Arsenal's Summer

Well, I've been away from the blog for a while. Got busy with school, a novel that's almost finished and a few papers that are currently late but nearing completion. I will be returning to look at what I see as a key presidential election now, but today wanted to touch on Arsenal. Reading U.S. papers the past few years can cause one considerable pain, as reporters and editors have seemed to completely forget that essentially component of their jobs -- fact checking. As we have a presidential candidate who has a very acrimonious relationship to the truth one hopes they remember this key charge in the future. The British press, on the other hand, has never been saddled by any pretext to this inconvenient ally in selling newspapers; with no topic more filled with half-truths, supposition and lies than the football crew.

And so Arsenal has been the subject of one false rumour after another, from the imminent departure of Van Persie to Man City, Man U and Juve to recent revelations that he might stay (which I would love to believe, but am cautious in embracing). We have been linked with every player imaginable and often claims that we have already signed them have turned out completely false. But Arsenal has been active this transfer window and it looks like we might be adding some serious offensive midfield talent to the early signings of Podolski and Giroux. If Cazorla and Sahin do in fact join the club, I believe we do become serious title  and cup contenders, even if RVP exits. Call me crazy as so many football pundits will, who seem more enamored with hating and mocking Arsenal and the French Genius than any other club, but this is a team with depth, talent in the middle and up front. Our main problem last year was injuries, a dearth of effective final-third attacking and an awful start to the season after the late departures of Nasri and Fabergas. But if rumors from Spain are to be believed, Cazorla is the real deal and only one level below the Barca greats Iniesta and Xavi. Sahin will add presence in the middle and leaves Arsenal with a number of quality midfielders, with some able to play in the cup competitions rather than simply relying on our youth. 

So let's look at the squad. Defensively, our first team looked better for parts of the season, before a late season drop in form from Vermaelen and more porous tendencies, particularly early in games. Sagna will not be available until October and I thus think we should really get a decent right back in who can serve as a solid backup upon his return. Jenkinson is just not ready yet, and I'm not completely convinced he ever will be. I'm also somewhat troubled by left back, with Gibbs generally failing to impress me, though he's become more dangerous moving forward. There is the possibility that Santos will come back from his injury in better form, but he was too easily beat on the left side last season. 

Moving to the midfield, we look quite strong -- unless Song leaves, another rumour I hope is false. Unless we are planning to replace his with Capalou Wanayama, I just don't see this as good business. I suppose Arteta could drop back to the defensive position, but I'm not sure he can marshall the way Song does when he's on his game. Some have argued Song should be pushed forward and that is a possibility given some of his sublime passing, but I would like to see his overall completion rate improve, as he did have a tendency to lose the ball on the offensive side more than I would like. I've never seen Sahin play so can't say whether he could take this position as well, but I do like Coquelin a lot and think he might grow into that position if we don't need him to cover so often along the defensive line. Wilshire will return in October and Chamberlain could potentially move into the hole, or play on the right wing. The man who might get lost in the mix is Ramsey, who I personally have lost faith in, and thus see this as a good thing. The reality is that competition for play time will be at a premium and that will be a good thing.

Up front, we also look strong, particularly if recent rumours of a RvP U-turn are to be believed. If he does go, it looks like Giroux will play up the middle and Podolski and Gervinho will share duties on the left wing. On the right we have Walcott and Chamberlain vying for time. If RvP stays, one assumes Giroux will be the backup, or maybe move to the wing occasionally (or vice versa, as RvP could clearly play wide -- though I don't see it happening often). We also have some youngsters that could push for some time on the pitch including Afobe. And the future looks bright with a number of prospects on loan that could find their way starting or in the first team next season. A lot hinges on RvP's decision, on whether Gervinho ups his game again, on how consistent Walcott is and on how Giroux and Podolski adapt to the EPL. But one could see Arsenal being one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the league if anyone besides RvP starts putting the ball in the back of the net with regularity. It's important to recognize that that's exactly what happened at the end of last season, as our captain's production dipped. 

Finally, I want to discuss what moves are left to be made this summer to shore up our finances and maybe bring in those final pieces that can help us compete again at the top of the EPL. Obviously we have some players to sell and one hopes we offload Arshavin (who has no place at all at the club anymore), Squillaci (who, for lack of a better word, sucks), Bendtner (who will never be as good as he thinks he is, but might find glory elsewhere), Chamakh (I'm really tired of Gooners who want to give the kid another chance; he had it and it just didn't happen after a nice start) and Djourou (though he did have some better spells last year toward the end). As to  needs now that we have four major signings in the bag (one hopes) -- I would look to shore up the defense with a right back (1st need, as Sagna won't be back for a while and Jenkinson just isn't ready to take the reigns from what I've seen), a left back (2nd need, I'm less convinced by Gibbs than most and worry, along with others, that Santos is too easily bullied by the best right backs in the game) and/or maybe a center back (Kosielny and Vermaelen are great (though the lattter has to stop pushing forward so much unless we push Song or Sahin or Arteta further back when he does and/or get a more defensively strong left back) and Mertesacker should be a good backup, but I feel one more powerful force in the middle would do us well). Of course, we won't be getting three defenders and their is hope that Miquel might be ready to make the move up. I hope we do keep RVP for the season, even if he does leave for free next year. Wenger has made a lot of positive moves this summer and one has to wonder ... what has taken you so long? But losing our top player yet again would send the wrong message to the fans, particularly if he heads to City or United. And one more year with RvP leading the line will give Giroux time to acclimate to the EPL and give the 29 year old the rest he really needed last year (as his production did tail off a bit at the end of the season, as I've noted before).

I do believe Arsenal has the potential to surprise a lot of people this year by challenging at the top. But that depends on the new squad linking up well in a very short period, as we are but two weeks away from starting our season against Sunderland. I hope Wenger realizes that we need silverware this season and puts real effort into the FA and/or Carling Cup -- his stubborness on this point has cost us in the past and one mustn't forget he fell out of both while on a decent run of form last year and could have pushed harder with more veterans in the squad. The Sunderland loss was particularly disappointing (FA Cup) though the tough loss to City also showed a young squad that played well but couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. Only time will tell whether more tears will be shed this year (making it eight years running) ... I hope not.