Get with the Programme

I recently had a piece published in the 'Final Word' section of the Arsenal Football Club matchday programme. Here it is:

This season marks will mark my twentieth anniversary of attending Arsenal matches. It's safe to say that the game has undergone seismic shifts in those two decades, whether tactically, technically or sociologically. I've watched the death throes of the flat 4-4-2 and I've watched the nascent globalisation of the game; I've seen the gentrification of football and I've seen the gratification of wealth. I've migrated from quiet, intimate, under-development Highbury to a state-of-the-art superdome at Ashburton Grove. I've seen Arsenal's aesthetic change from stern and pragmatic to visceral and direct, to élan and cosmopolitan, to considered and elaborate. Football has changed a lot in those two decades.

Many fans feel detached from the modern game. Today's multimillionaires are a step removed from the Tuesday Club you could find in an N5 boozer. Not that I'd know much about that; as a fresh-faced 7-year-old I had more interest in swapping Panini stickers, collecting my signed player photos - free in every junior gunner pack, your choice of player - or turning up to matches in full replica kit, shirt to socks, in case Merse was injured and Graham needed a replacement with a bit of flair than I was buying a player a pint. But with the advent of social media, to me at least, players seem closer than ever. Jack Wilshere is no further than a tweet away. RvP might see the YouTube compilation a friend lovingly compiled of him. Ray Parlour might tell the world what pub he's in or which nag he's backing. In an age when every player to pull on the red shirt is instantly a global superstar, the players are no further away from the fans than they want to be (and sometimes, who could blame them for wanting to be a little further away); they know how the fans felt about their performance and they can soak up the adulation they deserve or give the apologies that fans sometimes need. Today's fan knows every nuance of every player, from the academy boys through to the first team. Want to know more about Benik Afobe's loan to Huddersfield? Check YouTube. Want to know when Vermaelen started his career, and whether they really drink beer shots there? Check wikipedia.

And despite the fact that the beautiful game has evolved so much; despite the changes in location, personnel, tactics, badge, type of net, type of ball, type of player, type of ref; despite the loss and re-instatement of the clock; despite the liberalisation of the offside law; and despite a thousand changes besides, I know that when it comes to three o'clock on the first Saturday of the season, I will have that exact same mix of fear, excitement and ebullience that I had when I attended my first game two decades ago. And I'll be there, in full replica kit, shirt to socks, in case Wenger needs someone with a bit of flare to replace Nasri.

One final thought:
#getWengeronTwitter

Here is the picture of me that they used:

I don't have lego hair in real life (but I am that handsome).

I will take a couple of pictures and post them once I get my hands on a copy of the programme.

Do You Believe in Squad and other Theo-logical Questions: an Assessment of Arsenal's Squad for 2011/12

Goalkeepers

This was perhaps the most pressing position at this time last year. That nobody is bothered that we have no bought a new ‘keeper in – even though we conceded eight at the weekend! – speaks volumes of Szczesny’s ability. Fabianski has established himself as second choice, having improved a great deal over the last 12 months. I suspect Mannone will be third choice and Almunia will be locked in a cupboard somewhere.

First Choice: Szczesny

Back up: Fabianski

Have we improved on this time last year? Yes

Defence

The loss of Gael Clichy is not one I will mourn for long. Clichy is far from being a terrible player but he had stagnated at Arsenal and his poor concentration and propensity to drop clangers at key moments.

Were you to draw up a Roy of the Rovers-style fantasy team, Hulking Teutonic six-and-a-half foot centre back and Brazilian flair full back would probably be two of the first names on the fictional teamsheet. Let’s hope Mertesacker and Santos settle in and play as well as they sound on paper. They have the best part of a century of international caps between them and both have competed in the final of an international tournament (the European Championships and the Confederations Cup respectively), so I hold high hopes. There are concerns over Mertesacker’s speed (and turning circle) but Tony Adams was hardly Linford Christie and it didn’t seem to stymie his career too much.

The return of Vermaelen cannot be underplayed and he has looked superb at the start of the season. It is imperative that he remains fit. Koscielny has steadily improved since his move last summer, but Djourou seems to have significantly regressed since the Carling Cup final, before which he displayed some fine form. Squillaci seems unlikely to play much and may find himself behind young Ignasi Miquel, who looks a talented prospect. Carl Jenkinson has impressed in patches in his nascent career and Bacary Sagna is a fine example for him to learn his trade from.

As ever, I feel that Arsenal’s defensive problems stem more from organisation than awareness. I hope that the switch to zonal marking means that this is something that is being actively addressed.

First choice: Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos

Back up: Jenkinson, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs

Have we improved on this time last year? Yes

 

Midfield

The loss of Cesc Fabregas was always going to be difficult for Arsenal to cope with. The team was built around him and the impact of not having him in the side can be seen by comparing results with him in the team to results without him in the side. He made us tick. Arteta, whilst obviously a good signing, isn’t of the same calibre. I do think, though, that perhaps he was the most appropriate replacement available. There might be players out there, with whom we were linked, who have more potential than Arteta. I don’t dount that Hazard and Gotze are fine young players who will probably reach a higher level than Arteta eventually, but frankly, what Arsenal need at this moment is an experienced player who will need little to no time to settle. Beyond one or two players who were almost certainly out of Arsenal’s reach – Sneijder, Kaka et al – it is hard to see how a more appropriate signing could have been made.  

The other additions in this area are also fairly astute. Benayoun is an international captain with years of Premier League experience behind him. He is very much an Arsenal-type player – technically adroit, good ball control, tidy distribution – and added to this, he has a healthy career goals-to-games ratio. He’s like Alex Hleb with end product. Chamberlain, who remarkably was our most expensive signing, will need time to settle. I would expect him to be the main feature of this year’s Carling Cup side and I look forward to seeing what he can bring to the side.

It is remiss, though, to only focus on signings. Arsenal have a fine academy and it is a resource that should continue to be relied upon. It is easy to forget that this time last year, Jack Wilshere was only just establishing himself in the first team because he is now entrenched in the first team. The purchase of Arteta and Benayoun will allow Wilshere and Ramsey to develop without carrying the entire creative burden on their shoulders. Further to this, the emergence of Frimpong sees Arsenal finally obtain a legitimate option in defensive midfield to challenge Alex Song. But for his injury last summer, he might have established himself by now and his development is encouraging. Added to this is the strong working relationship he already has with Wilshere: the two have been playing together for a decade already and this will help settle Frimpong.

The enigmas that are Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky will also play a significant role. The former needs to add some consistency, though few would bet on this happening; the latter needs to become as commanding in the midfield as a man of his age and experienced should be.

First choice: Song, Wilshere, Arteta

Back up: Frimpong, Ramsey, Benayoun

Others: Diaby, Rosicky, Chamberlain

Have we improved on this time last year? No.

Have we improved on this time last year? No

 

Forwards

The principle concern from last season remains; namely, that an injury to van Persie would seriously inhibit the team. At the beginning of last season, whilst Robin was injured, Chamakh came into the side and did very well. His form since then, though, has taken as remarkable a decline as you are ever likely to see. I’m not sure that anyone would have any confidence that he could come into the side and score goals at this stage. Park is a more obvious replacement for van Persie than Chamakh as he will be able to take up the Dutchman’s false nine role as a striker-creator, something which we have the wide forwards to take advantage of. Arsenal’s new number nine remains an unknown quantity at Premier League level and it is more with hope than expectation that he will be regarded. Gervinho, who will take up Nasri’s wide forward role, is a much more direct option than his fellow Ligue Un alumnus. Pacy, tricky, quick on the turn, he has looked an inviting prospect thus far. With Walcott on the opposite flank, Arsenal have a very direct pair of forwards with RvP betwixt, and I expect this to yield plenty of goals. Arsenal have contrasting options from the bench in Miyaichi, who is pacy and energetic, and Arshavin, who is more lethargic but equally more experienced and with more guile to enable a defence to be cut open.

Injury to Robin van Persie remains the major concern.

First choice: Walcott, Robin van Persie, Gervinho

Back up: Miyaichi, Park, Arshavin

Others: Chamakh

Have we improved on this time last year? Time will tell.

 

Overall

There are some key trends to note in our new squad. Firstly, it is clear that Wenger has tried to address the leadership deficiency in the squad. We now have the Belgian captain, the former Werder Bremen captain, the sometime Everton captain, the Wales captain, the Czech captain, the Russia captain, the Israel captain and the South Korea captain, and I’ve not even counted the ‘natural’ leaders Szczesny, Wilshere and van Persie amongst that number.

The other matter of note is the directness of this side, particularly the forward players. Arsenal have been guilty of over-elaborating and getting stuck in a sideways rut at times and it would seem that this is something that Wenger is keen to address. Walcott, Gervinho and Wilshere are all like to drive towards goal and there is sufficient pace in the side to allow Arsenal to break quickly, which has always been a key feature of successful Arsenal teams.

It is also notable that in Arteta and Park, we have acquired a couple of set-piece takers.

It is easy to forget that Arsenal actually did quite well for the majority of last season, even if the eventual flaws were all too familiar. A cup final, a tilt at the league and beating the European Champions would be regarded by most clubs as a successful year. For better or worse, this starting XI this year will be considerably different from last year (and almost recognisable from two seasons ago), particularly in defence. I’m not sure I expect to win the league with the current squad but I certainly expect us to be competing for a spot in the top four. In van Persie and Wilshere we have two players that almost every side in the world would be happy to accommodate; Walcott, Gervinho and Arshavin are all capable of making the difference when they are on form. There are talented youngsters coming through – still, again. There is much to exalt in this side and I look forward to watching them this season.