UEFA and Arsene Provide No Surprises As The Window Closes

So Are They Good Enough?

The transfer deadline passed with no significant activity taking place at London Colney. Speculation that a late resurrection of the Chamakh deal proved ill-informed whilst there was no Matuidi arriving in a Blaise of glory. It was entirely in keeping with Wenger’s assessment last week that there might be signings made but that he was happy with his squad.

He echoed that point at the weekend, following the defeat at Old Trafford:

I feel we are equipped to challenge for the title. Frankly, when you see a comparable two performances of the two teams, you can recognise that

Is he right? The start to the season has been good. How good it is will be known by the end of September. The visit to Manchester City is important, not just because they have made a good start to the season. It will be the indication of how this squad reacts to adversity, whichever form it comes in.

Having gone down to a defeat at the closest rival in controversial circumstances ought to engender a sense of injustice, rather than letting heads drop. That will be Arsene’s biggest task, an objective he will have to achieve in a short space of time with the internationals provided another unwelcome interruption.

There are plenty of positives when considering the squad. Results have been achieved with key personnel injured. Samir Nasri looks set to return at the end of the month whilst Tomas Rosicky was omitted from the Old Trafford squad on the basis that the fixture would be too tough for him following his lengthy lay-off. Rather than the physicality of the encounter, I guess Wenger meant that the intensity may hamper the Czech’s own fitness, too much strain put on muscles not used to vigourous exercise.

Questions asked before the summer, have I believe, been answered about the midfield. Song, Denilson, Diaby and Eboue have all worked hard in the fixtures. They were more than a match for Manchester United at the weekend, highlighting the paucity of Ferguson’s squad. Let us not forget, the defeat was to some extent self-inflicted through Diaby’s own goal and Almunia’s misjudgement for the penalty.

That does not make them bad players nor liabilities. It has allowed some retrospective rewriting of history, those who praised Almunia’s improvement last term are now revising their opinions to claim they never said that.

The truth is that he is not a world-class goalkeeper but there are few of those about and none of the market within Arsenal’s price range. He is a good goalkeeper, certainly comparable to anyone playing in the Premier League at the moment and no more a liability than his domestic peers. He is a Lukic rather than a Seaman but there are precious few of the latter around at the moment.

Alan Hansen and Ian Wright are lone voices in punditland declaring the genius of Darren Fletcher. Curiously they ignore the fact that Diaby and Song gave the United midfielder the runaround at the weekend, requiring refereeing ineptitude for the Scot to remain on the pitch rather than the glorious, mystical qualities that are being bestowed upon him.

The Arsenal midfield break-up play as effectively as anyone else but do so through interceptions rather than crunching tackles. It is the blind spot of the English that requires a midfielders defensive duties to be ostentatiously carried out, refusing to accept that quiet diligence is as effective. It was one of the reasons why Gilberto was not accepted when he first arrived at the club.

Defensively, the squad is in good shape. Vermaelen and Gallas have been imperious, refusing to buckle under pressure and marking very well. The previously perceived weaknesses appear ironed out. The only concern is whether there is sufficient cover centrally. No matter what may be thought of him, Senderos remaining at the club has been useful to Wenger for short-term fixes whilst Djourou recovers. It enables Song to remain in midfield until the Swiss international recovers from his injury. Full back is just well-stocked; Gibbs and Eboue are better individually than many first choice full backs at other clubs.

The front three has yet to score from open play. van Persie did everything but score on Saturday, the signs are that goals will come. If the situation remains in October then there will be a time to worry. Dismissing any of them as not being able to replace Adebayor is wide of the mark.

No-one can say that there is not a 30 goals a season striker there other than none of them has done it for Arsenal in their careers. They will score and on a regular basis. Even then, Manchester United has proven that so long as the goals are going in from elsewhere, the traditional centre-forward needs to net 20. And others are scoring. Arshavin has two in two whilst midfielders and defenders are contributing more than they did last season, covering the front trio.

There are weaknesses in the squad but it is for Wenger to minimise the impact. Over-reliance on one player has been a fault in the past but the signs are that they players are working to eradicate a dependency on Fabregas. That will be more effective as those who are injured return and become more confident in their impact on the side.

The squad is well placed. It is too soon to say it is best equipped as the official site did recently. It is more than fair to say that the squad is as well placed as any of the genuine contenders for the title. The strength is there. The quality is there. The technique is there. The will to win is there. Now they have to deliver. And they will.

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport

Eduardo received his two match ban from UEFA for deceiving the referee. The decision was reached by the investigating officer – Krapl. Gerry Krapl, UEFA Buffoon Squad. Oh, no, sorry, it was reached by a committee who were in no way influenced by the phrase, “There are no exceptional circumstances that would justify a plea for mercy“.

Arsenal has to defend the player and launch an appeal. He has already been hung out to dry by the press and it is noticeable that Gordon Smith, previously incredibly verbose, went very quiet over the weekend when two players in the SPL were carded for diving.

When the decision is delivered to Arsenal, it will be a terse and very short document. The only rationale for the UEFA decision is that they have ignored any evidence other than that of their own investigation. In other words, the reason is, “Pffffffffffff. We say he did it.”

It is not just the West Ham and Millwall fans who have returned to the 80s. The press in England has as well. They may change individually but collectively, the sensationalist and lurid manner in which Eduardo is being hounded is an unwelcome reminder of the rampaging egos that haunt Fleet Street, Canary Wharf and every other stone under which a football hack can be found.

’til Tomorrow.