2009/10 Season preview - Arsenal
2008/09 - The campaign was one of much transition for Arsene Wenger’s side. There was again a top four finish but the race for the title was much more of a three-horse race with the Gunners lagging significantly behind. They went into the season with a lack of big money signings - only Samir Nasri coming in from Marseilles - whilst Andrei Arshavin arrived too late during the January transfer window. Arsenal struggled against the top sides with only the home win against United and the 4-4 draw against Liverpool at Anfield real highlights. There was even some discontent among the Emirates faithful toward the end of the season, something never before seen in Arsene Wenger’s reign.
2009/10 - With only one notable arrival and some very notable departures there is little to suggest Arsenal will be any closer to the top three. A clear plus-point is a fit again Eduardo who, after a full pre-season, will be hoping to recapture the form displayed before his injury He will be key alongside Robin van Persie and Arshavin - if Wenger can get these three to gel then the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City will be a distant memory. What will be troubling Gunners fans is the lack of steel in this fledging side. Wenger is looking at ex-captain Patrick Vieira but the Frenchman lacks the same worldwide notoriety as when he departed Highbury.
Transfer campaign - Arsene Wenger has principals and he will not be held to ransom over the possible transfers of players from elsewhere. The sales of Adebayor and Kolo Toure represents good business in the eyes of the Frenchman. To receive a combined total of £39m for two players which - with his confidence in his forward-line and the new signing of accomplished centre-half Thomas Vermaelen - he may deem surplus to requirements is a good bit of business. Wenger may not be as happy with his striking options as he claims with a £6m bid for Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh recently rejected.
Transfers in
Thomas Vermaelen - Ajax - £10m
Transfers out
Emmanuel Adebayor - Manchester City - £25m
Kolo Toure - Manchester City - £14m
Havard Nordtveit - Nurnberg - loan
Pedro Botelho - Celta Vigo - loan
Amaury Bischoff – released
James Dunne – released
Rui Fonte – released
Abu Ogogo – released
Paul Rodgers – released
Rene Steer – released
Vincent van den Berg – released
Anton Blackwood – released
First XI - Samir Nasri finished the last campaign very strongly in the middle of the park and is likely to continue there alongside Cesc Fabregas. The two wide players of Theo Walcott and Arshavin will provide great attacking play going forward with the Russian especially fitting into the Gunners pattern of free-flowing football, but will not necessarily provide much protection for the full backs of Bacary Sagna and Gaël Clichy. There is no doubt surrounding the attacking prowess of this team but there is a distinct lack of a natural leadership and the required metal for Premier League football. This may result in Arsenal struggling away from home against sides ordinarily to the sword at the Emirates.
1 Almunia
3 Sagna - 10 Gallas - 00 Vermaelen - 22 Clichy
14 Walcott - 4 Fabregas - 15 Denilson - 23 Arshavin
9 Eduardo - 11 Van Persie
The manager - Sublime, one-touch attacking football has been the trademark of Arsene Wenger's tenure at Arsenal. He has always favoured highly technical and extremely accomplished players on the ball and his ability to bring on young foreign players into world-class stars is a particular skill setting him apart. Wenger’s Arsenal record is extremely good in terms of silverware but the past few seasons have been bare. His reluctance for big-money signings and preference of young, technically gifted but sometimes unproven players has only achieved top four finishes. There is no doubting the class of the current crop of young Gunners, but with Wenger again sticking to his principles concerning big money signings, it is likely that they will again achieve a top four finish but unlikely they will be challenging for the championship.
Creative force - Still only 22-years-old, Cesc Fabregas is one of the most highly-rated players in world football. Captain of Arsenal and a European Champion with his native Spain there is still no doubt more to come in the career of the diminutive Spaniard. His range of passing is frightening and his touch deft, he has the great ability to always have time on the ball no matter the frantic pace of the game around him. The football that this Arsenal team plays on a regular basis is at times mesmeric and Fabregas is the conductor - everything is simple, one-touch and done with consummate ease. Any Arsenal team taking the field without Cesc Fabregas is certainly incomplete.
Mr. Reliable - A once understudy to the sometimes world-class, often comedic Jens Lehmann; Manuel Almunia was always a little uncomfortable when called upon. Since the departure of the German, he has flourished as the No 1, even captaining the side on a few occasions in the absence of William Gallas and Cesc Fabregas. He has become one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the top flight and is an excellent shot-stopper and portrays an apparent calmness which has grown over the previous seasons. Such a wonderful attacking side requires a strong back-line, Arsenal’s is, by no small means down to Almunia who constantly marshals the centre-halves in front of him, commanding his penalty area.
Youth prospect - Although just 17, Jack Wilshire is a player that all Arsenal fans have been aware of for some time since making his debut last season. He was instrumental in the Gunners’ 2009 youth cup success and has already played a key role in pre-season. He was Man-of-the-Match in both Arsenal’s games in the Emirates Cup, scoring a brace and providing an assist in the 3-0 win over Rangers. He has a spellbinding left-foot coming from either the centre of the park or just off the front players and a great ability to shield the ball from any opponent despite his small stature. Positioning and vision are key to Wilshire’s game enabling him to play with the poise of someone much more experienced.
The fixtures - Wenger’s side are a traditionally quick starter in the League campaign with their form sometimes questionable following the hectic Christmas schedule. Late January and early February will therefore provide a stern test for the Gunners. They face Aston Villa away on January 27, three days later entertaining Manchester United at the Emirates. The following week is the short trip across London to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea and then three days after that comes the visit of Liverpool to the Emirates. Coming out of this patch with a couple of wins and a couple of draws will really stand the Gunners in good stead for the run-in having already faced their likely challengers.
Home grown talent - Arsenal have 11 English players within the current squad and one from the British Isles which suggests a lack of home grown talent and with FIFA’s requirement for home grown players in the starting XI being four for the 2010/11 season, this is not enough. The majority of these players are from the youth cup winning side and with Walcott the only first team regular and Wilshire the other most likely to break in Wenger will have his work cut out to meet the FIFA requirement.
Season prediction - After the loss of two key players to Manchester City - a side who many claim will take the Gunners fourth spot - all eyes will be on Wenger’s side immediately from the off. A fit again Eduardo is a real plus, with a full pre-season behind him. Much will be expected from his partnership with van Persie, who incidentally with the signature on a new contract, may prove to be the best bit of business done all summer by Wenger. If Arsenal are to keep the new threat of Manchester City and the already existing threat of Aston Villa at bay for the fourth spot and indeed if they are to progress beyond fourth spot themselves a compactness and a willingness to scrap for everything will be required. Looking at the current squad it is not clear where this will come from. Their natural ability and home record should stave off the threat to the top four but it is unlikely they can surpass last season’s achievements.
2009/10 Season previews
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers
Burnley
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Hull City
Related Articles
| 