Wenger’s Revenge

I have to start with an apology to Le Professeur. I have been calling for your head for a year, only amplified by the lack of transfer activity this summer. But in a final swoop that will leave Man United jealous (and how often has that happened in the past 10 years), Arsenal have signed one of the most exciting players in the world, Mesut Ozil. The young German has amassed more assists than any player in Europe over the past three years, a whopping 88. He is also good for the occasional goal (27 in three years for Madrid) and I believe makes the Gunners an outside shot to win the League. Many will continue to bash Arsenal, claim Tottenham has a better team and that we have no shot, but Wenger has built a young team with creativity, mettle and, as shown since the turn of the year, a will to win and prove their critics wrong.

While the score against Tottenham Sunday was only 1-0 (see my post yesterday), I believe we dominated the game and but for some superb saves from Hugo Lloris, could easily have won 4-0. The funny thing about the English press is their tendency to criticize the club at every turn, to claim Wenger is washed up and to undermine any positives that come from the team; claiming a crisis looms around every corner. I had almost bought into the narrative. Wenger has certainly had a tough eight seasons since his early trophy haul – and the Invincible team that will forever stand as a testament to perfection. And many of us fans were screaming for the Frenchman to spend. Well today he finally did, swooping up an immense talent that really makes Arsenal look like a great team again. Sure many will still claim Tottenham are stronger (but go position by position besides DM and GK and tell me how) and that the Gunners are too thin to win the title, but I really think we have a quality young team that can grow together and challenge for silverware now. Let’s take a quick look at the squad that everyone in the world thinks needed to be strengthened more …

Defense: While I would have liked to see another CB brought in, do we really want to rotate Mertesacker and Koscielny more than we have to. The general theory on defensive players is they need to play, not sit on the bench. We have two starters who paired for the second best defense in the EPL last season, even with more defensive errors than any other team. Sagna is coming back into form on the right and can play CB until Verm comes back. Jenkinson is an able, though still developing backup, and Flamini can supposedly play there as well in a crunch. On the left we are set with the young Gibbs (who is injury prone, one must admit) and the more reliable Nacho Monreal. This is a unit that has to avoid major injuries, thus the critiques, but is better off without the likes of Djourou or Squillaci. And, finally, we brought in cover at GK by signing Varrone – which I think was the right move no matter what the pundits say, as Sz is looking quite strong of late and doesn’t need to sit on the bench as his unjust reward.  

Midfield: this is arguably now one of the best in the league and the competition for places should only improve performances. Ozil will clearly slot into the #10, pushing Cazorla out to the left, where he has arguably been more effective since teams realized he was the key to our attack. Behind him, Ramsey and Arteta, or Ramsey and Flamini or Ramsey and Wilshere (probably most likely) will serve as the core of our middle, tracking back and pushing our counters forward with speed. Ramsey has become too good to sit on the bench at present though, and one wonders if Wilshere will be the player pushed to the periphery for the time being. That will only occur after Arteta returns, so we’ll have to see. Throw Rosicky in and maybe Diaby, if he ever gets over his injury troubles, and an injury crisis seems incredibly unlikely here (knock on wood). On top of all this, lest us forget Ox, who should be back in a couple of months.

Attack: this is where we are arguably a little light at present, and one wishes that Wenger had been able to secure Ba or some other winger or striker. On the other hand, Giroud is in fine form and Podolski will be back arguably serving as a backup striker and winger now that Cazorla will be pushed to the left. It might even be that we line up with five midfielders at times, but we shall have to wait and see. On the right, we have Walcott, but then troubles until Ox comes back. I suppose Gnarby could be counted on in a pinch, or in the early cup ties, but another attacking player or two in the Winter window might be a good idea. We will also have to see in Sanogo is ready for a few games as the season wears on, though he does look raw at the moment.

When you look at the team as a whole, together with Wenger’s philosophy of not having a traditional DM, and with the addition of Flamini, the only real concern for me is one more CB, another striker and a winger who can take some game time from Walcott, Podolski and Cazorla so they don’t wear down. One concern last year was how much better we started playing after we had exited all other competitions. This time around, we have plenty of cover in the middle and arguably at fullback, but could force our starting attack to play a little too much (particularly Giroud). But with the chemistry of the team, the attacking options and a more combative and winning mentality, I really do see a bright future for this team. Man City did better business than anyone, though they have serious concerns, and Chelsea signed some strong additions though questions remain regarding their Striker (unless Eto still has the magic) and what to do with Mata. Liverpool has started well, but I guess I don’t really see them challenging at the top and I do think Tottenham are overrated, though they will push for the top four. Yet Arsenal are arguably now contenders, and did some very good business this summer. Wenger has proven people wrong for many years, really since his arrival and the changes he really engineered to the entire league, but finally needs to back up his excellent work in tight financial times (ala the move to the Emirates) and finally award us with some silverware. Let’s hope this is the year we break the whammy. Two weeks off now, but COYG.

PS By the way, that Dane outcast Bendtner is still with the club and may just be the backup to the backup striker, at least until January (though maybe just backup until Pod returns). I liked Bendtner when he was playing for the team on a relatively regular basis a few years ago, but will never forget that miss against Barca in the second leg when he could have sent us through to the the next round. He can score goals though and with the creators around him, if Wenger decides to use him on occasion, who knows?