Not many understand Wenger’s mentality and most blame his transfer policy for the lack of big trophies in recent times. While it is true Arsenal haven’t quite held their own against Chelsea, City or United in terms of trophies or transfers, there are many, many other things the Frenchman brings to the table. The Gunners play the most attractive football in the Premier League, they provide some of the most amazing moments in world football and maintain a very specific overall quality which has been associated with the club for years. Not losing your identity in today’s football is truly an achievement, an achievement only brilliant men like Wenger have their name next to.
Whenever the Frenchman talks about current or possible future issues, it is good to listen. When everyone was throwing money away on salaries and contracts, Wenger told the world it is not good practice and that this will overinflate player prices – it happened. Sterling, Pogba, Higuain, Stones, Falcao, Di Maria and more cost clubs way too much and still do in terms of salaries. Wenger also spoke about how clubs are losing their identity by selling their most iconic players and by preferring transfers over growing their own. Now it is time for Arsenal’s boss to have a look at what is happening with Chinese football and the massive offers the Asian clubs send towards Europe.
Despite managing to land some important names, Mr. Wenger is not worried the Premier League will lose their best players saying,
“You do not create a top league just like that. When you want to be a football player your first aspiration is to play in the best league with the best players. After that, you want to combine playing in the best league with the best players for the maximum amount of money. That combination is best in England right now. But professional football in England was created 150 years ago. And we still struggle, you know. I believe it’s a slow process of creating a football culture.” Wenger went on to tell The Guardian:
“In China it’s new. I know that situation well because, when I went to Japan in 1995, professional football had only been in existence for three years. You expect reflexes from people that aren’t there; the culture of professional football is not there. So it will take time. But China has moved forward. It tries to promote football and I’m happy that football has become popular in China. I also expect India to come to the game too you know. I hope it will happen.”
While the idea of having star-quality players spread across the world sounds a bit of a way off right now, it is the future. There is an incredible amount of unexploited talent outside of Europe, talent which it were to be more visible could end up playing for the biggest clubs here. Sending players like Hulk or Oscar will improve the quality of the players performing in Asia, will attract more fans and will make football an even bigger phenomenon than it already is.
With contract negotiations on the table for players like Sanchez, Wenger had a very subtle remark to make regarding the financial aspect of football, when he said,
“Overall the players have everything today to be more happy than 20 years ago, never mind 40. They are treated very well, they have a fantastic income. They have freedom of movement which we didn’t have. The danger is that players start asking for money that’s unrealistic in the Premier League. If Chinese wages become the benchmark then you cannot compete with that. But we do not know whether, in 10 years’ time, China will still be doing it. Sometimes, if it’s a political decision, that can change.”
It is not the first time the Frenchman suggests salaries are too big right now. He does have vast experience on his side though so hopefully his comments will only help improve the current situation for both Arsenal and the Premier League.