Will Arsene Wenger Be Around To See His Plans Come To Fruition?

Will Arsene Wenger Be Around To See His Plans Come To Fruition?

The January window, usually a time of mere disappointment for anyone that calls themselves an Arsenal fan, is over for another year.

The winter window proved to be another bleak one for Arsenal fans, with no big additions to inspire hope for the Premier League run-in and impending Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.


However, rumours are still swirling and whilst those surrounding the future of Atletico Madrid star Antione Griezmann, who looks set to be the rope in a tug-of-war between Arsenal and Manchester United, are catching all the headlines, one may have slipped under the radar.

Daniel Hanslick is a name that may only be familiar to the most impassioned European football fans, or those who have taken picking an obscure team on Football Manager to the next level, however, it is one that could be about to become a lot more familiar on these shores.

The 20-year-old currently turns out for German Fifth Division side, SV Steinbach, and doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page (astonishing, I know), but that may all be about to change.

The youngster, having already been on trial with German giants Borussia Dortmund, has been turning heads in north London and has rocked up at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground to show what he’s got.

Whilst this is a rather underwhelming addition, and one that could prove frankly useless in the long term, it points to a bigger picture concerning manager Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman celebrated his 20th year as the Gunners manager in 2016, however, rumours are abound that it could be his last season at the helm of the north Londoners.

However, with deals such as the one for Hanslick, as well as that of non-league prospect Cohen Bramall earlier in the window, show that Wenger is still building something at The Emirates.

There is a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the Premier League veteran and, considering many feel this could (or should perhaps) be his last term as Arsenal manger, you would expect the blockbuster additions to ensure silverware this term.
That has not been the case however, the former Monaco boss is, as he always has done, putting the pieces in place for long term success.

Success which he will want to oversee himself.

Many Arsenal fans will lament another few seasons of Le Prof in the hot seat, many think he is past it, however, when it comes to it there aren’t many better in the game, the man is essentially a footballing genius.

There is no knowing what lies around the corner after Wenger, see Manchester United post-Ferguson.

Fans have complained about a lack of silverware, which is understandably frustrating. But ask any of them and they would all rather finish fourth for a couple more years than go on the journey the Red Devils have taken since Sir Alex’s departure.

The additions of such small names in January are not what any Arsenal fan wanted, but they point to something that all of them could enjoy over the next few years.