Arsenal and the Euros

So the European Championships are in full swing and there have been some major and minor surprises, often involving players for Arsenal. Walcott helped save England from further international ignominy by contributing to the second and third goal in a stunning 3-2 comeback against Sweden Friday and Ox put in a decent performance in the 1-1 draw with France. Rosicky helped the Czech's rebound from their thrashing by Russia (4-1) in the second match but is now injured and likely to miss their quarterfinal match. Arshavin has played well for a Russian team that looked among the best of the rest until they went a game and a half without scoring and ended up out of the knock out stage. And RvP has clearly underperformed along with early co-favorites Netherlands, though he did score a lovely right-footed goal against Germany in a losing effort (2-1). Ex-Gunner Fabergas also put in a goal that helped secure a tie for Spain in their first match, before thrashing Ireland.

Watching the matches so far, it is clear that Germany and Spain remain the cream of Europe and that Spain has a real shot at accomplishing what has never been done before -- winning three international competitions in a row. Standing in their way is a German team that has shuttled off the ugly style of play that made most of the non-Aryan world hate them (including me). Now they play a nice mixture of strong defense and creative counterattacking and offense. I think the two are likely to meet in the final, but after Greece's win 8 years ago, one never knows. Other teams that have impressed in my estimation are France, who looked great against Ukraine after a sub-par performance against England, Croatia, who has two great finishers and, at times, Italy, who might very well go out. England has been decent as well, but I find it hard to believe they can get past Spain in the knock out stage. 

Today two important matches will determine the two that come out of the Group of Death. I favor Germany to beat the Danes and Portugal to complete the disgrace that has been the Netherlands effort this year. They have had chance after chance against first the Danes and then the Germans but only put in one. While they certainly could beat Portugal by two, I wonder if their relatively weak defense this time could be exposed by Nani and Ronaldo (who continues to fail to impress for the national team). In Group D, I like England to beat Ukraine and France to take down a Swedish team that has nothing to play for but pride. The interesting question will be the goal differential, with England having to make one up to avoid Spain. In Group C, Italy still has a chance, and one assumes Spain will be motivated to beat Croatia, though a tie is certainly a possibility.

Arsenal is thus well-represented at the Euros, though certainly to mixed results. But much exciting news surrounds players that might soon be joining Podolski at the club. These include French striker Oliver Giroud and defensive midfielder Yann M'Villa, together with the exciting young attacking midfielder from Russia Dzagoev. With these additions, a central defender and maybe Kalou (on a free), this could be a team to reckon with next year, even given the improvements Chelsea has already made and Man United and City appear on the verge of. The team will be young and menacing with some more experienced players in the mix. However, the big story continues to be whether RvP will stay or go. Recent news that Arsenal are willing to sell the star for $30 million is not good news, but really could mean a stronger team in the long run. If we have Vermaelen and Koscielny in the middle of the defense (one assume Vermaelen will improve from his late season drop in form by stopping the constant forays forward), along with Mertesacker, Sagna and Gibbs/Santos as our fullbacks, M'Villa policing from the midfield with some combination of Wilshire, Arteta, Song, Ramsey and/or Rosicky farther forward and Podolski, Giroud (an aerial threat up front), Dzagoev and Ox or Walcott splitting time up front, we could be a quality team that stops bleeding goals in the back and stops relying on one player up front. Rumors also surround Walcott's future, and while his late season form certainly quelled some of my concerns, I wouldn't mind seeing him go either. He is an average footballer who we could live without. If he goes, he should probably pick up another winger, but could use Ox in that spot as he grows into his future as the man in the hole. The other good news is we seem on the verge of getting rid of a lot of dead weight. Bendtner, who has had a great Euro, can now be sold for a decent return, Arshavin as well, Squillaci will be history, Djourou might go and hopefully Denilson will be sold. 

A squad of that strength could both compete for cups and at least be competitive for a long shot league title (though I see a bright future with Miyachi and others on the ascendancy). If Van Persie stays and we do add another defender or two, we would leap to title contenders in my mind, able to take on even the Manchesters (lest us forget we beat City last year and lost squeakers in the other two and had United in our sights in the rematch before the bizarre Ox substitution). The future is starting to look brighter for the Gunners and one hopes the rumors are rewarded with the two Frenchman and a few other pickups.