Arsenal; Of Complacency, Interchangeability and Self Sustenance.

We are about to be ushered into a new season. The rumours this season have been worse than Nicklas Bendtner’s chance to goal ratio (sorry Nicklas). Let us today see beyond the possible transfers and the so-called midfield problem. There are three issues that have popped up around Arsenal FC this month.

Issue No. 1 as pointed out by ‘bleach blonde haired beach ball’ Manuel Almunia; “Arsenal needs a good start.” WOW! As if we did not know it. If there is one word to describe last seasons biggest downfall of Arsenal it’s ‘COMPLACENCY’. 

When the fixtures were announced, Arsenal fans were feeling lucky. First five games of season where you can easily take away all three points from all of them; result, we ended up losing the very second game away at Fulham. Clearly, the team was not focused enough. Result was we ended up losing 5 of our first 14 games. Fast-forward to the new season, a tough fixture list for the start of season and Christmas period.

I think this would be good for Arsenal. The team would be focused from the word go, and if the interviews are to be believed, the hunger has increased many folds. We will also have players fighting for positions and that too world class players, young, experienced and looking to prove themselves.

This brings me to point number two on my list of issues; players signing contracts. In a recent interview to www.arseblog.com, Ivan Gazidis said that, “the club's priority this season is to tie down young players for long term contracts to ensure the stability of the squad.” Well said. With players like Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, and most importantly Robin Van Persie extending their contracts and one or two more signings to come, coupled with Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky hopefully returning fresh from 18 months break we will have a tussle for starting places.

The best part of the current squad, as it stands, is the flexibility. Let me give you a possible midfield and attack line up. Rosicky/Nasri, Walcott, Fabregas, Denillson/Song/Diaby, Arshavin,Van Persie, Adebayor/Vela/Eduardo/Bendtner. They all can play in any attacking midfield position. I believe Wenger was experimenting this last season and did click in one or two games; it was a 4-2-1-2-1 line up.

Nasri/ Diaby/ Fabregas who ever started were interchanging as defensive and attacking midfielders within the game creating havoc for opposition. In the game against Stoke, where Van Persie started alone upfront we saw Arshavin, Walcott, and Van Persie interchanging between them as strikers and wingers.

Now imagine you are a fullback and you are asked to man mark Arshavin. Suddenly, you find him drifting inside and pacy Walcott drifting towards your wing unmarked, the defence is confused and they are all out of position. Even worse, Fabregas and Nari/Diaby/Rosicky have destroyed the postioning of your midfield through their interchanging. And the worst part there are two pacy fullbacks smashing crosses in your box.

This is Arsene Wengers grand idea for next season, and I think it will work. Keep an eye on preseason games for details. The opposition knows Arsenal will play like this, but it will be hard for them to adjust as they need pace equivalent to young squad of Arsenal. However, all of this sounds wonderful on paper unless executed well. So lets hope the hunger will further energise the squad.

Finally, comes the most debatable issue. 'Self sustainability' is the theme of the season at Arsenal Football Club. Usmanov offered the club a Lump of money as rights issue which the club rejected. Newspapers today were saying that Arsene was robbed of 60 Million kitty. A transfer kitty he was never going to spend and would have been led he club into further financial and board instability. Even the likes of Manchester United, whose owners are the least involved in the clubs transfer market had to sell their star asset to finance some of the owner’s debts. They may deny it but you think Sir Alex wouldn’t have spent all of the 80 million by now had he got them?

I know we are trophy less for few seasons but two-to-three more seasons struggle may see us achieve the stability in a turbulent economy called football. We don’t have to look beyond the likes of Leeds and Newcastle where the owner (or Sugar Daddy as Arseblog puts it) has pushed the club from top of the mountain into the deep valley of relegation.

So Arsenal fans, don’t be frustrated at all the 'Melo-Drama' and media rumours, 15^th August is not far away and believe in the bespectacled unknown French guy, after all in Arsene we trust.