Summer Transfer Misery and Recriminations.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Doubt much has been wasted when we've sold so many for such huge amounts. Probably broken even over the years or made a profit to be fair.

[GP]

Doubt much has been wasted when we've sold so many for such huge amounts. Probably broken even over the years or made a profit to be fair.

No, don't you see, we are the only club who sign young players that don't work out. Wake up SHEEPLE!

[Özim]

Doubt much has been wasted when we've sold so many for such huge amounts. Probably broken even over the years or made a profit to be fair.

You forget we have to pay a lot of these kids and also have their wages for years, I doubt we've made much money seeing as weve taken on so many kids, paid them so much and most have gone for nothing or next to nothing. Waste of time and money IMO but Wenger has been completely obsessed with signing youngster after youngster since 2005.

Other clubs might also do it but not on the scale we've done it on and they've not spent the kind of sums we have.

Yes go out and bring in the odd one or two who seem to have something special about them, but don't waste your time on others.

Our youth policy is a failure overall, hundreds of kids brought in for millions and only the odd few who we ever any good.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Bellerin seems okay to me. Always good to take a calculated risk on the youngsters imo. Wellington didn't work but there are plenty over the years that have, whether we kept them or sold them for profit shouldn't matter. It would be great to have a few more coming through the academy but not many of the top 10 perm clubs can boast too many there.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

I think we made a profit on most of the youngsters we've sold on and again with their sell-on clauses too.
I reckon we haven't made too many losses.
I would love us to have more players coming through the academy though. In recent years I can't think of a top 10 premiership team who has boasted much success here...so it's an ongoing problem for many clubs. The pressure to buy in doesn't necessarily give the time needed to the youngsters to develop.
It's a a tricky thing to get right. We want big signings but also want youth products to hit the ground running whilst they are still learning the game.

[Power n Glory]

You forget we have to pay a lot of these kids and also have their wages for years, I doubt we've made much money seeing as weve taken on so many kids, paid them so much and most have gone for nothing or next to nothing. Waste of time and money IMO but Wenger has been completely obsessed with signing youngster after youngster since 2005.

Other clubs might also do it but not on the scale we've done it on and they've not spent the kind of sums we have.

Yes go out and bring in the odd one or two who seem to have something special about them, but don't waste your time on others.

Our youth policy is a failure overall, hundreds of kids brought in for millions and only the odd few who we ever any good.

The amount of time and effort we've invested in these players is what annoys me most. It's a waste. For example, if 4 years down the line we have the same outcome with Asano and we don't sign a proper striker in this window, I'd really like to know how much time and energy went into scouting this kid and could we have been doing more to find someone more worthwhile.

[Power n Glory]

Also, people forget that we dedicated a huge chunk of years to investing in youth. It was our Plan A strategy for a while and we haven't produced the goods. Looking at other clubs that mix experience with youth and don't seems as focused in that area, it seems like we're really coming up short. It explains why we've had to change our youth academy coaches. It's been a failure.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

There are some excellent Japenese players so who's to say he won't turn out like Kagawa or Honda. Give the guy a chance.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I have a really hard time believing that it takes up a lot of resources to sign the likes of Asano and Holding to the extent of it affecting other major transfers we may want to do. We're a big club, with scouts and staff around the world. We can probably deal with three or four transfers at the same time if we really wanted to (see last minute trolley dash in 2011).

The reason we haven't signed striker is not because we've been focusing our efforts on Asano and Holding but more that since Vardy, Wenger hasn't found anyone else that he really wants.

[Xhaka Can’t]

It wouldn't surprise me if the rumours of a new deal are true though. It would be totally ridiculous, but also very Arsenal like. I just hope that Arsene realises it's time to go.

I know every year some fans predict us falling out of the top 4 and get mocked for it. This season for me personally does feel different though. Perhaps it's the lack of enthusiasm, but I think the level of complacency from the club is unprecedented. Unless we're surprised with 2-3 top 1st team signings I can't see anything other than a battle for 4th / 5th with the Spuds and Liverpool.

In the top four, outside the top four, I couldn't give a fuck.