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Senderos adds to Arsenal exodus
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Senderos: surplus goods at the Emirates
Arsene Wenger is the cerebral purveyor of attacking soccer, both lauded and faulted for his single-mindedness. His insistence upon uncovering young diamonds in the rough, despite four years without silver, is inducing even more ire as the end of the transfer window nears. Arsenal's losses this window handily outnumber their acquisitions, and now the departure of Swiss international defender Phillipe Senderos to Milan on a loan deal may add to the moaning in north London.
Picking up a discarded 31-year old in Mikael Silvestre for a pittance of 750,000GBP (about $1.4M) may seem shrewd, but letting the 23-year old defender leave may prove costly. Senderos sets Gooners' nerves on edge, and he can look downright oafish at times, especially against a big center forward, but he provided valuable cover to a position that takes a beating over the course of a season.
The irony is not lost on Arsenal fans as Arsene Wenger have all but given Milan two crucial pieces in their quest to get younger. Letting Mathieu Flamini go on a free transfer easily adds legs and grit to the midfield of Milan, and Senderos is a player that may flourish in the less-direct nature of Serie A and can learn the league from the bench.
It isn't Wenger's below wholesale prices that angers those desperate for a real trophy, but rather the trickle of players in. As in past transfer seasons, the arrival of youngsters short of experience stand as a large part of Wenger's acquisitions, with Samir Nasri as the biggest name and Aaron Ramsey the boy with the biggest potential. While fans remain patient and hold onto the belief that "Wenger Knows", time is running out for the celebrated manager.
With players like Xabi Alonso and Gareth Barry topping the headlines of players linked to Arsenal, there is time for a big acquisition to arrive at the Emirates. Wenger's track record of obtaining players early in the window may not bode well for those with fingers still crossed. Cesc Fabregas is slated to return to much relief, but his passing vision and movement depend on having confidence in his midfield partner. Denilson's poor performance against Fulham is perhaps overlooked due to the overall poor quality of the entire squad, but certainly not by the Spaniard. Several times last year, the Fabregas cited the understanding he had with Flamini, and most importantly, the confidence in cover that allowed him to come forward more.
Such a partnership is valuable in the Premier League. As overrated as some may think Claude Makelele may be, his ability to play a short, square pass to begin attacks made him the standard bearer of the holding midfield role, and a key to Chelsea's attack in their championship seasons. There is a reason why the names bandied about to fill that hole are typically in the range of 16-20M GBP ($30-40M), and it remains to be seen if Wenger will shell out the cash to replace a player he let go for free. You have to admire the firm but fair way the Frenchman runs his club and its wage structure, but will this cost him more in the end?
Wenger resumes clearance by sending Senderos to Milan [Independent UK]
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