Arshavin Talks The Talk, The Squad Must Walk The Walk

Later than normal today due to pressures of work but where to start? Shall we begin with Ashley Cole? Actually, no, for in the same way that a troll feeds off the energy of winding someone up, Cole’s oxygen is media attention, in every respect a shallow imitation of Posh ‘n’ Becks. I wonder if he will claim to be a victim when he gets showered with abuse next team the Chavs are Arsenal’s opponents? Probably but will his media chums drag out his outburst? I doubt it.

Onto Arsenal matters. Some confusion with regard to Eduardo. The player himself said before the Austrian tour that he would be playing match minutes whilst away and it seems that Wenger is being attributed with quotes about how he would be out for two months. In any event, two months is about how long you would expect before the Croatian international is back, firing on all cylinders on a consistent basis. Perhaps that is a reasonable expectation for him to be able to play 90 minutes on a regular basis. Anyway, there are enough to cover his absence if Wenger replaces Adebayor.

On that subject, a hint of the media circus that will erupt with Daily Mail anonymity granting a hack (in the loosest possible sense of the word) pure speculation about how the fans will turn on the manager if he does not spend some of Adebayor’s cash. Even then, apparently Arsene should resign if he is not allowed to spend.

Andrei Arshavin has been looking ahead to the coming season, in a positive frame of mind to boot. The Russian whetted everyone’s appetite:

Next season will be like my first real season. This has been like the preamble, a demo version before the start of the real game. Everything will start for real next season. We’ll have to see how that unfolds. My main concern will be making sure I keep my place in the team.

You have to say if that which has been witnessed so far is the demo version, roll on the full rollout. On that basis, sales would be through the roof the minute any game on any platform. It is sometimes too easy to forget the positives within the squad with a constant media focus on the negative.

Arshavin was rightly hailed for his performances following his winter transfer, not just his scoring but his all -round play. Combined with a fully fit Fabregas, a returning Rosicky and Nasri when he recovers, the midfield has an impressive array of attacking options. Ever-improving players such as Walcott, Denilson and hopefully Diaby on paper make the midfield possibly the strongest in the Premier League. Yet they have to deliver. There is enough experience there at all levels of the game to no longer have the excuse of rebuilding. Of course, injuries will play a part and shape the season, early evidence of that already emerging.

Arshavin emphasised that point:

But we have to finish speaking about how young we are. We need to play like we are a big and strong team.

The last four seasons have been a rebuilding exercise as youngsters were brought through. That time has been painful for them but now they should have the mental strength and experience to prove that they play a good game as well as talk one.

That may well happen without Philippe Senderos. Arsene’s comments on the official site suggest that he is not overly concerned whether the Swiss international stays or goes:

At the moment he is looking for solutions. He has many opportunities but he has to decide on his future

Actually, that sends a clear signal that he is not considered a part of the manager’s long-term plans. With his defence reasonably well-stocked at the moment, it is a hardly surprising decision on Wenger’s part. Senderos has the capabilities but lacks the mental strength for some reason to succeed at the club. A spell at another club may change that but with Johan Djourou and Alex Song having delivered in the centre back spot, Senderos would probably be sixth or seventh choice, vying with Silvestre for a place on the bench, if either of them make it that far with Vermaelen seemingly on for one of the starting line-up places.

’til Tomorrow.