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For someone who has, in the past, always been so careful with their money in terms of transfers, this season it seems that something has come over Arsene Wenger, and he is indulging in what the rest of us call panic buying.

Firstly there was the mass buying spree right at the death of the summer transfer window after high profile departures, and now comes the January transfer window, where Wenger says he will buy if ‘something comes up.’

For a man normally so careful and frugal with the money he has, just why has Wenger’s approach to spending changed so much?

The first explanation is clearly the fact he needed both cover for the players who had left in the summer and also to show fans that he was willing to buy and take Arsenal forward, and as the January window approaches, it seems that in order to convince their star man to sign a new contract, Arsenal need a big signing to show RVP that they really mean business and can fulfil his ambitions both in terms of taking the club forward and winning trophies.

It cannot be denied that the Londoner’s are in dire need of cover for RVP, if not only to lighten the burden on the player, also as a back-up should he succumb to injury problems yet again. The players they currently have, such as Chamakh are nowhere near the level they need, and Wenger is fully aware of this.

The drive and urgency to succeed may also be playing a hefty part in Wenger’s dip into the transfer market, with the gap between the top couple of teams and Arsenal only growing, and Wenger knows that should the club fail to convince Van Persie to sign a new contract, they will have virtually no hope of competing with the likes of City, and may struggle to fund a replacement in the same league as the Dutch man.

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Arsenal and Wenger are in a difficult position, they clearly need a second striker who can actually score goals, and will lose players when the African Cup of nations starts, yet is panic buying the answer? Only Arteta of the summer signings has made any real impact, and the history of silly money flop transfers in January is one that grows every year.

Arsenal have never really been ones to enter into panic buying and waste money – yet the urgency to both succeed and keep hold of their main man may well see them major players this window. How far this will help them however is another matter entirely, and for a man who in seasons gone by would criticise other managers for doing exactly what he is now, how times have changed for Wenger.

Mauro Zarate could make a return to the Premier League following interest from QPR, says the Daily Star.

Zarate has thus far failed to make an impression at Inter Milan, who have loaned the striker from Lazio for the season.

It’s reported that Zarate would like to get games under his belt away from the San Siro and would welcome a chance to return to England.

Mark Hughes is eager to establish QPR as a Premier League club and could use the combined efforts of Zarate and fellow South American target Henrique to fulfil those ambitions.

Zarate scored four goals during his time at Birmingham in 2008, but the Argentine is yet to score in the league for Inter and limited playing time could add weight to speculation of a move away.

Zarate was linked with a move to Arsenal last summer and is also being tracked by Bolton and Newcastle.

With a number of Premier League suitors watching his situation, Lazio will be keen to drive his price up as much as possible.

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After experiencing trips to Madrid and Milan last season Tottenham Hotspur fans will this year have to familiarise themselves with places like Thessaloniki, Kazan and Dublin ahead of visits as part of Tottenham’s Europa League campaign.

However while Spurs fans may care about the European competition, it is appears that Harry Redknapp does not and instead he sees it as a hindrance and nuisance to the clubs progress in the league especially in trying to gain a top-four finish that would again secure Champions League football. In Redknapp’s eyes finishing higher in the league is far more important than winning the Mickey Mouse cup of European football. But by doing this are Spurs missing a great chance of European success by concentrating on the league or does it make financial and business sense?

Last week, Redknapp choose a relatively strong 25-man squad for this season’s Europa League group stages after earlier suggesting that he would give the kids a run out this year. There are only two major absentees in Van der Vaart and Freidel in the squad but I expect to see a much changed first eleven when it announced for the game against PAOK Salonika after a number of first team players did not travel with the team. By playing such a young and inexperienced side Harry could be jeopardising any chance they had of success in Europe.

The money that a club like Tottenham can earn from just qualifying for the Champions League group stages completely dwarves what they what get from reaching the final and even winning the Europa League. So more resources go towards the league than winning a trophy that doesn’t mean too much to club despite the fans obvious desire to win another trophy. It is certainly harder to attract the best players to White Hart Lane with just the Europa League to offer them rather than the prospect of playing against the world’s best players in the Champions League and if Spurs were to go another year without the huge draw of Champions League football, it is possible that they would find it hard to hang onto to some of their star players like Modric and Bale. So I can understand why Redknapp has put the Europa League level with the Carling Cup as a chance to play some of his fringe players so he can focus on the league and last year Tottenham’s league progress was certainly affected by their Champions League campaign.

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It was therefore somewhat of a surprise this week to see Rafeal Van der Vaart make it clear that he was unhappy at being left out of the Spurs 25-man squad for the Europa League group stages. However it was a breath of fresh air to see a footballer care so much about a much maligned trophy and I think that perhaps English clubs should take the trophy more seriously as Fulham did two years ago, eventually losing in the final to Atletico Madrid. If Tottenham were to win the Europa League but miss out on the top four, would that constitute a good season?

I believe that Spurs should not take this year’s Europa League too lightly as there is a lack of top clubs in the competition until the Champions League drop-outs join in at the knock-out stages. Instead Harry should use it as a chance to see the players who are on the fringes of the first-team which will surely become useful in the later stages of the season and give some of the young kids like Tom Carroll and Harry Kane some much needed experience. If Spurs can get the balance right between youth and experience then I think this will benefit the club in the much harder knock out stages. Only then can we expect Redknapp to think about taking the competition seriously and that is not a certainty especially if the race for the Premier League top four hots up. For now bring on the mighty Shamrock Rovers.

Let me know your thoughts and follow me on twitter @aidanmccartney for more thoughts and discussion on the beautiful game.

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Transfer stories and links seem to never cease, and no sooner than the January transfer window slams shut, talk of summer moves set into motion. Whether it be players looking to escape their surroundings, make the next step up in their career or simply looking to remain employed, rumours surround men from almost every club.

It may be an exciting time for the fans, but for managers and their back-room staff the transfer window presents much worry and stress, with the pressure of finding the right player at the right price to secure pre-season aims and keep the chairman off of their back. Beginning preparation early ensures that the targets are identified with lots of time to thrash out the deal before the end of the window, because as we all know, panic buying can often work out as the worst strategy possible.

Here is a list of ten players who, for various reasons, will most likely be the subject of interest and bids this summer, as clubs across the league look to build for the 2012/13 season.

Click on Moussa Dembele to unveil the top 10

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Fenerbahce’s Emre Belozoglu is required to testify as a suspect in the ongoing investigation into match-fixing in Turkish football.According to Turkish publication Zamen, the former Newcastle and Inter Milan midfielder will be forced to answer questions on allegations that he sent a series of text messages to Ankaragucu defender Kagan Soylemezgiller before the two clubs met in the last match of the season in May.

The messages are reported to have said: “Don’t let my president (Aziz Yildirim) be angry. Don’t play your best game.”

But the Fenerbahce club captain has denied those suggestions, with the messages supposedly sent by the Ahmet Bulut – business partner of his agent Ekrem Okumus – with the approval of the player.

Emre has also been accused of promising a number of Ankaragucu players that he would help them secure a move to Fenerbahce if they did not play in the fixture.

The midfielder’s most recent appearance in front of the media came on Monday, where he admitted the national team was struggling to focus on their Euro 2012 qualifiers with the saga hanging over their heads.

If Emre is found guilty he may join Fenerbahce patron Yildirim and Besiktas coach Tayfur Havutcu in being arrested.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has thanked the club’s fans for their support, and feels the St James’ Park faithful are one of the main reasons for the Tyneside outfit’s excellent start to the season.

The Magpies are unbeaten in their first nine games, and can move into third place in the standings if they remain undefeated after the game with Stoke on Monday night.

Despite losing the likes of Joey Barton, Jose Enrique and Kevin Nolan over the summer, the Geordies have excelled, and Pardew has praised the supporters for their part in the team’s success.

“I think it’s very important that you have a good feeling running through the club, from the terraces right down to the pitchside,” he told Sky Sports.

“I think there’s a trust from the terraces in what we’re doing, especially in the players that we have.

“That trust has come out in a number of areas this year that have seen us get victories. And you can’t do that without the tremendous backing that we’ve got here.

“I think they see that we’re trying to do it the right way, approaching the game in the right style, and hopefully producing football that makes them want to come back every week.

“The support helps when bad days come along, and they will come along. We’re going to have some tough days and if they trust that the management and the players are doing everything to try to win the game then they’ll stay with you,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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In light of FFC’s focus on troublesome footballers this week, I have decided to constructed a Top Ten list of footballers misbehaving abroad. Although the sport has increased in professionalism over the last few decades, there are still a number of stories reported that show the players in a worse light off the pitch. Although, we must remember that they are only human, like us and can’t be expected to behave like machines, some of the following is inexcusable.

So whether it’s team mates coming to blows, the paparazzi snapping players boozing it up or just stupid and bizarre actions, they make it onto the list. What didn’t make it was the England WAGS from the 2006 World Cup, they reportedly distracted the players during the tournament and although it wasn’t the players misbehaving themselves, they nearly made it into the top ten. Also, quite a few people recommended Cristiano Ronaldo photographed in speedo’s as a criminal activity, but again it failed to make the ten below…..

Click on Gazza below to see the Top TEN!

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Compiled by Matt Freebody

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Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has spoken of his loyalty to the club, and stated that he has no plans to leave North London.

The playmaker, who is currently on the sidelines due to an ankle injury, has been linked with a transfer to Manchester City after Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy’s summer moves to the Etihad Stadium.

Despite this, the England international has spoke of his desire to stay at The Emirates.

“No disrespect to Manchester City but Arsenal is the perfect home for me right now,” he told Mirror Football.

“Some players have got their price, but to be honest that’s not the way I look at the game. All I think about is playing at the highest level and in the top competitions, so I can measure myself against the best in the world.

“I really am happy at Arsenal at the minute. Obviously I want to win things [but] I want to do it with Arsenal. I have been at Arsenal since I was nine and I have grown to love the club.

“There are players there who have been there as long as me and I think we are starting to build something special there with the likes of Emmanuel Frimpong and players I have seen in the youth teams coming through. In a couple of years, they’ll be big players for us.

“Obviously I want to play in the Champions League and that is the aim for Arsenal and everyone at the club. We’ve started a bit slowly but we still feel we can finish in the top four,” he stated.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has come under-fire in the press, which Wilshere feels is unwarranted and unfair.

“We do get a harder time from the critics than most teams, but we haven’t won anything for six years and that’s not good enough for Arsenal.

“It is harsh, though, especially on the boss. He has been there for 15 years and been great for Arsenal. The criticism Arsene gets is a joke,” he concluded.

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Wilshere is expected to be out of action for another couple of months, with a strict rehabilitation process underway in his search for fitness.

By Gareth McKnight

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‘I disagree with people when they say football is a sport. When the Sky (TV) money came in, that changed. Football is a business’. The recent admission from the former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson during an undercover meeting may have come as a shock to some, but to most, isn’t it something we already knew ?

For those who don’t know, or didn’t see the program, Channel 4’s ‘Dispatches’ documentary recently went undercover, posing as wealthy businessmen on the look-out to buy an English club. They met a group in Thailand, which Bryan Robson was a part of, and openly discussed the possibility of buying two clubs (which is illegal) and how they would circumnavigate the laws to achieve this. Robson was secretly filmed discussing this in the meeting, and openly talking about how his links to a certain Premier League club and other managers, would help call in ‘favours’ and loans, to build-up their newly acquired teams. They also stated they were not in it for the long-term – just looking to buy the club’s cheap, gain promotion, make a massive profit, then get out. It was when queried on the moral issues surrounding such a takeover that Robson gave the above statement.

Are many of us still naive to think that the people who invest billions into our clubs will not want the maximum return possible out of their investments, and do everything they can in trying to achieve such things? That is exactly how the business world works. However, we are talking about football – a sport. Our ‘beautiful game’ that means so much to so many, world-wide. To have our beloved club’s bandied around like toys by these rich businessmen, is not a nice thought for any passionate supporter.

Of course, the huge money invested in today’s football has changed many things for the better. The way the sport is brought to us (so-called ‘expert’ pundits aside), seemingly 24 hours a day through every kind of media possible. Clubs have better stadiums, better training facilities, better injury care, the list goes on and on. But is the most important thing any better; the actual football? Sky TV would have you believe so, but that’s another debate.

Utilising loopholes and creating deals to advance is nothing new and has been going on for years within football clubs. The difference today is that the clubs are now viewed as businesses – loopholes and deals are now used with the end purpose of creating the maximum profit; the business philosophy. Not for the end purpose of trying to make the club the best it can be; the sporting philosophy. With such large amounts of money available in the game, many an individual’s integrity is put to this test. The power to ‘influence’ sporting decisions (illegal or otherwise) has been around for some time, but in today’s game nothing attains influence greater than money.

Whilst Robson’s opinion may well be right, looking to underhandedly capitalise on the sorry state of affairs and cash-in, is disgraceful. Two wrongs don’t make a right eh Bryan?

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Whenever an important player leaves a club and a new one arrives, there is generally a rule in the footballing world were people must compare that player to the outgoing hero, or a previous star. Can they fill his boots? Will he rise to the challenge? But equally, newly arriving managers face the exact same scrutiny – a task made all the more daunting if sitting in the hot-seat of those who have achieved success and had a legendary status bestowed upon them. So can managers truly succeed, when directly following a ‘great’, in the modern era were results and success needs to be instant? Or is it virtually mission impossible?

It seems a catch-22 situation to be placed in from the start. Attempting to replace a legend is a thankless task. Win, and it’s expected – the norm. Lose, and the accolades of the former manager are thrust into full view, with negative headlines splashed across the papers. You could never just be ‘your own man’. Every decision, tactic, signing and substitution is scrutinised with unfair comparisons being made. Catch-22.

The recent intense pressure placed on Arsene Wenger in the media (maybe not helped by himself in some small part by the apparent, early stinginess in the transfer market) led to talk of him possibly walking out of Arsenal, or being shown the door. If that scenario was to occur, who would replace him? He has been an absolutely legendary figure at the Gunners since he arrived back in the 90’s, transforming the club’s playing identity, whilst also bringing it into the new century with his training, dietary and psychological methods that were virtually unheard of in the English game at the time. The success that followed only added to his adulation, thus ensuring a near-impossible task for whoever replaces him, whenever that time comes.

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It’s the same at Manchester United, though even more daunting. Talk of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has been around for years. As to who his eventually replacement may be has been discussed many times with various names thrown into the hat. With United’s success, it has been safe to say that whoever is attaining similar success, or hype (or both) at the time, would have been named as Ferguson’s definite heir. But whoever sits in that hot-seat faces an almighty task. How do you replace the man who has guided a team through the most successful period in their history – by far!?? Who lasted over a quarter of a century, collecting the biggest trophies for much of that period? It will be a brave man who sits in that seat. Win, and it’s the norm – but they would also have to win playing a certain style. Lose? Well losing won’t be an option.

One man who is many people’s favourite to succeed Ferguson is a coach who himself attained legendary status at not one, but three successful clubs, thus ensuring his successors a tough time even before they began work; Jose Mourinho. Directly after leaving Porto having won the European Cup, the club burnt through four managers in little under two years as none could live up to what Mourinho achieved. At Chelsea, he (along with the help of a certain Russian’s bank account) won the league title instantly; a feat the club hadn’t achieved for 50-years. More silverware followed but success in Europe was never realised and after a fallout with the owner, the Portuguese moved to Italy. Chelsea, have had five managers since he left. At Inter, Mourinho walked in to a pressure situation; Inter, fresh from being winners of Serie A, were in the ascendancy. Not winning the Scudetto for Inter in the wake of Calciopoli would be seen as a massive catastrophe, bordering on embarrassment. However Mourinho’s remit was clear: deliver the European Cup. He duly obliged, cementing his status as Inter legend and ensuring his replacement would have an impossible task. That man was Rafa Benitez, and he lasted six months.

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Back to Chelsea, who had their brief dominance under Mourinho interrupted by Manchester United, and have now turned to the ‘new Mourinho’ in order to reclaim glory; Andre Villas-Boas. The comparisons are immense. Dubbed ‘mini-Mourinho’ by the press, Villas-Boas served under Mourinho, whilst at Chelsea and Inter, and that has also brought the instant pressure and hype of being compared with Chelsea’s most iconic former manager. But there is a difference this time that will put Villas-Boas in good stead; he’s done it before. Yes, at Porto he was finally the manager who filled Mourinho’s shoes, even surpassing some of his former mentor’s records at the club.

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An immense pressure is sat on Villas-Boas’ young shoulders, as it is for any manager who chooses to sit in the seat once occupied by a club legend. Can he succeed in ‘mission impossible’?

If you want to read more from myself including news, thoughts and views you can follow me on Twitter @fantasista1077 thanks!