The news emerged yesterday that the sale of Alex Song from Arsenal to Barcelona had been finalised. He has joined Barcelona for a fee in the region of £15 million if the quoted figures are to be believed. His departure is hardly as high profile as that of Robin van Persie, but he was voted the second best player at the club by Arsenal fans last season.
I have never been overly impressed with Song, and I think he was over rated at times. I have no doubt that he will see this move as a huge boost for his career, but I can't see him making an impression at Barcelona. His style bordered on lethargic at times, and I was never impressed with his passing skills either.
He may have led the way with assists among Arsenal's midfielders last season, but that was only after the sale of Cesc Fabregas. Song was very fond of lofting the ball over opposition defences last season, and van Persie was on hand to finish off on quite a few occasions. Many times though he just aimlessly played those passes far too long, and they ended up harmless going out of play.
Song was meant to play the defensive role in the Arsenal midfield, but I felt he left the defence exposed far too often. Maybe his instructions were to get further forward, but I doubt it. He will have to work an awful lot harder if he is to be a success at his new club.
Arsenal have sold many players to Barcelona since Arsene Wenger became Arsenal manager, and very few of them have made the grade there. Cesc has fitted in nicely, but he grew up as part of the club and knows what is expected of him. Some might say Thierry Henry did well there, but there is no doubt that he played the best football of his career at Arsenal.
The list of players who failed to make a real impact when moving from Arsenal to Barcelona is a long one. Alex Hleb was probably the biggest flop of all, but Emmanuel Perit, Marc Overnars and Giovanni van Bronkhurst hardly covered themselves in glory either. I would be very surprised if Song is anything other than a failure at Barcelona.
I have read that Song had become disruptive at Arsenal, and he wanted to leave as soon as he knew Barcelona were interested. Arsenal can't afford to have players who aren't committed to the cause in their squad, and those who want to leave should be sold if the price is right. At least Song had the decency to keep his mouth shut before the move took place.
I suppose Song may have been searching for a new challenge, or maybe to live in a warmer climate. I can't help feeling that he will regret the decision to turn his back on the manager who made him the player he is today. I also can't help feeling he will be left searching for the remains of a once promising career in a year or two.
There is no doubt that the loss of van Persie was a blow to Arsenal, ad players of his quality are few and far between. The loss of Song is no such thing, and Arsenal should find it relative easy to replace him with a better player before too long. Whether they decide to replace him with a similar style of player or not is another question, and only Wenger knows the answer.
With the transfer window closing in only 10 days there isn't an awful lot of time to add to the squad available to Wenger. The three additions so far have been very welcome, but the players most fans wanted to see leave are still at the club. Arsenal have actually made a profit on their dealings so far this summer yet again, and it's something which has to be redressed.
There is no doubt that the return from injury of both Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere will strengthen the team. Sagna could be back by the time the Champions League groups kick off, but Wilshere will take longer. He will have to be eased slowly back into action, as he has suffered so many set backs in his recovery already.
It still looks highly likely that Nuri Sahin will arrive on loan from Real Madrid, and it's a move I hope to see happen. The team cannot depend on a midfield that contains Abu Diaby and Tomas Rosicky, as both of them are so injury prone. If both of them are out at the same time before Wilshere returns fully it will leave the manager with very few choices.
During my three trips to Arsenal last season the two most popular songs were probably in praise of both van Persie and Song. It looks like the choice of songs at the Emirates and on away trips will need a little bit of adjusting. I have no doubt new heroes will be found to sing about though.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 600 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
Showing posts with label Robin van Persie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robin van Persie. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland: An Opportunity Spurned
Arsenal played Sunderland yesterday afternoon in their first Premier League fixture of the new season. After the high profile departure of Robin van Persie it was an opportunity for the Arsenal players to show how good they can be without their former captain. Sunderland were always going to try to make things difficult for Arsenal, and it was up to Arsenal to open the game up.
I managed to find a pub on my holidays in Spain which was showing the game live, and I settled back with a few pints of Peroni to watch yet another new Arsenal era unfold. The other screens in the pub were showing West Ham against Aston Villa, and a botoxed looking Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports News.
Sunderland showed some adventure in the first 20 minutes, but their game plan soon became apparent. They were perfectly happy to settle for a 0-0 draw, and it was up to Arsenal to dictate the pace of the game. It was a hot afternoon in north London, and I hoped for Arsenal to stretch Sunderland and tire them out.
Fans of many different Premier League teams gathered in the pub to watch the afternoons proceedings, and there was even a Sunderland fan among them. He was wearing their away shirt with a number 40 and "Wozza" on the back, but he was in the minority. As the games progressed there were some fascinating scorelines emerging, but I was only interested in the Arsenal game.
I was impressed with the first half performances of Santi Carzola and Per Mertesacker in particular, but Arsenal needed to pick up the pace in the second half. Arsene Wenger chose to leave Oliver Giroud on the bench, as he played Lukas Podolski in the central striker's role. It meant there was a starting role for Gervinho, and he looked like he might be the Arsenal player to unlock the Sunderland defence.
There were a couple of half chances for Sunderland in the first 20 minutes, but Arsenal assumed complete control as the game wore on. When Giroud made his entrance in the second half I hoped he could get the opening goal which would probably have won the game for Arsenal.
He had a fantastic opportunity in the last 10 minutes when Carzola played him in, but unfortunately he put it wide. It was the ideal opportunity for Arsenal to show that they were still a force to be reckoned with after the departure of van Persie, but it wasn't to be. Better players have missed easier chances on numerous occasions, but I have no doubt the press focus will be on his miss.
There was no Alex Song in the Arsenal team, as it looks like he will be departing the club very soon. It meant Abu Diaby played in midfield, but he will have to do a lot more to convince me he is up to the task. Hopefully Arsenal can bring in Nuri Sahin on loan before Song leaves, as they will need his defensive abilities against better teams than Sunderland.
While a point from their first game is far from disastrous for Arsenal there is no doubt that three points were required on the day. The players were a little laboured in their approach at times, and the lack of proper pre season games showed in my opinion. Hopefully the coaching staff can get some good work in during the next week before they travel to Stoke.
Goals change games in football, and I have no doubt that an Arsenal goal at some stage yesterday would have opened the game up. Sunderland didn't have an awful lot to offer, but they stuck to their defensive duties very well. All too often last season Arsenal managed to win games like that through the brilliance of van Persie.
He is no more than a distant memory now of a player who could have been an Arsenal great. The team have to play more as a unit without him, and hope they can gel enough to get the results they need. There were some very encouraging signs against Sunderland, but only time will tell if they can do it.
There are still some very good players in the Arsenal team, and more to return from injury too. To write them off after a scoreless draw at home to Sunderland would be foolish, but I have no doubt the "so called" experts had them written off before the season started. It's up to the players and management to show they have what it takes to make a genuine challenge in the Premier League starting with next weeks daunting trip to Stoke's school of hard knocks.
I still have belief in the players, and I was encouraged by yesterday's game despite the result. There's a long way to go this season, and many twists and turns before the trophies are handed out. As long Arsenal stick to their principles they have a real chance of landing a trophy.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
I managed to find a pub on my holidays in Spain which was showing the game live, and I settled back with a few pints of Peroni to watch yet another new Arsenal era unfold. The other screens in the pub were showing West Ham against Aston Villa, and a botoxed looking Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports News.
Sunderland showed some adventure in the first 20 minutes, but their game plan soon became apparent. They were perfectly happy to settle for a 0-0 draw, and it was up to Arsenal to dictate the pace of the game. It was a hot afternoon in north London, and I hoped for Arsenal to stretch Sunderland and tire them out.
Fans of many different Premier League teams gathered in the pub to watch the afternoons proceedings, and there was even a Sunderland fan among them. He was wearing their away shirt with a number 40 and "Wozza" on the back, but he was in the minority. As the games progressed there were some fascinating scorelines emerging, but I was only interested in the Arsenal game.
I was impressed with the first half performances of Santi Carzola and Per Mertesacker in particular, but Arsenal needed to pick up the pace in the second half. Arsene Wenger chose to leave Oliver Giroud on the bench, as he played Lukas Podolski in the central striker's role. It meant there was a starting role for Gervinho, and he looked like he might be the Arsenal player to unlock the Sunderland defence.
There were a couple of half chances for Sunderland in the first 20 minutes, but Arsenal assumed complete control as the game wore on. When Giroud made his entrance in the second half I hoped he could get the opening goal which would probably have won the game for Arsenal.
He had a fantastic opportunity in the last 10 minutes when Carzola played him in, but unfortunately he put it wide. It was the ideal opportunity for Arsenal to show that they were still a force to be reckoned with after the departure of van Persie, but it wasn't to be. Better players have missed easier chances on numerous occasions, but I have no doubt the press focus will be on his miss.
There was no Alex Song in the Arsenal team, as it looks like he will be departing the club very soon. It meant Abu Diaby played in midfield, but he will have to do a lot more to convince me he is up to the task. Hopefully Arsenal can bring in Nuri Sahin on loan before Song leaves, as they will need his defensive abilities against better teams than Sunderland.
While a point from their first game is far from disastrous for Arsenal there is no doubt that three points were required on the day. The players were a little laboured in their approach at times, and the lack of proper pre season games showed in my opinion. Hopefully the coaching staff can get some good work in during the next week before they travel to Stoke.
Goals change games in football, and I have no doubt that an Arsenal goal at some stage yesterday would have opened the game up. Sunderland didn't have an awful lot to offer, but they stuck to their defensive duties very well. All too often last season Arsenal managed to win games like that through the brilliance of van Persie.
He is no more than a distant memory now of a player who could have been an Arsenal great. The team have to play more as a unit without him, and hope they can gel enough to get the results they need. There were some very encouraging signs against Sunderland, but only time will tell if they can do it.
There are still some very good players in the Arsenal team, and more to return from injury too. To write them off after a scoreless draw at home to Sunderland would be foolish, but I have no doubt the "so called" experts had them written off before the season started. It's up to the players and management to show they have what it takes to make a genuine challenge in the Premier League starting with next weeks daunting trip to Stoke's school of hard knocks.
I still have belief in the players, and I was encouraged by yesterday's game despite the result. There's a long way to go this season, and many twists and turns before the trophies are handed out. As long Arsenal stick to their principles they have a real chance of landing a trophy.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 18 August 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Sunderland Previewed
Arsenal kick off the new Premier League season with a home game against Sunderland. They go into the game right after the departure of their captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United. It was a real blow for Arsenal to lose him, but he had made his position quite clear, and he had to be sold.
The captaincy will now be handed to Thomas Vermaelen, and hopefully he can prove worthy of the honour. The disrespect the previous holder of that honour showed to his position and the club is something I will not quickly forget. He can make all the arguments he wants to about winning trophies elsewhere, but his claims of being a true Gunner were just a pile of rubbish.
If he genuinely felt the club could not deliver the success he wanted he should have resigned the captaincy and handed in a transfer request. By not doing so he probably received a nice chunk of the transfer for himself, and that was obviously of utmost importance to him. He has joined a club could well deliver the trophies he apparently craves, but if his past injury record is anything to go by they might have to do so without him on a regular basis.
Thankfully Arsenal were proactive in the transfer market, and they signed three players before the transfer of van Persie was announced. Lukasz Podolski, Oliver Giroud and Santi Carzola all have plenty to offer the team, and will more than make up his loss.
For me van Persie is just another ex Arsenal player now, and his exploits at the club are already a distant memory. Arsenal have lost better players in the past and survived, and they will in the future too I'm sure. I hope they have a large stock of horse placenta in the medical room at Old Trafford.
I did hear it suggested that van Persie had a change of heart when he saw the players Arsenal had signed. He supposedly approached Wenger and told him so, but the boss said he was no longer part of his plans and promptly sold him. I don't know if there is any truth in it, but I absolutely love the thought that there might be.
It's not easy to keep up with the build up to a new season from a beach in Spain, but such is my lot at the moment. On the occasions I manage to find some working Wi Fi I try to catch up, as the price of data on my phone plan is absolutely absurd while out of Ireland. As a result I have myself a little out of the loop with events surrounding Alex Song.
The last I heard he had three years left on his contract, and there was no need for Arsenal to consider selling him despite interest from Barcelona. Now it appears his departure is imminent after rumours of a training ground bust up with Arsene Wenger. A lot of Arsenal fans I know have never been over impressed with Song, but he needs to be replaced by a better player if he is allowed to leave.
His departure would see Arsenal breaking even in the transfer market this summer, and it must leave quite a bit of money available for new players. If Nuri Sahin can be tempted on loan from Real Madrid I think he might well make the team stronger.
It certainly promises to be an interesting start to the new season with so many players making their official Arsenal debuts, and more possible transfer activity. The most important thing for me is that the team is ready to hit the ground running this season, and not in the mess it was at this time last year. The performances against Sunderland this week and Stoke next week will hopefully show that the team is properly prepared.
There are a couple of first team certainties still injured, and the returns of Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere will be very welcome when they happen. For the moment the team must cope without them, as well as integrating the new boys. The midweek international friendliest didn't make Wenger's task any easier, but little can be done to counter the stupidity of those in charge of football.
The team nearly picks itself in my opinion, but Wenger has a few interesting choices to make. With Vermaelen as captain it's a matter of whether he picks Laurent Koscielny or Per Mertesacker to play alongside him. I would opt for Koscielny, but he may have a slight knock and the choice is not mine.
At left back it's a straight fight between Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos, and both players will think they should be first choice. I think Gibbs offers a little more defensive stability, and that could just get him the nod.
I hope to see Carzola in an attacking midfield role, but he is the most likely to be fatigued from midweek international travel. Mikael Arteta should be in midfield too, and so should Song if all is well between him and the club. His omission would be a sign that his future lies in the graveyard of so many former Arsenal players at Barcelona.
Both Podolski and Giroud must be certain to start with Theo Walcott making up the other player in the from three. Where is future lies is still uncertain too, but I doubt if he will beefy out.
The bench should have some good options on it too, and hopefully their presence will help to I spire those on the pitch. Sometimes the best inspiration for a player can be the thought of losing his place.
Sunderland have picked up Louis Saha, and he could well feature against Arsenal at some stage. They haven't really gotten any stronger since last season, but Martin O'Neill's teams are never easy to beat. They will work very hard without the ball, and make life as difficult as possible for the Arsenal players.
It's set to be a very hot day in London if the weather forecasters are to believed, and that could make things difficult for Sunderland. If Arsenal can pass the ball around with real pace and purpose I expect Sunderland to tire in the second half. Hopefully it will open the way for Arsenal to bang in a few goals, and get their season off to an ideal start.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal, and I have a feeling Podolski will score at least one of the goals. After the game there's a week before Arsenal play again, and the new players are introduced to football as seen through the eyes of Stoke City RFC. It will be a real challenge for the team, but a good result against Sunderland should hopefully set them up to meet that challenge head on.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
The captaincy will now be handed to Thomas Vermaelen, and hopefully he can prove worthy of the honour. The disrespect the previous holder of that honour showed to his position and the club is something I will not quickly forget. He can make all the arguments he wants to about winning trophies elsewhere, but his claims of being a true Gunner were just a pile of rubbish.
If he genuinely felt the club could not deliver the success he wanted he should have resigned the captaincy and handed in a transfer request. By not doing so he probably received a nice chunk of the transfer for himself, and that was obviously of utmost importance to him. He has joined a club could well deliver the trophies he apparently craves, but if his past injury record is anything to go by they might have to do so without him on a regular basis.
Thankfully Arsenal were proactive in the transfer market, and they signed three players before the transfer of van Persie was announced. Lukasz Podolski, Oliver Giroud and Santi Carzola all have plenty to offer the team, and will more than make up his loss.
For me van Persie is just another ex Arsenal player now, and his exploits at the club are already a distant memory. Arsenal have lost better players in the past and survived, and they will in the future too I'm sure. I hope they have a large stock of horse placenta in the medical room at Old Trafford.
I did hear it suggested that van Persie had a change of heart when he saw the players Arsenal had signed. He supposedly approached Wenger and told him so, but the boss said he was no longer part of his plans and promptly sold him. I don't know if there is any truth in it, but I absolutely love the thought that there might be.
It's not easy to keep up with the build up to a new season from a beach in Spain, but such is my lot at the moment. On the occasions I manage to find some working Wi Fi I try to catch up, as the price of data on my phone plan is absolutely absurd while out of Ireland. As a result I have myself a little out of the loop with events surrounding Alex Song.
The last I heard he had three years left on his contract, and there was no need for Arsenal to consider selling him despite interest from Barcelona. Now it appears his departure is imminent after rumours of a training ground bust up with Arsene Wenger. A lot of Arsenal fans I know have never been over impressed with Song, but he needs to be replaced by a better player if he is allowed to leave.
His departure would see Arsenal breaking even in the transfer market this summer, and it must leave quite a bit of money available for new players. If Nuri Sahin can be tempted on loan from Real Madrid I think he might well make the team stronger.
It certainly promises to be an interesting start to the new season with so many players making their official Arsenal debuts, and more possible transfer activity. The most important thing for me is that the team is ready to hit the ground running this season, and not in the mess it was at this time last year. The performances against Sunderland this week and Stoke next week will hopefully show that the team is properly prepared.
There are a couple of first team certainties still injured, and the returns of Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere will be very welcome when they happen. For the moment the team must cope without them, as well as integrating the new boys. The midweek international friendliest didn't make Wenger's task any easier, but little can be done to counter the stupidity of those in charge of football.
The team nearly picks itself in my opinion, but Wenger has a few interesting choices to make. With Vermaelen as captain it's a matter of whether he picks Laurent Koscielny or Per Mertesacker to play alongside him. I would opt for Koscielny, but he may have a slight knock and the choice is not mine.
At left back it's a straight fight between Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos, and both players will think they should be first choice. I think Gibbs offers a little more defensive stability, and that could just get him the nod.
I hope to see Carzola in an attacking midfield role, but he is the most likely to be fatigued from midweek international travel. Mikael Arteta should be in midfield too, and so should Song if all is well between him and the club. His omission would be a sign that his future lies in the graveyard of so many former Arsenal players at Barcelona.
Both Podolski and Giroud must be certain to start with Theo Walcott making up the other player in the from three. Where is future lies is still uncertain too, but I doubt if he will beefy out.
The bench should have some good options on it too, and hopefully their presence will help to I spire those on the pitch. Sometimes the best inspiration for a player can be the thought of losing his place.
Sunderland have picked up Louis Saha, and he could well feature against Arsenal at some stage. They haven't really gotten any stronger since last season, but Martin O'Neill's teams are never easy to beat. They will work very hard without the ball, and make life as difficult as possible for the Arsenal players.
It's set to be a very hot day in London if the weather forecasters are to believed, and that could make things difficult for Sunderland. If Arsenal can pass the ball around with real pace and purpose I expect Sunderland to tire in the second half. Hopefully it will open the way for Arsenal to bang in a few goals, and get their season off to an ideal start.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal, and I have a feeling Podolski will score at least one of the goals. After the game there's a week before Arsenal play again, and the new players are introduced to football as seen through the eyes of Stoke City RFC. It will be a real challenge for the team, but a good result against Sunderland should hopefully set them up to meet that challenge head on.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 11 August 2012
Arsenal Play Cologne in Last Pre Season Game
Arsenal play their last pre season game against Cologne today in a game which was part of the deal which brought Lukasz Podolski to the club. The game should see the first appearances in an Arsenal shirt for Podolski, Olover Giroud and Santi Carzola. After the proposed game in Nigeria last week was cancelled this will be Arsenal's first game in two weeks.
It's hardly ideal preparation for the new season, as those three new signings will obvious take some time to adjust to playing with their new team mates. They're all very good players though, and I'm sure they will manage to settle in pretty quickly.
With the first Premier League game of the season only six days away I wonder if Arsene Wenger will start with what he sees as his first choice team. There are a few decisions for him to make if that is what he chooses to do, but most of the first choice team picks itself in my opinion. The absence of a couple of first choice players will obviously give a chance for others to stake their claim and possibly shine.
Carl Jenkinson should get the chance to show what he can do at right back, as Bacary Sagna continues his recovery process from his broken leg towards the end of last season. Jenkinson is still a little raw, but he looks like he really wants to play for the team and continue to learn as he does so. Sagna is the best right back in the Premier League, and Jenkinson couldn't ask for a better model to learn his game from.
Despite the continued rumours linking Alex Song with a move to Barcelona I expect him to anchor the midfield trio. I have no idea whether Arsenal will even consider letting Song go, but surely it wouldn't be a good idea with the season just about to start. Song has become an important part of the team, and they can do without the turmoil of losing another player to Barcelona.
I think Mikael Arteta and new boy Carzola will make up the rest of the midfield trio. That should see Carzola playing in the most attacking role of the three, and he has a lot to offer in that position. Those three players will make up a very strong midfield combination which augers well for the new season.
With both Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky to return from injury Wenger will have a lot of midfield options. He also has Abu Diaby, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong to call upon if needed.
Some of his tougher choices might be in the defence where he has to pick a left back, as well as a central defensive partnership. It won't be easy to choose between Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos at left back, but they both have their strengths and weaknesses too. I'm not too sure that either of them have their defensive duties perfected, but they can certainly do a lot of damage to the opposition going forward.
In the centre of the defence the perceived wisdom is that Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny will get the nod, but Per Mertesacker must also have a claim to be included. It's a good thing that Wenger has some options available to him with Johan Djourou, Kyle Bartley and Ignasi Miquel all waiting in the background too. No matter which players are chose it's vital that the players play and defend as a unit.
The real big decision for Wenger could be who he chooses to lead the attack. Robin van Persie was the top scorer in the Premier League last season, but his current situation at the club is far from ideal. His choice not to renew his contract is old news now, and becoming more than a little boring too.
I'm sure the vast majority of Arsenal fans would prefer to see him move immediately, but transfer negotiations are never easy. Where he ends up is anybody's guess, but Manchester United seem to think they are favourites to land him. It would sicken me to see him in a United shirt, but as a fan there is nothing I can do about it.
I'm not too sure what the club can do about it either, as the club who offers the highest fee are the most likely team to sign him. It will hurt to see him in the colours of another team, but such is the lot of a fan. I just hope his injury problems return to haunt him and his new club when he does leave.
I have a sneaking suspicion new boy Giroud will play from the start in a central role. He looks to be a well rounded player with good skill on the ball, as well as a good target man and header of the ball if needed. His inclusion in the team will certainly give options to the players around him in the team.
The two wide roles in the team have an awful lot of players competing to play in them. Podolski will more than likely play on the left against his former team, but Andrey Arshavin, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all want a chance to impress too. Chamberlain could play a central role too, and he is bound to see a lot more action this season in either role.
The situation with Walcott is far from ideal too, as he has yet to agree a new contract with less than a year to go. Surely he can't be allowed to remain at the club past transfer deadline day if he still hasn't made a decision on what he wants to do. I am sure that negotiations must be frantically going on in the background despite the outer appearance of calmness.
Hopefully Gervinho will have some more end product this season, as he certainly has the ability to be a very good player. Arshavin could also be on his way out, but if he stays he is still a very good player too. I would like to see Chamberlain play from the start, and stake his claim for a starting role in the team.
At this stage a couple of seasons ago Arsenal played a very entertaining game with Legia Warsaw which ended in a 6-5 victory. It was a lesson in how not to defend, and hopefully Steve Bould's influence on the defensive training will help to make the defence much tighter.
I expect to see a strong Arsenal side, but I would also expect to see all of the players get a chance at some stage. I won't be happy to see RVP with the captain's armband if he does get to wear it, and I can't imagine the reaction if he scores.
It's not easy for a club to lose their best player, but Arsenal fans have got used to it. Wenger has gone out and bought players to really improve the team and the squad, and managed to do it before van Persie leaves too. I don't imagine that deadline day will be quite so hectic for Arsenal this season thankfully.
They may not have finished all of their acquisitions for the summer, but they have done very well so far. The next step of course is to get rid of a few of the players who are surplus to requirements, and hopefully that can happen over the next couple of weeks. There's no need to list the players who are in need of a fresh challenge, but the club could do with cutting the wage bill by selling them.
I'll be watching today's game with real interest, as it's the one and only proper pre season game in my opinion. The tour of Asia was short of a lot of the best players, and the games were really only exercises in fitness. Hopefully a good performance will get the players and fans in the right mood for the new season.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
It's hardly ideal preparation for the new season, as those three new signings will obvious take some time to adjust to playing with their new team mates. They're all very good players though, and I'm sure they will manage to settle in pretty quickly.
With the first Premier League game of the season only six days away I wonder if Arsene Wenger will start with what he sees as his first choice team. There are a few decisions for him to make if that is what he chooses to do, but most of the first choice team picks itself in my opinion. The absence of a couple of first choice players will obviously give a chance for others to stake their claim and possibly shine.
Carl Jenkinson should get the chance to show what he can do at right back, as Bacary Sagna continues his recovery process from his broken leg towards the end of last season. Jenkinson is still a little raw, but he looks like he really wants to play for the team and continue to learn as he does so. Sagna is the best right back in the Premier League, and Jenkinson couldn't ask for a better model to learn his game from.
Despite the continued rumours linking Alex Song with a move to Barcelona I expect him to anchor the midfield trio. I have no idea whether Arsenal will even consider letting Song go, but surely it wouldn't be a good idea with the season just about to start. Song has become an important part of the team, and they can do without the turmoil of losing another player to Barcelona.
I think Mikael Arteta and new boy Carzola will make up the rest of the midfield trio. That should see Carzola playing in the most attacking role of the three, and he has a lot to offer in that position. Those three players will make up a very strong midfield combination which augers well for the new season.
With both Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky to return from injury Wenger will have a lot of midfield options. He also has Abu Diaby, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong to call upon if needed.
Some of his tougher choices might be in the defence where he has to pick a left back, as well as a central defensive partnership. It won't be easy to choose between Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos at left back, but they both have their strengths and weaknesses too. I'm not too sure that either of them have their defensive duties perfected, but they can certainly do a lot of damage to the opposition going forward.
In the centre of the defence the perceived wisdom is that Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny will get the nod, but Per Mertesacker must also have a claim to be included. It's a good thing that Wenger has some options available to him with Johan Djourou, Kyle Bartley and Ignasi Miquel all waiting in the background too. No matter which players are chose it's vital that the players play and defend as a unit.
The real big decision for Wenger could be who he chooses to lead the attack. Robin van Persie was the top scorer in the Premier League last season, but his current situation at the club is far from ideal. His choice not to renew his contract is old news now, and becoming more than a little boring too.
I'm sure the vast majority of Arsenal fans would prefer to see him move immediately, but transfer negotiations are never easy. Where he ends up is anybody's guess, but Manchester United seem to think they are favourites to land him. It would sicken me to see him in a United shirt, but as a fan there is nothing I can do about it.
I'm not too sure what the club can do about it either, as the club who offers the highest fee are the most likely team to sign him. It will hurt to see him in the colours of another team, but such is the lot of a fan. I just hope his injury problems return to haunt him and his new club when he does leave.
I have a sneaking suspicion new boy Giroud will play from the start in a central role. He looks to be a well rounded player with good skill on the ball, as well as a good target man and header of the ball if needed. His inclusion in the team will certainly give options to the players around him in the team.
The two wide roles in the team have an awful lot of players competing to play in them. Podolski will more than likely play on the left against his former team, but Andrey Arshavin, Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all want a chance to impress too. Chamberlain could play a central role too, and he is bound to see a lot more action this season in either role.
The situation with Walcott is far from ideal too, as he has yet to agree a new contract with less than a year to go. Surely he can't be allowed to remain at the club past transfer deadline day if he still hasn't made a decision on what he wants to do. I am sure that negotiations must be frantically going on in the background despite the outer appearance of calmness.
Hopefully Gervinho will have some more end product this season, as he certainly has the ability to be a very good player. Arshavin could also be on his way out, but if he stays he is still a very good player too. I would like to see Chamberlain play from the start, and stake his claim for a starting role in the team.
At this stage a couple of seasons ago Arsenal played a very entertaining game with Legia Warsaw which ended in a 6-5 victory. It was a lesson in how not to defend, and hopefully Steve Bould's influence on the defensive training will help to make the defence much tighter.
I expect to see a strong Arsenal side, but I would also expect to see all of the players get a chance at some stage. I won't be happy to see RVP with the captain's armband if he does get to wear it, and I can't imagine the reaction if he scores.
It's not easy for a club to lose their best player, but Arsenal fans have got used to it. Wenger has gone out and bought players to really improve the team and the squad, and managed to do it before van Persie leaves too. I don't imagine that deadline day will be quite so hectic for Arsenal this season thankfully.
They may not have finished all of their acquisitions for the summer, but they have done very well so far. The next step of course is to get rid of a few of the players who are surplus to requirements, and hopefully that can happen over the next couple of weeks. There's no need to list the players who are in need of a fresh challenge, but the club could do with cutting the wage bill by selling them.
I'll be watching today's game with real interest, as it's the one and only proper pre season game in my opinion. The tour of Asia was short of a lot of the best players, and the games were really only exercises in fitness. Hopefully a good performance will get the players and fans in the right mood for the new season.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Christmas Comes Early For Arsenal
Arsenal announced the third of their summer signings yesterday. It was no secret when Santi Cazorla was snapped up from Malaga to take their summer spending to approximately €45 million. Few other Premier League teams have invested anywhere near that amount of money in their squads for the new season yet.
Like the previous two signings Cazorla is an experienced player at the peak of his game. All three players are exactly the type of players needed to sign, and their attacking options for the new season look extremely varied. Despite the fact that Robin van Persie expressed his desire not to renew his contract the team looks like it will be considerably stronger.
RVP's claims about the direction of the club are looking just a little hollow at the moment. If he was to remain in the squad it would certainly create a situation where the manager would be spoiled for choice. It would take a massive climb down for him to do so, and I just cannot see that happening.
Cazorla joined up with the rest of the squad in Germany, as they continue their preparations for the new season. RVP is also a member of that squad in Germany, and he could possibly be a member of the Arsenal team which faces Cologne in a pre season fame this Sunday.
If RVP plays I will be listening very closely for the reaction of the Arsenal fans to their captain. Despite expressing his desire not to renews his contract RVP is still technically the captain. If he is chosen from the start on Sunday he will have to wear the armband, and I personally do not want to see that.
I suppose Arsene Wenger could get around the problem by leaving him on the bench, and handing the armband to Thomas Vermaelen. It would be very interesting to see if Vermaelen headed it over to RVP if the Dutch man were to make an appearance. They are problems Wenger will have to deal with on the day, but I'm sure he will have a plan to do so.
That game should hopefully also see Cazorla make his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt. While the signings of Lukasz Podolski and Oliver Giroud were very welcome it's Cazorla whose signing will really excite the Arsenal fans. The team was really lacking in creativity at times last season, but he looks like the player who could change that.
He can play on either wing, as well as in an attacking midfield role.His goalscoring ratio isn't exactly spectacular, but he has the ability to make things happen. Since the departure of Cesc Fabregas last summer Arsenal have needed a player who could play in his role.
Cazorla has the ability to do just that, but he isn't quite as good a player as Cesc. Then again there aren't many players in the world who are as good as Cesc. He hasn't got too long to learn to fit in with his new team mates, but quality players can play with almost any team.
If the rumours are to believed Wenger still hasn't finished his summer spending spree, as Nuri Sahin could be the next player to join the club. His projected move from Real Madrid will probably only be a loan arrangement if it happens, but it will be another signal of intent for the new season. There can be no doubt that Arsenal have decided to bring in players to improve their team, and have not waited until the last minutes of the transfer window to do so.
If they can get off to a good start they might just have the strength in depth which has been missing for the past few seasons. The return from injury of Jack Wilshere a few months into the season will be a welcome boost also, and the midfield competition in the squad is going to be intense. There is a lot of hope for the new season despite the actions of RVP, and it promises to be a very good one for Arsenal.
There are still a few defensive problems to iron out, but with Steve Bould helping out I'm hopeful that the whole team can be taught to defend better as a unit. The absence of Bacary Sagn from the start of the season will be a big loss, and hopefully Carl Jenkinson can step up to the job in hand. Surely the Arsenal defenders cannot suffer as many injuries as they did last season, and some consistency will hopefully come with a settled defence.
It would seem Christmas has come very early for Arsenal with the arrival of Santi in early August. Hopefully he won't have a clause in his contract that seems him go the way of so many other top class Arsenal players in the last few seasons.
Here's a little bit of Cazorla in action.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Like the previous two signings Cazorla is an experienced player at the peak of his game. All three players are exactly the type of players needed to sign, and their attacking options for the new season look extremely varied. Despite the fact that Robin van Persie expressed his desire not to renew his contract the team looks like it will be considerably stronger.
RVP's claims about the direction of the club are looking just a little hollow at the moment. If he was to remain in the squad it would certainly create a situation where the manager would be spoiled for choice. It would take a massive climb down for him to do so, and I just cannot see that happening.
Cazorla joined up with the rest of the squad in Germany, as they continue their preparations for the new season. RVP is also a member of that squad in Germany, and he could possibly be a member of the Arsenal team which faces Cologne in a pre season fame this Sunday.
If RVP plays I will be listening very closely for the reaction of the Arsenal fans to their captain. Despite expressing his desire not to renews his contract RVP is still technically the captain. If he is chosen from the start on Sunday he will have to wear the armband, and I personally do not want to see that.
I suppose Arsene Wenger could get around the problem by leaving him on the bench, and handing the armband to Thomas Vermaelen. It would be very interesting to see if Vermaelen headed it over to RVP if the Dutch man were to make an appearance. They are problems Wenger will have to deal with on the day, but I'm sure he will have a plan to do so.
That game should hopefully also see Cazorla make his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt. While the signings of Lukasz Podolski and Oliver Giroud were very welcome it's Cazorla whose signing will really excite the Arsenal fans. The team was really lacking in creativity at times last season, but he looks like the player who could change that.
He can play on either wing, as well as in an attacking midfield role.His goalscoring ratio isn't exactly spectacular, but he has the ability to make things happen. Since the departure of Cesc Fabregas last summer Arsenal have needed a player who could play in his role.
Cazorla has the ability to do just that, but he isn't quite as good a player as Cesc. Then again there aren't many players in the world who are as good as Cesc. He hasn't got too long to learn to fit in with his new team mates, but quality players can play with almost any team.
If the rumours are to believed Wenger still hasn't finished his summer spending spree, as Nuri Sahin could be the next player to join the club. His projected move from Real Madrid will probably only be a loan arrangement if it happens, but it will be another signal of intent for the new season. There can be no doubt that Arsenal have decided to bring in players to improve their team, and have not waited until the last minutes of the transfer window to do so.
If they can get off to a good start they might just have the strength in depth which has been missing for the past few seasons. The return from injury of Jack Wilshere a few months into the season will be a welcome boost also, and the midfield competition in the squad is going to be intense. There is a lot of hope for the new season despite the actions of RVP, and it promises to be a very good one for Arsenal.
There are still a few defensive problems to iron out, but with Steve Bould helping out I'm hopeful that the whole team can be taught to defend better as a unit. The absence of Bacary Sagn from the start of the season will be a big loss, and hopefully Carl Jenkinson can step up to the job in hand. Surely the Arsenal defenders cannot suffer as many injuries as they did last season, and some consistency will hopefully come with a settled defence.
It would seem Christmas has come very early for Arsenal with the arrival of Santi in early August. Hopefully he won't have a clause in his contract that seems him go the way of so many other top class Arsenal players in the last few seasons.
Here's a little bit of Cazorla in action.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 3 August 2012
That Old Familiar Arsenal Feeling
The start of the new season is drawing ever closer, and still Arsenal have far too many players they need to offload. The only player they have managed to sell so far is Carlos Vela, and they have to sell more to make room in their first team squad.
They faced a similar situation last summer, and ended up loaning out some of the players they couldn't offload. The big obstacle in their attempts to sell these players seems to be the wages paid to them by Arsenal. Unfortunately Arsenal have had to pay very high wages to promising players to ensure they stayed at the club, and these players don't always make the grade.
As a result Arsenal have had real difficulty in selling players like Nicklas Bentner, Denilson, Marouane Chamakh, Sebastien Squillaci, Andrey Arshavin, and Ju Young Park. Their combined wages and transfer fees would probably be enough to bring in the two players Arsene Wenger is still keen to sign. It does look like he will make those two signings anyway with Santi Cazorla and Nuri Sahin looking to be the most likely players to arrive.
Those who are supposedly "in the know" have being telling Arsenal fans for weeks that these two players signings are imminent. The chances are they will eventually be right, but nobody is truly in the know in my opinion. The only people who actually know what is happening are those involved in the negotiations in both clubs, and I would imagine the players too.
I think Cazorla would be a fantastic signing for Arsenal, and he could be the creative spark their midfield has being missing for quite a while now. With Jack Wilshere out of action until October I think the midfield needs some genuine quality added, and he certainly fits the bill. I just hope all of the rumours are right, and he dons the red Arsenal shirt very soon.
Of course the saga of Robin van Persie's expected departure continues, and it's effect on the other players and the fans is hard to judge. The players are continuing their preparation for the new season, but it cannot be easy for them to work with a player every day who would rather be elsewhere. I don't care what has been said about his supposed professionalism, as his statement from last month showed exactly how little of that he has.
For a club captain to undermine his own club in such a manner was quite incredible, and he will never be the same player again for me. Even if he stays for next season and sees out his contract I will find it hard to cheer him when he plays. The best solution for Arsenal is to be rid of him s soon as possible, and get on with the business of building a team with players who want to play for them.
As an Arsenal fan I have become used to players looking to leave the club, and the club have survived when better players than RVP have left. The most frustrating thing about the saga is how it is hanging over Arsenal's start to the new season. They have only one pre season game left before they face Sunderland in just over two weeks, and it's time for some action to be taken.
I know there is very little the club can do to get other clubs to increase their offers, but they have to think of what is best for the club as a whole. A disruptive influence cannot be allowed to fester at the club, and they need to cash in as soon as possible.
My ideal scenario would be for Arsenal to start the new season with all the above players I mentioned at new clubs, and a few new arrivals to bolster the squad. I can't see all of that happening in the next two weeks, but I hope it doesn't all come down to deadline day yet again. Last summer was a disastrous one for the club, and the transfer mayhem directly affected the team's start to the season.
It cannot be allowed to happen again, and I cannot imagine that it will. All the signs are that RVP will be sold, as new boy Lukasz Podolski has not been issued with a shirt number yet. I'm sure he would love to have RVP's number 10 shirt, but there is also the possibility of Park's number 9 being available very soon.
Finally for today I have to mention that my blog is four years old today. On this very day in 2008 I posted my first Arsenal blog on Oleole, and I have continued it on a very regular basis ever since. It's not always easy, but it certainly helps me to deal with my feelings for Arsenal by sharing them with others.
Hopefully I'll still be writing about Arsenal in another four years, and I'll have a few trophies to write about too.
Finally, finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
They faced a similar situation last summer, and ended up loaning out some of the players they couldn't offload. The big obstacle in their attempts to sell these players seems to be the wages paid to them by Arsenal. Unfortunately Arsenal have had to pay very high wages to promising players to ensure they stayed at the club, and these players don't always make the grade.
As a result Arsenal have had real difficulty in selling players like Nicklas Bentner, Denilson, Marouane Chamakh, Sebastien Squillaci, Andrey Arshavin, and Ju Young Park. Their combined wages and transfer fees would probably be enough to bring in the two players Arsene Wenger is still keen to sign. It does look like he will make those two signings anyway with Santi Cazorla and Nuri Sahin looking to be the most likely players to arrive.
Those who are supposedly "in the know" have being telling Arsenal fans for weeks that these two players signings are imminent. The chances are they will eventually be right, but nobody is truly in the know in my opinion. The only people who actually know what is happening are those involved in the negotiations in both clubs, and I would imagine the players too.
I think Cazorla would be a fantastic signing for Arsenal, and he could be the creative spark their midfield has being missing for quite a while now. With Jack Wilshere out of action until October I think the midfield needs some genuine quality added, and he certainly fits the bill. I just hope all of the rumours are right, and he dons the red Arsenal shirt very soon.
Of course the saga of Robin van Persie's expected departure continues, and it's effect on the other players and the fans is hard to judge. The players are continuing their preparation for the new season, but it cannot be easy for them to work with a player every day who would rather be elsewhere. I don't care what has been said about his supposed professionalism, as his statement from last month showed exactly how little of that he has.
For a club captain to undermine his own club in such a manner was quite incredible, and he will never be the same player again for me. Even if he stays for next season and sees out his contract I will find it hard to cheer him when he plays. The best solution for Arsenal is to be rid of him s soon as possible, and get on with the business of building a team with players who want to play for them.
As an Arsenal fan I have become used to players looking to leave the club, and the club have survived when better players than RVP have left. The most frustrating thing about the saga is how it is hanging over Arsenal's start to the new season. They have only one pre season game left before they face Sunderland in just over two weeks, and it's time for some action to be taken.
I know there is very little the club can do to get other clubs to increase their offers, but they have to think of what is best for the club as a whole. A disruptive influence cannot be allowed to fester at the club, and they need to cash in as soon as possible.
My ideal scenario would be for Arsenal to start the new season with all the above players I mentioned at new clubs, and a few new arrivals to bolster the squad. I can't see all of that happening in the next two weeks, but I hope it doesn't all come down to deadline day yet again. Last summer was a disastrous one for the club, and the transfer mayhem directly affected the team's start to the season.
It cannot be allowed to happen again, and I cannot imagine that it will. All the signs are that RVP will be sold, as new boy Lukasz Podolski has not been issued with a shirt number yet. I'm sure he would love to have RVP's number 10 shirt, but there is also the possibility of Park's number 9 being available very soon.
Finally for today I have to mention that my blog is four years old today. On this very day in 2008 I posted my first Arsenal blog on Oleole, and I have continued it on a very regular basis ever since. It's not always easy, but it certainly helps me to deal with my feelings for Arsenal by sharing them with others.
Hopefully I'll still be writing about Arsenal in another four years, and I'll have a few trophies to write about too.
Finally, finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 21 July 2012
Robin van Persie Should Hand In The Captain's Armband
With pre season training now back in full swing almost all of the Arsenal players have returned to the club. All eyes are on Robin van Persie after his announcement that he will not be renewing his contract with the club. He has only one year left on his current deal, and the club seem determined to make him see out that year.
I could accept that position from the club with the majority of the squad, but the club captain is a different matter in my opinion. I cannot see any way RVP can continue in his role as club captain after his comments on his web site criticising the club and how it is run. A captain has to be behind the management and the club too, and if RVP isn't behind them he should do the decent thing.
If he doesn't want to continue at Arsenal he has to resign the captaincy, and hand in a transfer request. Surely there can be no other course of action for him to take. The current situation cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely, or it will end up causing similar chaos to that suffered by the club last season.
The squad have set off on their tour of the far east without RVP, as he has stayed behind to work on his fitness. Despite the fact that his country were knocked out in the group stages of Euro 2012 he has been deemed unfit to travel, although Theo Walcott has traveled even though England made it to the quarter finals. I don't think there is a single Arsenal fan who believes RVP has stayed behind to work on his fitness.
Does that mean he has refused to play for the club despite still being the captain. It all seems far too similar to the situation with Cesc Fabregas last season, and that dragged on for far too long. When the club return from their trip there will be just over two weeks to the start of the new season, and four weeks to the end of the transfer window.
With RVP in England and Arsene Wenger on the far side of the planet it's highly unlikely that he will be sold before the end of July. Despite Wenger saying he wants to keep RVP and believes he will get the best out of him, I just can's see him staying. It can only be part of the club's attempts to get as high a price as possible for the best player in the Premier League last season.
In an ideal world RVP would make a u-turn and declare his intent to remain at the club and sign a new contract too. However, that's not going to happen, and the club have to get the very best price they can for their prize asset. If that means selling him to Manchester City it will be a bitter pill for Arsenal fans to swallow, but it will help to fund improvements in the rest of the team hopefully.
It looks as if the three teams who are really interested in RVP are the two Manchester teams and Juventus, and Arsenal need to play them off against each other. He may have only one year left on his contract, but there is no doubting that his ability makes him a highly sought after player who would improve any of those teams. Whoever buys him needs to pay an absolute premium for his talents, and it needs to happen before the season starts too.
I can only imagine the reaction RVP will get from Arsenal fans if he takes the field for the club while still wanting away. Those fans pay their hard earned money to support the team they love, and the expect total commitment from every player who plays for the club. RVP cannot give total commitment to a club he wants to leave, and it is unimaginable to ever see him in an Arsenal shirt again.
Other players have left in the past and been welcomed back with open arms at times, but RVP's actions have made that scenario impossible in my opinion. Despite claiming he wants to leave the club to win trophies there are very few Arsenal fans who believe it is for anything other than personal gain. Even if it is a mixture of both he should want to lead the club that he is captain of to those trophies.
It goes back to my original point that if he truly disagreed with how the club was being run he should have resigned his captaincy and handed in a transfer request. It would have hurt for him to do so, but he may have got more respect from some Arsenal fans who feel the club's transfer policy over the last few seasons has been far from ideal. New stadiums come at a cost and so do world class players, and Arsenal simply cannot compete when the oil-rich clubs show an interest in a player.
Like so many other Arsenal fans last season I reveled in the fantastic goalscoring ability of RVP, and I was thankful he was able to contribute so many goals. Those days seem like a distant memory now from a player who has spoiled his reputation at a club where he was worshiped by the fans. He's just another mercenary to me now, and the sooner he leaves my club the better.
That's it for today.
It's that time of the yer again when fantasy football returns to take everybody's minds off the transfer speculation. I've been running my own league on the official site for a few years now, and there were well over 1,000 teams in my league last season. It's open to one and all to join by clicking on the link and using the following code (17031-6252) for my league once your team is set up.
See you tomorrow.
I could accept that position from the club with the majority of the squad, but the club captain is a different matter in my opinion. I cannot see any way RVP can continue in his role as club captain after his comments on his web site criticising the club and how it is run. A captain has to be behind the management and the club too, and if RVP isn't behind them he should do the decent thing.
If he doesn't want to continue at Arsenal he has to resign the captaincy, and hand in a transfer request. Surely there can be no other course of action for him to take. The current situation cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely, or it will end up causing similar chaos to that suffered by the club last season.
The squad have set off on their tour of the far east without RVP, as he has stayed behind to work on his fitness. Despite the fact that his country were knocked out in the group stages of Euro 2012 he has been deemed unfit to travel, although Theo Walcott has traveled even though England made it to the quarter finals. I don't think there is a single Arsenal fan who believes RVP has stayed behind to work on his fitness.
Does that mean he has refused to play for the club despite still being the captain. It all seems far too similar to the situation with Cesc Fabregas last season, and that dragged on for far too long. When the club return from their trip there will be just over two weeks to the start of the new season, and four weeks to the end of the transfer window.
With RVP in England and Arsene Wenger on the far side of the planet it's highly unlikely that he will be sold before the end of July. Despite Wenger saying he wants to keep RVP and believes he will get the best out of him, I just can's see him staying. It can only be part of the club's attempts to get as high a price as possible for the best player in the Premier League last season.
In an ideal world RVP would make a u-turn and declare his intent to remain at the club and sign a new contract too. However, that's not going to happen, and the club have to get the very best price they can for their prize asset. If that means selling him to Manchester City it will be a bitter pill for Arsenal fans to swallow, but it will help to fund improvements in the rest of the team hopefully.
It looks as if the three teams who are really interested in RVP are the two Manchester teams and Juventus, and Arsenal need to play them off against each other. He may have only one year left on his contract, but there is no doubting that his ability makes him a highly sought after player who would improve any of those teams. Whoever buys him needs to pay an absolute premium for his talents, and it needs to happen before the season starts too.
I can only imagine the reaction RVP will get from Arsenal fans if he takes the field for the club while still wanting away. Those fans pay their hard earned money to support the team they love, and the expect total commitment from every player who plays for the club. RVP cannot give total commitment to a club he wants to leave, and it is unimaginable to ever see him in an Arsenal shirt again.
Other players have left in the past and been welcomed back with open arms at times, but RVP's actions have made that scenario impossible in my opinion. Despite claiming he wants to leave the club to win trophies there are very few Arsenal fans who believe it is for anything other than personal gain. Even if it is a mixture of both he should want to lead the club that he is captain of to those trophies.
It goes back to my original point that if he truly disagreed with how the club was being run he should have resigned his captaincy and handed in a transfer request. It would have hurt for him to do so, but he may have got more respect from some Arsenal fans who feel the club's transfer policy over the last few seasons has been far from ideal. New stadiums come at a cost and so do world class players, and Arsenal simply cannot compete when the oil-rich clubs show an interest in a player.
Like so many other Arsenal fans last season I reveled in the fantastic goalscoring ability of RVP, and I was thankful he was able to contribute so many goals. Those days seem like a distant memory now from a player who has spoiled his reputation at a club where he was worshiped by the fans. He's just another mercenary to me now, and the sooner he leaves my club the better.
That's it for today.
It's that time of the yer again when fantasy football returns to take everybody's minds off the transfer speculation. I've been running my own league on the official site for a few years now, and there were well over 1,000 teams in my league last season. It's open to one and all to join by clicking on the link and using the following code (17031-6252) for my league once your team is set up.
See you tomorrow.
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Arsenal's New Away Kit Revealed
Arsenal revealed their new away kit for next season yesterday. It combines both purple and black in a hooped pattern, and it's very different from previous Arsenal kits.
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I'm a big fan of the classic yellow and blue away kit for Arsenal, but the new kit has got something to it. It goes on sale on pre order today, and I have a feeling it will be a big hit with Arsenal fans.
A few years back Arsenal confirmed that they would only release one new kit every year, but in recent seasons the home and away shirts have changed annually. There have been good reasons for the changes such as the last season at Highbury, and the 125th anniversary of the founding of the club.
It will be interesting to see if there are any changes to either strip next season. I can't imagine the club will let the start to a new season go by without bringing out at least one new kit.
The real expense in all of this falls on the long suffering fans who are expected to buy the shirts. There is obviously no obligation on them, but fans invariably want the latest shirt from their club.
It looks like Arsenal fans will get plenty of opportunities to see their players in the new away strip too. With so many of their away games on TV it means Arsenal will have to wear the away strip on any occasion which it clashes with the opposition's home colours. I think Arsenal will get to wear the new strip in five of those first seven league games that have been scheduled to shown live on TV.
Obviously the more the strip is shown the more likely it is for Arsenal fans to buy it. It's certainly a big change from previous strips worn by Arsenal, and it's not as if fans can wear an older one which looks similar.
As a lifelong fan of Arsenal I would be only too glad to buy every single shirt I can afford if it meant a little bit of glory returning to the club. Since the arrival of sugar daddies with their billions of oil money the balance of power has shifted in English football.
Both Chelsea and Manchester City have seemingly bottomless pits of money to draw on, and it makes it very hard for other teams to compete with them in the transfer market. Manchester United still continue to challenge them mainly due to their huge money earning capacity, but how long can that continue. Arsenal have done very well to stay in touch, but the lack of trophies is a real burden for some fans.
It could be a lot worse though, and the current status of Liverpool shows exactly how bad it could be. Despite winning the Carling Cup last season Liverpool only managed to finish eighth in the Premier League. Yet again next season they will get to play their European football on a Thursday night in the Europa League.
It's a prospect Arsenal have never had to face under Arsene Wenger, but they have come very close to missing out on the Champions League on a few occasions. The upcoming season could be a real challenge for them with the likely departure of Robin van Persie. His goals will be missed, and others will have to step up to the plate in his absence.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
I'm a big fan of the classic yellow and blue away kit for Arsenal, but the new kit has got something to it. It goes on sale on pre order today, and I have a feeling it will be a big hit with Arsenal fans.
A few years back Arsenal confirmed that they would only release one new kit every year, but in recent seasons the home and away shirts have changed annually. There have been good reasons for the changes such as the last season at Highbury, and the 125th anniversary of the founding of the club.
It will be interesting to see if there are any changes to either strip next season. I can't imagine the club will let the start to a new season go by without bringing out at least one new kit.
The real expense in all of this falls on the long suffering fans who are expected to buy the shirts. There is obviously no obligation on them, but fans invariably want the latest shirt from their club.
It looks like Arsenal fans will get plenty of opportunities to see their players in the new away strip too. With so many of their away games on TV it means Arsenal will have to wear the away strip on any occasion which it clashes with the opposition's home colours. I think Arsenal will get to wear the new strip in five of those first seven league games that have been scheduled to shown live on TV.
Obviously the more the strip is shown the more likely it is for Arsenal fans to buy it. It's certainly a big change from previous strips worn by Arsenal, and it's not as if fans can wear an older one which looks similar.
As a lifelong fan of Arsenal I would be only too glad to buy every single shirt I can afford if it meant a little bit of glory returning to the club. Since the arrival of sugar daddies with their billions of oil money the balance of power has shifted in English football.
Both Chelsea and Manchester City have seemingly bottomless pits of money to draw on, and it makes it very hard for other teams to compete with them in the transfer market. Manchester United still continue to challenge them mainly due to their huge money earning capacity, but how long can that continue. Arsenal have done very well to stay in touch, but the lack of trophies is a real burden for some fans.
It could be a lot worse though, and the current status of Liverpool shows exactly how bad it could be. Despite winning the Carling Cup last season Liverpool only managed to finish eighth in the Premier League. Yet again next season they will get to play their European football on a Thursday night in the Europa League.
It's a prospect Arsenal have never had to face under Arsene Wenger, but they have come very close to missing out on the Champions League on a few occasions. The upcoming season could be a real challenge for them with the likely departure of Robin van Persie. His goals will be missed, and others will have to step up to the plate in his absence.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 6 July 2012
What Effect Will RVP's Decision Have On Arsenal Players
Robin van Persie's decision not to sign a new contract at Arsenal will surely see his departure from the club very soon. He has to be stripped of the captaincy and sold to the highest bidder in my opinion. That could be just the start of the problems for Arsenal though, as the effect of his decision reaches the other players at the club.
It's hard to know what the other players will make of RVP's decision, but it could certainly cause unrest among some of them. The departure of the club captain and current star player could send out all the wrong signals to the other players as they return for pre-season training. Despite losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri last summer, and the impending departure of RVP there are still some very good players at Arsenal.
The first of the fall out could be seen very soon, as Theo Walcott also has only one year left on his contract. Despite having a somewhat up and down Arsenal career so far Walcott had his best season for the club last season. A decision by him not to renew his contract could be another blow for the club and the fans too.
Walcott may not have the same status as RVP at the club, but the club cannot afford to see another player decide not to renew his contract. They have to make every effort possible to get Walcott to stay with the club, and avert another crisis. It wouldn't be the end of the world if Walcott left, but on top of the RVP debacle it would be a PR disaster.
I have no doubt that Arsene Wenger will make Arsenal very competitive this coming season, but players do want to genuinely compete for trophies. What happens if the likes of Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny or Thomas Vermaelen decide they want to follow RVP through the exit door next summer. There is no doubt the three of them could play for the clubs who can afford to pay wages which Arsenal simply cannot match.
In the next few years both Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will hopefully become huge stars in English and World football. There is no doubt Arsenal can help them to fulfill their potential, but the more world class players they play with the better for them. At the moment it would seem Arsenal have a lot of very good players, but the exit of RVP will see the last of their world class players left at the club gone.
It's been a long time since Arsenal haven't had a true star of football in their team. It has never been Wenger's policy to go out and buy ready made star players, but he has turned many players into stars. He tends to buy players on the up with a lot of potential or players who have suffered a setback and need a new focus in their career.
Both Lukasz Podolski and Oliver Giroud could fit into those categories, and hopefully they will become future stars at Arsenal.
It would seem Arsenal are going to have to become more of a team next season, as their dependence on RVP won't be a factor any more. That may not be a bad thing, but at the big moments special players can make a difference. Wenger needs to bring in a couple of players who can really make things happen to boost the spirits of both the players and the fans.
Who those players are is anybody's guess, but the team needs to find stability before the season starts. The shambolic start Arsenal suffered last season cannot be allowed to happen again, and he has to make sure the team are primed to perform from day one. There are only two Premier League games for Arsenal before the transfer window closes, but they must be ready to perform at their best in those games.
There is still a long way to go before that first game at home to Sunderland on August 18, and plenty of transfer business to be done in that time. Besides the players who will come Arsenal also have quite a few players to sell, and some more to be loaned out too I would imagine. It looks like being a very busy six weeks for Arsenal and their long suffering fans too.
It still has to be remembered that Arsenal managed to finish third in the Premier League last season despite all of the problems. It's hard to see how they can be expected to improve on that position at the stage, but hope springs eternal. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the come season brings a trophy, but regardless of whether it does or not my loyalties will always be with Arsenal.
I just wish I could say the same thing about certain players who claim to be fans, or to have the club in their blood. There is only one thing certain for fans of any club, and that is that they love their club more than the players do. Players may come and players may go, but true fans support their club through thick and thin.
That doesn't mean they have to believe blindly in everything the manager or owners say or do. It is possible to have differing views and still support the same club of course. The most important thing for Arsenal is that those fans are right behind the players when they take the field against Sunderland on August 18th.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
It's hard to know what the other players will make of RVP's decision, but it could certainly cause unrest among some of them. The departure of the club captain and current star player could send out all the wrong signals to the other players as they return for pre-season training. Despite losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri last summer, and the impending departure of RVP there are still some very good players at Arsenal.
The first of the fall out could be seen very soon, as Theo Walcott also has only one year left on his contract. Despite having a somewhat up and down Arsenal career so far Walcott had his best season for the club last season. A decision by him not to renew his contract could be another blow for the club and the fans too.
Walcott may not have the same status as RVP at the club, but the club cannot afford to see another player decide not to renew his contract. They have to make every effort possible to get Walcott to stay with the club, and avert another crisis. It wouldn't be the end of the world if Walcott left, but on top of the RVP debacle it would be a PR disaster.
I have no doubt that Arsene Wenger will make Arsenal very competitive this coming season, but players do want to genuinely compete for trophies. What happens if the likes of Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny or Thomas Vermaelen decide they want to follow RVP through the exit door next summer. There is no doubt the three of them could play for the clubs who can afford to pay wages which Arsenal simply cannot match.
In the next few years both Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will hopefully become huge stars in English and World football. There is no doubt Arsenal can help them to fulfill their potential, but the more world class players they play with the better for them. At the moment it would seem Arsenal have a lot of very good players, but the exit of RVP will see the last of their world class players left at the club gone.
It's been a long time since Arsenal haven't had a true star of football in their team. It has never been Wenger's policy to go out and buy ready made star players, but he has turned many players into stars. He tends to buy players on the up with a lot of potential or players who have suffered a setback and need a new focus in their career.
Both Lukasz Podolski and Oliver Giroud could fit into those categories, and hopefully they will become future stars at Arsenal.
It would seem Arsenal are going to have to become more of a team next season, as their dependence on RVP won't be a factor any more. That may not be a bad thing, but at the big moments special players can make a difference. Wenger needs to bring in a couple of players who can really make things happen to boost the spirits of both the players and the fans.
Who those players are is anybody's guess, but the team needs to find stability before the season starts. The shambolic start Arsenal suffered last season cannot be allowed to happen again, and he has to make sure the team are primed to perform from day one. There are only two Premier League games for Arsenal before the transfer window closes, but they must be ready to perform at their best in those games.
There is still a long way to go before that first game at home to Sunderland on August 18, and plenty of transfer business to be done in that time. Besides the players who will come Arsenal also have quite a few players to sell, and some more to be loaned out too I would imagine. It looks like being a very busy six weeks for Arsenal and their long suffering fans too.
It still has to be remembered that Arsenal managed to finish third in the Premier League last season despite all of the problems. It's hard to see how they can be expected to improve on that position at the stage, but hope springs eternal. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the come season brings a trophy, but regardless of whether it does or not my loyalties will always be with Arsenal.
I just wish I could say the same thing about certain players who claim to be fans, or to have the club in their blood. There is only one thing certain for fans of any club, and that is that they love their club more than the players do. Players may come and players may go, but true fans support their club through thick and thin.
That doesn't mean they have to believe blindly in everything the manager or owners say or do. It is possible to have differing views and still support the same club of course. The most important thing for Arsenal is that those fans are right behind the players when they take the field against Sunderland on August 18th.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
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