http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rorysmith/100018981/england-v-wales-why-footballs-english-tax-is-no-laughing-matter/

The notion that what Arsenal needed was an English centre back to steer them through the difficulty of their first post-Fabregas season. A warrior, already prepared for the pitched battle of the Premier League. A foot soldier, born equipped to deal with England’s boggy trenches. He is dismissing them for Gary Cahill, rated at £17 million by his contract – though Bolton would have accepted less – or Phil Jagielka, who would have cost £15 million or so to extricate from Everton. Two players who have 13 international caps between them, neither especially young, who have won precisely no honours at all.

Andy Carroll cost more than David Villa, Gareth Barry more than Mesut Ozil. We see the sums domestic players are touted around for and we assume they are worth that money.

I absolutely think such a tax exists on English players, especially with the advent of the home grown/association trained rules, but I take issue with those player comparisons.

Ozil v. Barry is a bad one, because there was no bidding war for Ozil. He impressed everyone in the world when he was the driving force behind Germany's WC campaign a year ago, and became the hottest property on the market right after the world cup. If there had been a bidding war for his services I am sure Werder couldve gotten 40m euros for him. But when Madrid came in, the player would only accept a move there, and they got him for absolute peanuts. City wouldve paid at least what they paid for Silva to get Ozil. In contrast, look at Gotze. He has said he only wants to go to Barca, but will be with Dortmund for a couple of years yet and is just driving his price up. It was the suddenness with which Madrid moved that got him so cheap. They didnt hesitate. Just like when they got Sahin this summer, they had that piece of business done before the season was even over.

A better comparison for Ozil would be Henderson. Highly rated, had a good year last year, but when push came to shove, only one club was really in for him right now. Even still, Ozil is a steal compared to Jordan Henderson.

Carroll v. Villa. Again, Villa was a player for whom there was only one destination. Madrid, fools that they are, were in for him the previous year, but decided they would rather pay more for Karim Benzema and missed out. Since Villa himself said many times he didnt want to leave Spain, that was that, because only two clubs could give Valencia the money they deserved for him.

Carroll on the other hand was bought in a moment of desperation, and is a much younger player. If Liverpool hadve picked him up in June, July or last month, I would guess his fee would be about 20m. But instead they panicked because they were afraid of finishing 11th or worse. Obviously they did much better business with Suarez.

IMO a better comparison for Carroll would be Zlatan. AKA a forward that a club did a bizarre deal for because they felt like he was the "missing piece" to their puzzle.

Jagielka and Cahill: I am really sick of the Wenger apologists coming to his defense over the price of players. Jagielka and Cahill havent won anything? So what? Now that Fabregas is gone, Wenger's entire squad dont have a meaningful winners medal among them. In those two CBs (or Scott Dann who wouldve been far cheaper) he couldve added a dependable rearguard who has the experience to mentor his hapless defenders.

Now, Vermanlen is out for months and he has to go back to Jenkinson. Are you telling me Arsenal's board are going to sleep well at night knowing that they saved an extra 10-15 million but have to watch this comedy show team every week? WEnger merking us for Yossi was an absolute steal and I dont know how he did it (or why we did it) but the money he saved on that fee shouldve gone to a place where his team desperately needed it. Instead, he is too stubborn to consider any other way than his own.

And not to go to the well of cliches, I would take a player with the heart of Jagielka or Cahill over just about everyone at Arsenal. Character bridges any gap in talent.