My dear,

Relax, breathe in breathe out. Now look around, who was ahead of us from the ‘contenders’?
Where did United Chelsea Liverpool finish?
Who spent least money yet achieved best result in comparison to other ‘Big four’?

You my dear Watson need a lesson in basic common sense of football and then a separate course about efficient business management and sustainability and longevity of a football club.

I already wrote somewhere that spending money does not guarantee success. Neither sacking a manager does. Wenger, if I was to believe in all those badgers has been over achiever for last 12 years and just because he had orders from directors board and knowledge of what had to be done (selling our best players) in the interest of long term survival and success of the club (and not signing messi’s of this world) he did it even though he knew that such an immature tunnel visioned reaction was likely from certain ‘fans’, he still went ahead and did the right thing.

Wenger deserves to be bashed ( footballing wise ). He shouldn’t be still at our club. Any other ambitious board with any sense would have sacked him long ago. From top of the league to a massive ten point finiush behind mighty Leicester City. Yep, we’re sure progressing. Give him another contract !

” In Arsene we rust.”

P.s. Mkhitharyan is nowhere near happening, and Paul seems to have covered that topic pretty well AND his argument was based on past evidence.

With Vardy, there’s been no sit down with Wenger. Arsenal may have bid and may have offered, but until the player meets with Wenger the deal isn’t done and Arsenal aren’t really ‘intent on signing’ the player. Vardy may or may not sign. My personal feeling is that it would be a mistake for both the player and Arsenal for Vardy to join the Gunners. There is nothing in Vardy’s resmue to make any rational person believe he has the quality or temperment to survive at a big club. His scoring record is up and down, he’s only scored 129 goals from open play at a rate of 165 minutes per goal. Giroud scored 15 goals from open play in the league at a rate of one goal per 162 minutes. So Vardy’s gaudy 24 goals (which matches Giroud’s all competition total) is padded by the 5 penalties he took. The fact that no other big clubs are interested says a lot.

Arsenal may have taken advantage of that and cynically made an offer to force Leicester into spending more to keep the player who has been the face of the franchise in order to pluck Kante or Mahrez. That seems a little convoluted to be true. It seems more likely that Arsenal saw an opportunity to snap up a 19 goal scorer (including penalties in a striker’s scoring totals is always misleading) on the cheap and took it.

If Leicester want to pay Vardy £100,000 per week and he wants to stay, he should. If he does he will probably never play for a big club unless he goes out and scored 30+ goals next season. Maybe that doesn’t matter to him. Leicester have won the title and his role in that win will mean he’ll never have to buy his own pints again so long as he stays in Leicester. A move to Arsenal is risky. He’ll have to fight for minutes, he will be subject to more games playing at a higher level, higher expectations mean more scrutiny and more pressure, and if he flops he’ll go down as a one-season wonder. If he stays at Leicester he’ll get every opportunity to play, and if Leicester are willing to pay him, he should probably stay.

With Mkhitaryan no one is suggesting Wenger is directly involved. Which means there’s no transfer. Manchester United may actually be after Mkhitaryan. Maybe his agent is saying so to drive up his price. Maybe Arsenal asked about him because he’s in the last years of his contract and is available for a relatively low fee, but if the fee goes up, they won’t be willing to pay it. Mkhitaryan looks like the kind of player Arsenal could use. The signing would probably signal the end of either Walcott, Chamberlain, or Campbell, since all four typically make their living on the right side of an attacking midfield. Campbell is the player who seems most likely to be moved on. Chamberlain would be the second most likely, with a temporary loan deal a serious possibility. Walcott makes too much money, and has been a good team player for Arsenal; he’s also one of two players in the squad who can really change a game from the bench (The other is Wilshire).

All this said, given a choice between Vardy and Mkhitaryan hands down it’s Mkhitaryan. These two players could both some into the team. They don’t directly compete, but Vardy could see minutes in the middle and on the left or right; while Mkhitaryan is a winger. If Ricardo Rodgrigues is really a target (unlikely) then signing the swiss left back, Mkhitaryan, and Xhaka wouls represent a solid summer’s business. Calidou Koulibaly would be a nice bonus, but Wenger said at the beginning of the summer 3 players were likely.

With Jon Toral, Chris Willock, Jeff Reine Adelaide, Chuba Akpom, Gedion Zelalem and Isaac Hayden all looking close to ready for some senior minutes those three signings would bolster the squad, add goals and quality, and replace the departing midfield trio of Flamini, Rosicky, and Arteta nicely.

As far as Walcott goes, it’s injury rather than a lack of quality that has derailed Theo’s career. He’s had one full season of senior football and scored 20 goals that year. This season he started well, got hurt, and with Giroud scoring well, couldn’t get back on the pitch between the big Frenchman and Danny Welbeck’s heroics against Leicester. Walcott’s presence won’t be what deters Wenger. If he wants Mkhitaryan he’ll get him. The real question, which no one but Le Prof knows is; does Wenger want him?