Still, I'll make an attempt again this year.
The proposed ins and outs are tightly linked. While the press are content to raise the alarm for any name mentioned by (it seems) any source available, it's hard to see the longer lines. But sustainable football is all about long lines, keeping within the budget and composing the squad after making tough choices.
"And even if you lose Nasri, to find the same quality player, you have to spend again the same amount of money. Because you cannot say that you lose the player and you do not replace him."
The priority for Wenger is to keep the players he has. He has always put great emphasis on their ability to play together. Arsenal's tactics are demanding. If well-weighted, visionary passes don't reach their targets, it still looks silly. If the speed of thought aren't on par with the speed of the play, Arsenal look very ordinary.
Any confusion over Samir Nasri is now cleared, it seems, for the club. Even though the rumours still persist, he will be kept in the squad for the coming season. Some of Wenger's quotes in the matter suggest that he compares the risk of no fee for Nasri with any other risk in the transfer market. Nasri can't be easily replaced, not even for £25m. Which player could be bought, contracted and then coached to be as good as soon as August?
"I think Cesc has always been torn between his love for Arsenal that I feel is really genuine and, as well and what you can understand, the desire to play for the biggest team, at the moment, in the world. I think both exist in his head."
The captain's situation is less clear. Arsenal want Cesc Fábregas to stay, and his contract runs for several more years. Last year, Barcelona were told in no uncertain terms to forget any deal. But today, Wenger insinuated that there is contact between the clubs. Whether it's real negotiations or just polite variations of the word 'no', we don't know.
The quote above is from the Q&A Wenger did with the English printed media in Kuala Lumpur at the start of the Asian tour. He implied that Cesc loves Arsenal and Barca both, and is torn between them when sorting out his future. This is very human. A Barca fan since childhood, it's hard to turn down the chance to play there. But as anyone else tempted to switch jobs, Cesc compares the new position with what he's already got.
Last year, Arsenal were clear that no deal was to be made. This summer, the club have been less outspoken. If I dare to interpret: this year Cesc is for sale at the right price. The club doesn't need the constant distraction, especially not with the hard games coming thick and fast from the very start of the season.
But - and this is the major but - Barcelona don't have the money. The Guardian's Matt Scott has written a clear analysis, showing that the club is on the brink of bankrupcy. That might explain all the rumours of constant haggling on a transfer fee for Cesc. And there is no reason for Arsenal, known for their financial clout, to accept selling their captain on the cheap.
Cesc's own silence in the matter have infuriated many Gooners. But like Nasri, Cesc has nothing to gain by going public in any direction. Their fates are not in their own hands, and they risk falling out with fans either way. In fact, Cesc Fábregas has stayed classy throughout, never saying a bad word about any club.
"Everyone sees things in a different way but in these decisions, not everything depends on the player. I am not going to talk about any team but I can't say no to anyone because you never know what could happen in the future. If I said anything else it would be a lie, it would give rise to speculation that is not true."
From the clouds surrounding the captain to the ones obviously outbound. Selling players aren't a lark, the Premier League (and UEFA) rules on squad limitation is a problem, as is the English level of the Arsenal players' wages.
"[Nicklas Bendtner and Manuel Almunia] are talking to other clubs at the moment. I cannot tell you which ones."
These two are definitely looking to leave Arsenal, both frustrated about losing the competition for places. Their time has arrived, but their suitors may be in for hard negotiations. The Spanish sides linked with Almunia aren't likely to be prepared to pay him what he gets today. And Bendtner's high opinion of himself is a threat to any deal. Arsenal risk that the player turns down the contracts offered by the clubs agreeing a transfer fee.
The sale of Gaël Clichy was classic Wenger. A faithful club servant is sold at the right time, like so many others before him. The reason? To let a young English full back blossom.
"The plan for left back is that we have Kieran Gibbs, Armand Traore and Thomas Vermaelen can play there too. So we have what we need."
There is no reason to believe that Clichy will be replaced with a new signing. Gibbs is already an England international. Traore has gone the rounds on loan to gain experience, last season with no lesser club than Juventus. The manager believes they are ready, and it's time for the investments made in them to pay dividends.
The same logic applied for Clichy when Arsenal replaced Ashley Cole. Instead of bringing in someone like Wayne Bridge (heavily linked at the time), Wenger plumped for an internal promotion. It went rather well, don't you think?
In the same vein, Carl Jenkinson looks to be a typical Wenger signing. Cheap, intelligent, skilled and far better than anyone expected (to judge from his - at the time of writing - single Arsenal appearance in Malaysia). Just like Clichy was as an unknown 17-year-old from Cannes, rapidly becoming real competition for England's number 3.
“In open play, we were one of the better defences [last season] but we conceded too many goals on set-pieces and that is where we want to improve this season.”
Most Gooners would agree that the defence is what needs strength in depth, particularly in the middle. This week, Wenger said that coaching rather than signing would solve the problems. It's hard to believe he won't try both.
In Vermaelen, Arsenal have one of the best defenders in the league. Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou are set to embark on their second full seasons, and will improve. Sébastien Squillaci is clearly fourth choice, while Kyle Bartley and Ignasi Miquel need to convince the manager soon if they're not to be loaned out again and/or sold like so many before them.
There is room for more competition, but Wenger is keeping his cards to his chest. Despite rumours stretching back weeks and months, Bolton insist that no move is made for Gary Cahill. Interest in Christopher Samba seems to be waning, and no hard facts is known on any bids since January. Bids for Phil Jagielka were reported to be made last summer, and the rumours persist this year. Buying someone from Everton isn't easy, though, their squad is thin as it is.
I believe there are two reasons for Wenger's statement. The first, obvious one, is that any stated interest in any player increases the transfer fee. The second is that frugal Arsenal may want to sell first. Both the wage budget and the 25 player rule limits the intake of players.
Having in a way traded Clichy for Gervinho, the club needs to offload before signing a new player and agreeing wages. If Bendtner, Almunia or even Denilson get new employers, Arsenal will be more active.
It's not like Denilson will leave a gaping hole in the squad. It can be argued that a fit Aaron Ramsey is like Wenger's equivocal 'new signing' in that respect. As the Yankee Gunner puts it, the real problem at Arsenal may be the lack of cover for Alex Song in the midfield anchor role. The only really sizable transfer rumour for that position has been Scott Parker. Expensive and 30, however, he's not anything like a typical Wenger signing. All the noises connecting him with Arsenal also appear to have come from his own representatives.
But like with Gibbs, there might be a chance this or next season for Emmanuel Frimpong and Craig Eastmond to really enter the competition for the anchor role in the first team.
“I realise there is a big chance in front of me and I might not give this No 1 shirt away to anyone else for the next ten to 15 years.”
The words of Wojcech Szczesny, who many already think is the answer to Arsenal's problem position in goal. Looking at his performances last season, as well as the injured Lukasz Fabianski's (yes, really) it doesn't look like Almunia needs replacing. Vito Mannone shouldn't be forgotten either, impressing on loan in the Championship the last few months.
Any media links to any goalkeepers appear more and more strenuous as the Silly Season grows older.
“We worked very hard with these players for years to develop them and now it’s time for us to keep them together.”
As stated, the manager wants to keep the players who are already there. And face it, while it's fun to debate the players' merits on forums, blogs and Twitter, he knows them best. When he decides to keep Andrei Arshavin in spite of his perceived lack of defensive fibres, Tomas Rosicky the non-goal-machine or Abou Diaby the hothead it's beacuse of the continuity. He believes it's valuable in itself.
And at this time of the pre-season Arsène Wenger must be bullish about his team. This is the time where the ghosts of last season's final stretch must be exorcised. The players must believe that they can do it next time. Time will show if he can convince the Arsenal fans as well.
It is a mantra, but it's no less true when spoken today.
"We are a young team and we can only be better."
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