Start of new season already a write-off?

Following last season’s disastrous start to the campaign which left the Gunners playing catch-up for the entire season many would have rightly assumed Arsene Wenger would place great emphasis on the club’s pre-season preparations this year. In the early stages of the close season, all seemed to be going to plan, with the very early (by Arsenal standards!) signings of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, however since then several questions have been raised as to whether the Gunners will be raring to go by 18^th August when they host Sunderland in the first game of the season.    

Throughout his time at the club, Wenger has always favoured a quiet training camp in Austria to get his squad ready for the new campaign. However last season the Frenchman finally caved in to commercial demands and reluctantly agreed to a money-spinning tour of the Far East. At first it was widely reported that the manager had only agreed to such a move as there was neither a World Cup nor a European Championship taking place that year. However the tour was so commercially successful that the club once again sanctioned another trip to the Far East this year, despite the European Championships taking place in June. As a result, Wenger has had to leave behind both his new signings (following their participation at Euro 2102) as well as first team players such as Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, although Theo Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain, who were both in England’s Euro 2012 squad, did make the trip to the Far East.

While the absence of first team regulars such as Koscielny is not so alarming, as they will surely be able to fit straight back into the squad once the players return to London Colney, (although Steve Bould would have preferred a full pre-season to work with all the defenders at the club) the fact that Podolski and Giroud are yet to play a game with their new team mates does seem strange.

Van Persie refuses to sign new contract

Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie yesterday issued a strongly worded statement, declaring his intension to leave the club he joined in 2004 as a relative unknown. At that stage in his career the Dutchman was viewed in a very similar way to how Mario Balotelli is perceived today; a hugely talented youngster whose great potential was in grave danger of being wasted. Arsene Wenger however had immense faith in him and stuck by him through the desperate lows such as a needless red card away to Southampton early in his Arsenal career, which effectively cost the Gunners the league championship and let’s not forget the numerous and endless injuries, most of which were sustained while playing international football with Holland. Throughout all of this Wenger was always there for Van Persie. In his role as manager and father figure Wenger nurtured the precocious youngster, and saw him develop into the world class player he is today. And how is he repaid? With a statement which not only declares Van Persie’s position in no uncertain terms, but also questions the club’s ambition, effectively placing any potential incoming transfers in serious jeopardy.

Giroud signed, now for M'Vila?

Arsene Wenger yesterday practically confirmed the deal to bring Olivier Giroud to the Emirates Stadium. Speaking to French television, for whom he is acting as a football pundit during Euro 2012, Wenger described his compatriot as possessing "exceptional potential and will integrate very well in our collective and our way of playing……. He is a real team player and knows how to combine with other players and I'm sure he will do well with us." With Arsenal’s forward line significantly strengthened, attention has now turned to Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila, who has recently declared his interest in a summer switch to the Gunners, in a deal worth a reported £17million.

In addition, Bayern Munich’s interest in the defensive midfielder has apparently cooled, seemingly paving the way for Arsenal to press forward with their bid. Rumours concerning the move first surfaced during last summer’s transfer window and it was reported at the time that Wenger’s bid had been rejected by Rennes. Then earlier in the year, World Cup winner Marcel Desailly implored Wenger to sign M’Vila, describing him as the next big thing in world football and a player who could potentially bridge the gap between the Gunners and the Manchester clubs, enabling the North London side to challenge for the title once again. In Desailly’s opinion, M’Vila is exactly the type of signing which would convince the likes of Robin Van Persie that Arsenal remain one of Europe’s top sides.

Arsenal bound? M'Vila

 

Yet the brilliance of Alex Song this season and emergence of both Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong would raise the question as to whether Arsenal should really be contemplating spending such a large sum on another

Wenger's squad dilema

Spurs bound: Vertonghen

Following the signing of Lukas Podolski from Cologne and the seemingly imminent arrival of another striker, Olivier Giroud from Montpelier, many football pundits believe that Arsene Wenger should now focus on strengthening the defensive aspect of his squad.  While this is admittedly an area in which the Gunners have struggled in recent seasons, Wenger will find it difficult to persuade a top quality centre half to move to the Emirates this summer; mainly due to the widely held belief that Vermaelen and Koscielny are Arsenal’s first choice defensive pairing. With Per Mertesacker ready to fill in should either become unavailable, it will be a tough task for Wenger to convince any potential new defensive signing that they will enjoy ample first team opportunities. A clear example of this has already been seen during this summer’s pursuit of Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen. The Belgian has stated several times that his preferred destination would be White Hart Lane, even though this will result in him swapping Champions League football with the Dutch champions for Europa League football with North London’s second best team. In this instance Tottenham have a clear advantage over the Gunners as with Ledley King likely to retire, Michael Dawson suffering from injury and William Gallas enduring a torrid end to the season,  places in their central defence are not set in stone and so they can effectively guarantee Vertonghen a starting place. Therefore if Wenger does sell Squillaci and Djourou over the summer, he will have to either promote a centre half from within the squad, such as Kyle Bartley, or sign a less experienced, unheralded defender.

Olivier Giroud set to become a Gooner?

According to reports in the English media today, Arsenal are on the verge of sealing their second summer signing, with Olivier Giroud expected to sign for the club in the coming days. His manager at Montpelier, René Girard, also confirmed yesterday in an interview with a French radio station that Arsenal are very interested in the player and if a fee can be agreed with the club’s president, Giroud will be heading to red half of North London.

With the fee expected to be slightly lower than the rumoured £12.8 million release clause in the player’s contract, it is believed that Marouane Chamakh will also be going the other way as part of the deal, enabling Arsenal to remove the disappointing Moroccan striker from their wage bill. Should he sign for the Gunners, Giroud would provide an interesting new dimension to the Arsenal attack, with his size (standing at 6ft 3”), physical presence and renowned heading ability. Having worked his way up to the top tier of French football, following spells in the French lower leagues, Giroud not only knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level but also possesses great passion, hunger and desire to win. Although he amassed 21 goals in Ligue 1 last season, helping Montpelier to win the league title, it is believed that Wenger does not see Giroud as a direct replacement for Robin Van Persie. Although with his physical attributes the Frenchman could clearly play upfront on his own,

End of season awards 2011/2012

The results are in..........

Player of the season

Robin Van Persie, who else? Following the departure of Fabregas, the Dutchman was given the captain’s armband and carried the team on his shoulders for much of the season. Van Persie was simply phenomenal, scoring 30 Premier League goals along the way and becoming a real talisman for the side. Without him who knows where Arsenal would have finished in the league.

Goal of the season

Mikel Arteta’s wonderful free kick at home to Aston Villa deserves honourable mention, but Robin Van Persie’s volley against Everton on the day Arsenal celebrated their 125^th anniversary takes the award.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC_PRz_5B1k&feature=related

It was an outstanding shot, with the ball arriving over his shoulder he still managed to find the bottom corner of the net with unerring accuracy. The captain’s volley away at Liverpool wasn’t bad either and there was his strike into the top corner at home to Tottenham too……

Luckiest goal of the season

Andrey Arshavin only scored one goal this season and it was a direct result of sheer luck. As Michel Vorm attempted to throw the ball forward, it struck his own defender on the back of his legs and fell straight to Arshavin for the Russian to duly slot the ball into the empty net.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAy2S6fW1Uw

 

Best celebration

There can only be one winner, Thierry Henry vs. Leeds. The Arsenal legend came back to the club he loves with many questioning his decision and wondering if he would tarnish his reputation. However Henry proved that class is permanent as he came off the bench against Leeds in the F.A. Cup to a rapturous welcome and duly slotted home the winner as if he had never been away. Cue sheer delirium, as Henry ran towards Arsene Wenger to embrace his mentor before manically beating his chest. A true legend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-H70yLl-DQ

Happy Saint Totteringham’s day

West Brom 2-3 Arsenal

Let's all laugh at Tottenham!!

It may have arrived later than usual this season, but Arsenal supporters world-wide could yesterday celebrate Saint Totteringham’s day once again. This is the beautiful day which each season marks the point at which Tottenham can no longer finish above their illustrious North London rivals. That’s right, such is the dominance enjoyed by Arsenal and the sheer gulf in class between the two clubs that the Gunners’ fans have actually created a patron saint to celebrate the annual event.  This year’s feast day was probably celebrated as vigorously as any other due to the several trials and tribulations which Arsenal have had to face throughout the season.

Tottenham fans despair at yet another year below Arsenal

Before a ball was kicked in anger, the Gunners were shorn of their three most creative midfield players as Nasri and Fabregas left for pastures new while Jack Wilshere, their natural heir, suffered an injury which would keep him out for the entire season. Due to the transfers of Nasri and Fabregas being drawn out for the entire summer, Wenger was unable to quickly recruit replacements and consequently Arsenal endured their worst start to a season in over 50 years, sinking as low as 17^th, with many believing this to be Wenger’s poorest side. Several red cards in the first few games, led to suspensions which further depleted squad numbers and morale was at an all-time low when Manchester United ran riot and humiliated Arsenal 8-2.  Then for two whole months the Gunners were forced to play without any fullbacks as Sagna, Gibbs, Santos and Jenkinson were all out injured. Meanwhile in the other half of North London, Tottenham were enjoying their best season in almost 25years as thanks to their best side since 1961 (when they last won the league) Spurs opened up a large gap over the Gunners. Tottenham’s delusional fans, never slow in having ideas high above their station, even began to talk about winning the league as they mocked Arsenal with the chant of “mind the gap.” A gap which on 26^th February seemed destined to extend to thirteen points,