adminLONDON. — Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger have been accused of lying to supporters after not revealing news of Danny Welbeck’s knee surgery before the transfer deadline.
The England striker will be sidelined for “a period of months” after the club took the decision last week to operate on his left knee and it is understood he will be out until at least Christmas.
But fans are angry that Wenger — who said he expected Welbeck to be fit after the international break – did not make public the player’s setback and suspect it was a ploy to avoid being pressurised into signing a replacement forward.
The Gunners were the only Premier League club not to sign an outfield player during the summer window and Gary Neville said Wenger was “naïve or arrogant” for believing his side was good enough to compete for the title.
And now supporters want to know why the club did not feel the need to strengthen in light of Welbeck’s expected absence. Peter Wood, author of the influential Le Grove blog, said: “It’s lying to the fans and to keep it from us leaves a sour taste. It’s embarrassing.
“Wenger knows it would have put huge pressure on him to go out and sign a striker. For some reason, he seems to be going out of his way not sign the players we need – what is that reason? It’s left us in a bad position and another season looks certain to pass now without winning the Premier League or challenging for the Champions League.
“We’ve got a good squad, we know that, but we needed to kick on this summer and we have not done that.
“If he thinks they are good enough to win the league then you have to question his judgment. No other manager with a real competitive streak would have done this.” — Mailonline.
Online Reporter