Chelsea - Arsenal

[Nosferatu]

Well the obvious answer for that is that the fans would turn on them if they were seen as not having money or not providing it. Just see Liverpool. I would have thought they have money based on what they have said. But there are a few people out there who have cast doubt on that. And when you think of it, they have been a bit suspect in the past few seasons with regards the salaries and contract negotiations with players. They do look after one or two of their top stars. Certainly if you look at Henry and what he was getting in the end was impressive. And reports of a new contract for Fabregas sounds high too. But this is the club who refuse to give any player over 30 more than a 1 year extension. Makes sense in some regards but in others it doesn't. They could have lost Bergkamp a couple of seasons earlier than they did and lost Pires because of it.

The other thing is that there could be money available but never enough to make a real difference. It could be that when he needs to buy a player, he could get £5m. The choice for him is either to spend the £5m on a player who isn't of the standard he wants. Or else allow a youngster come through who has the potential to be the standard required. From the boards view, there is money there. From the manager's view, it's not enough to make a difference but he can make his own decision and either spend it or promote a youth. He's not going to get criticised from them and he in turn is not going to criticise them.

The figures in the end seem to be comfortable. Considering the amount Wenger has made for them, I suspect the board are probably happy enough with that.

[Nerik]

Almunia
Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Clichy Silvestre Campbell
Song Diaby Fabregas Rosicky
Nasri Van Persie Arshavin Walcott Bendtner

Clichy, Song, possibly Bendtner and at a stretch Walcott are the youth brought through to be in that first team. It is not as if there are shitloads of them to justify the full youth policy.

[Nosferatu]

No but it's a business within itself. The youths that have come through or have been signed young at a low price are generally worth more than what was paid for them. The likes of Bentner, Song etc would make a nice amount for them. Whereas Clichy would really bring in a big fee. And of course Fabregas who would bring in serious money.

But they are not the main focus, it's the ones who don't make it through that are sold off for a continual profit. They are brought in, developed and given a chance. Usually played in the Coca-Cola Cup and other matches where they are second string. And that increases their value.

Also remember this. Arsenal could sell off all their first team and probably still manage to stay in the Premiership with their youth set up. We see these players in the Coca-Cola Cup every season and they always look a decent team. And that's with a team that wouldn't have cost very much. So that's the strength of the youth set up as well as the constant generation of money from the selling off of ones who don't make it or don't want to make it. A couple of small enough fees in or around the £2m or so all add up.

[Nerik]

**** I forgot to add Fabregas to that list hehe. Honestly, whilst he is decent I do not think Clichy is anywhere as good as some people make him out to be. Shown up against Chelsea on Sunday in the way Insua was at times earlier this season.

[Nosferatu]

He's 24 and has over 140 appearances for Arsenal. He's a useful player and at the very minimum worth around £7-8m. So not bad. He's also been called up by France and played 3 times.

[Nosferatu]

Arsène Wenger vows to stand by Arsenal transfer policy

• Wenger – 'Arsenal can't lose £150m like Chelsea'
• Manager admits squad is down after Chelsea loss

    * Buzz up!
    * Digg it

    * Dominic Fifield
    * The Guardian, Wednesday 10 February 2010
    * Article history

wenger benitez

Ahead of tonight's match with Liverpool Arsene Wenger has once again defended Arsenal's transfer policy. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport

Arsène Wenger has insisted he will not abandon his principles in the wake of traumatic defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea which he admitted were "very painful" to endure, but called for patience and realism as Arsenal confront the prospect of a fifth successive season without silverware.

Arsenal are nine points off the top of the Premier League after Sunday's 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge and welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium this evening conscious that they must emulate the form of their 10-match unbeaten run that spanned December and January if they are to recover their title challenge. The club retains hope in the Champions League but Wenger will not be swayed from his policy of developing young talent rather than spending lavishly in the market, even if the trophy drought continues.

The striker Marouane Chamakh will move to Arsenal when his contract expires at Bordeaux in the summer, with Liverpool's interest successfully deflected, but the 26-year-old's arrival will not threaten the London club's wage structure. Asked whether he placed as much emphasis on keeping his club solvent as his team successful, Wenger said: "Certainly. We cannot show Carlo Ancelotti [that we can spend large sums in the market] because Chelsea can lose £150m and we cannot live like that. Football lives in an artificial world at the moment. We have to live in a realistic world at Arsenal, and we are very proud of that.

"If you go high on transfer fees, you also go with high wages. It is linked, but we cannot afford [to do that]. Also, we live as if everybody can just buy, buy and buy in the market. But look what happened in the January transfer window. Give me one big move: there were none. People ask me: 'Why did you not buy a great striker?' Well, tell me one who moved clubs. There wasn't one. We are one of the 10 best clubs in Europe and players who can strengthen our team in that window are either not available or at a price that we cannot afford."

Arsenal have been found out this season by the top two sides, who have each achieved league doubles over Wenger's charges, but will take solace from the fact that, of their final 13 league fixtures, their most daunting are arguably the trips to Tottenham and Birmingham together with the visits of Liverpool and Manchester City. The losses to United and Chelsea have deflated the club – "The mood is very down," said Wenger – and the manager has called for unity and resolve as they attempt to instigate a recovery this evening.

"It is very painful," he said, reflecting on the recent league defeats. "Do you think I fight every day and night to lose games? I question not my principles, but what I do every day. I am patient with my players because I believe we're still very young considering the top level in Europe. Take our midfield – we have players who are 22 and 23 in there, and yet we are already capable of dominating games in midfield. The basis is there. We have to transform that into winning trophies, but we can only do that if we believe it. I know everyone else is impatient, but my job is to be patient and to work.

"I saw a lot of positive signs in that game against Chelsea that we are developing very well. You could say: 'Shut up.' Maybe you're right, but that's what I believe. We have gone for a policy and we need to be strong and patient, and sometimes take the knockbacks, but still persist with it because it's the only way this football club can be run. We are faithful to our philosophy."

Yet the Frenchman conceded that his side can learn from experiences as chastening as Sunday's, not least in Chelsea's streetwise approach. Wenger had pointed to the league leaders' willingness to commit tactical fouls – "They make the foul at the right part of the pitch to stop a counter-attack, a little push, not enough to be a yellow card" – and, while he would not condone such an approach, he admitted he would not be critical of his players should they employ similar tactics.

"That comes with experience," added Wenger. "Of course I would accept it from my players, but I do not encourage them to do it. You don't want to play with the purpose to make a foul. I do not want that at all. Chelsea stopped us in the right way."

[Robser]

Isn't he just coming back from injury though?

- 4th start this season against Chelsea

Yeah  but what has he done for Arsenal in all his time there? F all really so thats why i think he isnt very good. Still young of course but so many arsenal players thats been said of and not a whole lot has come of them. Im not sure Walcott is up to it at the top top level in all honesty!

[Robser]

Of course, Walcott is so gonna score a hat trick tonight now after me saying that.

[Nosferatu]

He's done well at times and everytime he seems to be going on a run, someone knocks him a couple of feet in the air and puts him out for a couple of months. He's 21 I think and already an international. You're being a bit harsh writing him off.

[Robser]

Not writing him off - I am however questioning his England wonderkid status!

[Nosferatu]

I don't think he has quite that status. He has great potential and has shown signs of really being a great player. But injuries have halted him to a point and also Wenger has been incredibly careful with him. But Arsenal don't hold on to young players easily considering the amount they bring through. And they are holding on to him and giving him good money by the sounds of it. You think of that goal Adebayor scored against us at Anfield a while back and Walcott's part in that and it's enough to really believe he can come good. It's just getting that run to really progress.

[kopdude]

Well the obvious answer for that is that the fans would turn on them if they were seen as not having money or not providing it. Just see Liverpool. I would have thought they have money based on what they have said. But there are a few people out there who have cast doubt on that.

Who are the few people that have cast doubt on it to be credible enough?  Fact of the matter is that Wenger has chosen not to use the money that is available. 

Zaph, what's your take on this?  Do you think the board are full of shit or is your manager simply choosing not to use avalable funds?

[Nosferatu]

How is it fact? The board have just said there was money available, never quite how much. And Wenger has spent large fees at times. Normally it's irrelevant though because of what he generates. But all you have to do is read what he says above to create some sort of suspicion.

"If you go high on transfer fees, you also go with high wages. It is linked, but we cannot afford [to do that]. Also, we live as if everybody can just buy, buy and buy in the market. But look what happened in the January transfer window. Give me one big move: there were none. People ask me: 'Why did you not buy a great striker?' Well, tell me one who moved clubs. There wasn't one. We are one of the 10 best clubs in Europe and players who can strengthen our team in that window are either not available or at a price that we cannot afford."

So I don't think it's clear cut in any way.

[Nerik]

He's 24 and has over 140 appearances for Arsenal. He's a useful player and at the very minimum worth around £7-8m. So not bad. He's also been called up by France and played 3 times.

Decent but not as good as Ashley Cole as was once claimed he'd be.

[Robser]

I don't think he has quite that status. He has great potential and has shown signs of really being a great player. But injuries have halted him to a point and also Wenger has been incredibly careful with him. But Arsenal don't hold on to young players easily considering the amount they bring through. And they are holding on to him and giving him good money by the sounds of it. You think of that goal Adebayor scored against us at Anfield a while back and Walcott's part in that and it's enough to really believe he can come good. It's just getting that run to really progress.

Well they may not hold on to bad young players as you say but they bought Walcott for big money and selling him now would result in a loss Id of thought, who would pay up to 15m for him realistically. Also buying a player on that big a fee and offloading him as an unsuccesful signing would surely look bad on Wenger. Hehasnt signed many players for that fee so being stubborn, he wouldnt admit defeat in one of his more expensive signings, especially after the reyes affair.

And yeah of course he has potential but im not sure he'll be as good as he is made out to be, also bear in mind, one run at anfield doesnt mean anything. Jodie McAnuff had a simlar run for Reading a dew weeks ago.......Kevin Davies once scored a wonder goal beating about 8 men from a run inside his own box.......