Wish you were here

With the 'Arsenal Interested In' headlines continuing to role in relentlessly, the latest battle for loyal gooners is to stomach another summer of 'maybe he will maybe he won't'. I have long since lost count of the number of players we are definitely interested in. I have also almost lost interest.

I say almost lost interest because no matter how many articles I read and no matter how spurious the article, the source, or the writer, I still find myself wondering how the player in question would fit into our squad and system of play. Will he be able to tackle, can he move, will he be able to handle himself against the real world class players, will he amend any of our problems from the season that is about to finish.

Each and every time I am also left with the same conclusion. If the new signings don't have what it takes in the top 6 inches, the most crucial part of any sportsman, then we are wasting our money. In reality there is hundreds of players who could come to our club between now and next August and theoretically improve our squad either as first team starters or decent squad players. Whether or not they transform us from also also-rans to champions will depend on their instincts and how they react to a set back.

Should they take the same route as many current players and our manager and make excuses for inept performances and blindly promise that things will get better just around the corner then we are doomed to another trophy-less year.

However, and I agree that this is somewhat fanciful, but just imagine someone in our dressing room ripping into Fabianski for example because he couldn't use his 6 foot 3 inch frame to outmuscle rather than be outmuscled. Imagine an Arsenal where one of our players gets tackled by someone like Christopher Samba and instead of being intimidated they get stuck in and lose their cool a little.

Let your imaginations run wild to the day where, in a title shoot out or champions league do or die game, one of our players gets knocked over by Drogba and instead of panicking actually looks forward to the next physical tussle so they could knock him back and let the world know that they demand respect and won't be pushed around by anyone under any circumstances on any night. Well, I did say it was a bit fanciful.

So when you next log on or pick up a paper, maybe the stats and price tag shouldn't be so relevant. Maybe the name and the club shouldn't make us decide whether or not you want him to sign. Maybe we should ask: while we put ourselves through the mill yet again, like on so many other occasions and battle on with hope regardless of the potential outcome, will our latest highly paid and highly trained footballer do the same.

I'm sure those type of players are out there and are available to a club with one of the worlds most extensive scouting networks and with large transfer fund. The only problem is getting them here and allowing us fans to pass on one more mental trauma. The day has most certainly arrived where the almost imperious Arsène Wenger needs to take a leaf out of someone else's and do what needs to be done.

I wish he was here.

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