So here it is. At least. The new season. Are you excited? Chomping at the bit? Psyched? Pumped?
Yeah, all of those things. As usual on the eve of a big game we hear a lot from Arsene Wenger at his pre-match press conference. Sometimes on a Saturday morning I look at the glut of stories and it’s amost intimidating thinking about how to sort them and present them.
I suppose the main thing is the team news and we have Kolo Toure and Samir Nasri back compared to the squad that faced Schteve McClaren’sh Eff-shee Twente, but the boss admits Kolo is still a little bit short of fitness. He says he doesn’t have any choice but to rush him back because of injuries. I wonder will he start though? Djourou was good the other night so he may stick with the Swiss and Gallas and have Kolo there just in case. If he starts Kolo it’s because of concerns over Gallas and that he might be better with Kolo alongside him, we’ll see.
I think Nasri will start on the left and I just have a feeling that because of the inexperience of Ramsey and Denilson that Walcott will make way for Eboue on the right hand side. The boss will call it ‘balance’, or something.
He also spoke about having money to spend, saying he could splash out £30m on a player if he wanted to. When asked why he didn’t, he said:
For £30million you speak about a striker. I have Van Persie, Adebayor, I have Bendtner who I was patiently building up to be at the level I want him to be. So why should I buy? Now I have Carlos Vela, Eduardo Da Silva. We have the quality. That’s why.
Which is fair enough. What is interesting though is that it’s yet more confirmation that the money is there. There has been a consistent message from the club and from the manager that funds are there, despite what some scaremongerers would have you believe, yet the manager chooses to spend more frugally than some people would like.
He talks about balancing the books (obviously important) and developing talent (citing Adebayor for whom we paid £4m) and those are fine things. However, when there’s a big need for a player in a very important part of the squad then there are times when you have to spend big and I think that’s what he’s going to have to do to get the midfielder we need.
Interesting Rafa Benitez, in his pre-match press conference, let slip that he had no part in the talks ‘about Alonso and Arsenal’, referring to his board. So obviously there was more to that story than we actually thought. With Alonso now cup-tied for this season’s Champions League it may do one of two things. Firstly we may go back and make a lower offer for the player because it does affect his value. Secondly it may end whatever interest we have and make us look elsewhere. I’m somewhat comforted by the fact we were looking at a player of his quality instead of some unheard of Algerian wonderkid. The Guardian reports that Alonso has asked to leave so who knows?
When it comes to signings though he’s still playing his cards close to his chest, saying we’re not close to signing anyone but that he’s relaxed because there are 16 days left to do it. On the other hand though you hear him talk about how the physical demands on Ramsey and Denilson are high after the Twente game and you wonder why he doesn’t hurry it up a bit. Signings will come though, I’m sure of that.
In terms of the season ahead though the boss believes we can win the title and is aware that silverware, which has eluded us in recent years (albeit by the skin of its teeth a couple of times), is necessary. He says:
Every season is a season when you have to win something. For me the two massive trophies are the Premier League and the Champions League. We were close in both competitions [last season]. So let’s go and try again. We want to win things.
Hurrah. I want to win things too. I mean I want Arsenal to win things. Although I wouldn’t mind winning something, like the Euromillions jackpot but I’ll get back on track now. We have a reasonable start to the season, the fixtures could certainly have been more tricky, so it’s a good chance for us to get off to a good start. We saw what happened a couple of seasons ago when we started poorly and were basically out of contention by the end of September. Although I do remember United losing a couple of games early on last season and look where they ended up, the cunts.
Anyway, I’m sure the players have at the moment are focussed, ready for what lies ahead and hungry for success and trophies. Today’s game against West Brom should be interesting. Very much a footballing side (something Arsene Wenger will appreciate) in the Championship last season there’s the suggestion that they may modify their style for the Premier League and be more direct and physical as they battle for survival. We’ll see today. It’ll be a tough test for the lads, promoted teams always have this great vim going into new seasons and to play their first game against one of the top teams will ensure they’re going to give us a good scrap today.
Fingers crossed we can get off the start we all want. I’m feeling those little butterflies already. God, I missed those butterflies. Football is back. I love football. I love Arsenal.
Come ooooooooooooooon.
