Whilst it might not be revelatory news, it is somewhat of an insight into the Arsenal chief & his thinking with regards to his offensive personnel and the possibility of adding to them that Wenger took the irregular step to talk openly about his thoughts on Dortmund’s Bavarian bound Pole, Robert Lewandowski. The idea of signing a “top striker” is obviously something that has, at some point been rattling around in that meticulous French mind of his. In spite of lauding the wares of Olivier Giroud with superlatives, Wenger admitted that he’d studied Robert Lewandowski’s situation at Dortmund and at one point in the last few months made a tentative “enquiry”.
He then went on to explain what most people already believed (the worst kept secret in football), that the goal-scoring Pole had made his mind up some time ago, along with his agent. He was only ever going to sign for Bayern Munich and if he could not convince his club (Dortmund) to sell him to the Bavarians, then he was quite happy to wait until he was in a position to sign a pre-contract (with Bayern) and move on a “Bosman” (free transfer).
Thrown in with the questions aimed at Wenger, was that of the possibility of Wenger making a move for Bayern’s Croatian hitman Mario Mandžukić, a player very likely to be replaced as the spearhead of the Bayern attack by the incoming Lewandowski.
Whilst remaining fairly coy, Wenger said fairly matter-of-factly that Mandžukić was a player he admires, but the possibility of Bayern allowing him to leave in the January transfer window was a total non-starter. By virtue of those comments, you could well assume that the Frenchman had at least put a shot across the bows of the Bayern hierarchy as to the availability of the Croatian striker.
So Dortmund lose another one of the jewels from their crown to their fierce Bundesliga rivals. Having had their prodigal son, Mario Götze, lured to Bavaria the previous summer and now having their free-scoring Pole soon to tread the same path, will no doubt be another bitter pill that sticks in the craw. All metaphors and idioms aside, the reality is, the lure of Bayern is strong and whilst many will bemoan the lack of loyalty in the modern game, the reality is that ambition will always crave “the best” and always want more!
As for Wenger; He has his own crossword-puzzle to figure out, having 3 weeks of a transfer-window to act and 2 injured forwards in Walcott & Bendtner poses questions and many will feel should prompt action on the transfer front. Being in the enviable position, sitting perched on top of the Premier League, through to the next round of the FA Cup after disposing of fierce local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in impressive fashion. And perhaps most mouth-wateringly, the two-legged Champions League tie set-up with reigning Champions Bayern Munich, is a prospect that will excite even the most cynical of fans.
Wenger knows, with under 5 months of football to be played that his team have (perhaps for the 1st time in years) a very real chance of ending the season with something to show for their efforts in terms of a trophy. He’ll also be acutely aware that without reinforcements in the forward department, any injury to the over-loaded Olivier Giroud would almost certainly have his team looking down the barrel of uncertainty.
So whilst the question of “will Wenger will spend in January and who (if anyone) he’ll spend that money on” – remains a mystery, what isn’t a mystery is the whereabouts of Lewandowski and Mandžukić in January (Lewandowski will officially become a Bayern player on July 1st) and neither will be strutting their admirable wares at the Emirates.
