In a reversal of policy many observers have been demanding for a while, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger abandoned his infatuation with youth in favour of signing experienced players in a last-ditch bid to bolster his ailing squad on transfer deadline day.
Wenger has built his reputation on spotting potential and bringing young players through the ranks. But with the French coach under pressure at Arsenal like never before, he was forced to change his ways in a frenzied series of late trading on Wednesday.In signing Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta (29) from Everton, Germany defender Per Mertesacker (26) from Werder Bremen and Israel captain Yossi Benayoun (31) on loan from Chelsea, Wenger has plumped for established players to help lift the club out of a rut.
Arteta and Benayoun may not be in the class of playmakers Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, who departed this summer to Barcelona and Manchester City for a combined reported fee of around 50 million pounds ($81 million), but at least they know their way around the Premier League and won't need a bedding-in period.
The classy Arteta, who is reported to have cost Arsenal 10 million pounds ($16.2 million), could well be a shrewd purchase if he manages to avoid the injuries that affected him last season. "It is a big opportunity for me and my family and I think it is the right time for me to take it," he told Everton's in-house television channel.
"It is a big challenge, a different challenge, fresh for me and I want to see myself on the biggest stage, the Champions League." Reaching the Champions League group stage, after beating Udinese in the final qualifying round, is the sole chink of light in an otherwise sorry start to the season for Wenger's side.
In the league, Arsenal has picked up just one point in three games and was routed 8-2 by Manchester United on Sunday - the worst defeat in Wenger's 15-year reign. The Gunners have also been hit by injury and suspensions, leaving Wenger's squad looking threadbare and arguably in its weakest state since he took over.
This coming at a time when title rivals United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all spent big - and early - over the past two months, while Chelsea has added two creative international midfielders in Juan Mata and Raul Meireles. Wenger also signed Brazil left back Andre Santos on Wednesday, adding to earlier signings of South Korea striker Park Chu-young, winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, right back Carl Jenkinson and Ivory Coast forward Gervinho. "I arrive here with one aim - being a champion," Santos said.
Achieving that this season may be a step too far for Wenger, who now needs to rebuild confidence in his squad ahead of the resumption of Premier League action after the international break. In particular, Wenger needs to sort out a defense that is lacking leadership and experience.
The arrival of Mertesacker, a rugged centre back who has played in two World Cups and won 75 caps for Germany, will help in that regard, although Santos is renowned for his attacking prowess rather than his defensive abilities. The question remains why Wenger, who has failed to win a major trophy in six years, left his spending spree so late.
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