A Weaker Arsenal? In a crisis? Or the promise of promise?

Arsenal Weaker? In a crisis? Or the promise of promise?

Now all Arsenal fans are used to this, the word crisis is soon to be changed to the word Arsenal in the dictionary. The Georgian Arsenal the press will be writing tomorrow. The credit Arsenal The Times will be-moan. But is this just an example of the Labour induced ‘spin’ of the 21^st Century? Where papers need catchy headlines, where things can’t be grey, but only white or black? Where you’re either the greatest team on the planet since 1970 Brazil, or facing a relegation battle?

I look to explore what has changed from our team last year, the one on the brink of destruction that finished 3^rd with a record number of points.

Last seasons XI

Lehmann

Sagna

Toure

Gallas

Clichy

Hleb

Fabregas

Gilberto

Rosicky

Adebayor

Van Persie

Subs:

Almunia

Eboue

Senderos

Flamini

Walcott

Eduardo

Bendtner

Now lets look at this as a group compared to today, section by section.

Goal – Lehmann lost his place on lack of merit, and Almunia took it. Now, I’m not a fan of Almunia, he’s an averagely-good goalkeeper at best in my honest opinion, but the fact stands that after a complete season he is now looking better. Even if only marginally. Already we have improved on this area from last season, and during his second season as ‘Number 1’ he should carry on improving.

Result – improvement.

Defence – A lot has been written about our weak defence, but I don’t believe it to be as bad as everyone is saying. For the first half of the season they played well, helping us to go so long unbeaten. But after the African nations Toure, who has arguably been our best player previous to this for a few seasons, suffered a massive loss of form, while Gallas suffered a bigger loss of reputation. The start of a new season should see them regain where they were and, having played many more minutes together, should improve considerably. Gallas in particular will be looking to make up for his mistakes last season and has so far been going about it in the right way. This time last year he bemoaned our lack of transfer activity and hinted at leaving, this season he has already opened the scoring for us in a big game against Twente and called for togetherness form the team. As for Clichyhe will be a year older and a year better. Sagna will also improve, especially as last year was his first in the Premiership. As for substitutes, we now have an older Senderos, older and fit Djourou, and a Song who impressed at the end of last season. Traore will also be looking to play some games now his experience is adding up. Last season we really only had a younger, less confident, Senderos in reserve.

Result – Definite improvement in this area.

Midfield – Centre – Another of our supposed weak spots. People do seem to have forgotten just how good Cesc has been for us, and with this newest little injury it gives him a little more rest time. A year older, more experience and having won a European Championship will have improved him even more. Gilberto, for the first 6 months, was appalling in an Arsenal shirt. Admittedly he re-found some of his form towards the end of the season but he was still looking a player on the down. Diarra wanted to leave after 3 months of not being a starting 11 member for Arsenal, who were top of the league at the time. Good riddance to that attitude. Onto Flamini. Flamini was a revelation last year and made a terrific partnership with Cesc. But that’s the main point, he was a partner. When Cesc didn’t play we were over run and Flamini, being more a water carrier, wasn’t able to keep possession long enough for us to build attacks. He was a great instrument but not a match winner. Wenger says we are going to buy a centre midfielder now, to replace Flamini in essence, and hopefully their passing and movement can improve upon Flamini’s ‘leave-it-to-Cesc’ way off play. This is NOT running down Flamini, I rate him highly, but he is also not a good passer of the ball, a creator of chances, which is shown by his lack of assists and goals last season. This season however we can expect Denilson to improve, being a year older and hopefully less injured, and Ramsey coming through should give us some more attacking options. I must repeat that I have complete faith in Wenger, so when he says we’re going to buy someone soon, and that we will only be buying ‘special players’, I believe we will be adding one undoubted talent to our midfield. By the way, Diaby was intentionally left out.

Result – Could/should be an improvement, as long as Wenger does buy well.

Midfield – out wide – Last season Hleb and Rosicky we’re touted as the new Ljungberg and Pires by Wenger. This, as everyone knew while they laughed, was not true. And with a young Walcott and, at times, inept Eboue in to replace them our wings were painfully weak at times. Now, Rosicky is still there and couldn’t be more injured than last year, so no loss there. Eboue can only improve with the experience of a season under his belt. While Walcott is a lot of people’s tips to be the surprise hit of the season. Now for Hleb. At times Hleb was brilliant, shimmying the ball from one foot to another. Before passing it backwards or running to a dead end. Replacing him with Nasri offers us more energy, directness, passing and goals. Hleb’s scoring record was in fact worse than Gilberto’s, which pretty much sums it up. Added to this the arrival, finally, of Carlos Vela and the emergence of Wilshere means we now have many more attacking options out wide, while Eboue and Traore offers us defensive options if necessary.

Result – Big improvement

Strikers – Adebayor has 4 goals in his last 3 games against Ajax, Real Madrid and Twente, and with a partner upfront I have very few doubts he’ll score more than last year. Also he has his goalscoring dreadlocks back now, which I sbelieve was part of his new contract! Van Persie is another player who couldn’t be any more injured this season than last season, so even if it is a repeat it won’t be a loss. Bendtner has been on excellent form in pre-season, scoring four in one game and the winner against Ajaxas well, and with a full premiership season under his belt we can expect at least some improvement. Carlos Vela and Walcott can both come in when needed, although I’d prefer them to be played out wide a while longer, especially Walcott who I do not see playing upfront this year. As for Eduardo, I hope he comes back, and I believe he has a good chance of recovery, but if he doesn’t the talent we have up front can cope without him.

Result – Improvement.

Substitutes – with the new 7 sub rule Arsenals talented youngsters will be getting more and more minutes, even players like Wilshere will be able to sit on the bench only to come on if the game has already been won. Even with the nine injuries we presently have you can expect Fabianski, Traore, Djourou (if Kolo returns in time) Vela, Bendtner and Wilshere on the bench, which is surprisingly strong for so many players being out injured.

Result – Improvement, especially with the 7 sub rule.

So there it is. This team in my opinion is far off the strength of the Invincible’s, but compared to last year has taken huge strides forward, and the transfer window isn’t even shut! If, as I trust, Wenger buys well and replaces Flamini with a player who can also create (my tip is Veloso) then we have effectively strengthened in EVERY area of the pitch, even if just through experience and not being quite so young.

I have been reading on here, and in the press, for a long time and just do not understand people talking of our crisis. I am not going to predict we will win the league, Chelsea and United are both very strong, but I do know that we are much stronger than last year.

And as for the one place we need sorted: In Wenger we Trust.