Arsene Wenger:

“The strategy of the club is to sell every year and to buy less expensive players.

We manage at Arsenal to maintain all our football ambitions - national and European - while having to free up - for 17 more years - an annual surplus of £24m to pay for our stadium.

The club’s strategy is to favour the policy of youngsters ahead of stars and to count on the collective quality of our game.”

These are the latest quotes from Arsene Wenger which made disturbing reading for Arsenal fans. For a few years now, we’ve usually ended up making profits in the transfer window. I assumed it was just a nice coincidence but the manager has told us this is now our strategy. Last summer we sold our top player, Thierry Henry, and bought less expensive players (Eduardo). Now we’re set to sell Adebayor after a great season.

It’s horrible thinking that if a player has really successful year with us, he won’t be there to help us the next. If this policy is true, how long until we have to sell Fabregas? Then van Persie? Then Walcott? Then who next? We might have great youngsters coming through but everyone knows you can’t just keep selling your best players.

Arseblogger reacted to these quotes saying they don’t sound right to him. It’s true, Wenger keeps his cards close to his chest when it comes to matters involving transfers; it’s unlike him to come out with such a bold and negative statement (i.e. the first sentence of that quote).

If it is true, then it is quite depressing for Arsenal fans. It shows a lack of ambition and togetherness. An ever-changing squad is not a good thing.

I used to get so worked up about transfers, but now I realise all I can do is just sit back and watch. It’s a much less stressful approach but I’d hate to just be sitting there watching Arsenal collapse.

It’s all very, very depressing so let’s move on shall we?

Andrei Arshavin’s agent reckons that his player’s transfer in our hands. Not because we’re trying to sign him, but because the futures of Hleb and Adebayor need to be sorted out before Arshavin can sort his deal out. If Hleb goes to Barca, then they won’t need Arshavin. If Barca buys Adebayor, they might not be able to afford Arshavin too. So if Adebayor goes to Milan, then Barca might have some spare cash. Etc, etc…

All these players all need to go somewhere. Once one high-profile transfer gets done, then I’m sure there’ll be loads to follow.

Justin Hoyte says he’s going to stay and fight for his place. I thought he might be leaving this summer but he says Arsene has a plan for him so he’s going to remain at Arsenal and do his best. Fair play.

On the subject of selling. A company offered to buy The Cannon off me yesterday. I told them I couldn’t do it. So I hope all you lot appreciate my crap. Thanks for reading, again.