Ok then, here we go. The last Arsenal ball was kicked in anger on May 17th, it’s now August 16th, almost three months later and it’s time to do it all again.
If you haven’t already seen it, I wrote the traditional pre-season preview yesterday which looks at where we are right at this moment in time. Of course there are still a few weeks of the transfer window to go – and the manager says he’s open to doing more business – but assessing the state of the squad on the eve of the new season leaves me pretty optimistic, I have to say.
It’s certainly a massive shift from where we were this time last year. We’ve been active instead of inactive. We knew what we wanted to do and did it, which speaks to a much more coherent plan of action. Frustration has been replaced by expectation. And the feelgood factor around the place, that has been present since we lifted the cup at Wembley, has followed us into the new season.
In terms of the team today against Palace, I touched on it the other day and with the news that Laurent Koscielny is fit, I think we can more or less predict our starting XI. On the bench we’ll have the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Joel Campbell and Yaya Sanogo who can be deployed to try and make a difference if need be.
Obviously though, with all due respect to Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy, all eyes will be on Alexis to see what he can bring to this team. At 25 years of age, having come to us off the back of an excellent season in La Liga, he’s primed to have the best years of his career at Arsenal and the thought of that is exciting to say the least.
However, we know from past experience that it can take a player a few games to get used to football in England. He looked good in the Community Shield but still some way from full fitness and sharpness, so hopefully another week of training has honed him for today, but let’s not be outraged if it doesn’t quite work out. Once Stuart Pearce writes him off after a few games we’ll know we’re on the right track with him.
Yet, even in that 45 minutes at Wembley the way he might influence our game was obvious. Not only did he himself use his pace to get in behind the City defence – bursting from deep – those speedy legs also gave us the outlet to do what Arsene Wenger really loves to do, and that’s counter-attack quickly, breaking from deep, leaving the opposition floundering. It’s something that also affects the shape of the opposition we’ve often found when Theo Walcott plays.
Palace, regardless of the departure of Pulis, will be a tough side to break down. They’ll have been preparing for today long before the Goblin King left, so I expect them to be obdurate and dangerous, but I’m confident that even though we’re not 100% ready physically, and we’re missing some important players from the squad, we’ve got enough to do the business today.
Speaking about the new season, the manager is expecting his team to challenge for the title, saying:
I believe we have a chance because we were a long time top of the league last year. It is difficult to know how much better the other teams will be. We have some challenges that we did not face well last year.
We finished fourth and made 79 points. Man City won it with 86, so it was very tight in the top four, that is one or two games. If you win against them, they have three points less and you have three points more, that means it is down to one game.
I think that’s an entirely valid point to make and we definitely have to improve our record against the top four – particularly away from home. But I also can’t help thinking of other games, like the opener against Villa, the trip to Stoke, that late goal conceded against Everton, which might also have helped bridge that gap. We need to ensure that the mistakes we made throughout the whole of last season are addressed, not just the high profile, rather embarrassing ones.
But, as I said in the season preview, there’s an air of optimism about a new season that hasn’t been present for quite some time. On yesterday’s Arsecast, Philippe said he felt this was the squad most capable of a title challenge since the 2003-4 vintage (and what a vintage that was), and it does feel better balanced and a group of players with genuine quality.
For years we’ve had squad fodder that you look at and wish we could really improve on/shoot into space. Now, although you can always look to better what you have, they seem a coherent, likable, determined group of players. Most of whom still have the ability to develop further and become even better. We’re in good shape.
The news that Per Mertesacker has retired from international football is, from a strictly Arsenal point of view, very welcome. Obviously he’s served his country with distinction for 104 caps, but the fact he won’t be going away during international breaks is a bonus for us. He’ll have a chance to rest properly and also not pick up injuries. That decision, in a small but obvious way, also strengthens our hand for this new season.
But most importantly, it feels like it’s a fresh start. This is not Groundhog Season. Sonny and Cher are not playing at 6.00am with a reworked version of I Got You Babe which references how long it’s been since we’ve won a trophy. The players have a confidence and belief that none of the teams for the last 8 or 9 years have had. We’re a reinvigorated club, team and fanbase and it’s hard not to be excited about what lies ahead between now and May.
When you add a new kit, some tasty new players, a manager who seems rejuvenated, and a club that is no longer stumbling but purposefully striding in the right direction, it feels a long, long way from the opening day of last season. Let’s hope that today’s result is a consequence of doing those things right this summer.
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As the new season begins we will, of course, have live blog coverage of the game for you. Check back here for a post with all the details or simply bookmark our default live blog page.
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Also, if you fancy a pre-season flutter, Paddy Power are offering new accounts Arsenal to win the league at 20-1! Click here to register.
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Right, that’s that. Now just to dilly-dally all day long waiting for kick off. It won’t be long though. The build-up, the noise, the roar …
Come. On. You. Reds.
