Arsenal Transfer season HAS to be BUSY this time….
I am sorry for alienating myself from my blog for sometime, but the truth is that with respect to Arsenal there is absolutely nothing to write about.
The below article is an impartial analysis of this Arsenal team, concentrating on those areas which I feel the club should look into.
As I said before, this summer is going to be huge for Arsenal. More importantly, it will be for Wenger, who just cannot afford to repeat another fuck up. Last year was a mess. I could recall days going by, one after another with me checking the internet for any news on transfers. And nothing, well not before the mauling at Manchester atleast.
In terms of improvement, what is to be done is well known by the manager. The thing is however, will he do it. This article may prove to be useless in 1 years time. Its happened in the past before, so why can’t it happen again. Knowing Wenger he may just do it again.
This is not abnormal for Wenger. He has shown his intent to do something on numerous occasions.
What has not changed at all is our policy that we will be as ambitious as ever and spend the money we have available, if possible in an intelligent and wise way.
We have always spent money because we are ambitious for top-class players and if you look at the history of our last 15 years, we have always had top-class players.
I am sure you have heard all this before. I have. This time again, I want the club to do the samething – Intelligently and wisely.
But what does that mean ?
Well for me, that means not paying extraordinary wages when not required to. And buying players worthy of the amount spent on them. And lastly, buying what you need, especially if you don’t have it.
This last segment is what bothers me about Wenger. He definitely does the first two – those 2 things are the reason why he is called more of a developer than a coach. But the third segment defines him as a coach. And so far, he has failed to deliver on that front.
The Champions League is prestigious and it is half league and half cup. That means that at the end, the teams who wins must show real quality.
Whatever be the outcome of this season it is crucial that Wenger gets these things done in order to COMPETE for a trophy next season.
However, one should be prepared for the worst, so if nothing is done at the end of the summer, it should not come as a surprise to an Arsenal fan.
GOAL-KEEPERS :
There is a reason Szczesny says he does not want to leave Arsenal. True, he loves the club, but also its because he is assured 100 % to start ever game. And can you really blame him. Who do we have as a back up ? Fabianski is Arsenal’s no 2.
Szczesny is no doubt a decent keeper, but its his arrogance and naivety may actually harm Arsenal. A few weeks back he gave most Arsenal fans a heart attack when he cleared the ball against a Norwich defender.
Wenger has to sign an experienced GK. Mark Schwarzer would be ideal. He not only can ensure Szczesny fights for his position, but also guide or train both these dunderheads to improve.
DEFENDERS :
Most people say that the Arsenal defense is shit. And they are right. However, individually speaking this defense is infact brilliant. BUT as logic dictates, a defense has no value if taken individually, its more about how well organised and disciplined the entire defense is.
A left back HAS to be signed. Not a big name, but a good left back. Leighton Baines is my choice for this section. He can compete with Gibbs and Santos for the left back spot. Gibbs is young, and injury prone, but he can defend. Santos on the other hand gives me the jitters while trying to defend.
As for the right back situation – Sagna is ideal. Also the youngsters in the team can help to fulfill this role, so its not necessary that Arsenal sign a right back right now. Also, if required Koscielny can move into this position, so this spot (RB) is manageable.
As for the centre back partnership. Vermalen has to be taught to be more of a leader and show a little more intelligence on the field. He is one of the best CB’s in the world, in my opinion, but he has to control himself and be composed in tough situations. A perfect example to follow would be Carlos Puyol, a man who is a leader. When his team conceded he began to motivate his players, as it can be seen in the first clasico this season held at the Bernabau. They won that match 1-3. Also he ensures that players don’t get carried away. This happened recently when he broke up Dani Alves and Thiago Alcantara’s celebration in a Liga match sometime back.
Koscielny is developing well. And Mertersacker is an ideal replacement for anyone of them but he has to work on his pace, given the tempo of the premier league.
MIDFIELDERS :
There is currently a surplus of unnecessary midfielders at Arsenal. I will first start off with Aaron Ramsey, who in my opinion should be loaned out to another club instead of being sold. Abou Diaby was a player who promised so much but has been hampered with constant injuries this season. Song is a good player but he too often forgets his duties and role on the pitch – leaving the defense horribly exposed in certain matches. Arteta covered up for him all this time, and without the Spaniard Song ends up in no mans land 60-70 % of the time.
Arsenal need a CDM to protect the back four. Yann M’Vila was supposed to come to Arsenal, but I guess for some unknown reason that saga has been put to bed with Rennes not willing to negotiate until after Euro 2012.
Vila can play the holding role and Song can do what he wants, if infact they both start together. A friend of mine recommended Fellaini from Everton. Not a bad idea given that the club will get a player who has played in the premier league and is cheaper than M’Vila.
The remaining midfielders including Jack Wilshere should remain at the club.
Emmanuel Frimpong should be loaned out to a premier league club and tracked properly. The lad is a combination of Viera and Scholes, and if groomed properly can turn out to be a world class player. Maybe an Essien also.
ATTACKERS :
Van Persie HAS to stay. If he signs a contract then good, but even if he doesn’t Arsenal cannot put him on the transfer list. Let me rephrase that – Arsenal cannot AFFORD to put him on the transfer list. It sounds disgusting given what Van Persie has given to us, but if Arsenal sell Van Persie, it will be impossible to get a striker even remotely comparable with the funds generated from his sale.
Podolski is a new recruit so we will have to see how he adapts to the English game. As for the wingers – Gervinho and Chamberlain are all good to go, but Arsenal have to get rid of Theo Walcott. He is a nimrod. Period.
FUND CREATION :
Funds can certainly be created by selling certain players from the club. Now I must clarify that when I say sale, this includes giving players on loan as this creates savings in terms of wages. I have written about this in a short article you can find here. A good 35 million can be generated by selling the dross at the club.
As I have said before Walcott has to be sold this summer. He is too inconsistent, and there is no use of a player who pulls in a decent performance in 2 out of every 5 matches played. Walcott dreams to play alongside Van Persie but he fails to understand for a player in that role one either has to be a poacher, like Hernandez, or a well built striker like Diego Milito.
Chelsea have ‘apparently’ signed Hazard, and are lining up bids for Hulk also. And City just need to flex a few muscles before they announce another ‘Mancinactico’ signing. Yeah, its a word I made up.
So, looking at the situation Arsenal have to respond fast to ensure they are atleast considered to challenge for honours next season.
Best,
DKD
August, 2011…Here we go !
We have not had an easy start to the season, no, not at all. We start off where ‘we should have ended it’ and we end it where the championship resides. Here is the preview of the month of August – How things are going to come at Arsenal FC.
The season is less than 6 days away. And we start off at St. James Park. A place every Arsenal fan would love to forget after the events that took place last season.
This month is a real crunch time scenario for Arsenal Football Club, and a good start is crucial for us to challenge for the premier league. Its Newcastle first, swiftly followed by the first of our two legged ties for the champions league. Italian ‘Dark horse’ – Udinese. The first leg will be played at the Emirates on the 16th of August.
4 days later, we welcome the Kop into North London. Liverpool are not some mediocre team right now. With signings comprising of Steward Downing and Jordan Henderson they have a new look to their squad. And let’s face it, they are going to be difficult to beat.
After that, we fly to Italy, where the second leg of the champions league qualifiers shall be played at the Stadio Friuli. Now the first leg for such a match is going to be crucial. We have that match at home, and a commanding performance by us will reduce the pressure here. Once this is done, the month draws to an end, waiting, to be capped off by champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.
2 home and 2 away games in quick succession. 15 days 5 games, 3 away 2 home…It IS TIME.
1 out of 5….this ‘drought’ continues
As a supporter sometimes you just have to face the truth. And to do that one just has to accept certain facts. To call what you see is very simple to do, as long as you are not partial to one side. It is only when you are partial that it ‘pricks’ a person to call what is right. That afternoon at the Emirates when a packed stadium booed its players off the ground, it was something worth applauding for. Yes, you read it right, worth applauding for.
Tell me. Are they wrong? Are they disloyal fans ?
What is wrong if they boo their own team in their home ground because of a lousy, lack-lustre performance against a side which thinks it plays ‘soccer?’ There is no difference between the Arsenal of 2010 or 2011. Both are useless in defending and clueless after a certain point, about attacking.
Where teams have re-cooped, adapted and ‘changed,’ all Arsenal have done is stalled and waited. And for what? There is nothing new to see at this club, nothing new. It is the same old shit every fucking season. EVERY damn season. We are promised that the team is ready and that the team will finally step up. A promise good to hear, but one which is hollow and weak…
I am happy that the team was booed off at the Emirates. And I am even happier that Wenger was booed. A man which such a fat ego who just refuses to accept that he CAN get his wrong, that even he, like us is Human. People make mistakes but if you don’t know it’s a mistake, it’s not a mistake.
Recently, I have been very ‘active.’ Trying to figure out ways as how are we going to compete for the new season. But so far, all I have come up with is SQUAT.
There are certain player around which a team revolves. For instance In Real Madrid, its Cristiano Ronaldo, Ozil, Kaka etc, for Barcelona its Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa. On the other hand if you consider us its RVP, our captain, and that bloke Nasri.
Among the 3 above mentioned 1 is very injury prone and 2 are unsettled. So here is the question. What on earth have Arsenal been doing over the course of the summer ?
Can someone help me figure this out, SERIOUSLY.
Emirates Cup 2011….who gives a shit !
I am not going to waste my time covering the Emirates Cup. Somehow we always win this cup, but end up barren the same season. So honestly, I don’t give a damn who the Emirates Cup goes to. It’s irrelevant and a waste of time. The only positive we as Gooners can get out of this tournament is that we can get a glance of new signings.
Last night we drew a match against Boca Juniors, AFTER TAKING a 2-0 lead. Typical us to throw away a lead. Do you see any difference in Arsenal from Fulham away to Boca Juniors home, well, I don’t. It’s the same old thing. Arsene Wenger has again been oblivious on improving the defense. Someone has to tell him that it’s not about the players but the mentality instilled in them – that 4 top class defenders with no coordination are just mediocre. On the other hand 4 mediocre defenders with proper coordination are a Defense. But I doubt the man will understand.
Some positives from yesterday’s game is the performance of Ramsey and Wilshere, and of course Gervinho who we saw for only 45 mins. If nothing comes of Fabregas or Nasri we will have to make do with ‘these’ people in the middle of the park. RVP did not look like his old self, but he should get there. Chamakh looked out of sorts yesterday. He seems like a shy guy who is scared to do anything. Thank God we got him for free…I feel bad to talk about him this way, but the guy in my opinion could have given us much more, and he has not.
News has broken loose than Nikko is set to leave the club for roughly 7 million. Well something is better than nothing. If only we could combine that bloke and Chamakh then we could get ourselves a fucking striker.
There is always news about us signing midfielders, and about us being linked with midfielders. But the thing(s) what we need, a defense and pair of balls are something which we don’t give a damn about. I am not going to go and scrutinise the clubs performance in the transfer window unless its over, but just as the days past by. Upto now its been sloppy, but who knows it may change within days.
Today we face King Henry’s team. They won yesterday, so it seems unlikely they will win today…
Oh, don’t get me wrong, its not that I think we will blow past them, its just that I don’t give a damn even if we do…
Guns-out,
THE ARMOURY
This wait is killing me…
Life is not what you would have expected it to be at the Grove, and it is definitely not what a Gooner wanted it to be with a little more than a month left for the transfer window to close.
I know Gazidis came out and said a few things regarding Wenger in the last AST meeting. He said that Wenger knows the problem. And that he knows what is wrong and what to do. Well, that was a pile of bull shit and quite frankly it was pathetic to see someone at the top level of the Arsenal hierarchy say this…
A simple stat that shows what Arsenal’s Achilles foot are the no of goals conceded in a season. I have always highlighted this fact in my posts and again I will do the same thing. 41 goals 2 seasons ago, and last season 43. In our last 10 game we won twice and lose thrice whilst drawing 5 games. And this was supposedly the crucial run in. Wenger promises a ‘busy’ transfer market, and we sign 2 players – Carl and Gervinho.
The defense is not adhered too. Has the club forgotten the reason for our downfall every season ? I honestly expected a new defender to be signed in early. That way he could be given ample time in pre-season and to adjust. I don’t want another Squillaci, and I am sure neither do you. So you understand my concern don’t you?
The club set supports hearts alight when the manager claimed that Benzema in an Arsenal jersey is ‘not impossible.’ Quite conveniently it was before the dead-line day as far as ticket renewals were concerned. Everybody is excited and goes renews their tickets. Mission accomplished!
I am geared up and ready for the news of Fabregas’ imminent departure to Spain. It took me a few weeks, but now I am ready. There are a few reports that Mata is signing for us. Well, that just makes Cesc leaving even more likely.
Wenger recently commented that he is looking for a defender. Right in the middle of the media reporting that we are bidding 20 quid for Jagielka. If you put them side by side, it makes no sense at all.
We have a few weeks till the season starts and a few more till the window closes. Let’s ‘hope’ there will be some movement in the Arsenal transfer market. Because if it remains the way it is, we are royally FUCKED when August 13 arrives…
‘Hope’- that’s our best defense, HOPE
Guns-out,
THE ARMOURY
Nothings has changed, NOTHING…
Arsenal second match in pre-season came to a very dull end when they were held 1-1 against Hangzhou Green town at the Meihu Stadium today.
We conceded early due to an error from rookie GK Mannone, but equalised before the first half ended thanks to that Carlos Vela.
As for the problems regarding the club, oh where do I start ?
The manager made a few comments yesterday regarding transfers and if he actually believes in what he is saying or even has ANY faith in what he is saying, I think he is on weed.
“I don’t think we are weak defensively, but we are an offensive team. Sometimes that exposes our defenders a bit more than other teams.”
“I believe we have quality defenders. One is Thomas Vermaelen and he did not play last year. In open play, we were one of the better defences [last season], but we conceded too many goals on set-pieces and that is where we want to improve this season.”
His first statement says it all. He admits that we are not weak defensively. BUT if you read the both lines, the inferred meaning is quite the opposite. We are exposed because we are offensive. Well, that is the point of a good defense. Barcelona conceded the lowest number of goals in La Liga last season. They too have a ‘good’ attack, but are they exposed like us.
The second part of the statement is still ‘less hurtful.’ Vermaelen is indeed a quality defender, but with him our entire defense conceded 41 goals 2 seasons ago. Place an apple in a pile of crap does make it smell crappy.
And as for the last part, that we have been the best defensive side in open play is something which is quite irrelevant. It just shows that we SUCKED at set pieces even more. Being the best in open play and conceding 43 goals, what else will one make of it?
Wenger keeps ridiculous faith in this team. Of course, I don’t know what goes on in your horse-shoe dressing room but even if he did say anything I am sure something would come out in all these years. His continuous rant about how positive things are at the club is clearly becoming a farce, and seriously I do not like it. It makes me sick!
Yes, management takes a lot in people, and seeing our manager’s age it certainly takes a lot out of him. But that being said is not possible for a person of his stature to see what the plain eye sees.
At the end of the 2009-2010 he pointed out the main problem with this Arsenal team was its defense. We let in 41 goals, and he said he would fix it. He did admit that he knew the defense was the problem and that a championship contending side CANNOT afford to concede so many goals.
We want to improve in quality. It is not necessarily a big number of players needed and overall I believe you don’t win the title when you concede 40 goals.”
This season we needed up conceding more goals – 43. Nice promise…
MESSAGE TO THE AKB :
I am currently working on an article which should keep the AKB definitely thinking and I will be out with it in sometime. As a recommendation do see the movie ‘21’ before you read that article. Now of course, it’s not mandatory, but anyway…
Asia tour over, Germany, here we come !
Guns-out,
THE ARMOURY
Pre-season : Arsenal FC 4-0 Malaysia XI
Arsenal started their pre-season with crushing 4-0 defeat of Malaysia 11 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium today. Amongst the goal scorers were young Welsh international Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Mexican Carlos Vela (with another close chip) and Tomas Rosicky.
I was not surprised by the result, and fully expected the squad to get this win. This is a slow start to pre-season, and it is the ideal result for any top flight team. Our next match is against Hangzhou Greentown in China and only after that match will we are able to judge the new ‘Arsenal FC.’
Guns-out,
THE ARMOURY
