Liverpool icon Graeme Souness has questioned Arsene Wenger’s transfer market activity, claiming the Frenchman didn’t buy the right players in the summer.
Arsenal sold Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas this summer and made late moves to sign Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos and bring Yossi Benayoun in on loan from Chelsea. Souness doesn’t believe these players are of the required quality to fill the boots of the departed stars, and has called for Wenger to reinvest in the Gunners squad. Souey wrote in his column for the Daily Star Sunday:
“Arsene Wenger said last week that he now has more experience and more leaders in his squad. And his challenge is to prove that he made the right decisions in the last transfer window.
“But going out on the last day of the window to sign players like Per Mertesacker and Mikel Arteta and borrow Yossi Benayoun didn’t seem like a cold, calculating plan to me.
“That wasn’t the astute Arsene Wenger we have known for 15 years. This to me is a pragmatic Arsenal with a business plan which would please their accountants.
“I know we are entering perhaps the most difficult economic climate we have ever known. But Arsenal are a big club who have just generated a lot of money through selling Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
“They had time to bring in replacements and reinvest in the squad. That’s what Arsenal fans wanted to see. They want to see their team winning things and to do that you have to pay fees and wages to attract top players. This is a club at the crossroads – and they have to ensure they take the right road.”
