Massive Squad?

I always had the believe in the Arsenal squad, season after season, and I actually still do. But it gets really nervous when you think you have the team and ending up empty handed for the past few seasons. Sometimes perhaps the mix or formula of the team is not right. Some say the team is too young, too weak physically and most recently short. If Vermaelen equals Toure, it means we have the exact same squad minus Adebayor. We were very far off in the League but were reasonably close for making the last four in the FA Cup and CL. We slipped up in the defining moments but it was a fair loss. This is worrying. The league is no longer Arsenal places a challenge, all the hopes are for fourth which gives a qualifying berth for the CL.

Arsene Wenger believes in the squad and has right to do so. I totally agree with the style of football he tries to put out, pace and power. No doubt he has been instilling the style of football for the past decade. However, he doesn't want to pay inflated prices for players and this has become a problem. Honestly, the team he build based on the financial sense is number 1 in the world. It's like spending one third the price in creating a team rated at 7/10. In terms of value its excellent, but in real life things are compared at absolute value. The CL doesnt give you a spot in the knockout stages for having a net spending of zero. Neither does the League give you extra points for a low wage structure.

What I am trying to say is, on absolute terms, I think Arsenal still lacks the finishing touch to the team, the last bit of quality you need to create greatness is lacking. The transfer market is inflated at the moment, but come on Arsene you sold Toure and Ade at inflated prices, so its actually still the same. Why leave 40mil in the bank? For me I would have got Karim Benzema at 30mil. Yes, people would criticise Arsene for breaking his rule of spending small. But this is the real world, you need to show some ambition. You need quality. If Adebayor costs the same price as Fernando Torres, the figure is damn hell inflated. 1 more player is possible in the transfer window according to the boss and it better be good and not Vieira.

On the positive side, I tried rationalising with Wenger's idea of "believing" in the team.

On the defence.keepers are OK. Defenders..Sagna, Vermaelen, Senderos, Gallas, Song, Silvestre, Djourou, Clichy, Gibbs, Traore. The numbers are good but Senderos and Silvestre not quite the understudy we need. That leaves only 3 reliable centre backs excluding song who plays holding midfield nowadays. Slight concern, but seems ok. 3 wonderful left backs is pretty exciting.

Midfield - Diaby, Fabregas, Rosicky, Nasri, Denilson, Ramsey, Wilshere, Arshavin, Eboue, Merida, Walcott. Looks quite impressive, but with injuries, things won't look that good. If we have a fit and in-form Rosicky and Arshavin on the flanks, it is almost a dream.We got the choice of Nasri and Walcott with emergency backups of Merida and Wilshere.Ok, the tough part, without Fabregas, we are very likely to be in trouble. This is the gem we need whole season long. Pray that he is fine. For the defensive part, alarm bells. Denilson, I think it is fair to say he is not natural for the position, Diaby is too offensive and only Song could be the only hope. 1 player needed just to fill up the last spot.

Forward - Van Persie is not going to get 20 goals a season and he is the top striker so I am slightly worried abt the goals. I am praying very hard for Eduardo and Bendtner to step up this season. They got just too much potential waiting to be unleashed and I am screaming for them to finally show what they are capable of. For Vela, not much hope yet, I will give him another season to fit in. Striker or not, Walcott is another player I am just dying to see perform. Joined 3.5 years ago and still not quite up there. This has got to be the time now.

And lastly, Arsene Wenger. The man behind all of this. For his commitment to the club and incredible belief in the group of players and style of football, I just hope he gets rewarded. For the sake of the Gooners who have poured their hearts out to support the club, I think it is about time the team delivered.

~deyao~

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~deyao~

The Arsenal Crisis Q & A

I use the word crisis because it really is at the moment. Pretty nothing much is rosy for the team. No trophies, no big signings, players leaving...The glory days are all forgotten and being empty-handed feels somehow normal at the moment. Can you believe Arsenal are actually competing for the fourth spot. It is a pretty big slump at the moment and today's Q and A will be about the big issues surrounding Arsenal.

Q: First Adebayor, now Kolo Toure, really proving to be a selling club?

A: No club in this world really does this except Arsenal, I think I mentioned this probably 1 year ago. But it is really strange Arsenal seem like they are offloading the big players every season. We saw Hleb and Flamini wave goodbye last season and now the number 1 striker and the best defender in the club, I got no idea how is this happening. The players that has left the club over the last few seasons will amaze anyone.

Q:Vermaelen is the only signing this season, is it sufficient for the club?

A: In terms of number of players in the team, we are not really short. But in terms of quality we are really quite short on numbers. We have the players in the positions but I feel quite a few of them doesn't have what it takes. A player like Bendtner or Walcott. They have proven quality but the consistency level is actually very low. We need signings desperately.

Q: Arsenal hasn't really been linked with any big names, only a few and the boss again doesn't seem interested in spending. What are your thoughts?

A:I am obviously very disappointed we don't look close to signing anyone. I really see the lack in quality in the team and the names mentioned are not really helping the cause. I screamed for a defensive midfielder last season but the boss decided Denilson could do the job. He did alright in some games but he didn't look comfortable in the position. We just can't continue with Denilson or Song this season in the middle. We were linked with Melo a month ago I saw some hope for the elusive defensive midfielder but I was denied. We have been linked with Huntelaar, Hangeland,Vieira and Chamakh. Huntelaar is overrated, Hangeland is Europe cup-tied, Vieira is way past his prime and Chamakh is just another baby sprout. I am certainly feeling very down by the players we are linked with.

Q: Who would you like to see then?

A: There was a hint of Benzema and I don't see why we could not afford him. But the thing was he was only interested in Real and Man Utd will out-bid us anyway with the Ronaldo cash. A defensive midfielder is very urgent, I don't see Flamini making a return but I really like him. A real goal scorer would be good like David Villa. I also admire David Silva which can provide a lot of creativity on the flanks. We seriously need some enforcements in midfield and the boss really needs to work faster.

Q: The Eboue situation and Fiorentina?

A: In short, just let him go. For 8mil pounds? I thought it was a joke initially,he is really not worth that much. Why on earth is any team interested in him. I will even take 5mil.He has lost all the shine he had when he arrived. He is no longer that player who made great runs down the right wing and putting a good ball in the box.

Q: Does Senderos have a future at Arsenal?

A: He was certainly one of the biggest upcoming players when we signed him at the age of 17. But he never lived up to expectations and he certainly isn't good enough at the club. Even as an understudy he probably lacks it. I don't think he will stay.

Q: Should there be high hopes on Rosicky this season?

A: He has an injury nightmare since joining. He was injured the whole of last season. He is like out for nearly 2 years! I have missed Tomas quite a bit. He is so creative and has a sweet strike on the ball. He creates a lot for the team which is what we really need right now. He is one of the best in the game in his good matches. I am looking forward for a huge contribution from him.

Q:Are young players like Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere going to make their mark this season?

A: Vela probably has the best chance among them three. Ramsey still needs time, he is not close to making big impacts yet. Wilshere is only 17 so he will probably feature more in cup games. Armand Traore is back too which gives a perfect backup to Clichy. Traore can play midfield and swings pretty good crosses too so I hope he doesn't make any loan move. Gibbs should be quite influential too.


Q: Biggest players to the team this coming season?

A: Fabregas, Van Persie, Nasri , Arshavin will be the big four this season. They are all brilliant but they must find ways to play consistently and avoid those bloody injuries. Nasri is out for the first few games, so we should see Rosicky playing in the first team. The midfield department really lacks depth. With Eboue departing, we need at least 2 new names. I am just dying for a big player to come to the club, someone like Wesley Sneijder.


Q: Is Arsene Wenger bulletproof?

A: I think this season is probably a defining moment. He has been given quite a lot of time to prove the critics wrong. The team has come close to doing big things but has always stumbled at the wrong time. But this year amounts to 5th season trying to capture a trophy and I feel he has to do it regardless of any reason. Things are possible if he brings in big players and take chances on big transfers. This could be his last throw of the dice on proving his strategy and beliefs.


Q: Can he be ousted by the club?

A: Why not. I am not saying they will but if we don't make top 4 then it becomes highly possible.However I think it is only fair for Arsene to quit as opposed to being sacked for his contributions to the club. He has done very big things very the club but there comes a moment when things do not work as before. I still believe in him but the patience of the fans are running thin.

Q: Arsenal haven't been able to compete financially with other clubs due to huge stadium debt and some other problems with the Highbury developments , do you think a rights issue as proposed by Usmanov is a viable option?

A: Arsenal are the only club in the top four or even top 7 to have actually built a stadium from scartch. AND, the big AND is that Arsenal does not have access new funds from a takeover. In the term of 15 years, Arsenal probably could be financially more well-off then the other teams as Arsenal generate their funds internally. The Highbury development has suffered lack of sales most likely because of the recession and falling real estate prices but that has little to do with the football. A rights issue proposed by Usmanov actually sounds like a possible move which can provide some injections to the club. Ownership is not diluted and funds can be provided for Arsene's transfers. Yes, the shareholders has to come up with the money but if the extra 50mil actually helps, I don't see why not.

Q: Last question, a prediction of the Arsenal's fate this season as compared to the top four.

A: We could see the FA Cup at most I feel. Champions League last four is possible and 3rd place for the League. I think my predictions this time are more conservative so Arsenal proof me wrong! Man Utd might have a very tough season ahead and Rooney is the key driver next season. Losing 2 big players is probably enough to set them aside this season. Chelsea and Liverpool will occupy the top 2 spots and they could also do well in Europe.