Shearer says: “Arsene Wenger has full control so the blame has to lie with him”
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Premier League legend shares his reaction to Deadline Day
Yesterday’s Deadline Day didn’t quite take off like many were expecting, as a number of big name players failed to grab the move they desired.
One of those players was Philippe Coutinho. I don’t know him personally so I am not sure how he is going to feel about it but by handing in a transfer request he made it clear he wanted the move to Barcelona.
As with Sanchez, Van Dijk and Mahrez, we will find out over the next few weeks if it was a wise move to keep hold of them or if it was a mistake not taking the money.
The Sanchez situation
Sanchez is in the final year of his contract with Arsenal so he can sign for someone else in January. For me that is a huge gamble.
They had three big players with contracts that were going to expire in 10 months’ time. They sold one of them in Oxlade-Chamberlain but they still have Sanchez and Ozil. You are talking over £100 million pounds worth of talent there, who can walk away.
It is a very embarrassing situation for Arsenal Football Club. How can you get into this position without selling them when it is clear they don’t want to be there?
It has just been a terrible week for Arsenal after that performance against Liverpool and then putting bids in for players and then withdrawing the offer!
What now for Wenger?
Arsene Wenger said he has full control at Arsenal so the blame has to lie with him.
I said after he won the FA Cup last season that it would be the perfect time for him to walk away from the club.
He has chosen to stay on with a new two-year contract so he has to take full responsibility.
He certainly can’t afford any more performances from his team like the one they put in against Liverpool. That came after being beaten the week before too.
To me it didn’t look like a team rallying around their manager. It could have been eight or nine to Jurgen Klopp’s team and that is no exaggeration.
Chelsea’s midfield options
It was no surprise to see Danny Drinkwater sign for Chelsea late last night.
It had been in the papers for a few weeks that the champions were in for him. He is a solid player who won the Premier League with Leicester alongside Kante.
Those two players will obviously reunite now. I don’t see him starting but the £35 million they have paid for him is the price you have to pay now for a squad player.
They have Bakayoko, Kante and Fabregas in their squad and he will be a squad addition to that midfield.
They do need more players because of the heavy load of games they are going to face now they are back into the Champions League.
Conte will be a little disappointed that he has not added more in the window and I still don’t think they have enough to get them through a heavy season.
Liverpool already have midfield quality
Liverpool won the race to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain. But I have to be honest, I’m still not sure what his best position is. He wanted to go to Liverpool but where will he play there?
It is very strange when a player goes for £40 million and you are not sure if he is a winger, wing-back or central midfielder.
I certainly don’t see him getting into the centre of midfield at Liverpool ahead of Lallana, Henderson, Can and Coutinho.
Sensible Spurs
Spurs did some good business at the back end of the transfer window.
They had to get more bodies in and they did with Fernando Llorente and Serge Aurier. Llorente is cover for Harry Kane, he also gives them a different option and he could also line up alongside him if needed.
In France, Kylian Mbappe completed his move to PSG from Monaco, initially on loan but then with a £160 million permanent transfer.
The fees now are just mind-boggling. There is no doubt he is an excellent player but when I read £160 million, I just couldn’t believe it but the money is just going to keep going up and up over the next few years.
