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~
