Manchester Unied vs Arsenal 2011-12 Preview

After qualifying for the Champions League in midweek, we now travel to the Premier League Champions today. We are currently yet to add more signings and with the injuries and suspensions we are facing, we play yet another game with players far too inexperienced and far too removed from our preferred eleven. Depleted doesn't even come close to describing the state of our squad.

Mancheser United on the other hand have strengthened their squad and they currently boast a good mixture of youth and experience. While we have become weaker this season, they have added more depth to their squad. More reasons to hate those scums!

Team news is that both Vermaelen and Sagna have missed out for today's match. And with both Song and Frimpong suspended and Wilshere still sometime away from recovery, we have got a gaping hole in our midfield and young Francis Coquelin has been entrusted to fill the defensive midfield role. Gibbs is also out which means Armand Traore will start at left back, while Carl Jenkinson will again start at right back.

I'll be happy with a draw for today and over the moon if we win. But it is going to be a long 90 minutes for our boys out there. Without quality and experience, will guts and determination be enough to get any kind of result today? I really do hope so.

Line ups:

Manchester United(4-4-2): David De Gea, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Johnny Evans, Parice Evra, Nani, Tom Cleverley, Anderson, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck

Substitutes: Anders Lindegaard, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Ji Sung Park, Dimitar Berbatov, Chicharito, Fabio

Manager: Alex Ferguson


Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Armand Traore, Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, Carl Jenkinson, Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin. Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Ignasi Miquel, Henri Lansbury, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Gilles Sunu, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh

Manager: Arsene Wenger

COME ON ARSENAL!

Udinese vs Arsenal Champions Legue Play Off 2nd Leg Review

AND WE CAME OUT WITH FLYING COLOURS!

What a performance! What a great result! And what a great save by Szczesny! I shouted myself hoarse yesterday, and slept at 4 am, even though the match finished one and a half hours earlier. It was simply fantastic! To come back from a goal down at half time and seize the match like we did and win 2-1, was simply superb.

I wonder why do we always have to do things the hard way...is it because when we actually do the things the hard way and achieve the result, we feel a sense of ultimate euphoria like last night? Yesterday night's adventure will go a long way in slaying those demons that have pursued and tortured us for months and months.

Things could not have been more, I'm coining a new term here, Hollywoodized. Have a look at the storyline:

• A high stakes game, we were in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 14 years.
• Failing to qualify would have meant losing out on £25m financially, and also we would struggle to get good players to come and play for us.
• Our two best players have left, I need not mention their names.
• Our most consistent midfielder, Jack Wilshere, from last season was missing due to injury.
• Both our available left backs were either unable to play or start the game.
• 5 of the starting eleven were 21 years of age or younger.
• We have been lacklustre, and goal shy throughout preseason and the start of the season.

But the thing that irked me the most was the bombardment from all quarters. The press, media, pundits, experts, critics, current players, former players, fans, bloggers(myself included!)...everyone has had their say in lambasting Arsenal, criticising this, criticising that, castigating this and castigating that. All that negativity, all that pessimism, all that criticism had reached stratospheric levels and an air of doom and gloom hung around, that had affected even the most positive of supporters. It was almost as if Dementors had encircled the whole of Arsenal and all happy thoughts were fading away.

But the performance of last night was wonderful, inspiring and hope-filling to say the least. It was as if we unleashed a powerful patronus that drove those circling Dementors far far away, even if only for sometime. It was the sort of performance that made you proud to be an Arsenal fan. It was the kind of night you live for as an Arsenal fan. It was the kind of result that made you believe in Arsenal, and Arsene yet again, and maybe even compel you to stick out your tongue or your middle finger to all those doubters. Seriously, if anyone considers himself/herself an Arsenal fan and he/she couldn't be cheerful about yesterday's result, there is something wrong with that person.

The patronus that drove those Dementors encircling Arsenal away!

The Match

The game started at fast pace and just like in the first leg, it was end to end stuff. Di Natale looked dangerous and threatened to score a couple of times. I have to admit he was one of the standout performers from both teams over the two legs. But Theo really should have given us the lead after some great work by Gervinho. The Ivorian's trickery created enough space for Theo to find the back of the net, but his shot was too close to the keeper and it was saved. Udinese made us pay for that when they finally took the lead from a Di Natale header that looped over Szczesny and crept inside the goal after hitting the crossbar.

We made a change at the start of the second half and Rosicky came on for Frimpong. We tried hard to get the vital away goal but we were lacking creativity from the midfield. It eventually came when Gervinho once again got the better of his man and squared up for Robin van Persie to apply the cool finish. After that, came the turning point in the game when the referee awarded the home side a rather soft penalty for handball. What happened after that, will forever remain etched in my memory. Wojciech Szczesny made the best and most important save of his career so far to deny Di Natale. It was one of the best penalty saves I've ever seen. Some have even dubbed it the £25m save!

The £25m save!

After that, Sagna showed great presence of mind and some sublime touches to set Theo free to turn on his turbo boosters and score our second goal. That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Udinese and they barely threatened after that. Mission Accomplished!

Player Performance

Szczesny - My Man of the Match, 10/10 performance, FANTASTIC PENALTY SAVE, another two brilliant saves from free kicks, and he's still just 21 years old.

Jenkinson - another impressive display, hardworking and efficient

Vermaelen - only blotch was the penalty conceded, okay performance, since Di Natale really troubled our centre backs tonight

Djourou - shaky at times but enough for the day

Sagna - not his natural position, and it showed as Udinese had plenty of joy down their right at the start. Good counter attacking move to set up Theo for the winner

Song - did all the dirty work, excelled in his role, didn't venture forward too much

Ramsey - better from him, more composed than earlier matches, will get better as the season progresses

Frimpong - good performance, but was edgy at times

Rosicky - not the cleanest of tacklers but was at it today, battled hard in midfield more than usual

Walcott - should really have taken that chance to give us the lead, used his awesome speed to grab the winner

Gervinho - a gem, love it when he has the ball, provided the assist for the first goal, threatening throughout

van Persie - looked to link up play by dropping deep, and sometimes to the wings. right place, right time and a good finish to equalise and more importantly give us the away goal advantage.

Traore, Arshavin - not much time to contribute


Credit must also be given to Arsene and his staff for the way we turned things around in the second half. We played more positively than I can remember for some time. This was reflected on the total number of shots we had, which was 19(with 13 on target). The last time we managed so many shots on target was 229 days ago when we played against Leeds in the 1-1 draw in January.

Where We Stand

We can now concentrate on making the most of the last week of the transfer window to sign players with experience. This performance showed we still have the heart, what we need is some experience to back it up. But for now, I just want to say this:

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HERE WE COME!!!

Next Up

Manchester United away!

Udinese vs Arsenal Champions Legue Play Off 2nd Leg Preview

Events of the last match were so depressing that I tried to take my time off from everything Arsenal, but this damn Arsenal disease won't leave me. And I hope no one ever finds the cure!

And if that long headline for the article does not signify the importance of this match, nothing will. Okay, seriously though, this is the biggest match of the embryonic season so far, and so much of the future hinges on it. So many questions come to mind immediately:

• Will we be able to withstand the assault from Udinese, after we barely hung on to a narrow 1-0 win at home the previous week?
• What will happen if we don't qualify and lose out on the lucrative £25m the Champions League will bring?
• Will top players be interested in signing for us if we don't qualify?
• Will we suffer any more injuries?
• Will Djourou's hamstring problem resurface?
• Will we score the away goal, considering we have been extremely goal shy this season?
• Will we get good refereeing for the game, considering the tussle we are having with UEFA officials at the moment?
• Will the match go to penalties?
• Will the departure of Nasri affect the mental strength of the team?
• Will Arsene Wenger ever buy someone of proven quality rather than untested potential?
• What colour will Alex Song's hair be?

These and many more questions still remain to be answered. But a few of them will be addressed one way or the other in the next two hours. And I hope we come through it with flying-, err, satisfactory colours. A draw will do for me today. A win even better. And I really hope we score the away goal just for some insurance.

The team news is that Djourou is fit to start but Rosicky has made it to the bench. Young gun Emmanuel Frimpong has made it to the starting line up and I hope his "eagerness and enthusiasm" doesn't get the better of him and dives into rash tackles thus amounting to silly bookings. He has to keep it tight but at the same time careful about his tackles.

For me, he let the team down against Liverpool in the weekend. No matter how impressive he was but it can't be denied that his red card paved the way for Liverpool to take away their first victory over us in our home ground in over a decade. I don't doubt his commitment and heart, but his inexperience did us in on that fateful day. I hope he has learnt his lesson and he keeps his cool to do the job today.

Right then, here are the starting line ups:

Udinese(4-4-1-1): Samir Handanovic, Neuton, Danilo, Medhi Benatia, Joel Ekstrand, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Pablo Armero, Mauricio Isla, Giampiero Pinzi, Antonio Di Natale

Substitutes: Emanuele Belardi, Dusan Basta, Denis, Almen Abdi, Giovanni Pasquale, Thierry Doubai, Diego Fabbrini

Manager: Francesco Guidolin


Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Johan Djourou, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Song, Emmanuel Frimpong, Aaron Ramsey, Gervinho, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Ignasi Miquel, Armand Traore, Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh

Manager: Arsene Wenger

COME ON ARSENAL!!!

So, the big news today is Samir Nasri is in the starting line up. I would have been delighted if this were to happen a few months ago, but times change quickly and Nasri has shown his true colours. Regardless, he is still an Arsenal player and he is required to be on duty today. I hope he is at least professional enough to put in a decent performance.

Let's go to the team news straightaway.



Team news:

Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Carl Jenkinson, Emmanuel Frimpong, Aaron Ramsey, Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Miquel, Henri Lansbury, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ryo Miyaichi, Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh

Manager: Arsene Wenger


Liverpool(4-4-2): Pepe Reina, Martin Kelly, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Dirk Kuyt, Andy Carroll

Substitutes: Doni, Raul Meireles, Luis Suarez, Maxi Rodriguez, Jay Spearing, Martin Skrtel, Johnathan Flanagan

Manager: Kenny Daglish




Hope we escape with at least a draw today.

Arsenal vs Udinese Champions League Play Off Review

Match notes:

It was a good hard earned win over a dangerous Udinese side who would feel disappointed going back without an away goal. It was a very open and end to end game and much of the game was played at high tempo. Though Arsenal had more possession, Udinese created twice as many chances we did, and luckily our defence held stern despite some nervy moments.

We had a great start, scoring in the fourth minute but couldn't capitalize on it. Aaron Ramsey found space on the right and he crossed in the danger area for Walcott to finish in delightful style. It was also good to see Gervinho also making the run and he was just behind Walcott ready to take the opportunity in case Theo missed.

But apart from that, we created few chances and lacked creativity yet again. The first half was played at fast pace with both sides attacking each other. In the second half, Udinese gave us torrid time as we struggled to impose ourselves in midfield. For a period of time, we couldn't string three passes together and all our moves broke down at the halfway line as Udinese pressed aggressively. We regained a little composure but it was still far away from good.

We were also not helped on the injuries front as both Gibbs and his substitute Djourou came off with hamstring injuries. I just hope the injuries are not too serious, we're already on extremely thin ice regarding the squad size, and we simply cannot afford any more injuries.

The tie remains in balance, and I feel we will need that away goal in the return leg.

Tactics:

- Gervinho and Walcott switched wings often

- Udinese really pressed hard in 2nd half, meaning they had a high defensive line. But we couldn't capitalize on it and we should have made better use of Theo's pace using through balls or balls over the top.

- We needed someone to hold up the ball at the front, and Chamakh was really disappointing in this regard. We had to face wave after wave of Udinese attack and credit to the defence and the goalkeeper for getting the clean sheet.

- We still need to get the best out of the midfield, especially the Rosicky-Ramsey combo. Ramsey looked best when free of his defensive duties while Rosicky drifted in and out. But the duo were often not threatening enough, and when Song runs ahead and we lose possession, there is hardly any cover for the defence and Udinese had a field day exploiting that space. We lacked composure when we had the ball and kept giving away the ball too cheaply.

- We should either prevent Song from running forward or use Frimpong as a double pivot(with only one of Ramsey or Rosicky playing ahead of the defensive midfielders). But Frimpong needs his passing to improve if we are to use the second option. We are really missing Wilshere in the midfield as he can provide the balance the side needs.

- There was less sweeping done by Szczesny compared to the Newcastle game, possibly because we were on the backfoot most of the game

Player Performance:

-Szczesny: excellent game, Udinese had 12(5 on target) shots to arsenal's 6, and hid good shot stopping skills came handy.

-Gibbs: earned a foolish yellow card, just like in the weekend game against Newcastle. He needs to stop picking up needless bookings. Hope he recovers fast from the injury.

-Vermaelen: superb effort to divert the ball away from Di Natale, overall good defensive performance, not much luck going forward.

-Koscielny: clumsy at times, solid at other times, needs to be more consistent.

-Sagna: his crossing still leaves much to be desired, but good defensive work overall, but really should have stopped Armero when he made that run. Luckily, it didn't prove fatal for the team.

-Song: hard working shift, good defensive performance.

-Rosicky: not enough creativity

-Ramsey: anonymous again for most of the game, except for two goalscoring chances he created.

-Gervinho: a live wire on the field. He excites me whenever he has the ball at his feet.

-Walcott: good game(even though we didn't make full use of the space behind the Udinese defence), good goal, took his chance well.  Silly yellow card to get. Looked threatening and only a fantastic save by Handanovic denied him a double.

-Chamakh: a little better than his recent performances but overall disappointing, losing the ball too easily and failing to hold up the ball. Never really threatened to score.

Subs:

-Djourou: excellent last ditch effort to block Di Natale, unlucky to get injured, hope he recovers really soon(Squillaci is on standby you know!).

-Jenkinson: good, solid performance, great interception to deny a Udinese forward in the D box. Impressed by his calmness.

-Frimpong: gave away silly free kicks initially, got better as the game progressed.

Where we stand:

A good result, and an even more important clean sheet. Udinese showed what they can do, and we must be ready for a tough night in Udine. I think we really need to get the away goal to settle this tie.

With two more injuries in this game, we really need to make some signings quickly. Games are coming up thick and fast and we are in a worse shape than last year. I for one can't seem to remember the last time when we had such a thin squad. We still haven't adequately replaced those who have departed. We need reinforcements ASAP.

Next Up:

Liverpool at home.

Arsenal vs Udinese Champions League Play Off Preview

It's business time now and we have our most important game of the season so far. So what has happened since the last time we saw our boys on the field? Well, for starters, CESC FABREGAS HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY TRANSFERRED TO BARCE'LOAN'A. Also, Emmanuel Eboue has been sold to Galatassaray while Carlos Vela has been loaned out to Real Sociedad. There are so many things to say but I will touch upon the transfer activities in the near future in hopefully my next article.

Also, owing to the repercussions of that loss against Barca in the Champions League last season, we have Robin Van Persie and Samir Nasri(who I doubt would have played even if he had been fit) suspended for tonight's match. Futhermore, Arsene Wenger has also been given a touchline ban for the first leg. And Jack and Abou Diaby are still unfit to play.


This is a pivotal game for us and anything but a win over the two legs can prove disastrous for us. We are teetering at the edge and this match will be a test of our character. Any possible future signings will also most likely depend on the outcome of the tie. We have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Win the tie, and we can still possibly attract top talent to play for us and replace the gaping hole left by the departures of our former players. Lose the tie, and we're on a freefall, and I don't even want to think about that outcome.

From this match, I'm hoping for a clean sheet victory, preferably by a two goal margin. We need to take our chances today, and with lack of creativity that was all evident against Newcastle, we simply cannot afford to waste chances.

Team news:

Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Marouane Chamakh, Gervinho

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Frimpong, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner

Manager: Arsene Wenger


Udinese(3-5-2): Handanovic, Ekstrand, Benatia, Danilo, Neuton, Asamoah, Pinzi, Isla, Agyemang-Badu, Armero, Di Natale

Substitutes: Belardi, Pasquale, Abdi, Denis, Doubai, Fabbrini, Vydra

Manager: Francesco Guidolin




COME ON YOU REDS!

Newcastle vs Arsenal 2011-12 Review

After the events of last season in the corresponding fixture, this was quite a damp squib in comparison( I'm talking about the result of course, the game had its fair share of fiery events!). We finished the game with 10 men yet again and Newcastle should by all means have been reduced to 10 men themselves but for the incompetence of referee Peter Walton. A point away from home on the opening day is not so bad but considering we are up against Liverpool and Man United up next, it seems we might have quite a slow start to the season. And an unsettled squad is clearly not helping matters.

The Match

It was a cagey affair, with both sides lacking creativity in attack. The back five was solid defensively, and apart from a couple of lapses by the full backs, we were quite assured. Koscielny had a very good match at centre back and he was the pick of the defenders from the game. Szczesny had very little to do throughout the match in terms of shot stopping, otherwise he did the sweeping up job pretty well.

Up front, we lacked penetration and we found it difficult to create chances, or even half chances. The fact that Newcastle were also determined to try not to concede made life difficult for us when going forward. The midfield did okay defensively but we really lacked the spark. Ramsey was anonymous most of the time and Rosicky was not creating enough. Arshavin produced some good runs but failed to find Gervinho twice while he was in good positions. Particularly, the second of one -when we were 2 against one- should have given us the lead but he picked out the defender instead. Van Persie also failed to latch on to a delicious ball over the top from Arshavin and he had little by way of chances. Gervinho looked lively each time he had the ball.

Towards the end, late in injury time, we could have snatched all three points when Djourou broke out after we successfully defended a corner but he fluffed his pass and the chance was gone.

Tactics:

i) Arshavin and Gervinho were constantly switching wings.

ii) Alex Song played more of a lone defensive midfield role.

iii) Zonal marking could be seen from set pieces, and it worked quite well for this match.

iv) Szczesny did the sweeping up job behind the defenders, and he did it fairly well.

Talking point:

Joey Barton is a thug. How he managed to stay on the pitch after the fracas is quite astonishing. How is manhandling an opponent justifiable? When Gervinho fell in the penalty area after getting clipped by Tiote(which by the way, should have been a penalty), the referee waved play on and what business did Barton have in dragging Gervinho up by the shirt. In fairness, Barton was the one who provoked Gervinho's reaction and Joey Barton should have been sent off, and probably kept locked inside bars.

The referee Peter Walton was unbelievably incompetent and the actions he took after the incident was bewildering to say the least. How can one justify him consulting with his assistants AFTER he had given out the punishment to the players? Being an experienced referee, he should have consulted his assistants first as his back was turned when the incident happened, rather than listen to the melodramatic acting by Newcastle players. A rather familiar felling of injustice again resurfaced. If the same thing that Barton did was done by an Arsenal player, I can bet he would have been sent off.

Fair play to the commentators and even Alan Shearer for calling a spade a spade and pointing out that Joey Barton deserved to get sent off. On the other hand, espnstar's Steve McMahon was vociferously defending the thug for his thuggery and playacting. I wonder if his reaction would have been the same if the same thing had happened to his beloved Liverpool.

Where we stand:

Lost in the melodrama of the altercation and the red card that followed was the stamp by Alex Song on... you guessed it!...Joey Barton. It was a stupid thing to do and it is very likely that he will get a retrospective ban for 2 to 3 matches. And with Gervinho also out for the next 3 games, Wilshere, Diaby, Cesc and Nasri still unfit to play, we are down to the bare bones at the very start of the season.

I'm praying for a miracle now but it doesn't look like happening, with Arsene Wenger refusing media claims about Juan Mata and Jadson. If/When both Cesc and Nasri depart this summer, we are really thin in midfield and we really need some backup for the creative midfield position. If yesterday's match is the midfield we're going to settle for this season then we can forget winning the title and focus on gaining 4th place, which we'll also struggle to achieve on the basis of yesterday's flat performance.

Up next:

Udinese! It's going to be difficult and we need to make the home advantage count, whie making sure not to concede. Robin is suspended for this and I hope Chamakh comes with his shooting and acoring boots! I'm hoping for a much improved performance and another clean sheet, with the usual wish of no injuries(and after last night's game, no suspensions!).

Till then, take care.

Newcastle vs Arsenal 2011-12 Preview

Alright, here we go then! No matter how turbulent our preparations have been this summer, it is time now for us to start the season. Hopefully, by the end of the match we'll have taken 3 points with no injuries.

Also, this season, I'm going to try to change the match format a bit. This season, I'll try to focus more on the post match review, which is a new thing for me. I'll still try to throw in the pre match review but it I will try to keep it a little bit more compact so that I can give more attention to what actually transpired in the match in the post game review.

So, with that cleared away, let's get down to business.

Team news:

Newcastle(4-4-2): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Ryan Taylor; Joey Barton, Yohan Cabaye, Cheik Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez; Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba

Substitutes: Fraser Forster, Mike Williamson, Dan Gosling, Sammy Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan, Peter Lovenkrands, Leon Best

Manager: Alan Pardew


Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs, Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin, Gervinho, Robin Van Persie

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Frimpong, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh

Manager: Arsene Wenger

LET'S DO IT ARSENAL!

Unhappy Atmosphere, Unconvincing Performances, Unresolved Issues

And so a new season beckons. But this time there is not a lot to shout about for us Gooners. With pre season finishing yesterday in a whimper, we are still unsure of the future of our players.

Where do I start? Let's just try to jot down the situation we are facing right now:

1. Contracts: We are still unsure of the futures of our captain Cesc Fabregas and contract rebel Samir Nasri. With Cesc missing all our pre season games and Arsene stating he won't make it for the start of the season(if, and a BIG IF, he remains an Arsenal player this season), we will miss him for a tough August, with Newcastle, Udinese, Liverpool and Manchester United all waiting on the horizon. As for Nasri, I feel if we can get 20m for him, he can be shipped out PROVIDED we replace him with "super quality" quickly, which I doubt we can do.

2. Transfer market failings: Apart from signing Gervinho and Carl Jenkinson, and shipping out Clichy, Denilson and Jay Emmanuel Thomas, we have utterly flopped in the transfer market so far. I know we still have some 24 days to go till the transfer window closes but you have to wonder that having done precious little in the transfer market so far(it has been open for more than two months), what can we expect to happen in the coming 24 days. And being a Gooner, I remain skeptical if we're going to sign anyone now, let alone someone of "super quality". We have also failed to remove the deadwood in the squad. As of now, Almunia, Bendtner and Eboue have been in talks with other clubs but there is little sign to indicate any movement. And in the meantime, we have successfully botched up the deals regarding Ricky Alvarez, Juan Mata and Joel Campbell.

3. Unconvincing preseason performances: Okay, preseason is meant to build up fitness and the results shouldn't be taken too seriously but we have really lacked the spark in our performances. The same defensive issues are still there for all to see and exploit, and we are clearly lacking in depth in the central striker role and we desperately need a centre back. RVP, as good as he is, can't be counted to play every game for us and without him banging in those goals for us, I wonder who will step up. Chamakh has sorely disappointed in all the pre season games while Carlos Vela still doesn't look quite the part. And at the back Squillaci keeps making costly errors almost every time and I'm sure the Gooner community must be wincing every time he comes on the field. And this leads me to my next point.

4. Developing deadwood: Chamakh and Squillaci are becoming liabilities and confidence in them is at an all time low. Chamakh seems to have totally lost his shooting boots(never mind his scoring boots) and at this point of time, it is surprising that Bendtner is the one who is going to be shipped out and he is the one staying. And with the African Nations Cup to take place this January, it'll make more sense if he were shipped out and Bendtner is kept instead. And as for Squillaci, I don't need to elaborate any further.

5. Lack of depth in key areas: We desperately need a centre back, a defensive midfielder, a striker and one(or two) creative midfielder(s), in case either or both Cesc and Nasri leave(s). With Nasri in the last year of his contract and Man City reportedly offering 20m for him, it would be foolhardy to reject this offer as he can leave for free next summer. I'd rather sell him now and buy a "super quality" replacement than play him for one more year and lose out on 20m when he goes for free. The centre back and striker issues I've already touched upon, and the unresolved area that remains now is that of defensive midfield. With Song also slated to take part in the ACN, we can only hope that the differences between him and his national side continue so that he keeps playing for us. I know this sounds a wee bit selfish but if he does go on to play in the ACN, then we're left with rookie Frimpong for the defensive midfield role for a gruelling January.

6. Injuries: Yes, the dreaded I-word has popped up again. And which players are cursed with the I-word right now and are doubts for the season opener? The list goes:

                                 RVP (you just knew he would make the top of the list!)

                                 Fabregas

                                 Wilshere

                                 Walcott

                                 Koscielny

                                 Vermaelen

                                 Gibbs

                                 Diaby

                                 Nasri

And that is effectively the chunk of the first team that remain doubtful to make it. Miracles anyone?

7. Baying crowd: All this has had an effect on the Emirates faithful and the home games are turning out to be a nightmare for the team. Make one mistake and they will be roundly booed. There seems to be a poisonous environment in the Emirates nowadays. It seems the whole Gooner fraternity has been engulfed in all this negativity(hell! I've never sounded more negative in my blog posts!). One can only hope that a miracle happens and more new players arrive in the remaining 24 days. If you ask me, at his point of time, if anyone offers me 5 points out of Newcastle, Liverpool and Man United games, I'll take them hands down(provided we don't suffer any more injuries!).

I didn't mean the post to be this long. And I definitely did not mean to sound negative, but these are the facts and there is no use hiding from them. I dearly hope we make a few more quality additions to the squad and coupled with some good results at the start of the season, hope that my, and every Gooner's, confidence is restored.

Till then, take care!