Summer sales spell danger for Gunners

Written by Tom Adams

Leaving Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy as the only remaining Invincibles, Gilberto departs with medals around his neck, head held high, honour intact and legacy assured. Hleb, in contrast, has snuck out the back door, seeking solace from London’s hustle and bustle in a small provincial town called Barcelona – apparently it’s somewhere in North East Spain…

Hleb's all-too eager badge-kissing at his new club and Gilberto's journey to Panathinaikos have followed the departures of Jens Lehmann and Mathieu Flamini since May. The arrivals? 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey and Marseille’s young playmaker Samir Nasri.

Talented players no doubt, but there is no guarantee they will perform consistently in The Premier League next season and that must be a real worry for a squad that looks more threadbare than at any other time in Arsene Wenger's long and glorious reign.

It is not for a mere mortal to question the Frenchman's blueprint in North London - the trophies he has delivered and the style in which he has done so earn him that distinction - but what is apparent is that The Gunners are lacking those key ingredients of experience and depth in several key positions at present.

With Hleb leaving, the injury-prone Tomas Rosicky is Arsenal’s only quality winger with any real experience. Theo Walcott and Carlos Vela are too young to guarantee sustained excellence, Eboue too poor to even guarantee an accurate shot or cross.

Arsenal fans will draw comfort from the fact that their win percentage and points per games ratio is superior for matches where Hleb has been absent in the past three seasons, but he improved immeasurably last year and enjoyed a good understanding with Cesc Fabregas as he grew into his playmaker’s role.

The holes are apparent in the centre of midfield too. Flamini’s departure was unavoidable but Gilberto’s exit looks somewhat unnecessary and risky. What better mentor could there be for an Abou Diaby or Alexandre Song, should Wenger feel the need to promote from within?

Gilberto, it is easy to forget, is only 31, and while his performances were noticeably lacklustre last season, he was superb in 2006-2007 when injury restricted Thierry Henry to a bit-part role. Indeed, the tale of another 31-year-old, Marcos Senna, should be a cautionary one for Wenger as the Spain midfielder shrugged off his critics to deliver a stunning campaign in Euro 2008.

Arsenal's first choice centre-back pairing of William Gallas and Kolo Toure is certainly impressive enough, but it is what comes next that raises concern. Philippe Senderos, Johan Djourou and possibly Song do not inspire confidence yet and contrast poorly to the club's likely title rivals.

Chelsea have John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Alex and Tal Ben Haim, Liverpool boast Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Sami Hyypia and Martin Skrtel, Manchester United have Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Mikael Silvestre, Wes Brown and John O'Shea. All superior options.

Emmanuel Adebayor's future is still very much up in the air and if the Togolese star leaves as well, then he must also be replaced in what is rapidly becoming a very significant summer for the club. If he does go, then Wenger's shopping list should include one central defender, a holding midfielder, a winger and a striker.

There is still plenty of time before the end of August of course and links to players such as Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz and Xabi Alonso are encouraging, but is it time to start getting concerned for the North Londoners?

Wenger invariably buys young players, but what would be the harm in signing a veteran or two? My mind wanders back to Liverpool's treble season and the role that shock signing Gary McAllister had on Gerard Houllier's team. Cheap and experienced.

Going several seasons without a league win is nothing new for Arsenal, and Wenger's staunchest supporters will no doubt point to the fact that the last time they did so, the response was a magnificent Double in 2001-2002.

But the side that produced that memorable campaign was bursting with experience, with the addition of Sol Campbell in the summer only embellishing an already accomplished team that included Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, David Seaman Tony Adams and others.

I got a bit of stick from Arsenal fans for suggesting at the end of the season that some surgery was required this summer, but for me the problem has only intensified since then.

Wenger has justified recent years of transition by pointing out that this latest team is improving and growing together. Well the growing pains have certainly hit now, with last season's side shedding several important organs.

While the Frenchman showed last summer with the purchases of Bacary Sagna and Eduardo da Silva that he has lost none of his magic touch in the transfer market, despite the financial impact that Emirates Stadium has had, new blood is certainly needed now.

After all, haemorrhaging experience is not the best preparation for a long and hard season at the elite level.

Alan Hansen was proved wrong when he stated in 1995 that 'you'll never win anything with kids', but with the demands of The Premier League higher than ever and squad depth perhaps the most important factor in any title race, it is clear Wenger has serious work to do before the season kicks off on August 16.

You would not put it past a man who was ridiculed for suggesting his side could go unbeaten in the league and then did just that a year later, but winning the title with as inexperienced a squad as he has at present would maybe be his finest achievement.