I think it would be safe to suggest that Arsenal fans on social media have been in degrees of meltdown in the past few days. The anxiety at the lack of arrivals to balance the exits as the end of the window approached, reached fever pitch as the final hours confirmed a further departure, and no new faces. Being as passionate a fan as the next Gunner, it is hard to take a measured view, when there is so much anger, but the situation merits it.

Arteta letting CC go – Strange

A combination of assumption and a few conversations leads me to the unenviable conclusion that Arsenal, the management in conjunction with KSE have taken a huge punt, a colossal risk or an almighty gamble. However, we describe it, that is what we as fans have witnessed. The question is why, and will it pay off?

The reason is to massively reduce the club’s wage bill, which has for several years been at Champion’s League without the financial rewards derived from that competition. It is my belief that this will allow the owners to ‘go big’ in the summer window when I would expect, 3 marquee signings, to supplement the fabulous young core that Edu and Arteta have assembled to date. The real gamble element to this strategy is that whilst they will be in a renewed position to sanction high wages for any stellar additions, there is still a need to have European football. Big salaries, Arsenal, London, a respected young coach and Europe is hugely appealing but removing the carrot of European competition makes the allure less.

We as fans have seen the team get into a position to attain Champion’s League via the Top 4 this campaign and feel the club and management have gambled by not adding to the squad and allowing its depth to be lessened. Conversely, I think the club’s objective was top 6 and the Europa and they feel this will be sufficient to attract the stars needed to take Arsenal back into Europe’s elite the season after.

With better discipline, good luck on the injury front, some tactical flexibility from Arteta, the core the club has retained can and I think will take us into Europe but only after 17 matches will be know if the gamble was educated or reckless.

This is the full, unedited version of yesterday’s Sun Arsenal Fan Column

Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.

He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.

The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.

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Calum Chambers, Dusan Vlahovic, Edu, January Transfer Window, Mikel Arteta, Sambi Lokonga, Thiomas Partey

Arsenal Squad Assessment: i) Skillwise, one of the best in the league ii) Lacking: Lacks physicality …… iii) Discipline: This has to improve as well …. Reduce unnecessary Yellow Cards iv) Getting Rid of Deadwood: Great Job and well done v) Player-Coach Relationship: No problem with the coach ,but a little bit of transparency is needed for us as fans to understand the offences visa vi the Disciplinary Code breached

ONCE A GUNNER ALWAYS A GUNNER …..

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