Written by George Sezer Sunday, 14 August 2011 06:39

GunnerTalk Blog

By George Sezer

May 2011; after a very disappointing end to the 2010/11 season, it had become very clear to all in the Gooner community that Arsenal did not have mature enough squad to win trophies. Even the voices coming from the manager and the board were indicating that, at last, it was time for a change and the fans had already started looking forward to preseason with anticipation. I personally couldn’t wait for the season to finish.

We needed to get the defence sorted out, that meant adding an experienced, commanding CB… or two to our squad, and  buying a couple of senior players for other positions to add maturity to our team. Could it be possible that Arsene Wenger was changing his ways? After all we’d come so close but failed due to lack of leadership and ‘know how’ for the last few seasons running. Had he finally realised that a team primarily build on youth and inexperience would need a miracle to win the League? Was he going to do away with his experiment and start spending money like a team like Arsenal should do to get that all important mixture of youth and experience going?

Well here you are, reading my post match blog for our opening game of the new season. Not only we have lost or are losing at least 3 of our senior players the 3 of the 4 of newcomers are teenagers as well as forwards. We wanted mature defenders; he went and bought young forwards, stubbornly trying to prove everybody wrong.

Arsenal’s subdued performance against a mediocre Newcastle side did nothing to cheer us up, if anything, it highlighted the deficiencies of our team; not enough leaders or depth in the squad. We had three teenagers on the bench. Ramsey got very tired towards the end of the game but we had not enough quality on the bench to bring on and influence the game.

New team captain Van Persie had an off day in front of the goal, it was unusual to see him failing to control the brilliant chip pass by Arshavin inside their box and Gervinho looked lively without any end product. Defence were solid but we missed industrious Wilshere in the midfield although Rosicky had a very decent game, playing in the position vacated by outgoing Fabregas.

I am not going to write about the Barton incident because words would fail me to describe the type of being he is, instead I compiled a video clip which you can watch and decide for yourselves.