The Flaw in Arsene's Logic



Nasri has called Man Citeh supporters more 'passionate' than Arsenal's.

 

Some years ago, when the Footy Fox was but a mere pup in the world of football, Russian oil tycoon and billionaire Roman Abramovich had a spasm whilst reflecting on the billions in his fortune. The result: he purchased a moderately competent club in Chelsea FC and injected enough cash into the transfer kitty that they were able to win the Premier League title, twice on the trot. It was that very moment that truly made the Premier League, long touted as an advent of modern football since its inception in 1992, the beast it is today.

Essentially what Manchester City have done is copy the Chelsea Project; buying a plethora of expensive and excessively overpaid stars, ensuring depth by having more players than truly necessary (Milner will be the first causality), and ultimately resting the pressure on the shoulders of a well-acquainted foreign manager (well several in the case of Chelsea, who have failed to learn from Man United’s stability until possibly this season).

With the purchase of Samir Nasri from Arsenal, Man City now possesses the individuals who collectively appear to hold the key to that elusive title. It isn’t clear exactly what the tactical plans are to accommodate Nasri, though a player of his calibre will always positively impact a club’s performance and, perhaps cause nothing but infighting amongst marginalzed divas.

The real shame though is that Arsenal has now boosted the attacking options for a club that was already set to surpass them. Why Arsene Wenger refused to sell to Manchester United is forgivable, given the rivalry that exists between the Gunners and the Red Devils, as well as the explosion of discontent that would emerge from the Arsenal fan-base.

Yet the sale of Nasri to City has been a massive tactical error by Wenger, or Le Professeur as he is known for his intelligent and philosophical approach to the game. Think for a moment of the ‘Big Four’ in English football and historically the names Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool come to mind. Liverpool is experiencing a resurgence in form under Dalglish and new ownership, while United and Chelsea continue to play strong football, and Arsenal remain a threat despite their current turbulence.

As for City, they’re the new boys that have tried desperately to squeeze their way into the ‘Big’ category, mainly through Chelseafication via an injection of cash into their transfer chest. But they are still relatively unproven, with a manager that is often hesitant to rely on an offensive approach and players that look more disjointed than they should considering the astronomical wages they’re earning.

Had Arsenal sold to Man United instead, they would simply have sustained an already credible club amongst another of the Big Four. That they refused to sell to an emotional rival, or even shop him off to another club in France, Germany or Spain, only to sell to perhaps an even more immediate threat, shows the error of Arsene Wenger’s logic. Don’t forget it was City that nicked Arsenal’s 3^rd place and automatic Champions League group stage spot.  

Prior to the signing of Nasri, Man City still was a club simply on the verge of realizing the possibilities before them. Now that Arsenal has sold him to the blue side of Manchester, they’ve directly assisted in expanding the number of clubs able to challenge for the title, as well as Champions League spots. In winning his signature, City have yet another piece of the puzzle, and Arsenal will suffer more than others for it.