Mills fumes at Arsenal ‘smokescreen’ after Sky reveal
Danny Mills has insisted it is not enough for Arsenal to build for the future – they need to win games now.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League and England defender claimed Edu’s recent defence of Arsenal’s transfer strategy “stinks of a smokescreen”.
The Gunners’ technical director told Sky Sports last weekend (September 4) the club had focused on signing players under the age of 23 as they plan for the future.
The north London club signed a total of six players this summer for a combined £149million – no other club in Europe spent more.
“They are building for the future and have taken on some good young players,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“But you still have to be good now. If you’re not good now, there is no future. You can’t afford to drop down to 16th in the table for three seasons and say ‘Now the players have got experience’ because it’s too far to step back up.
“You end up, after a five-year cycle, and if it goes perfectly, you end up where you were previously, no better. You have to be good now and build for the future. If you’re going to do one, you’re probably better off being good now.
“They’re trying to justify their poor start to the season and their transfer policy.
“They’ve not been great under Arteta and are not moving forward massively in terms of style of play or results.
“They’re behind where they want to be and that’s down to coaching, the manager and recruitment.
“They’ve come out and are trying to justify a poor start to the season and a lot of money spent on some average players.
“Edu’s interview stinks of a smokescreen and papering over the cracks.”
In other news, Arsenal are playing a Dangerous Game with two stars after Arteta reveal.