Many people have written off the mighty Arsenal this season, many saying the Gunners will finish outside of the top four, fall apart, get relegated, fall off the face of the Earth, you get the point.  Granted it has been a rough summer for Gooners everywhere, and the prospect of losing two of your best players is not going to get everyone excited for the new season.  The best thing we can do is get it done and move on and sign new players. 

First, look at the teams around us, not too many have strengthened much.  I won’t rule Arsenal out of the title race but I am expecting it to be a two horse race between the Manchester clubs.  Should United sign Sneijder, I think they may have it in the bag.  That said, they play the matches for a reason and anything can happen.  We may be in the mix and Chelsea could definitely put it together, but the important thing is to look at the teams below us and see if they will challenge us.  The only candidate is Liverpool.  Don’t talk to me about Tottenham as they haven’t done shit.  Liverpool has spent ridiculous money on players considering they don’t have oil money and I don’t think the money has been spent efficiently.  Suarez seems to be the only signing they have made where they will get proper value for money.  They have too many midfielders and a shit defense.  They will be involved in many a 3-2 match and I am sure they will be on both ends of those results throughout the year. 

So let’s talk positives.  There is pace up and down this team.  All three new signings have plenty of speed and with Ryo getting his work permit it’s “like a new signing.”  Arsenal fans hate that term as we hear it all together too much as opposed to signing new players.  But it is quite possible that we have the fastest team in the league.  Sagna and Gibbs at full back, and the choice between Gervinho, Ryodinho, Theo, Andrei, AOC, and Vela on the wings of the front three should strike fear into the hearts of opposing defenses all season. 

While on the subject of full backs, we should expect much better service and crossing this season with the inclusion of Kieran Gibbs.  As demonstrated with his assist for Van Persie against Benfica Gibbs adds a new dimension for Arsenal down the left flank.  Better movement around the box and actually a shot on him, we shouldn’t see the shanks Clichy would send into the 20^th row by the corner flag.  I believe Sagna’s crossing improved significantly last year and I dare you to find me a better right back in the league.

There certainly are midfield questions, but I thoroughly expect at least one replacement should the want away midfielders depart.  Ramsey and Wilshere will perform and grow this season.  I do believe they are the future of the club and Aaron could have the breakthrough season this year that Jack enjoyed the previous term.

The most important and exciting prospect for the club is the return of Thomas Vermaelen.  The most natural leader in the squad and the man I would hand the armband to when Cesc officially departs.  We know the captaincy will go to Van Persie, but I am sure we will see Thomas wearing the armband plenty because we’ve never seen Robin fit a full season.  The Verminator is without a doubt the spine many said was lacking in seasons prior and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have leading the men.

One mistake many have made is writing off Andrei Arshavin, the man is quality.  He has come into pre-season looking skinny and fit, probably having heard the criticism about form and fitness with things to prove.  I expect a strong season from the diminutive Russian with plenty of goals and assists.  We may even see him move into the midfield to play the role he performs for Russia as a true number ten, and if he could recreate the form he lit up Euro 2008 with Arsenal will be in good shape.  I am starting to feel that Gervinho may turn into the Premier League buy of the season.  His incisiveness and trickery give the attack a much more direct option which has been badly lacking in recent years.  He creates as much as he scores, as does Theo, and I expect all three to chip in double figures in goals.  Robin has been in the form of his life and we can only pray he stays fit for the majority of the season.  We will be banging goals in from all over the pitch and I for one am counting the hours until kickoff Saturday. 

With all the happenings of the summer there are two ways the squad can cope.  One is to lie down and listen to the bullshit, or they can go out there and put everything on the line.  This Arsenal team tends to do better when written off so I hope they come out with a chip on their shoulder and prove the doubters wrong.  People thought Manchester United wouldn’t be able to cope with the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez, they did just fine.  People thought the club would go to shit when Paddy and Thierry left but we persevered.  Someone else will step up and take the reigns as has been done in the past.  It’s a new season, everything to play for.  The ball is in their court, in these trying times the team needs to show us their true mettle. I, like a naïve mother, believe they will.  But isn’t that the beauty of it?  Football needs belief to succeed and that applies to supporters as well.  Let’s get behind the team and hope for the best, we may be surprised.



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