Over the last few seasons, Arsene Wenger has polarised opinion at Arsenal.
While nobody can argue with the success the Frenchman brought in his first decade at the club, things haven’t been so rosy for the Gunners in recent times with the North-London club without a league title in 12 seasons.
In fact in that time, the only silverware Wenger can show off is two FA Cups (unless you count the glorified friendlies of the Emirates Cup).
While he often comes in for criticism, Wenger can at least point to the fact he has guided the club to Champions League in all 20 of his seasons in charge, no mean feat when he has often spent considerably less than his rivals.
After a slow start, Arsenal are currently 7th in the league after back-to-back victories over Southampton and Watford, and they will be hoping Wenger can land them a title in what could be his last season.
Here we take a look at THREE things Wenger is doing right…..
SPENDING MONEY ON THE RIGHT PLAYERS
The big criticism levelled at Wenger over at the Tavern has been his unwillingness to break the bank and land key targets.
It’s become a running joke around the internet that Arsenal never sign anyone and have long needed a solid centre-half and a prolific striker.
With the exception of £38m signing Granit Xhaka, it was looking like being a similar story this year until Wenger landed German defender Shkrodan Mustafi and Deportivo striker Lucas Perez, bringing their summer spend close to £100m.
While he could have gone all out, Wenger has identified where his team needs to improve and got the men he needs to do it.
GIVING OSPINA THE NOD IN EUROPE
When David Ospina was named in the starting eleven to face Paris St Germain on Tuesday, Gunners fans in pubs around the country erupted.
“What’s Wenger thinking?” and “Is Cech injured?” came some of the cries as Arsenal fans removed the bubble-wrap from their ‘Wenger Out’ signs, sharpened their pitchforks and prepared to riot.
In the end Ospina produced a superb performance, making half a dozen top-class saves to keep the French side at bay.
Ospina is a great deputy.
He would make a good first-choice as well and was linked with clubs all summer.
If giving him games in Europe is the way to keep him happy playing second fiddle, then Wenger has made the correct choice.
LOANING OUT JACK WILSHERE
A shock deadline day move, Jack Wilshere’s loan move to Bournemouth raised more than a few eyebrows among our punters.
But with Xhaka, Coquelin, Elneny, Cazorla and Ramsey all vying for spots in the middle, Wilshere’s chances of regular football looked slim; even if he made it off the injury table.
A move to the South coast gives Wilshere a chance to build his fitness and get first-team action away from the spotlight.
Here at the Transfer Tavern we’d have liked to see him develop his game abroad, although working with an attacking purist like Eddie Howe can only serve the improve the England international’s game.
