Arsenal Hopes Fountain of Youth Proves Priceless

Arsenal seek to steer clear of this summer’s inflated transfer market by investing in their talented youth players. The club is focusing on retaining its talented young players on long-term contracts and making very selective acquisitions, only in cases where a new signing will add real value to its squad. Arsenal will compete for a top place in the Premier League this season against their heavy spending rivals. This summer, manager Arsene Wenger delved into the transfer market only once, with the signing of Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax in a deal worth up to £10m.

Wenger’s strategy is deeply supported throughout the club. Arsenal’s chief executive Ivan Gazidis justified the club’s frugal transfer policy. He told BBC Sport, “Simply spending money does not make a team or guarantee success.“ Gazidis highlighted the club’s responsibility “to build the club so that it can be successful, not just this season and next season, but also 10 and even 20 years from now.” This summer Arsenal plans to reinforce their squad internally, four players, Robin van Persie, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs have secured new long-term contract extensions. Gazidis said that cementing a players place within the squad can be more important than high-profile signings.

Gazidis reinforced the significance of younger talent within the Arsenal’s first team, “Our young players have some very valuable high-level experience under their belts and will be one year older and better, mentally and physically… They are ready for the challenge, believe me,” he told the BBC. The Arsenal chief executive issued a warning to their big-spending rivals, "There is a football graveyard of clubs that have not adhered to these principles and have unfortunately suffered the consequences.” While money hopefully is not everything in football, most Arsenal fans probably are still thinking that their squad is not quite as strong as it needs to be to truly be a title contender.