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Opinion
Arsene Wenger already proved in 2004 why Arsenal have just made a big mistake under Mikel Arteta
Following Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker last month despite Mikel Arteta’s obvious desire to recruit one, some fans might be fearing the worst in north London.
Instead of paying over the odds to accelerate a deal or find a short-term alternative, Arsenal decided to stay patient and wait for the summer to splurge on a striker.
Of course, that left Arteta in the red-faced position of only having Kai Havertz at his disposal during a crucial run-in, given Gabriel Jesus’ season had already ended owing to a knee injury.
Now, less than two weeks later, Arsenal are strikerless, Kai Havertz is injured and Arteta must be fuming behind the scenes.
Of course, some fans are now worried that Arteta could in turn consider his position at Arsenal, a manager who could easily walk through the door at another elite club.
David Dein bought Jose Antonio Reyes for Arsene Wenger amid injury issue
Back in 2004, both Arsene Wenger and David Dein perhaps showed Arsenal what they should have done last month.
Towards the end of the January window that year, Arsenal signed the late Jose Antonio Reyes from Sevilla, a deal that shattered their transfer record.
Arsenal already had Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord, Francis Jeffers and Jeremie Aliadiere on their books, but the Gunners acted when things weren’t right.
Aliadiere had injured his knee ligaments and it was known that Kanu and Wiltord would be leaving Highbury, with Jeffers facing a similar conundrum.
Wenger urgently needed to find a new partner for Henry and Arsenal found one.
Arteta desperately needed a partner for Havertz last month, and modern day Arsenal protected their long-term position.
When Arsenal signed Reyes on a four-year deal in 2004, Wenger said: “He is a good investment as he’s 20 and is already an international.
“He can be adaptable and replace everybody, so we’ll use him wherever we feel that we need him. If we buy a player, it’s because we can afford him.”
That year, Arsenal won the league and became the first team to go a whole Premier League campaign unbeaten.
Arsenal ignored Mikel Arteta’s striker request and fans should be worried
Unfortunately for Arteta, Arsenal didn’t throw their cheque book at a permanent or loan signing last month, even though they could seemingly afford to, even considering PSR.
Arsenal rejected the chance to sign Kolo Ranal Muani from Paris Saint-Germain on loan, a striker who is already scoring goals at Juventus.
And it seems as if Arsenal’s board and decision-makers are playing a very risky game, even if Arteta might somewhat sympathise with their justification to hold firm.
READ MORE: What Jose Mourinho ‘laughed’ about immediately after Arsenal appointed Mikel Arteta in 2019
Regardless of coming up short in the last two title-races, Arteta is an elite manager, someone Arsenal are lucky to have, even if they have also helped him to this point.
And Arsenal could be playing a dangerous game if Arteta suddenly feels as if there’s a slight disconnect between his ambitions and the club’s.
Wenger wanted Reyes in 2004 and Arsenal signed him, whatever the cost.
Unfortunately for Arteta, he doesn’t have Dein working alongside him, and Arsenal are now facing the prospect of another season without silverware, even though their starting eleven is good enough to win everything.