Arsenal Boss Whinging About Bellamy

Cardiff City’s loan move to bring club captain Craig Bellamy to South Wales has come in for more criticism, this time from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners boss is moaning that Championship clubs cannot affort to pay for the wages of Premiership players – a claim that would appear to support Bellamy’s move, which was made possible by a huge subsidy payed for by his host club Manchester City, though the Bluebirds must pay back the full amount if we acheive promotion.

However, Wenger is not happy that Man City continue to pay Bellamy’s wage, and told arsenal.com:

‘They [Man City] can afford the wages of the players without playing them. The problem is when you loan your players out and you pay half of their wages. Is that right or wrong? Is that legal or not legal?’

It’s legal Arsene. That much is pretty obvious.

‘When you say ‘the wages are too high’ but what do you do? I have the same problem when I loan a player out to the Championship, if the player’s wages are too high.

‘What has happened recently is that the financial potential of the Championship clubs has gone down, the Division One clubs has gone down, most of those clubs have problems to survive so they cannot pay the wages any more for players who go – even for players who go there to sign a contract.’

It’s not exactly clear what Wenger’s point is here. Premiership clubs put those players on a high wage, you can’t really complain that other clubs without the undoubted riches assouciated with the top level don’t have the same resources.

What’s more, is that Arsenal have a wealth of youngsters who desperately need first team games. The likes of Emannuel-Thomas, Carlos Vela etc would be huge hits in the Championship, gain some valuable competitive gametime and return to Arsenal better players. Thats a direct benefit to the Gunners, so why shouldn’t they subsidise the wages?

Again, Aaron Ramsey recently spent a loan spell with Championship side Nottingham Forest. That was to help Forest improve their creativity, but also help Ramsey recover from his broken leg. He has now been recalled to Arsenal and will be far better equipped to contribut thanks to his Championship loan spell – direct benefit to Arsenal!

Craig Bellamy is not going to return to Manchester City a better player, so they have even more reason to complain – but have worked out a deal to save themselves money, and possibly make back all his wages – depending on promotion.

Whilst we are undoubtedly very lucky that Craig wanted to come to Cardiff, was not needed by Man City, and that a deal could be agreed – Arsene Wenger is truly deluded if he thinks clubs in the Championship and below should feel sorry for Arsenal’s fininacial plight !