Arsenal's Confidence Abounds Ahead of New Season

Good morning, lots of Arsenal talk around this morning. I'm going to filter out anything which features the words, "Cesc," "Fabregas," or most especially "Barcelona," which should just leave us with the interesting bits.

Thomas Vermaelen says he doesn't feel under any extra pressure now that he's the senior central defender in the side.

Instead he says that the whole team shares the responsibility for performing well, and he's got a good point. I've no doubt we'll see Thomas Vermaelen give 100 percent in the coming season, the question marks for me fall over other members of the squad.

There are players in the Arsenal squad whose attitudes don't sit too well with me. Players who seem content to coast through their careers and don't seem to have the sort of winning attitude you need to be successful at a club like Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger seems to be aware of this problem and looks to be doing his best to correct it now. What do we hear about every signing now? "He's a fighter," "He gives everything." I don't think that's just rhetoric. I think the manager is aware of a bit of an attitude problem in the squad and so he only wants to bring players in who will take the right approach from now on.

Going back to Vermaelen, he's also very confident in the strikers Arsenal have available for the coming season. Chamakh, Van Persie and even Bendtner look like they have goals in them, as do Arshavin, he-who-must-not-be-named, Jack Wilshere, Vermaelen himself, as well as others so Arsenal seem to carry a strong offensive threat this time around.

You might say that's always been the case but there have been times in the last two seasons when the side have struggled for goals from time to time.

Laurent Koscielny looks like he will the first choice partner for Vermaelen in defence. He's looked an intelligent defender in the preseason but he could do with bulking up a bit for the physical challenges he's going to face in the league. It seems he's aware of this as he says, "I like the physical challenge of the English league. I will gain a little muscle, but I am not afraid of anything; I just want to get stronger."

I have no concerns about anything we've seen from Koscielny thus far and once again it looks like Arsene Wenger knew what he was doing when he picked this guy out. A bit more muscle will do him the world of good, and I think Arsenal fans can be excited about seeing him in action in the league this season. Gael Clichy also seems to think so, at any rate.

Marouane Chamakh believes he will fit in well at Arsenal, and believes he can add an extra dimension to the team's attack with his strength in the air. His display at the Emirates Cup would seem to back that up, and it looks like Arsenal have an exciting player on their hands.

To take full advantage of his aerial ability is going to require an improvement Arsenal's crossing though. It could be frustrating for Chamakh if he's constantly trying to get on the end of Theo Walcott and Bacary Sagna's frequently wayward balls into the box.

Emmanuel Frimpong has been talking about his impressive partnership with Jack Wilshere in preseason play. Working together is nothing new for them, as they've played together from a young age. And this is the advantage a good academy gives a club. Not only do you produce good players but you produce good players that need no time to adjust to playing with each other or to adapt to the team's style.

Frimpong and Wilshere's understanding has been obvious in the friendlies this summer, and Frimpong is clearly a superb foil for Wilshere. They've both got a battle on for their first team place this season, Frimpong more so than Wilshere I would suggest, but it's good to know when they do get on the pitch together that they compliment each other so well.

Just a couple of other bits this morning. Werder Bremen have reiterated that Per Mertesacker is not for sale, and apparently Jack Wilshere could be called up to the England squad for next week's ridiculously scheduled friendly.

I'm sure Jack will do very well for England, but I'm annoyed about Arsenal's preparations for the new season being interrupted, especially for something as meaningless as international football, which we've just had a whole summer of.

That's it for this morning, enjoy your day, I'll be back tomorrow.