Six years in the club with a history of 124 years seems to be nothing. Six years in the life of a club that had constantly been the only other winner of the premier league (since its new format in) besides Manure and of course 95 champions, Blackburn, until 2005. Since Arsenal went the league unbeaten in 2004, a lot has happened. Once Russian with a tanker load of money has taken over West London neighbors, Chelsea, and hired the win-at-all cost King, Jose Mourinho, who instilled determination, grit, a winning mentality and above all, trophies into the team. Also, our North London rivals, Tottenham have had a spending spree that is more like the man they hired as manager, Harry “Twitcy” Redknapp. They have since made the Champions League (CL) and made massive stride in getting to the Quarter Finals, losing to Real Madrid. Arab money has seen the blue side of Manchester, one where they have outlayed about $850M in the last 3 years to build a team which is sure to compete for the league next season and also will be making the CL this year.
My beloved Arsenal in all these time as not won a single trophy, turned over the squad twice, spent the lowest amount of money on player recruitment in the league’s top 7. I will not today be looking at reasons for our failure but the way forward. I will give a realistic spin on what Arsene Wenger should do based on his history of frugality and player recruitment. As far as Wenger is coach, we will not spend up to $35M on any player. We would always put priority in promoting or replacing from within.
Note: * means players I am indifferent about or more likely to stay than go.
GK
Current players: Almunia, Fabianski, Lehmann, Mannone, Sczcesny, Lehmann.
Almunia: This man must be sold or released this summer. No need to discuss why. ($2M)
Fabianski: Wenger will definitely not sell this man. From this season, we can say he is not a bad backup, at least in Arsene’s world of mediocre goalkeepers.
Mannone: Will be returning from Hull this summer. I believe he should be sold as I do not think he is good enough for Arsenal, neither will be content with being on the squad as the 4th choice. ($ 2M)
Sczcesny: Definitely the future of Arsenal. The question here is whether the future starts this coming season, or it is still years away. From the look of things, if he can build on this season, I personally do not mind him being #1 next season. I think Wenger shares my pessimism.
Lehmann: I would love the man to stay around and help train this boy. Possibly, see the end of our GK coach, Gerry Peyton as none of our GKs has made improvements.
Verdict: I do feel having Sczcesny and Fabianski as our main GK. Though I do not think this is strong enough, I know Wenger would not let them go and take a chance with them. With his in mind, I would love for us to sign an experienced goalkeeper (32+) and reliable-someone in the frame of Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer.
End of summer: Sczcesny, Experienced Goalie, Fabianski
Defence
Current players: Clichy, Gibbs, Traore, Vermaleen, Djourou, Koscielny, Squillaci, Sagna, Eboue
Clichy: I do not mind if this young man leavers. From a competent defender, rivaling the likes of Ashley Cole and Evra as the best LB in the league, he has become an inconsistent, low in confidence player. He makes too many mistakes at the back, and though he makes forward runs, his crossing seems to get worse every time. He can’t dribble, shoot, play good set pieces, which means his only offensive threat is providing width to the team’s attacks. We either sell him or he stays, we should get him some competition, making him know he has to get down working. Gibbs is not ready to provide that competition. I think Vermaleen can be moved to LB for some games, if we buy another CB.
Gibbs: His future and potential is undoubted. He is currently too injury prone and he is not ready to be commanding our LB position. Not a bad #2 though, especially if he keeps learning and not think he has arrived.
Traore: Arsenal has done enough for you to train you and put you in the spotlight. You would never have gotten to play for a team like Juventus with the potential you have shown. He is not good enough for us and we should grant him his “dream move to PSG”. ($3.5M)
Vermaleen: Many people believe Arsenal would not have shipped so many goals this season if this man was not out for all of the season. I certainly concur. He is the rock we need. In games where the opposition is superior or a good defense is needed all round, I say we move Thomas to LB. He has a good left foot, can cross, can make forward runs as we saw in his 1st season and he can definitely defend well. This would also put pressure on Clichy. This should only happen though if Wenger brings in a superior or equal defender into the squad.
Djourou: Barring the few mistakes he has made the last few weeks, he and Wilshere have proven to be the revelation of this season. He has grown so much from the Djourou we used to know and has seemed to bring aerial calm to Arsenal’s defense. If he can learn from his mistakes this season, like the one for Bolton’s winner (the backward header that led to the shot that led to the corner and losing his man for the goal), then we would have the league’s most reliable backup CB in our hand.
Koscielny: A man forced into the thick of action by Vermaleen’s injury. I would say he learned very fast as he had to learn on the job and he is calm about his defending. He needs to be more vocal and definitely has a future as a great defender. He needs to watch the rash challenges when they are not needed. Alongside Djourou, they provide the league’s best backup CB besides say tottenham.
Squillaci: I say this with a lot of confidence. Sebastian is not good enough for Arsenal. Knowing that Wenger just splashed $10M on him this summer, he is not going anywhere. I hope injuries never force us to use him for more than Carling cup games against lesser opposition.
Sagna: Arsenal’s Mr Reliable. One we all call “Timaya” in Nigeria. If only Sagna can work on his offensive game- his crossing and in box penetration, he would make a case for the best RB in the world. Yes I said it. He is no nonsense and has no time for all that Arsenal one-two at the back.
Eboue: Fond of him for his ever supportive spirit and understanding his role as a squad member. Eboue, I am really indifferent about leaving or staying in the club, as far as I never see him in the RB role. He can play the kind of role he played against ManU on Sunday. Just come in, few minutes to the end of the game and help us hold a lead in an offensive role as he is a good runner with the ball and has efficient crossing.
Verdict: We must buy Gary Cahill. He is English, strong, vocal and very good. He can be molded to a Tony Adams. Also if Carl Jenkinson is as good as Wenger says he is, and then we can get him as a backup to Sagna. Otherwise, we go for Gregory Van Wiel of Ajax.
End of summer: Clichy*, Gibbs, Vermaleen, Cahill, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Squillaci, Jenkinson/Van der Wiel.
Midfield
Current players: Rosicky,Ramsey, Wilshere, Fabregas, Song, Denilson, Diaby, Nasri, Arshavin
Rosicky: We love you but time to go.
Wilshere: Wilshere was Arsenal’s revelation of the season. Sadly, he might have to go back to the bench next season.
Ramsey: Young man, we have missed you. Next season is your time to shine. Will def. play a big part of our season.
Song: Can you play like you did against Manure? Forget about the forward forays and stay behind the line to protect the back 4. In as much as I do not rate Sergio Busquest, this young man does his job well. You were doing a perfect job at the start of the season, until you started scoring and neglected your role as “DM”.
Fabregas: 8 years of loyalty and excellent service, is what you have given Arsenal. We can understand if you want to leave on the back of not winning trophies, or jealousy that your friends in Barcelona are playing beautiful football and winning trophies, or you just miss home. What we cannot accept is you playing football like you do not care and being careless with the ball. If you choose the later, please you can leave. If you choose to stay, put your heart on your sleeves and let us win this football club, trophies. Love you Fabrepass.
Denilson: Time to go. Simply, not good enough for Arsenal.
Diaby: When do you plan to fulfill your potential? You arrived in 2005 and we see bits and parts of how good you can be. We also see 80% of the time how disastrous you can be. Holding the ball too much until you lose the ball, your obvious inability to use your size to play the Vieira role and moments of madness (Own goal against Manure, red card against Newcastle- as case studies). If you think you deserve a starting role, you can leave Arsenal. If you staying, you have to be contempt with being behind Jack and Aaron.
Nasri: Please renew your contract. If Fabregas leaves, you will be the soul of the team just like you were in Marseille and with France. Work on your finishing and learn to be more selfish. We have seen what you can do when you are selfish.
Arshavin: If it is the Arshavin I saw against Manure, and then stay at Arsenal. If it’s the one I saw most of the season, then it’s time to go back to Russia or be part of a deal to bring Eto’o to the club.
Verdict: We must buy Scott Parker, whether or not there is an exit or entry in the team. He is an engine and leader, something we need since Flamini and Vieira left the team respectively. If Fabregas leaves, we can bring in Eden Hazard. If Arshavin leaves, bringing in Ashley young will not be a bad addition.
End of summer: Ramsey, Wilshere, Fabregas*, Diaby*, Arshavin*, Nasri, Song, Scott Parker, , EdenHazard/ Ashley Young
Forwards
Current players: Walcott, VanPersie, Bendtner, Chamakh
Walcott: I think it’s time 4 this young man to move to a central role. He has blinding pace which I think he can use like Henry used to. His finishing is the best in the club since Henry and Eduardo. Fabregas’ defence-splitting passes will be key to this.
VanPersie: No comment. I love you. 19 goals in 4 months is an unbelieveable return for a man who spent the 1st half of the season on the sidelines. I though which we can get you to start scoring freekicks again.Also your hot shots are not going on target again.
Bendtner: Wenger needs to stop playing Bendtner out wide. He is not happy being a bench player at Arsenal. He can leave, as I understand his plight. If he stays, he should be brought to the middle and should understand he is not necessarily good to be a starter. I think the 4-4-2 I want us to revert to next season, will see him play more.
Chamakh: It is saddening that you never really lived up to what I expected of you. Like Squillaci, you just came in the summer and so I do not expect you to be sold by Wenger, besides you did a good job as our main striker in the 1st half of the season. I’m impressed you understand your role as a bench player. Just do your job and try to be more of a threat.
Verdict: We should bring in Samuel Eto’o. Besides Van Persie who is injury prone, we do not possess a constant goal scorer in the team. Eto’o has proved more than capable over the years. His experience also bodes well for the team. A player like Falcao would not be another option if he is not too expensive after his return of 36 goals in 41 games this season.
End of summer: Walcott, VanPersie, Bendtner*, Chamakh, Eto’o.
Squad for next season: Sczcesny, Schwarzer, Fabianski Clichy*, Gibbs, Vermaleen, Cahill, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Squillaci, Jenkinson/Van Wiel, Ramsey, Wilshere, Fabregas*, Diaby*, Arshavin*, Nasri, Song, Scott Parker, EdenHazard/ Ashley Young, Walcott, VanPersie, Bendtner*, Chamakh, Eto’o.
With this squad, I think we also need a formation change. We have to learn to be flexible with our tactics and stop using the same thing against all opponents, independent of their strengths. We sincerely have to take a page from Manure and use 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 as needed.
In a 1st choice 4-4-2 formation
Sczcesny---clichy, vermaleen, cahill, sagna---arshavin, fabregas, scottparker, nasri---eto’o , VanPersie
In a 2nd choice 4-3-3- formation,
Sczcesny---clichy, vermaleen, cahill, sagna---Song, fabregas, scottparker--- nasri, eto’o , VanPersie
In a 3rd choice 4-5-1 formation
Sczcesny---clichy, vermaleen, cahill, sagna---Walcott, fabregas, scottparker, nasri, VanPersie---Chamkakh
Lastly, rumours are circulating fast around the Emirates that after many years of service to the club, Pat Rice is going to retire from his position as Assistant. Having him replaced by the likes of Bould or Adams or Parlour would help us.
Have a great weekend.
