If Media Quit Taking Shots, It Would See Arsenal Gunners Still Have Weapons

Two days in the Emirates Cup gave two very different perspectives for the Gunners fans.

On the face of it, it seems as if Arsenal isn't in that much of a crisis, at least not as bad as the media are making it look like.

Yes, we have lost a 20-plus goal striker in Adebayor, and yes, we have lost our last "invincible" in Kolo Toure. But to be honest, these are two very good sales instead of what will stop us being in the top four.

As many fans have already suggested, Adebayor is good, but not indispensable. He has all the ingredients to become the best striker in the world in my opinion, he is so talented and his physical attributes are just as good as Drogba. But at what cost?

If he is going to keep that lazy attitude and greediness, I prefer not to have him in the team, even if he does turn into the best striker in the world. He wants money at City, so Wenger gave him what he wanted. That's it.

King Kolo is slightly different. He is hard working, he plays with his heart and soul for the Gunners and he will always be in the fans' hearts. But, he's just not the defender we need now. He doesn't get on with the team and he doesn't particularly like to play with them. 

This has been proven by his recent comments about how Arsenal has lost leaders and stars in Vieira, Henry, Parlour etc. and how we are not competitive anymore. 

If he has these sorts of feelings in his heart, then I prefer him to move on rather than stay, since I really don't particularly like players in the team who keep thinking about the past but not accepting the challenges ahead. He has never played well alongside Gallas anyway. To be honest, he has not been "world class" ever since the superb Champions League run in 2006.

We often looked to him to be our leader during these tough few years where we lack experience, and quite frankly he never stepped up to the plate and satisfied. Remember the League Cup final against Chelsea when he was captain and got sent off? Who gave away the penalty against Liverpool in the quarter final?

Whether it was a foul or not, he should have never let Babel got past him in the first place. Adebayor just scored what could've been the winning goal, yet, Toure, the man we looked for to save us, disappointed and could not concentrate to secure our lead.

The Emirates Cup showed the world how good Arsenal are going forward, and thus, Adebayor should not be missed. Yes, we can improve, but it is not necessary to do so in this department.

Van Persie, Eduardo, Arshavin, Walcott, Rosicky, Nasri, Fabregas—within these seven players I see at least 50-60 goals in them. Honestly.

RVP (if stay fit) will get 20-plus goals, Eduardo (if fit) at least 15-plus goals, Arshavin at least 10-plus goals, Walcott, Fabregas, Rosicky and Nasir at least five-plus goals each. There seems to be no problem in Arsenal's attack.

The problem in the past few years has never been about going forward. It has always been about the defence. It is not just the back five we are worried about, it is the defensive midfield which also really worries the fans.

Denilson is just not good enough (at least not consistent enough) to play this invisible but crucial role. With Xabi Alonso transfer listed at his own request, I cannot imagine Wenger not being interested.

No, Alonso is not a tackler, but it is not necessary to get a tackler. We just need someone who will always sit deep in order to pick up the loose balls deep in our own half. Denilson and Song both move forward and lose their positions far too many times.

Alonso doesn't need to do so, because he can spray a pass from anywhere on the pitch. He is similar to Pirlo, who will sit around the centre circle and always be available for a pass to get the other midfielders out of jail. He will also press the opposition players to hassle them into mistakes, rather than going full out to slide everywhere on the pitch.

Upon receiving the ball, he will then spread play to create more space for attacks. He can hit it long and switch sides, or he can keep it short and simple. That is important for the team simply because Fabregas should not be given that job.

Xabi Alonso is as good as Fabregas when it comes to dictating play, but Fabregas is at his best when he is in and around the opposition box. He can play deft through balls or turns defenders and create chances. But he will not be in that position if he always needs to drop deep to pick up the ball to dictate play.

The reason why Denilson is used time after time is because Wenger thinks Denilson can do that job for Fabregas so our skipper can do his damage further up the pitch. Wenger, quite simply doesn't want to have a strict tackler in the team. I am sure that is why he hasn't signed Inler or Melo or any other tough tackling players who had been linked with a move to the Emirates; the reason being his proposed tactics doesn't include a battler in the middle.

He wants the whole team to have one style of play only, and that is to win technically. To control the game by passing the ball, to create triangles in midfield to keep the ball moving. 

I don't think he would want a tackler in the middle of the park if that tackler is a player who doesn't offer the same dictating skills of Fabregas.

That is the reason why Wenger is going to use 4-3-3 this season. If you look at Barcelona, yes, they have Yaya Toure, who is a tackler, but he is also superbly sound in possession. Unlike Song, who is a good tackler but not especially good at controlling the game with his passing abilities.

To have three players in midfield with none of whom are proper tacklers means the squad must defend as a team. The midfielders must be disciplined.

Denilson and Song clearly are not experienced and disciplined enough as they are always caught out in counter attacks. Alonso, with his experience and style of play, will be in the position to stop counter attacks, as he does not often move past the centre circle!

The second position that Wenger must strengthen is defence. Senderos is back, which is not really great news. He didn't make it before at Arsenal and he will not make it now. He is just not good enough.

Vermaelen, I have reserved judgements, so let's wait and see. But the feeling is, he is a good defender and good organiser in defence. He is tough and strong, but, playing alongside Gallas will not help him fulfil his potential. Again, he is too similar to Gallas.

He might have a good leap, but what is a good leap when the opposition's striker is about one foot taller than you? Can he jump 10 feet high?

Even Cannavaro, who many believe has been the best defender in the past decade, needed a commanding player next to him to play at his best.

That is why we really need a tall, composing defender, like Hangeland from Fulham, aged 28. He would be a much appreciated signing. He is strong in the tackles, and composed in possession. He is 6'5" and doesn't look like he can be muscled out of a challenge—he and Vermaelen look to be a good combination in defence.

People are suggesting Sakho from PSG, but I don't think that is the way to go, he is too young. I know he is really talented and is likely to grow into a world class player, but Wenger has done enough nurturing for now.

So enough teenagers, it is time to insert some "oldies". If Sakho is ready to come to Arsenal and sit on the bench so Silvestre can go the other way, then good. Yes please...

I like the thought of Vieira returning on a pay-as-you-play basis. At least Wenger is thinking of older players rather than setting a target to field schoolboys to play against Rooney, Gerrard, and Drogba.

This current squad is so good and yes, really it is very good considering how little money we spent on it compared to the other big three.

But still, I do not think it is strong enough to win the big trophies like the Prem and CL. 

It would really be such a shame and a huge waste if we do not win anything with the current crop of players like Arshavin, Fabregas, Van Persie, Rosicky, and Eduardo. These few years, we have played the best football the club has ever seen, and these players really deserve to win trophies because they are truly world class athletes.

My hopeful team for the season 09-10 would be:

Almunia (Fabianski),

Sagna (Eboue), Hangeland (Djourou), Vermaelen (Gallas), Clichy (Traore/Gibbs),

Fabregas (Diaby/Ramsey), Alonso (Song), Rosicky (Nasri/Denilson),

Eduardo (Walcott/Wilshere), RVP (Bendtner), Arshavin (Vela)

This would be as strong as it gets for the current team. Of course, I would love to have Vidic instead of Hangeland and Messi instead of Eduardo, etc.

But with the £40 million Wenger has in his disposal after two good sales, spending

£30 million on Alonso (plus Denilson going the other way) and £10 million on Hangeland (plus Senderos going the other way) would be just enough for mounting a serious challenge on all fronts this season.

It will all be worth it.