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Before Borussia Dortmund, it was the favorite European oppressed of all hipsters; Before Southampton packed and sent his best talents to Anfield, Arsenal perfected the model sold. "We do not buy stars," insisted Arsene Wenger. "We do them."
Arsenal remained undefeated in 2003/04, but Wenger himself was invincible in the ensuing years. He has not won anything, but his reputation has grown: a man who could lose the titanic Patrick Vieira, replace him with a light playmaker La Masia, then progress further in Europe. Thierry Henry, Ashley Cole and Robert Pires are all gone and have been replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri. When the second wave left, Arsenal simply reinvested and maintained its status among the top four.
Wenger has become the Doctor Who of English football: an idealistic and elderly gentleman, who regenerates every season but still enchants viewers. What could this man be able to do, free from financial chains around his wrists? And if a benevolent billionaire could buy Arsenal and release the genie of the lamp?
It was another time. We have since learned that the wealthy owners are not always kind, Tottenham will not be a waste forever and Wenger is definitely vincible. The last pillar of this time revolving doors, Aaron Ramsey, just packed his bags and settled in the Alps. The old plans of Arsenal are now buried under the Emirates Stadium in a time capsule.
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There is little certainty in North London lately, but Arsenal is no longer a sales club. Every summer, they desperately hang on to their players like vases during an earthquake. The offers have recently been rejected for Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Hector Bellerin and Ramsey. The club would prefer to let the presidents of European clubs wait for two blue ticks rather than suggest that anyone be for sale.
This is understandable. Fans wondered why Arsenal was playing such a match, selling and reinvesting tirelessly, while it was enough for Manchester United to climb to the title, for Robin van Persie. It was the ultimate smack in the face; a dagger to an eight-year philosophy. The Emirates were built on quicksand. Supporters strive for stability – big clubs are not supposed to flog their stars every season.
Overnight, it was as if Arsenal preferred not to look like a small club rather than accept £ 60 million from Sheikh Mansour for Alexis Sanchez's services. As if the pride of keeping an badet that was depreciating was worth more than the embarrbadment of rebuilding. Apparently, £ 50 million had been offered at Ramsey last summer, but the Gunners have again chosen to sign a contract rather than sell. He, Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck have all left for nothing.
Selling stars does not have to be a bad thing. It did not seem very good for Liverpool when Philippe Coutinho sent an email six months after the start of a new deal, but the sale managed to buy two players who delivered a Champions League. Finally, the cardboard cut in Leicester's club shop by Riyad Mahrez was bittersweet, but the compensation that the Manchester City Foxes paid to James Maddison and Yuri Tielemans.
Arsenal is no longer at the mercy of football predators. This time, the sale can be a choice. There is quality in the Arsenal team, they lack balance. Is it a bad idea, for example, to sell Alexandre Lacazette – a striker with four away goals last season, all against relegated teams – while you can reinvest that money in Wilfried Zaha and play alone against Aubameyang?
If it is true that PSG has offered 50 million pounds to Matteo Guendouzi, will that buy you a desperately needed defender? If Bayern Munich presents a hypnotic treasure chest of Callum Hudson-Odoi, what are the prospects for Arsenal's future? Some players could also get respectable fees if they were sold by Liverpool or Chelsea – Nacho Monreal, Granite Xhaka, Alex Iwobi – but none of them could even be improved.
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With a sparkling academy and talent on the ground, things are not apocalyptic for Arsenal. Their modest transfer budget can be increased simply by giving up a big name. Ramsey is a cautionary tale for the future – never again should a star be allowed to go out free of charge in return. It can be argued that this was much more damaging than the Van Persie episode.
Feeling like a big club is important to fans: it's the whiskey shot that keeps us warm during a trophy drought. But there is more than one way to run a business. Selling is not a sign of weakness. Let your players leave for free is.
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