Wenger’s transfer ‘surprise’: little hope for Arsenal

It is not clear who Arsene Wenger meant this statement for.

Wenger said: “You never expect much from us I must say. We always have a good potential to surprise you.”

Was it for Arsenal’s Premier League rivals, or was it for the Arsenal fans, who will have to trot out the ‘In Arsene We Trust’ banner come Sunday against Liverpool.

It was a surprise for sure – especially for fans who so desperately sought a last-day ‘statement of intent’ buy.

Despite fervent appeal, desperate rumours and even inside knowledge, the Emirates ended the deadline day for transfers without troubling headline writers to reach for words like, ‘coup’, ‘sensational’ or even ‘capture’.

While Tottenham Hotspur might have seemed to be overdoing it a tad bit – Hugo Lloris and Clint Dempsey – the great hope for Gunners’ fans was the speculation that Michael Essien from Chelsea would fill the Alex Song hole in midfield.

Essien has finally ended up at Real Madrid and surely, if he was good enough for Madrid, he was good enough for Arsenal.

Fan forums went in to a frenzy as the hope of a last-day show of intent from Wenger would spur the club on.

Not to be. Wenger had done his business. And business will be the key word that will ring around the Emirates if Arsenal draw or lose against Liverpool.

The football business thrives at Arsenal, but the business of football… only a title will tick that box again.

The Arsenal midfield has begun rather impressively, with Santi Cazorla showing enough of creative flair to feed Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.

However, the performances of Abou Diaby suggest Essien would have been perfect mid-field cover.

Yes, Bacary Sagna is on his way back.

But in September Arsenal will play Manchester City and Chelsea after tomorrow’s trip to Anfield.

That could decide their fate of where they will end up in the league.

Wenger remains confident.

“If I listen to the predictions last year on the same day, we were predicted to finish 10-15 and we finished third.

Speaking about the impact of media, Wenger said: “That tells you a lot about modern emotional society. There are instant reactions on every single media. You have it for Twitter, direct chat on radio, reaction on the internet.

“I think always it is better to think about it before you say something.”

Wenger added: “How well you do against big teams decides your end position in the table.”

Perhaps. That and what players you buy in the transfer window.

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