Big Huge Giant Season Preview, Part I

By: Martin | August 10th, 2009

So given that this week is the lead up to opening day on Saturday, travis and I decided we’d make this “season preview week” here at Arsenal Offside, and we would each give our answers to a couple big questions about the upcoming season each day this week. Today and tomorrow we’ll talk about the Premiership and Champions League generally, and then we’ll deal with Arsenal specifically Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

As you’ve probably noticed, comments on the site have gone way, way up (69 comments?!), which is awesome. I remember when I first came over to the Offside from my old site, the main reason I did it was the extra readership. I loved writing about Arsenal, and now finally people were going to read it! I wrote my first post right before the girlfriend and I went away for the weekend, where I didn’t have email access. When I got back, I couldn’t wait to go to the site and see all the wonderful, insightful things my legions of new readers had to say. I opened up Firefox, loaded the site, and found . . . 1 comment. Which characterized my writing as “idiotic, foolish and pretty much retarded.” Good stuff.

At any rate, I think since then that travis and I, along with all you regular readers, have turned this into one of the better places for Arsenal analysis and discussion out there, and one of the best club sites on The Offside. With your help, we definitely aim to keep it up this season. All of which was a very long-winded, roundabout way of saying that we’d love to see what you think about our answers, and how you yourself would answer these questions, so please feel free to post your thoughts in the comments below.

Without further ado, our thoughts on the 2009-2010 season:

Question 1: Will This Be the Season that the Big 4 Gets Broken Up?

Martin: No. Not yet. We’ll give final predictions tomorrow, but Manchester City still have some problems on the backline and in midfield that need to be addressed before they qualify for the Champions League. In fact, I’ve got Manchester City penciled in at 6th. I’ll say that I think Spurs have the talent to make a run at the top 4, and this season may present Harry Redknapp’s best chance to coach a top 4 squad. I think they’ll fall short in the end, but don’t be surprised if they’re hanging around 4th in March and April.

Travis: I vote no. Manchester City is the talk of the town, with the millions they’ve splashed to bring in five strikers. It’s hard for me to see Mark Hughes building a functional team unit out of them—and they are still weak at the back. Toure was hardly tearing it up last season, and I think his sale was a bit of a steal. Arsenal are surely the most vulnerable, at this point, though Liverpool hasn’t really made huge moves either.

Question 2: Who Will be the League’s Leading Goalscorer?

Martin: If Fernando Torres is healthy, he’ll score a bunch, but I’ll go ahead and take Wayne Rooney. With Tevez and Ronaldo gone, he’ll be playing up top as a true striker with goalscoring duties for the Mancs, and he’ll capitalize enough (20-25 times, I would guess) to finish tops in the league.

Travis: That’s an easy one—Fernando Torres. Contrary to Martin, I think that he’ll stay healthy and him and Gerrard will continue to torment opposing defenses. Watch out for Rooney as well, maybe even Michael Owen (note: meant as a joke).

Question 3: Which Newcomer Will Have the Biggest Impact on the Premiership?

Martin: Mainly because of tax issues and the pound’s decline relative to the Euro, there haven’t actually been that many high profile imports this summer. Aquilani will help Liverpool a lot if he stays healthy. Vermaelen could really solidify Arsenal’s backline. Lorik Cana could really add some steel to Sunderland’s game. But I have to go with Yuri Zhirkov. With Joe Cole on the left and Ca$hley at left back, it’s not entirely apparent where he will play, but a player of his quality will find his way into Ancelotti’s first team at Chelsea and make an instant impact. He’s really, really good.

Travis: As Martin said, this is a hard one. Outside of the players he’s named, are there any high-profile, big name moves? Not really. I’m going to go with Zhirkov and agree with Martin for two reasons: the first, I saw Zhirkov play well in person—he’s a talented wing player who will add a determined spark to Ancelotti’s first eam. The second is that I’m hard-pressed to name anyone else. Lorik Cana could be a good addition. Thomas Vermaelen needs to be healthy, as does Aquilani.

Part II Coming Tomorrow…

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Category: Arsenal News, Preview

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Gooner

as I was watching my" arsenal from 1997 till 2005" DVDs, I figured out that one of the most important things we are missing heart and loyalty.
yaniv

well d negativity is sad 2 c... i donno bout all of this... look at all d positives... every1 is slating d gaffer 4 loaning out merida when rosicky n nasri r injured... dude, jus think bout it... eitherways arshy woulda played, not those d2 d way thihgs r shaping up... but whod replace arshy???? im getting goosebumps writing this bcoz it could b jack wilshire or lansbury... WOW!!!!!!!!!!! song ll b our dm, n im really happy he can continue his development, but his cover could b jet oe frimpong... oh yeah... im not really worried bout d trophies, im jus so excited thinkin bout d possibility of filling d English squad with gunners.. may not b in tym 4 d world cup, but soon baby soon
MoMONEY

Huntelaar is great- i expect him to succeed at Milan. Dzeko would have been nice as well ...
tempest

melo would have been great huntelaar is over-ratted i had rather have pogrebnyak or bent-both available striker b4 i even think of huntelaar
MoMONEY

Shame we missed out on both Melo + Huntelaar. We tried for both according to Gilberto and Zidane but they chose Italy instead... Those additions would have solidified our squad greatly. Most important now is to add a player or two that are accustomed to the winning culture...
temptest

n i am still looking forward to wenger interview where he claimed that "most signing are signed in the last week"

the only transfer rumour i heard till now is the fucking barca candidate saying he will get fab without breaking the bank balance-i hope to visit barca n try out whatever that dope head gets-if monkey girl cristiana is worth 80m n "show me the money" tevez is worth 25m,fabregas talks shud be held no less than 40m
tempest

-breaking of top 4-
no n def not city IF and a big if everton dont get a repeat injury crisis of last year they may break into the top 4 at the expense of pool who by midseason would lose gerrard n torres atleast once n aquilani is the next in line of rosiscky n hargreaves(ie world class player with a brittle glass body)

top goal scorer
-rooney(man utd.) for sure though i think bendtner(arsenal),c.cole(west ham),jones(sunderland) and jo(everton)will net more than ppl will expect them from

newcomer with biggest impact
cert not zhirkov,malouda n cole are having hell of a time on the left side at chelsea under ancelloti,i see him getting divided playing time as he is confined to the left wing only
i would put my money on
-valencia(a true out n out winger)
-vermaelen-(finally arsene got a defender who can lead instead of throwing tantrum aka gallas or leaving his leadership at home aka toure)
-jo(if u count a re-loan as a signing)
-da silva(another steal from the transfer effecient bruce)
-luis jiminez(call me crazy but el mago has got great vision he doesnt score he can tassist but he opens up space for other with him on the side carlton cole shud look forward to get a good haul next year-oh yeah he plays like hleb-will make u shout ffs shoot )
Gigi

Would this be a sign? of signings?
World Cup winning former France International Christian Karembeu has left his role at Portsmouth to join Arsenal’s ever expanding scouting network.
http://youngguns.wordpress.com...
Alexinho

Aye, Homey isn't the only doom'n'gloom one, I think it's across the board.

I don't think the Big Four will be broken up. I think in a couple years, speaking of a "Big Four" will be like speaking of an aristocracy, recognized by name but faring worse than the "merchant class" of the EPL, Aston Villa, Everton, Man City, Tottenham? Arsenal is clearly struggling with its debt and the way out is to exceed expectations. The title should be the goal, but a top THREE finish is necessary.

Hard choices await Arsenal FC, a club that, like the housing market, was once so secure and reliable.
Gigi

I remind the reason why I won't miss Toure: the hands in the air on that "penalty" vs Liverpool on UCL semifinals. But I do think that a heavyweight DM was missing. I don't want to sound nostaligc but when old Pat was there we rarely saw any panic in defence, the def was so tight together because, in my opinion, the block from Pat and maybe Gilberto. I could be wrong but I still think a DM is a must.
But overall, I agree with most of what Weedonald wrote because mostly (still and hope not be wrong) trust Arsene
Homey

I think I'm more of the doom and gloom guy on here. But I just read how happy AW is with the team right now. None of us knows for sure what's the story behind the scenes with the money situation. But I have to believe that AW would at least be given the money from players sold, to re-invest in new players. If that's the case, and he continues to not buy anyone, then I do have to lay the blame on him. As I wrote before, I don't think Arsenal has slipped as much as the rest of the league is better. Chelsea and Man City in particular. A top 4 spot used to be quite easy, in retrospect. But that was during an era where English teams typically did very little in the Champions League. With other teams getting new cash and new players, we have to keep up. At some point there will be a loss of the top 4 spot, loss of CL money, and maybe a change in ownership or manager. The current path cannot continue, as far as I'm concerned.
Casimir

The back four is probably the weak link of the team here. The purchase strong experienced DMC would've been great, especially to use some of the money earned from the players sold - but who's really out there? I agree with Weedonald, with the exception of the goalkeeping. We'll be fine in that department, Almunia has served us well and Fabianski has the talent to fill in for him or be his eventual replacement, he just needs more playing time to develop consistency but they can't really loan him out at this point.

Injury free its a strong team, with a weak back in comparison to the rest of the outfield. If the attack matures and finishes well, things will work itself right.
weedonald

Well lads it would appear that Arsenal, when healthy AND strife-free (minus Adebuyout)can do it. But there are 2 big cavats here. One is our perennially leaky defensive 4 and the other is our lack of ruthlessness against the bottom half teams away from home. There is no real problem in midfield, albeit an additional experienced leader like Hangeland would be welcome (or even better Johan Gourchoff...keep dreaming. Arshavin adds spark and finishing there and it looks like our younger players are maturing in the midfield. I think our goalkeeping needs some more experienced support but our biggest handicap, season in and season out is injuries. We already are having the initial signs of another injury riddled season: Nasri,Rosicky, Vermaellen, Diaby etc. God help us if more key players drop out for weeks on end. How can we compete with a Chelski, Liverpool or ManU at full strength? One more trophyless season without Champions League football will be the final nail in the coffin!It is time we achieved what we have promised for 4 years!
Gooner

Thierry Zidane, that is not the problem here, i dont think the big four will change anyway or specifically arsenal will stay in the big four i think (hopefully). The thing is will we be title contenders? I dont think so.

I read a comment from someone (dont remember who it was) which I thought was a really good comment, he said, wenger said if your look at the goals scored of us and against us, you will see the in attack we are doing pretty good, but defense is where we need to improve. and I guess by saying improve, is getting new better players... well we didnt do that it is pretty much the same except we swapped toure (our best defender) for varmalaen ( which is good) but still.

i hope i am wrong and i am so desperate for the team to win the champions league. we are a big team yet we have not won it yet
harken203

I'd say Malouda has the edge over joe cole on the left just from the fact that he isn't consistently injured as the latter... but yes, zhirkov will be gunning for either spot on the left.
Thierry Zidane

Here's some food for thought:

With CR7 having left for Spain, have either of you considered that our place in the Big 4 could be far more secure than it was last season? Also, I definitely agree that Tottenham looks more dangerous than Man City, not because of any perceived weakness in the Manc's back 4, but because Harry has built a proper team, whilst Man City's spending has only succeeded in producing an 'unruly mob' a la Real Madrid.
Homey

If I may be so bold, I'll say that the Big 4 will be broken up this year. Everyone wants to bash Man City's backline, but as I said weeks ago, they're still not done yet. They'll still probably add someone else - maybe Lescott. Not sure. But by the time it's said and done, they'll have a great team. Not sure who falls out - us or Liverpool. And City still could finish at 5th or 6th. But if I were a betting man, I'd say they crack the top 4.
travis

You'll just have to stay tuned to find out.
Gooner

Thanks martin such of the EPL preview, Just have a question do you think we will get players this transfer window, and realistically apart from emotions and loving the team "Arsenal", do you think we will challenge for the premier league and the champions league