Season Preview

The summers turbulence is over, the only departure left on the cards would seem to be Philippe Senderos, a player who essentially left the club last season for pastures new. A brief resurrection in midfield during the short central European tour quite possibly a false dawn for the player, his omission from The Emirates Cup more telling about his future plans. It leaves one new player arriving although rumours persist that Vermaelen will not be the last. Most probably Marouane Chamakh, a direct replacement for Emmanuel Adebayor.

Much has been made of last season’s shortcomings when the crunch came. The players must grow from such adversity if they are to bring silverware home. The Champions League exit was inevitable once one hundred minutes of the tie had been played. The FA Cup? Partly poor performance but also the inexplicable decision to leave Arshavin on the bench, at that time the team’s most potent goal threat. I still do not subscribe to Wenger’s theory that the team had to know that they could win without him. They knew they could having done so in previous seasons. It suggested that the attitude which Manuel Almunia pointed to needed adjusting – was it confidence or genuine underestimation of their own abilities?

Whatever the reason for the FA Cup defeat to Chelsea, dwelling upon it should not happen. Instead, much confidence should be taken from the twenty-one game unbeaten run. Those spring months proved that this squad could beat the teams from the lower echelons of the Premier League, victories that guarantee a title challenge if that form is maintained over the course of a season.

The spell included too many draws, particularly early as winter turned to spring yet confidence should be taken from those games. It was a signal that the much criticised inability to grind out a result when performances were poor, had been to some extent eradicated. A pity that it took so long to achieve that last season, the damage done already by five defeats in the opening fourteen games.

The squad itself looks more balanced to me this summer than last. Almunia is a better goalkeeper than twelve months ago, Fabianski will have benefitted from the games he played at the tailend of last season, no matter how painful the results then. At full back, Wenger is spoiled. His first choice pairing of Sagna and Clichy are two of the most consistent. A couple of goals from each of them in a season would make them the best in the Premier League, without argument. In reserve, Eboue and Gibbs are more than capable of playing for sustained runs should injury strike.

Centrally, questions remain. Vermaelen is no slouch, you cannot be captain of a side and play internationally without a modicum of talent. The Premier League is different but one aspect of Wenger’s reign is the depth with which the Belgian will have been scouted. He and Gallas need to develop a solid understanding quickly. In reserve is where the inexperience lies. Song and Djourou have not played a great deal of time in the centre of the defence yet when called upon, neither has let the side down individually.

Midfield has already felt the blow of injuries. Nasri will miss the first month whilst Rosicky, well goodness knows when or for how long he will return, more is the pity. To have him on the bench for the first eight weeks whilst he regained his match fitness, would have been a tangible boost to the squad. As it is, the quality is still there, Fabregas, Walcott, Arshavin and Song range from the world class to the highly promising. Diaby and Denilson more than ample back up to the more traditional midfield role. Yet question marks still hang over those perceived as lesser members.

In the case of the Brazilian I am not sure why. Denilson uses possession well. The Arsenal way requires ball retention, very much based on pass and move. Denilson carries that ethos and would rather find a colleague in free space than hit hopeful balls forwards into space where possession may be surrendered. It says much about how people watch the game that the basics, such as sensible ball usage, interceptions and tackles are overlooked, the adventurous praised, without realising that the pair are inextricably linked; one cannot thrive without the other.

The strength in depth of the squad shows with the younger players but some reticence in the fulsome praise is required. Without completing a full Premier League game, Jack Wilshere is already being booked a seat on board the England charter jet for South Africa next summer. That reflects more the paucity of talent available to Fabio Capello than Wilshere’s abilities. No disrespect is intended to Wilshere in that but if an untried teenager is the great hope of English football, little wonder that in excess of 50% of the players in the Premier League are not natives.

In terms of readiness, Aaron Ramsey is a season ahead. Whilst he showed glimpses of the talent that persuaded Wenger to spend £5m last summer, he needs more playing time to build the consistency that a first team spot requires. He will, like Traore, be spending a lot of time on the bench gaining that experience this season.

The strikeforce has the potential for goals but is equally prone to injuries which gives sense to Wenger’s pursuit of Chamakh. Eduardo’s lengthy recovery nears its completion but we have already seen that hamstring and other strains can do for a player in their rehabilitation. He has the potential to score 20 goals, his international record and the form he found himself in before Martin Taylor’s assault were testament to that. He does not appear to have suffered ill-effects mentally although I am sure that niggling doubts still remain in his mind and will do so until the first crunching tackle is overcome.

Bendtner showed good form in the latter stages of the season and I suspect, will be one of Arsene’s first choice strikers in the early part of the season, at least. He needs to score quickly, not just for his confidence, but to ensure that he does not become the target for hecklers. Vela likewise showed promise at the tail end of the season with some good performances. He will develop more this season and I believe play a larger role although perhaps more as an understudy for Arshavin.

Crucial to the forward line is van Persie, for goals and creation. He seems likely to be the spearhead in any 4-3-3/4-5-1 and has proven his eye for goal. Having signed a new contract, expressing his desire to win trophies, much of that responsibility will fall on his shoulders in terms of the goals. He should be capable of 20 per season which if matched by one of his partners, will set the team well.

A repetitious point I know but every season the common theme is that the midfield need to score more frequently. Walcott and Fabregas should, between them, be scoring 20 goals per season. They do not and although hampered by injuries, their goals per game ratio is not good enough. The season before, goals came from the midfield and a title challenge mounted. For the latter, the former has to happen.

And therein is the rub. The expectations outside of the club are that we will retain our top four place but nothing more. The most optimistic prediction I have seen was 2nd place. This squad can go further than that but they need to start well, keep fit but most importantly, believe. Oh, and the small matter of us getting behind them vocally rather than to knife them in the back may well help.

’til Tomorrow.