By Abayomi Kalejaye
A puzzling phenomenon that has so markedly characterized Arsenal over the past decade is their constant proclivity to disappoint when expected to impress and to impress when expected to disappoint.
From hitting a bad patch of form in the crucial stage of a title chase to exhibiting a good run of form when a title is almost out of reach, it has always been a typical cycle peculiar to the London club. And when the intriguing story emerged from the grapevine that Arsenal are primed to sign Jamie Vardy - having triggered his £22 million release clause - it was a move that elicited a tremendous amount of astonishment.
This move, however plausible it may be, will be viewed in some quarters as a desperate attempt by a club which is now seeking success at all cost after years of title miscarriages. For a club that is so famed for its penny-pinching transfer policies, the big-money signings of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and (recently) Granit Xhaka, signaled an intent for success - at last. Supplemented upon this was Arsene Wenger compromising on another transfer principle of his - old-age signing.
The sensational signing of Petr Cech from Chelsea (at the age of 33) represented a quick-fix measure atypical with the Gunners. A year later, the (eventually unfruitful) pursuit of Vardy, 29, has further emphasized Wenger's growing desperation for success having been inundated with tremendous amount of pressure from despairing fans. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t get lucky in his bid to draft the Englishman to the Emirates with the latter opting to extend his contract with Leicester City.
For some fans, Vardy's snub represents a slight on a club with a stature like Arsenal. Would Vardy have rejected an offer from the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich? You bet he'll give up his life savings for it.
Since the era of the 'Invicinbles' success has been painfully hard to come by for the London club. And it is rightly understandable if the fans direct their frustrations and discontent at Arsene Wenger. While the Frenchman is by no means deficient tactically, his recalcitrant and inflexible transfer approach for almost a decade hamstrung his team’s success.
Though in the ever evolving world of football, it is better late than ever flowing with the tide – as evinced in Wenger’s recent opulent transfer dealings; still and all, it could be argued sufficiently that to be never late could absolutely have turned out better for a team that was once “Invincible”.
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