Arsene Wenger’s regret over Diego Costa is important for Arsenal

Every so often a certain meme circulates on social media. It lists all the players that could have ended up at Arsenal, instead choosing to go elsewhere on their route to the top of the sport. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Didier Drogba, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure; just to name a few that make the list. Diego Costa is another.

Arsenal came up against Costa on Saturday, with the Brazilian-born striker part of the Chelsea side that suffered a shuddering 3-0 defeat. He didn’t show much to suggest Arsene Wenger made a grave error of judgement in not signing Costa when he had the chance two years ago, but the Frenchman admitted regret over letting the striker pitch up at Stamford Bridge.

“Yes,” Wenger responded when asked whether he would have made a stronger play for Costa had he thought it realistic that he would leave Atletico Madrid. “I never thought he would leave Atlético Madrid at the time – I was surprised. I like him as a quality striker. Costa is similar to Drogba. I like the qualities of the player. All the rest around is not needed.”

For those of a red and white persuasion it was just another acknowledgement of what they already knew - that Arsenal have allowed far too many players to slip through their fingers over the years. But Wenger’s admission was rather significant.

Too often in the past the Frenchman has been stubborn to his own, and Arsenal’s detriment. he has stood by his principles even when they have blatantly failed him and his team. The more criticism he faces the more he digs in his heels. That character trait has critically held back Arsenal over the past decade. They have signifiant ground to make up.

But by confessing his past mistakes Wenger might have given Arsenal the chance at genuine progression. If he is willing to accept the Gunners could have done more to secure top targets in years gone by, does that mean the North London club will ensure they enter the transfer market with more conviction going forward? That is the hope.

Of course, Wenger might not get the opportunity to implement such ideological change. He is in the final year of his contract as Arsenal manager and could feasibly leave the North London club at the end of the season. But he could put in place an ethos that will outlast him at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have become a club entrenched in their own failures, whether that is on the pitch or in the transfer market. Wenger must address such shortcomings whether he is to leave at the end of the 2016/17 campaign or not and the admission of the Gunners’ meekness in signing European football’s best talent is the first step towards achieving that.

As a Champions League club located in London Arsenal certainly have a lot going for them when it comes to luring new signings. And in Wenger they have the kind of figurehead players are inherently drawn to. Robin Van Persie signed for Manchester United solely to play under Sir Alex Ferguson and now Wenger could hold a similar appeal as the Premier League’s managerial elder statesman. He must make the most of that.

The aforementioned meme that often circulates on social media, listing all the world-class players Arsenal have missed out on, is a rather crude, and unfair, illustration of the club’s transfer market fallings. It’s not as if there wasn’t any competition for the signature of these young talents, as they were at the time. Ronaldo, for instance, had all of Europe chasing him. Messi was never likely to leave Barcelona having left Argentina for the Camp Nou as a child. Ibrahimovic and Toure, however, are different tales.

Like much of what is aimed at Arsenal, questions of their transfer market strategy are largely based on perception rather than what is actually the case. However, there is no denying that Arsenal have dropped the ball one too many times in recent years. They say acceptance is the first step towards recovery and Wenger’s remarks show one foot might have finally have been put in front of the other.