Welcome, gents, to Arsenal: Modus Operandi. Each day we present you, fellow Gooners, with commentary surrounding one particular decision made by Arsenal Football Club.
Today’s discussion: “The Signing of Kim Källström”
The Situation
To say Arsenal are dealing with some injury troubles is about as accurate as determining that Howard Webb errs in judgement on occasion. Both statements are incredibly lazy, inaccurate, grossly understated and teeter on ridiculous. A quick scan of ArsenalReport.com Injury List shows a mass of broken bodies in queue. In the summary of games lost this season already, one can understand the need for turnstile reinforcing. Basically a conveyor belt needs to be built from London Heathrow to London Colney – just to make things a bit quicker and to save on cab fare.
One troubling note is that much of the injury report highlights players who don our mid field, with the likes of regulars Sir Aaron Ramsey and the cigarette-smoking Jack Wilshere to name a couple. The initial thinking when each were diagnosed as “unfit” was that there was no need for panic, as we have a back-log of mids waiting to fill the void. While this is true, there is a flaw in that rationale.
Arsenal’s strength is in it’s mid field, clearly. When we win it is because we control the mid field. When we lose it’s because we didn’t. To be without suitable back-up in this position is folly, and I would argue is more impacting than a loss at virtually any other position if it’s not filled properly because it completely changes our approach. While we still have the stalwarts, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, missing Jack and Aaron are worrisome. Those two young lads are crucial to our attack and defence, as both are found patrolling opposing 18-yard boxes and making timely tackles in their own.
So with an ailing middle-of-the-pitch, what is a manager to do when he has days, hours, minutes left before the Football Association slams that window shut for a few more months?
The Decision
Have you heard that we almost signed Julian Draxler? Ugh, how painful was that to follow through January? Or how about that we were “Klose” to signing Klose? Riiiight, sure we were. The decision came fairly early on January 31st that Arsenal Football Club, one of the world’s richest clubs who were perched near the top of the table in the biggest, most talent-laden league on the planet, having just announced a lucrative deal with the devil Puma, to go with the most expensive ticket in football… I could go on but I won’t… just signed Kim Kallstrom. Cue YouTube and Google searches for “Kim Kallstrom” as Gooners around the world were desperately trying to figure out who in God’s green Earth this Swede is.
The “logic” behind this decision was to bolster an ailing midfield. The problem, ironically and cruelly, was that it was reinforced it with a player who was injured himself, thus turning the club into a Twitter punching bag and butt of many-a-joke. It appears that Kim Kallstrom will become Diaby’s Fifa 2014 partner for the next month, essentially solving nothing as both Wilshere and Ramsey are expected back at around the same time. Ugh, where’s my Excedrine…
In a recent tea and crumpets with the media, Le Proffeseur had these little gems to say regarding the decision:
“Yes of course it crossed my mind [to reject the deal]. I would not have signed him if we had two or three more days to do something, but it was Friday night at five o’clock, so it was [a case of] you [sign] nobody or you do it under these conditions.”
Interesting. Here’s a thought: why not start looking to make a deal before the final day of the window? But what do I know…
“I decided to do it [complete the signing] because of the number of games we have now in February, we might need the players in March or April. There is a possibility [that he may not play] but as well there is the possibility that he scores us the winning goal that might be vitally important.”
Spectacular. There is a chance he might never play. That leaves me warm and fuzzy.
The Verdict
I am pro-Wenger. I have, for the most part, defended him against the lions ready to strip him of his overly-long blue coat – which I rather fancy, truthfully. I don’t support all his decisions, this being one. The window was open, with the inviting smell of new blood for the entire month. I will agree with AW that January is not usually a time to make big transfers as there are slim pickings, and the pickings that are available cost one too many quid. But this situation was different. With upcoming matches against world class opposition, and in a position to really make a statement we chose to play the part of the wet noodle. We showed a lack of gonads at a time when our gonads needed to be on full display.
The one saving grace is that Spartak Moscow is covering Kallstrom’s wages so long as he is recovering. And thank G for that.
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