One More Week To Go, One More Week To Football
Jul 11th, 2009 by 'holic
A week to football. My Arsenal are back. Oh yes. I can’t believe I’m getting excited about spending an afternoon sunbathing in Barnet!
Of course when you make arrangements to go to the game you have that little hope in the back of your mind that three major new signings will be making their debut in red and white. Then you realise unless you are Real Madrid the market has barely opened yet and everybody is waiting for the sales to begin.
So I will just be getting a first glimpse of Thomas Vermaelen, and in the likely absence of Cesc Fabregas, Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott, and Carlos Vela, all of whom are still either on holiday or getting crocked in the American Swine-flu Invitation Trophy, there will also be the usual clutch of youngsters looking to catch the eye.
The squad from the corresponding fixture last season is somewhat depleted. Five of those who started the second-half that day, Dunne, Steer, Rodgers, Ogogo, and Fonte, were among the batch of eight young players released at the end of June when their contracts expired. There were no surprises among those let go.
At least three of the four new young professionals are likely to figure at some point you would have thought, as long as they are not on the treatment table. Goalkeeper James Shea may find himself looking on with Almunia, Fabianski, Szczesny, and Mannone to compete with.
I would, however expect to see Luke Ayling, Craig Eastmond, and Cedric Evina appear after half-time. Of these the most interesting is Ayling. The young defender has produced a huge improvement in the last year and formed an impressive partnership with Kyle Bartley as the young Gunners landed an Academy League and FA Youth Cup double.
Whilst a season of largely reserve team football beckons he will be one of a clutch of young professionals for whom this pre-season will give an opportunity to put themselves in Arsene Wenger’s mind for the Carling Cup campaign to come.
The most likely to take that step this term is Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, captain of the all-conquering under-18’s for the last couple of years. Having filled many positions in the Academy set-up it looks as though Jay is settling into a midfield role. That suits his strength in the tackle and ability to get forward and support the attack.
I know a lot of young fans would like to see Jay get his opportunity soon, while we are perhaps lacking the sort of physical presence he could bring to the side. There is however a big difference between standing out amongst your age group where Jay’s physical advantages have been clear to see, and competing at the highest level.
He also has areas to address before making that huge step up. Principally his pace over the first five or ten yards. His lack of an explosive burst has led some to mistakenly believe he can appear lazy at times. What is remarkable is that he can atone for that when in possession with impressive close control and the ability that really good players have to create vital seconds for themselves. Aaron Ramsey is another who has the same issue and attribute.
Obviously Jack Wilshere will figure after making such an impression in the first half of last season. Eventually that caught up with him, as you would expect of a sixteen year old. It would not be a surprise to see him stand out in pre-season yet again, and show he has made considerable strides. (No tailoring gags, please!)
The coming week may yet determine who else is likely to appear at Underhill. Will the likes of Philippe Senderos and Armand Traore have roles to fill? Could Thomas Rosicky (remember him?) get a cameo appearance as he returns to match-fitness. Has Eduardo recovered sufficiently to get a start?
I can’t wait to get there and find out the answers, but Arsene, feel free to complicate matters by adding another tough-tackling midfielder into the equation this coming week. Cheers.
16 Responses to “One More Week To Go, One More Week To Football”
I too am excited to see Rosicky n Edu play.. Here’s hoping that both have put the injuries behind them and will play a vital part in winning the PL and CL double… And hoping our younger(since our first team are young themselves) guns will the CC and maybe the FA Cup.
I may be very optimistic with the above paragraph.. But Y shouldnt I?? The signs have been very positive since the last season ended with a new signing & noone leaving. I’m confident that both Toure & Gallas will stay this season because we need Toure after Gallas leaves after next season or the one after that.
As for Ade, I feel Wenger has made him realise that he is not as BIG as he think he is.. and that Arsenal can compete now even without him. Moreover there wasnt any official bid from anyone so far and so this must have made Ade to realise his value. Hope that Ade gets his head focussed for the next season and be a part of a very lethal & talented attacking unit with RvP, Edu, Cesc, AA, Rosicky, Nasri, Big Nic, Vela, Walcott & Diaby with Ramsey, Merida & Wilshire to step up if needed..
I’m nt worried about the DM for which everyone has been crying for because I feel Song & Denilson more than capable to play in that position and will be every better this season..
I’m eagerly waiting for the season ahead…
Go Gunners.. & Lets prove the World that We’re the best and to pay back the Boss with what he deserves…
I really do not know what to make of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. I have seen him a few times now and feel he has a lot of work to do to make the step up. I agree re Ayling and Bartley. Both have impressed. As did Frimpong when he played last season.
Still think we need two more signings. It does appear that those behind the scenes are working non stop to make it happen.
Keep the faith.
Pint of cider please, barman.
Enjoy the Barnet game, ‘holic.
Does anyone really expect Wenger to sign anyone in central midfield when he has ramsay,song,diaby and denilson to play with Cesc. He is too stubborn to go out and buy a top class dm. Instead he will look on the last 2 seasons as an investment in the aforementioned players and will expect them to fill the gap left by flamini/silva.
I would be suprised if we have alny more arrivals this summer with hopefully silvestre leaving………..
Hopefully the players can deliver this season as next season may see an exodus of our senior players if we do not progress……….
All in all we have much to look forward to this season and I for one hope we can keep our large squad fit and healthy for the battles ahead……………….
Toure n Gallas shouldn’t leave as they are the most experienced players playin for arsenal.Experience is what arsenal lacks and with toure or gallas leaving we will lack it all the more…
Let’s face the fact’s, if we do not sign an experienced DM and a commanding centre back, we will continue to struggle and with other team strengthening, we might just fail to even make it into the so called top 4. I am concerned at the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market.
I’m on call, so a nice cup of coffee will do.
Actually, make that a cheeky Irish one, ‘holic. Thanks.
Interesting that you see JET’s advanced physical development as the factor giving him an advantage, Goonerholic. He strikes me as a player who beats opponents with his nimble feet and trickery – rubber legs reaching round corners to tackle, and sometimes he just seems to slide through the non-existent space between two players. I just don’t see him as bruiser.
*cough*impressive close control and the ability that really good players have to create vital seconds for themselves*cough*
No, FG. You are absolutely right. Not just a bruiser, but that will be a significant asset once he learns how to use his size and strength as well as those ‘nimble feet’.
A caffetiere of your finest columbian ground please ‘holic, and a fried egg sandwich. Nice of you to open as a Sunday morning bistro/cafe/boozer.
i will also be at the barnet match ‘holic.
fancy a pint?
if not, im sure you’ll hear me swearing from the terraces!!
hope to see some not injured players, and maybe a new one or two as well…
sorry, Goonerholic, I didn’t read your post with sufficiently close attention!
No worries, FG. I wouldn’t either 🙂
Snail, only on Sundays. I can’t have the smell of fried food around when the stout is being served!
laker, thanks for the offer. I will be in a pub at some stage. We just haven’t worked out which one. I’ll listen out for you…
bring it on! can’t wait! the tedium of the summer rumour mill has officially bored me silly now.
i had a little pow wow with BTM and on paper our “sides” to me still look very strong regardless of additions
see what you think? obviously there will be differing opinions on these line-ups, but i am merely trying to demonstrate the strengths of our squad.
(as u can see all work and no football makes TG a very dull boy 😉
SIDE A:
Almunia
Sagna
Toure
Gallas
Clichy
Denilson
Cesc
Nasri
Arshavin
RVP
Adebayor(?)
SIDE B:
Fabianski
Eboue
Vermaelen
Djourou
Gibbs
Diaby
Song
Ramsey
Rosicky
Walcott
Eduardo
SIDE C:
Mannone
G Hoyte
Senderos
Ayling
Silvestre
Wilshere
Merida
Randall
Traore
Vela
Bendtner
add jay emmanuel, evina, bartley etc… a “possible addition or 2”?
our 3rd team could beat manchester city 😉
** please note i hope RVP + Edu make SIDE A starting strikers, let’s hope a nice partnership starts to build**
on paper, i think we have got a lot to look forward too
my apologies ‘holic for the length of the above post 😉
just realised i didn’t even mention jay simpson in the above … throw him in there too