After the TDD frenzy and that 8-2 thumping we received at
united, I’d say our season really starts now. The squad we had going into this
season just wasn’t complete.The club didn’t handle the Cesc and Nasri business
very well and they left it very late to strengthen the squad.
 |
| I'm glad this is not our squad for the season... |
The question was how to proceed in the transfer market
without our targets being hijacked by rival clubs. Look at the Juan Mata
incident. I suspect Chelsea did to us what we did to Lille with Chu Young Park...
I have considered our injury proneness, suspensions and
tactical play in estimating the number of games that our players are likely to
play in the league this season. The estimates include substitute appearances.
Goal Keepers
Chezny- If Iker
Casillas could play for Real Madrid at 18 years of age, why not this guy for
Arsenal at 20? I think we have finally found the keeper we’ve been crying for.
He has everything you need in a keeper and I expect him to become as good as
the best out there and more.
Fabianski- I’m
still not convinced with him, but he should be ok to deputise for chezny.
Vito Mannone- I
liked what I saw of him when he came into the team a couple of seasons ago. He
should develop away from the first team.
Almunia- should
be kept in the squad for this season for emergency only. Next season he should
be sold.
Left-Backs
Andre Santos- I
expect him to be first choice. You don't get 22 caps Brazil if you are shit.
They say he’s good going forward but not very good defensively. I think that’s
true for all attacking fullbacks. And since he has a goal threat in him, then
he should be better than Clichy. Only time will tell. He knows there’s a young
Gibbs waiting to take over from him so that should keep him on his toes. If he
can take a free kick too, that’s better. We don't score many goals from free
kicks these days. Santos is good for 20-25 league games and 5 league goals.
Gibbs- Three
games into the season and the Arsenal Medicine Men (AMM) have laid their hands
on Gibbs; he’s injured. Even when fit, I don't think Gibbs should be first
choice. He’s still too young, inexperienced, defensively suspect and brittle. He
isn’t ready yet to play for Arsenal as a first choice. He needs time to develop
and I think under Santos, he’ll develop while strengthening his growing body. He
should feature more in the Carling and FA cups. He’s good for 10-15 league games
and 1 goal.
Right-Backs
Sagna- Our first
choice and the best in the league in his position. If he can avoid the AMM,
he’ll start every game and he always gives 100%. He’ll be even better when
playing along side Mertesacker and Vermaelen. He’s good for 25-30 league games
and 2 goals.
Carl Jenkinson-
Undoubtedly a very talented guy who is not too far away from the first team.
He’ll only get better and should feature more in the Carling and FA Cup this
season. He needs to learn to use his left foot sometimes. Overall I think he’ll
be much better than Eboue. He’ll give Sagna some competition which is good for
the team. He’s good for 5-10 league games and 1 goal.
Central Defenders
Thomas Vermaelen- The
Belgian hard man has been rather unfortunate with injuries. If he can avoid the
AMM, our defence will be much better this season. And with a good defender in
Mertesacker along side him, this season might see us land a trophy. With his
strength, aerial ability and a hammer of a left foot, he is cable of a
spectacular shot from distance. His attitude and effort is exemplary. He is
good for 25-30 league games and 3 goals.
 |
| The huge German |
Per Mertesacker- The
huge German will be under pressure to improve our defence. A lot of teams will
try and have a go at him but I think his experience and class will come
through. You don't play 75 games for Germany if you are shit. He should make a
very good partner for Vermaelen and help our defending and attacking of
set-pieces. He is good for 25-30 league games and 3 goals.
Johann Djourou- He
is very good and last season, we initially played better with him in the team
but torwards the end of the season, his form went south. Error prone, a bit of
time away from the starting 11 will help him find his form and confidence again.
He should be ok when playing alongside Vermaelen or Mertesacker. He is good for
10-15 league games and 1 goal.
Laurent Koscielny- I
think he over-achieved last season. He is a very good header of the ball and
quite strong in the challenge. The increased competition in central defence
will be good for all our top four defenders. I have no problems with him
starting in the first 11 as long as he plays with an experienced player like
Vermaelen or Mertesacker. He is good for 10-15 league games and 1 goal.
Sebastien Squilaci- Must
be sold.
Ignasi Miquel- Should
go out on loan.
Midfielders
Abou Diaby- If he
could go on a run of 10 games without an injury, he is a very good midfielder. Sadly
he seems to be in love with the AMM... He is good for 10-15 league games and 2
goals.
Alex Song- The
best defensive midfielder we have at the club. He has become Mr. Reliable in
the last 3 seasons. I think his place in the team is assured. He is good for
25-30 league games and 2 goals.
Emmanuel Frimpong- The
new Michael Essien. If he can calm down and manage his temper, he just might be
the “find” of the season. He’ll give song some much needed competition in the
team. He is very strong and good on the ball. He is good for 5-10 league games.
Tomas Rosicky- He appears to have turned a corner on his long-term
injury problems. Unfortunately he also appears to have permanently lost his
thunderous shot. He is still capable of moments of utter genius. The presence
of Arteta and Benayoun may just have pushed him further down the pecking order
but it should help us get the best out of him. He is good for 10-15 league
games and 2 goals.
Mikel Arteta- The
new creative man at the squad has an eye for a pass and knows where the goal
is. He is also a decent dead ball specialist. I can’t remember the last time
van Persie scored a free kick. Maybe Arteta can help him refocus by giving him
some competition for free kicks. When fit, I expect him to start every league
game. He is good for 20-25 league games and 7 goals.
Yossi Benayoun- another
creative player who can also do a job out wide. If he can stay fit, he might
just finish his career at the top in style. I don't expect him to be in the
first 11 when Arteta, Song and Wilshere are available, but he’ll start some
games for sure. He is good for 10-15 league games and 3 goals.
Andrey Arshavin- The
Russian I fear is past his best but still a decent footballer. I don't think
that he still makes it into our best 11 when Gervinho is available, then
against maybe the increased competition for places will bring the best out of
him. He is good for 20-25 league games and 6 goals.
Jack Wilshere- The
start to this season could not get any worse for him. The AMM have got hold of
him and now he may be out for 2 months... If he can stay fit after that, he’ll
only do better than last season by adding goals to his game. He needs to play
further up the pitch though. He is good for 20-25 league games and 4 goals.
Aaron Ramsey- He
has recovered faster than I thought he would and along quality players like
Arteta and Benayoun, he will only get better. He has a decent shot on him,
which, if used more often, will get him more goals. He is good for 15-20 league
games and 4 goals.
Craig Eastmond- should
go on loan.
Strikers
Robin Van Persie- The
most deadly striker in Europe at the moment. If he can play more than half the
season he will be up there with the league’s top scorers. He is good for 15-20
league games and 17 goals.
Theo Walcott- He
is still improving but always has a goal threat in him because of his pace. He
needs to switch flanks more during games and improve his ball control and
dribbling. He is good for 20-25 league games and 10 goals.
Gervinho- This
guy may just be the Barclays Premier League Player of the season. He looks
dangerous with or without the ball. Players like Theo and Arshavin can learn a
thing or two about off the ball movement from him. He is good for 20-25 league
games and 10 goals.
Chu Young Park- Like
all Asian footballers, he is a hard working type. I expect him to feature more
as a sub but when the going gets tough and we play 442, he might make a better
partner for Van Persie. He is good for 20-25 league games and 7 goals.
 |
| Francis Jeffers or chamakh? |
Marouane Chamakh- The
big Moroccan is worryingly looking more and more like Francis Jeffers... He is
good for 5-10 league games and 2 goals. I think if he doesn’t perform this
season, he won’t be at Arsenal next season.
Ryo Miyaichi- The
Japanese is not quite ready for the league but he might get the odd game when
we are winning. He is good for 5-10 league games and 2 goals.
Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain- I think his appearance at United was due to
desperation. He is not ready and may get the odd game when we are winning. He
is good for 5-10 league games and 2 goals.
If the gods are kind on us this season and our players avoid
the AMM, we have a strong enough squad to compete for the league now.
League Champions
I think 77 points will win the League this season. The
league is so competitive now; the gap in quality between teams has been closed.
Unlike LA Liga, which is a two-team farce of a league, any team is capable of
beating another on any given day.
No team is invincible either. The team that wins 23 and
draws 8 games is likely to be crowned champions of the Barclays Premier League
2011-2012 season.
I think the Log will look like this after 38 league games:
#
|
Team
|
Played
|
1
|
Cunts
|
38
|
2
|
Other cunts
|
38
|
3
|
Arsenal
|
38
|
4
|
Yet other cunts
|
38
|
I would prefer the log to read:
#
|
Team
|
Played
|
1
|
Arsenal
|
38
|
2
|
Cunts
|
38
|
3
|
Other Cunts
|
38
|
4
|
Yet other cunts
|
38
|
But then again I have
a better chance of knobbing CJ Gibson...
Seriously though, we do have a chance of winning the league.
To do so;
- Our home form must improve because I don't think we can rely on our away form only. Last season we were the best away team. If only we had been half as good at home...
- We need to improve our defensive organisation as a team when we don't have the ball. Very often our players do a lousy job of closing opponents down. The coaching staff need to improve this area of our game.
- We need to improve our speed of passing, counter attacking and off the ball movement. Our tippy tappy football was so slow at times that other team had time to sit behind the ball, wait for us to over-commit then hit us on the counter. If we can improve our movement and passing in tight spaces, we’ll break teams down.
- We need to vary our attacking play. We don't score much from set pieces or crosses.
- The Emirates stadium needs to become our fortress. Every man, woman and child in the stadium needs to make some noise for the team. The fans really need to become the 12th man. No booing our own players or the manager. No running off to buy pie at half-time before the whistle goes. No leaving the stadium before the final whistle goes. If the entire stadium can do what the away fans did at United; support the team even when they are getting a mauling, then you can expect the team to raise their game in turn.
Let’s leave our summer frustrations behind and get behind
the team. Wenger promised to be busy in the transfer market. He has delivered.
Many things could be better, but they aren’t and there’s not a thing we can do
about them now.
Let’s get behind the team and raise the Banners once more.
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