenger spend big, splashing the cash that comes in return for losing these players? Well, he has not done recently so why will he start now? By all accounts, the financial backing is there for Arsene to splurge (horrific mental image just crept in, moving swiftly on) and has been for some years - it's just his faith in the players that prevents him from doing so.

As mentioned above, this is all based on the speculation that Nasri and Fabregas move on, which is by no means guaranteed. If it does come to pass however, then I'd be feeling pretty despondent as a Gooner. Without adequate replacements to bolster the admittedly decent players left behind, this could be a tough year down at the Emirates. Or maybe, just maybe, Arsene Knows...?