Whilst the next line of the song might be ‘I can’t survive’, there is little doubt that Arsenal can should there be any departure by what could be termed ‘major players’ in the summer. Arsene has emphasised in recent weeks that his major task this summer is keeping the squad together, adding some quality to the players who are already there. Yesterday, he seemed to be making a direct appeal to those who are considering pastures new to remain at the club to take it to the next level. Primary targets of such thoughts were Alexander Hleb, Mathieu Flamini and Cesc Fabregas,
You can go to Real Madrid and Barcelona, but you have no more guarantees to win trophies. From this season we should get the belief we can win trophies and come back to win the title. It would be criminal not to believe we could do it because we were so close this year…That is why I am so insistent that I keep this team together and that we try to come back and have a good go next year.
The situation with players wanting to win is nothing unique to Arsenal. Samuel Eto’o has indicated that he is ready to leave the Camp Nou if the team is not going to win anything next season. His situation is slightly different because, in his own words, he has ‘won everything in Spain’. Arsenal have won nothing with the current squad although performed better than the professional pundits predicted at the start of the season.
Flamini has just over a week to decide his future, although I doubt Arsene will shut the door on him if that deadline is not met. The risk the player takes though is that Arsene signs someone who can fit into the same slot. That said, he may not have to.
Gilberto Silva is distancing himself from the continual reports of his imminent departure. The Brazilian captain is intending to sit down with Wenger to discuss his future once the season is over,
I still have one more year. To be honest, I really want to stay and I’ve always expressed that.
Manuel Almunia said that Arsene wanted players who got along with each other rather than sparking division. Gilberto more than anyone typifies what the Spaniard was referring to when he observed,
Of course, I’m upset that I’ve not played much this season because last year I played the whole season and this year has been really frustrating. But you need to be professional, respect the manager’s point of view and help the other players to the maximum that I possibly can
Gilberto then turned his attention to Theo Walcott’s progress in recent games, backing up Wenger’s own view of the player. Arsene praised his performance against Reading,
It was his most complete game…Theo is not a monster, but he has great body power. When he starts on the first five yards, it is like you throw him away. You do not see him, he is gone. That is more important than just more power. But the way we play, we can take advantage of his qualities. Before he was always a bit out of the physical contact side of the game, now he looks for it. I told him he had to be more aggressive and determined. He is that now. I feel next season began on Saturday for him. I don’t know yet if I will start with him for the rest of the season, but there is a good chance yes
The looming ban for Alex Hleb makes that much more likely with the shortage of wide players. Arsene could pair Walcott with Adebayor, putting van Persie and Eboue on the flanks but we shall see with Monday’s visit to Pride Park being the next match.
Arsene did comment that Walcott needs to aim for double figures in his goal tally next season. It is a commendable target but in order to do so, the player has to be given more starts otherwise such a target is pie in the sky; no matter how many half an hours or twenty minutes he is given, to expect Walcott to play on the wing and achieve that target through a series of cameo’s is unrealistic and unfair on the player.
The experimentation for the remainder of the season seems to be continuing with Lukasz Fabianski set to take over from Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia between the sticks at Derby and Sunderland as well as the last home game against Everton. You have to wonder what will happen when Bacary Sagna returns to full fitness as well. With as dependable a right back as the Frenchman, there is no logical reason for Toure to continue there. Will that mean Alex Song being dropped or does he get the chance to show what he can do in his favoured position of central midfield? Given that he and Johan Djourou are believed to be the club’s long-term future, it would be the opportunity to blood them.
‘til Tomorrow.
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Tags: Alexander Hleb, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Football, Gilberto Silva, Premier League, Soccer
