Written by Filip Urbancík Thursday, 04 August 2011 23:21

GunnerTalk Blog

By Filip Urbancik

Current situation:

We still have plenty of time in terms of transfer market because all the big deals are always sealed during the last few days of transfer window. Our most expensive signing Arshavin was made this way so we can only have our fingers crossed and wait what Arsene Wenger plans for our current squad.

Both summer signings have proved their qualities. Carl Jenkinson had a couple of decent moments and he seems to be ready to be our no. 2 choice as RB. The own goal is nothing, it was only a friendly match. Gervinho is one of the highlights of the summer. He fits perfectly into the squad and Wenger has added a very talented and promising striker upfront.

Benik Afobe, Emmanuel Frimpong, Henri Lansbury and Miyaichi all promoted to the first-team. Now we have cover for every position. Last seasons we had problems with replacing the likes of Song, now we have Frimpong, Clichy now we have Gibbs and Traore, Robin van Persie´s goal boots now we have Gervinho. Experience of promoted players is questionable but we just can´t protect our youth policy for so many years and then block their development!

Weaknesses and Strenghts:

Now, something we’ve been all talking about for many seasons. We need another CB, LB, RB, DM, AM and when we splash the cash around what about a new goalkeeper?! This whole transfer window is about what ifs: What if Fabregas leaves, what if Nasri leaves, what if both leave,... Everybody who knows Arsenal sees our weaknesses. The main issue should be a proper center back. Unfortunately our little Cahill saga seems to be undone, Samba wouldn´t fit to our squad because he can´t play as technically as we need and the dodgy knee of Phil Jagielka is a closed case for me, oh I forgot about Scott Dann.

You can hit back that Wilshere and Ramsey still have few seasons to be close the gap between them and Fabregas but if we bought Mata he would block development of Wilshere and Ramsey for years.

I think one of our strengths is in the players who were promoted. We have enough players who came through the youth ranks, know what Arsenal and passion is about and are hungry for silverware. Now there will be a strong competion for every place and quite high number of possible replacements.

Another strenght is in our attack. I can feel in my bones that this will be the best season for Robin van Persie for Arsenal. Gervinho wants to show he deserves a place in a starting XI, Theo Walcott seemed to be very sharp during pre-season games. Arshavin will be under pressure and he will play better.

My last pick our strenghts will be no. 1 choice goalkeeper. Wojciech Szczesny will surely be between the sticks against Newcastle. Fabianski can´t be happy with it as both Poles will fight for no. 1 position in Poland´s national squad for Euro 2012 which will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine. Vito Mannone had couple of decent performances during pre-season, I think we´ll see him in Carling Cup. Almunia will be hopefully sold or at least loaned somewhere.

Possible silverware:

To be honest I do think we can compete for the Premier League title because it´s not based on a number of new signings. Sunderland and Liverpool signed so many players but I don´t think they will get better immediately, it will take a long time for them to settle. I don´t want to talk about the teams from Manchester neither about Chelsea. Sp*rs have again started what they do quite often. Now they have a good team, only for European League but Modric, Crouch, Lennon... are on their way.

As Ian Wright said there´s no team in Premier League who can fight on all fronts. Arsene Wenger surely wants to win Champions League, so do we but we must be realistic. We should choose one major trophy and sacrifice others. I would personally prefer Premier League title.

Last season Carling Cup showed how a small cup can devastate team´s mentallity for months. We have loads of young players willing to get a chance, so let them play in this competion, rest the players like Robin van Persie, Fabregas,... and see what they can do.

FA Cup might have lost it´s magic but wouldn´t it be nice to win The Double once again?

So that´s it. My views, thoughts and ideas about upcoming season. Our boys will hopefully bring silverware and joy in an Arsenal way!

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