EXCLUSIVE:Arsenal can't afford another botched transfer window - but time is running out for Wenger to prove he means business

"If the Frenchman fails to land any of his major targets, then he will have serious questions to answer"

Arsene Wenger: Should he go if the transfer window shuts without any major signings?

Paul Gilham

To borrow a phrase from American comedian Larry David, Arsenal must be pretty, pretty good.
You see, manager Arsene Wenger often reminds us that he is only looking for 'super quality' to add to his Arsenal squad.
Despite the fact the Gunners finished 16 points behind Premier League champions Manchester United and just one ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham last season, only the very best will do for Wenger.
So far this summer, Yaya Sanogo is the sole player to fulfil Wenger's exacting criteria.
Sanogo is a 20-year-old French striker, who has played 24 senior games in his career for Auxerre, scoring 11 goals. And he cost the best part of nothing, joining Arsenal as a free agent.
Having started the summer with £70million to spend on exciting new stars, Wenger has made over £10m in player sales and is yet to open the cheque book.
Out have gone Gervinho to Roma, Marouane Chamakh to Crystal Palace and Vito Mannone to Sunderland. Andre Santos left for Flamengo and Denilson joined Sao Paulo, while Andrey Arshavin and Sebastien Squillaci were released.
Sure, there have been ambitious failed bids for Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney, and there is still enough time for Wenger to turn this transfer window into a success.
A Suarez or Rooney would provide Arsenal with a huge boost. Throw in midfielder Luiz Gustavo and a top goalkeeper, and the club could become serious title contenders.
But four days ahead of Arsenal's Premier League opener against Aston Villa, the club may be realising that it's not so easy to teach an old dog new tricks.
Giving Wenger all the money in the world doesn't necessarily mean he will spend it and, so far, he hasn't. If the Frenchman fails to land any of his major targets, then he will have serious questions to answer.

The one that got away: Gonzalo Higuain eventually joined Napoli

Getty

It will be no good calling foul play over Gonzalo Higuain. Real Madrid may well have moved the goalposts in terms of his fee, but they were proved right to do so as Napoli paid the new asking price in full.
If Wenger really found it so unpalatable to spend £30million on Higuain and refuses to pay £50m-plus for Suarez, then there were other cheaper options that have passed him by.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Borussia Dortmund for a fee thought to be in the region of £11m and the 24-year-old scored a hat-trick in his first game for the German club.
Villa will travel to the Emirates with Christian Benteke. Arsenal could have signed him for £25m following the striker's transfer request, but didn't even make an enquiry.
Manchester City bought Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic, while Tottenham have significantly boosted their fire-power by signing Roberto Soldado.
Wenger may question whether Soldado and Co are 'super quality', but would none of those players improved Arsenal? Really? Wilfried Bony could even prove to be another one that got away at Swansea.
Arsenal deemed Marouane Fellaini's £23.5m Everton buy-out clause too expensive, despite the fact the Belgian would offer Wenger a new dimension in midfield and would ensure the squad is not caught short if either Jack Wilshere or Mikel Arteta pick up injuries.
Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is valued at around £15m and would walk to the Emirates. He was arguably the best keeper in the Premier League last season, but Wenger is yet to firm up his interest.

Marouane Fellaini: Wenger deemed him too expensive

Getty

Given the very public noises Arsenal made about the level of expenditure available to Wenger this summer, the team has to improve on last season.
Fourth can no longer be good enough. If Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri needed reminding why they left the Emirates, then they only had to look at the pictures of Arsenal players celebrating in the dressing room on the final day of last season.
No more pretending fourth place is some sort of imaginary trophy. No more settling for being the best club in North London. Arsenal now have the financial muscle to compete and must show tangible improvement.
That is why talk of extending Wenger's contract that expires at the end of the season is ridiculously premature right now.
He has four days to go until the Arsenal fans may well voice their frustrations again. Then there will be another 16 days for Wenger to finally close some deals and prove he means business.
If indeed Arsenal and Wenger are playing a brave game of transfer brinkmanship that they ultimately win, then this season can be an exciting new era for the club and the manager.
But if not and Arsenal are simply fighting for fourth place and once again know they will be trophyless by April, then Wenger should be allowed to walk away.