Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Amos 
Date:Tuesday July 21 2009
Time: 2:43PM
UK time is: 00:31:36
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Will he gamble again?
Last summer, having earlier expressed the opinion that the team was short of midfield experience, Wenger gambled on medical advice that Rosicky would be playing again by September. The news that Nasri has broken his leg and will be out until sometime in October gives the manager a similar situation to contemplate this summer.
Nasri is young and fit so there is little reason to think that his injury will prove the same protracted saga that Rosicky suffered. We could expect him to recover quickly. But with hindsight it is now evident that the gamble Wenger took left us very short in the creative part of our game which wasn`t resolved until Arshavin joined. In the first half of last season that creative deficit was to prove very costly.
With Arshavin and Rosicky fit you could feel that there is support enough until Nasri returns but as yet there must still be some doubt until Rosicky proves he can play the 80% of games that Wenger anticipated for last season. Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky with Cesc playing centrally provides a trio of creative options that can be rotated and deployed flexibly depending on the demands of the opposition. Take anyone of that trio away and we don`t have similarly experienced creative alternatives in those roles.
If Wenger was tempted to go back into the market before the transfer window closes then, unfortunate though it is, it is just such a circumstance as this that might make his mind up for him.
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Your Comments
I bet he will gamble. He won't buy someone new just for the three months Nasri will be out. I'd like to see Wilshere given a chance. He's young, but I feel he can step up to any challenge.
gunnerkid107
Unlucky Samir, get well soon. This will definitely force AW's hand in the transfer market. I always felt that we would buy a midfielder anyway, now Nasri's injury makes it a certainty. I beliece that we have made contact with St.Etienne for the transfer of Matuidi, a DM that we have been crying out for.
Cockney Rich
I forgot to say that if this means more playing time for Eboue, then I am going to kill myself.
Cockney Rich
I think he will stick to the plan in terms of transfers. We need other things, a creative midfielder would not have been on the list of things to get. This situation is not quite the same as last year where Rosicky was already injured. he has nw come back into the team without looking like an injury threat, Arshavin is already at the club, Walcott did improve somewhat and Wilshere is a year older. So we still have four good options, with Eboue always ready to step in. Had we not got Rosicky back or Arshavin at the start of the year, i would be worrying.
Tom14
I think we will have enough. I'm not saying we don't need another midfielder but what is the point in buying someone to cover a play who is injured for just 2 months of a season. We still have Arshavin, Walcott, Eboue, Wilshere and that's even in Rosicky can not play.
navydave
Let's just hope he'll be back by October.
jaelle
Don't forget, Traore came back from loan at Portsmouth as well. He's another left-wing option...
devvil
Wonder if we could get Hleb on loan for six months, just to give us the extra option until Nasri is back.
flv
Traore isn't a creative option. He is a runner like Walcott and to some extent Eboue. We have choices to fill the position but not the role.
Amos.
Sorry Amos, but Traore doesn't have a brain. His stint at Portsmouth wasn't covered in glory, and by all accounts they were happy to send him back to us.
Cockney Rich
No need to apologise Cockney. I did say he wasn't a creative option.
Amos.
Here's one for you all to think about. Anyone up for AW to get on the phone to Man City and bringing Elano on loan ??? On his day, and with the right people around him, he is a decent player.
Cockney Rich
I think we should have been looking at another midfield option anyway. We've come to a stage now where we have to expect a lot of players to be missing for long spells as a persistent occurrence as it has been for the last five years now. I feel too many people focus on fantasy starting XI's and worry about players feelings too much. We get a shedload of injuries every season as a virtual guarantee, it would be foolish not to have the depth of squad to acknowledge and prepare for that. We've always had a starting line up to rival any in Europe under Wenger, but we've rarely managed a world class squad. We all know how reliant we are on squad players and I think the Adebayor money would be best invested in three decent squad players, one in each area of the pitch. It's my honest opinion that our summer spending could well be over.
Little Dutch
Well if he had planned to play Arshavin as a second striker then Wenger surely has to buy a winger unless he reverts Arshavin to his left wing position. I don't want it to end up like last season where we saw an over-reliance on Walcott/Eboue and Diaby and Denilson being played on the wings to fill in for missing players.
ArsenalFan01
It could be a blessing in disguise (although I feel for Samir), it could just turn his hand and force us into the market. I can see Arshavin in the role that Hleb wanted, playing off the front man (RVP or Eduardo) and doing that very well. That leaves us with Walcott, Rosicky, Eboue and Diaby as options for the wings. I think Xabi Alonso or Mikael Arteta could be ideal but doubt we'd go for either because of money. But we definitely need someone to come in now.
Gooner_Vin
I highly doubt Traore will be in the Arsenal squad for the coming season, he's at too high a level to go back to the reserves but he's not gonna get any game time at the Emirates. Playing in the Carling Cup isn't enough anymore either considering he'd just be going back to the stage he was at two years ago and he'd be preventing other players from getting their chance in the Carling Cup.
ArsenalFan01
flv - Hleb on loan for a seaon could be good. Or Reyes...!
Gooner_Vin
Barazite? good v barnet ? Could be on the bench until Nasri is back?
Mr_Arsenal23
I don't think Arsene will adjust transfer his plans. He'll use the opportunity to give a younger player such as Wilshere/Barazite or even Merida (I know Arsene rates him highly) some playing time, or at least an experience on the bench. I would be more worried if this had occured in the second half of the season.
ArsenalRob
LD, there is no way in hell that we have stopped spending.
Tom14
No not Reyes. Not good enough for Real, Athletico, Benfica.
paul_ownz
http://www.kleinezeitung.at/system/galleries_520x335/upload/0/2/2/2085394/nasri726gepa210709.jpg - Poor Samir. I hear it was Diaby who caught him late - not the best preparation for the season which will define whether he will have a longer career at Arsenal.
ArsenalRob
Would be diaby.
Mr_Arsenal23
I wouldnt put any money on Arsene signing another player, just in case. I fully agree with LD (that we need more players for cover), but I also realise that its not Wenger's way. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that we'll be plagued by injury this season and it will be frustrating if Wenger was not prepared for that.
prits
i have a question, if it is a fracture to the fibula, why is it been said that he suffered a broken leg? a fracture surely doesent mean it's a broken leg right. and if it is a broken leg, how can he be out for just upto 3 months. it will definetly take a lot longer than tat..
luckys_10
I'm not certain luckys, but I once suffered a broken Fibula. I was out of the cast in 6 weeks, and was walking about like normal a week after. Getting it strong enough for Premiership football will take a while longer, but I don't think it's as bad as it sounds.
ArsenalRob
AUGUST 2009 Wenger: I'm happy with the squad I've got.
MARCH 2010 Wenger: We have been very unlucky with injuries this season, I was not expecting this
IF I KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHY DON'T YOU WENGER, YOU'RE PAID TO FU(KIN KNOW!
Frosty B
lets wait and see Frosty B
ArsenalRob
Agree with LD,our summer spending spree is over,its the Wenger way,which is sad because we will regret it AGAIN. He has so much faith in this team but he is yet to convince me and a lot of fans I presume. But with 2 quality signings I know we will be world class but Wenger knows best.
D'arsassin
If Wenger does not spend another penny is proves that he has no money to spend because nobody in their right mind would not buy at least a few squad players.
Tom14
With all the emphasis on ' buying ', what about AW getting a couple of decent players in on loan. If they do well we keep them, if they don't do well we hand them back. A couple of loans will bulk out the squad a bit and maybe give us more options. AW, with his economics degree, called the ' loan ' culture a few seasons ago in an interview he gave forecasting the death of the ' transfer '. I don't know why he hasn't delved into the loan market, if as the case maybe, we are short of cash. Decent wages to a player is no problem if the loaning club pay a percentage, and of course there is no over inflated transfer fee. Just a thought.
Cockney Rich
Yes, and Elano would have been a good move in that direction. Always wondered why Wenger didnt go for him.
prits
I don't think this injury is too much to concern ourselves with given the options we have right now. I mean up-forward he has RVP, Bedtner and Eduardo availible. Which leaves the obvious options for attacking/creative midfielders we have at our disposal. I still think the money would be a lot more wiseley invested in a DM, not a 2 month band aid for a posistion we could quite easily work around.
FuiKaka
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