da doce： This week Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain finally completed his long expected move from Southampton to Arsenal for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £12 million. Not Juan Mata but a 17-year-old who is unproven outside of League One. So are Arsenal fans right to question Wenger’s transfer policy?
da dobrowin： Wenger has chasing the winger/striker for the last year and after much speculation he has finally landed his man. Chamberlain, who was named in the PFA League One Team of the Year, has become one of the most sought-after young talents in the game, a status enhanced by his appearances at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 level for the England national team. It is a very similar transfer to that of Theo Walcott with £7m being paid up front and the rest coming in installments of £5m with a 30% sell on clause going to the Saints.
However, there has been a mixed reaction from Arsenal fans who believe that Wenger should be spending money on players who will make an instant impact, not on another youngster for the future. It has even been said that Wenger has only made the signing due to the pressure he is under to sign players this summer although I disagree as Wenger has his reasons for the signing. When you see how much English players are currently costing, it appears to be a bit of a bargain and for a player with huge sell-on potential.
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The gifted teenager is often compared to former Saints winger Theo Walcott as both players hold explosive pace and have fantastic dribbling abilities, the difference is that Chamberlain is not a natural winger and had actually started his youth career as a central midfielder before moving out wide due to his size and pace. He has the potential to do much more than Walcott has done in his short career and Arsenal fans should be just pleased to see that they have secured his signature as he should develop into a world-class footballer.
I can understand the concerns of some of the fans as he is not the sort of player who will make a big impact this year at the Emirates. But it sounds like Scott Dann will be joining Chamberlain, Jenkinson and Gervinho at the Emirates and I think if Wenger can add a Mata like player to replace Fabregas, it could turn out to be a decent pre-season in terms of the recruitment of young talent and building a new team, not for mounting a title challenge.
It is clear to see that Wenger won’t spend the money required to sign an experienced player who could change the club’s successes on the pitch despite the obvious need for reinforcements. This signing will add to the depth of a relatively small squad with Gervinho and Miyachi, who finally has a work permit, both ahead of Chamberlain in terms of selection.
The transfer makes sense as Wenger knew that both Manchester sides, Liverpool and another European clubs were keen on the winger and if he didn’t act, the only way he would see him at the Emirates was in an opposition shirt. He is a player for the future and although he may not have that instant impact Arsenal fans crave, he is certainly one to watch and there is no doubt his career development will be improved under the guidance of Le Professeur. Good news for Arsenal and England.
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