Time for Arsene Wenger to address shortcomings as Arsenal take huge step towards Champions League

 
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James Olley22 August 2013

There have been certain distressing similarities between this summer and the chaotic start to Arsenal’s 2011-12 campaign but this win offers the chance to avoid making some of those mistakes again.

Barring a collapse, the Gunners will secure a 16th consecutive season in the Champions League group stage after an impressive 3-0 victory here at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul.

The result will relieve pressure on Arsene Wenger but, more importantly, it creates an opportunity for him in the transfer market. Two years ago, the inability to guarantee Champions League football to new players until after the second leg of a play-off against Udinese — and barely a week before the window closed — complicated their attempts to sign new players, a situation compounded by Samir Nasri’s protracted departure to Manchester City.

Four days after winning in Italy, Arsenal lost 8-2 at Manchester United. Some believe that result was the catalyst for a madcap spending spree but it was the uncertainty over Arsenal’s European fate that delayed their transfer dealings. That need not be the case this time. The Gunners can finally begin to spend the vast sums at their disposal — at least £70million — to transform the squad into one that no longer needs to concern itself with play-offs.

Fenerbahce were terrible. It became clear early on that this was a mismatch in class. Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla all excelled, while Theo Walcott menaced full-back Michal Kadlec all night.

The home side’s apathy was such that it appeared they already believed their Champions League fate had been determined.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport will not announce their ruling on Fenerbahce’s appeal against a two-year ban for match-fixing until after Tuesday’s second leg but a negative verdict was etched over the players’ faces. That said, Arsenal did their job efficiently. The performance was all the more encouraging after their opening day defeat by Aston Villa but it should not mask the improvements that are required.

Yes, Arsenal are on the brink of Champion League qualification. But that is Wenger’s minimum criterion. They do not yet look capable of achieving anything greater without considerable investment.

A top-class centre-forward would have helped Arsenal kill this game off much earlier than they did. After Laurent Koscielny suffered a facial injury, full-back Bacary Sagna had to play at centre-back, as he has at times during pre-season. These are areas that must be rectified if the Gunners are to challenge for honours. Kieran Gibbs, Ramsey and Olivier Giroud scored the goals on a night which proved there is a promising nucleus at the club. It just needs outside help.

Arsenal have sounded out Real Madrid over striker Karim Benzema, which suggests Wenger has recognised their shortcomings.

“The transfer market starts for me now and a lot of activity will happen between now and September 2,” said Wenger. “It is like a poker game. People hold their cards as long as possible and see what is happening out there. In the end, they go for decisions.”

But in poker, you can only win if you risk your own money at the right time.

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