'Arsene Wenger should have spent another £50m'

Arsenal fans thrilled by Ozil deal but say transfer strategy needs an overhaul
James Olley3 September 2013

The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust today hailed the arrival of Mesut Ozil as a “transformational signing” but urged the club to overhaul their player-recruitment structure after another frantic finale to the transfer window.

The Gunners confirmed the arrival of Ozil for a club-record £42.5million just over 30 minutes before the 11pm deadline to climax a hectic final day in which Arsenal also signed keeper Emiliano Viviano from Palermo on a season-long loan.

Ozil’s transfer shatters the club’s previous highest fee of £15m — paid to Zenit St Petersburg for Andrey Arshavin in 2009 — and, in tandem with his £150,000-a-week wage, signals the end of Arsenal’s financial constraints in the transfer market.

But after a summer that saw Arsenal fail in their pursuits of Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney and Luis Gustavo, the AST believe that the current transfer strategy — devised by manager Arsene Wenger, chief executive Ivan Gazidis and chief negotiator Dick Law — needs revising.

In a statement to Standard Sport, the AST, whose members hold around 4.5 per cent equity in the club, said: “We welcome the statement of intent Arsenal have made with the signing of a world-class player like Mesut Ozil. It is a transformational signing for the club in terms of both transfer fee and wages paid. It is, however, frustrating that once again a window has closed with over £50m left unspent. The AST would like to see all available resources put toward strengthening the team.

“This summer’s transfer window has also reinforced the AST’s view that the club need to overhaul their boardroom and football management infrastructure so they have the very best set-up to maximise the way in which the modern-day transfer window now operates.”

After Ozil had been offered to both Manchester clubs earlier in the summer, his move to Arsenal was completed so late in part because Real Madrid would not sanction his release until their world-record deal for Gareth Bale was completed.

While the Gunners’ wait for Ozil was successful, they failed to sign Demba Ba after Chelsea opted not to sell to a direct rival and the player harboured concerns over how much first-team football he would be guaranteed at Emirates Stadium.

The club were also keen on reviving deals for Rooney and Real winger Angel di Maria but failed to make any significant progress, while an enquiry to Paris St-Germain — who also showed an interest in Ozil — for Argentine midfielder Javier Pastore was dismissed.

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