_{In addition, Herr Mertesacker (£8m) is a much capped and well known German international centre-back, and Santos (£6.2m) a, relatively lesser known, Brazilian international left-back.  The African forward Mr Gervinho (£10.5m), signed from the French League was a more typical signing, similarly the much lesser known, more left-field acquisition, South Korean Mr Park (£1.8m).}

 _{Of the Club’s new signings, whilst lacking the star quality of Messrs Fabregas and Nasri, Senor Arteta’s performances have been consistent and effective.  Whilst his previous goal scoring prowess has deserted him since signing for Arsenal, Mr Gervinho has been an industrious and creative presence – before his lengthy absence for African Nations Cup duty (compensated for by the timely surprise short-term loan signing from the U.S.A. of club legend and top Invincibles goal scorer Monsieur Henry).  Herr Mertesacker has had some difficulty on occasions adjusting to the pace of the Premiership during his first season.  Mr Benayoun has started few matches and had limited opportunities, and Mr Park has been barely visible.  Young Oxlade-Chamberlain, has had - until very recently - limited opportunities but demonstrated great promise.}   

_{The biggest question mark is over the acquisition and / or salary costs of players that have often languished on the bench, or out of the squad completely, for significant periods.  Messrs Arshavin (a £15m signing), Rosicky, Squillaci and Park have had a limited input or impact.  Likewise, forwards Messrs Chamakh (28), and Park (26) who are hardly young prospects and who have contributed a total of one Premier League goal.  Indeed, new coaching and management concerns are emerging over the motivational abilities of Monsieur Wenger (particularly if compared to, for instance, Mr Redknapp at Tottenham Hotspur) concerning persistent underperformers – such as Messrs Arshavin, Rosicky and Chamakh.   Given the balance of the squad, there is an economic argument for having invested more but in only one player instead (paying one salary) – for example, in a lower risk forward with an established Premiership goal-scoring record.}

 _{Returning to the matters of evident concern over persistent gaps in defensive competencies, the pattern of missing crucial opportunities to address these in a timely manner has again been repeated.   Citing the problem of, when injuries cleared up, of having too many centre-halves the next (this) season, Monsieur Wenger did not proceed with the much mooted purchase of the modestly priced Premiership battle-hardened Blackburn Rovers leader, Mr Samba, in last season’s January transfer window - rather, he persisted with his faith in Monsieur Squillaci.  Unfortunately, this was not repaid.  Indeed, whilst remaining on the wage bill, he has made just one appearance as an 81st minute substitute before the late capitulation against Fulham during the January defensive injury crisis.  One can only speculate what may have happened in the second part of last season, not least the Carling Cup Final, had Monsieur Wenger been rather more ruthless (compared to, for instance, Mr Ferguson at Manchester United) and decided the investment in him was a mistake a few months sooner.} 

 _{A similar pattern has just emerged in this January’s transfer window.  Monsieur Wenger considered a loan signing to tackle the defensive crisis brought about by all four full-backs being injured, but did not proceed with any such signing.  Rather, he proceeded to play four centre-backs, which, in addition to weakening Arsenal’s offensive competences, enabled the opposition to target their offense at Mr Djourou - who clearly did not have the competences for such a role and appeared very uncomfortable in it.   Whilst Manchester United were the most ruthless in exploiting this deficiency, the matches against Fulham and Swansea were also lost and the month saw a catastrophic return of three successive Premier League losses and 0 points.} 

_{Furthermore, the longer term future has also been prioritised at the expense of present campaign.  For instance, rather than deal with the pressing full-back crisis, Monsieur Wenger preferred to sign the 19 year old attacking midfielder Herr Eisfield, who has played 12 times this season for Borussia Dortmund’s Under-19 team.}

_{It is not possible to quantify the potential financial benefits from trophy success, for example on player recruitment and retention and marketing, had player recruitment priorities been different.} 

_{Monitoring and Reviewing}

 _{Monsieur Wenger has clarified, and lowered, previous stated benchmarks of success. Champions League pre-qualification, via fourth position in the Premier League, is now the benchmark of success.  Monsieur Wenger has also been more modest and refrained from last season’s counter-intuitive assertions that ‘this is my best squad ever’ or, repeatedly, of its ‘ great mental strength’.  Rather, he now prefers to speak merely of a ‘great spirit’ – although this has not been in evidence on a number of occasions.}   

 _{The upshot is of a season, so far, of extremely mixed outcomes.  On a positive note, despite having to qualify, the club’s European Champions League campaign saw them reach the Group stages with comfort and top their Group (whereas the Premier League title favourites, the Manchester clubs suffered the ignominy of being knocked out).} 

_{Last season’s home problems have subsided to some extent.  The two defeats have been against Manchester United and Liverpool, rather than significantly lesser teams.  With a few exceptions, most notably the remarkable 5 – 3 defeat of a transitional Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, last season’s good away form has, however, completely subsided.  Apart from the above 2 – 8, there were defeats at Swansea, Fulham, Manchester City (although a spirited performance), Tottenham Hotspur, and even at in crisis ridden relegation favourites Blackburn 3 – 4.}

_{The January results have made it probable that Arsenal will finish behind North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the first time in Monsieur Wenger’s reign.  Indeed, Tottenham look set to qualify for the European Champions League, whereas Monsieur Wenger’s great record of qualification remains at considerable risk.  Unless there is a significant upturn, Arsenal risk finishing fifth or sixth and failing even to attain Monsieur Wenger’s much reduced benchmark.} 

_{Whereas the groundswell of loyalty to Monsieur Wenger amongst supporters for his extraordinarily successful first period at the club appears to be diminishing significantly; Mr Kroenke and the Directors’ support for Monsieur Wenger has appeared undiminished.  There, again, remains no evidence of any performance targets or a top-level long term strategic performance review.}   

_Conclusion

 _{There appears significant evidence to rebut Mr Kroenke’s assertion that the club has a tremendous senior management and manager who makes great decisions in regard to personnel.  Rather, firstly, director leadership continues to overstate the economic wisdom and benefits of the club’s strategies on and off the pitch and, in addition, appear weak.  The strategic move away from the club’s old Highbury home to the new build Emirate’s stadium was made on the basis that it was necessary to enable the club to continue its great trophy winning success of Monsieur Wenger’s first period.  No such success proved forthcoming.  Rather, despite their initial hostility, the senior management decided that it was necessary to assume foreign ownership.} 

_{The tangible benefits of this enormous strategic change of direction have yet to be clear.  Rather, instead, supporter pricing has continued at levels that exceed the clubs very much more ambitious and successful rivals.  In the absence of any evidence of strategic benchmark setting from the senior management and the acceptance of on-going failings on the pitch, their faith in Monsieur Wenger appears to remain undiminished.}

_{There have been some welcome, albeit modest, remedial actions taken to remedy deficiencies over Monsieur Wenger’s second period player recruitment policy.  And there is also evidence of some individual player successes. Nevertheless, old failings have persisted, and opportunities to take prompt decisive action to deal with both short and longer term competency deficiencies missed.  As a result, the club appears to remain, seemingly forever, a few sensibly priced (not straw-man recklessly priced) and timely player acquisitions short of what is necessary to bring about the long elusive substantive success.}   

_{Arsenal are, as a result, struggling to finish high enough to even have to pre-qualify for the Champions League (let alone finish above local rivals Tottenham Hotspur).  The Chief Executive has assured supporters that Arsenal’s business model is robust enough to take such blows.  Nevertheless, the implications of this on player retention and recruitment for next season could be considerable.  There is also an understandable fear amongst many supporters that the club’s exemplary new captain Maneer Van Persie, upon which offensive success is extraordinarily reliant, will - given his contract situation - be the third star player (and successive captain) to depart, within a year, to realise his personal ambition of success.  Whatever the merits of Monsieur Wenger’s new benchmark and the club’s business model, trophy winning success appears unlikely at Arsenal for the foreseeable future.  Unless, as appears unlikely, what many supporters perceive as failings in the management of the club on and off the pitch are addressed as a matter of urgency.}

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