It’s deja vu all over again

By: travis | August 15th, 2008

Before the 2007/08 season, many critics/pundits were forecasting what would be a negative season for the Gunners. They were too young, too inexperienced – whatever the excuse, this would be the season that would see them fall out of the top four, perhaps only the top three and concede one spot on the table to Liverpool. As we all know, they started last year with a bang, and could have won the league if not for a meltdown that started against Birmingham, and a few knocks picked up in the second half of the season.

This year, it’s more of the same. After a bit of an exodus this summer, which saw Arsenal bid adieu to a few (Hleb, Flamini, Silva, Lehman to name a few) it seems like those calling the predictions forecast a fourth place prediction for Arsenal. Along with that, Wenger admitted that they are a selling club. We all saw how that played out last season, with the hot start they got out to, led by none other than Cesc Fabregas. And he’ll be the key again this season, with his passing and vision unlocking scoring chances for Emmanuel Adebayor (who looks like he is staying) and Robin Van Persie (please stay injury-free). But it looks like he’ll miss some time early on in the season, ruling out the possibility for a hot start. Personally, I’d rather see Arsenal get off to a much slower start and finish strong – atop the table.

Do they have the players to do that? It’s hard to say. No one seems to think they have a shot at anything higher than fourth, and I am sure that there are those out there who see their North London rivals, with their new stable of signings, as odds-on favorite to leapfrog Arsenal in the standings. While that might not happen, there is a staggering lack of depth, especially in the center of the midfield. It’ll be interesting to see what the likes of Denilson and new signings Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey are capable in the absence of Cesc. If there is one criticism, it seems like their is already an over reliance on the young man from Catalonia. There is another concern, something to be debated for another day that he may jump ship if he has to endure a fourth consecutive season devoid of trophies.

Unless something drastic changes, the kids will get another year in which to prove themselves. It’s hard to say that there is no pressure on Wenger either; he can’t afford another trophyless campaign. But does he have the right makeup? Here’s a quick look at what the squad looks like (minus the one signing that is supposed to take place before the second leg of the CL):

Starting off in goal, Manuel Almunia is the team’s number one. He’s a solid keeper, and the only flash he has is in his hairdo. I wouldn’t put him on the same level as Cech or Van Der Sar, but he’s proven himself last season, and with the young Polish backup Lukasz Fabianski constantly putting pressure on the number one spot, there should be little problem with the goalie situation. Perhaps Arsenal’s most stable position.

Defensively, two left and right backs are set. Barring any kind of injury, Gael Clichy and Bakary Sagna form what I think is the best duo in the Premier League. Both are solid in the back and provide great support up the wing in attack. Can’t complain about those two. Justin Hotye and Armand Traore are decent in support – although Hoyte’s days at Arsenal might be numbered. In the middle of defense, there is the skipper, William Gallas who needs to step up this season – and if he keeps groining in goals this season, he just might – as one of the oldest players on the team. Whoever his partner in defense is, either Philippe Senderos or Kolo Toure, they’ll need to solidify things quickly. Look for Alex Song to get some time as well, after he returns from Olympic duty.

The midfield could be the greatest worry. One more veteran player, to play the Flamini role is needed here. That can open things up for Cesc to move forward without being saddled with extra defensive duties. Out on the wings, if Nasri and Theo Walcott step into regular starting positions, I will feel better about the outside play. Two players, Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby cannot be relied on, simply because they are too injury prone. Who knows when Rosicky will be back, but when he returns, can he simply stay on the pitch? He provides quickness in the midfield, and a better eye for goal than Hleb, but his biggest contributions have come from the trainer’s table. I don’t know what to expect from Aaron Ramsey, other than the fact that he makes the average team age dip even more. Denilson has a lot to prove after missing a good deal of time last season, but he just seems like a Fabregas-lite. And Emmanuel Eboue comes off as just useless at times. Jack Wilshire is too young. I’ll leave it at that. This is definitely the part of the squad that could use at least one, if not two signings. Especially now that Cesc is out the first game, it’ll be interesting to see what can be put together.

Up front should be fine. If Robin Van Persie proves that he’s not made of glass, he should team well enough with Emmanuel Adebayor, who will be out to prove to fans that he’s not a sell out. Nicklas Bendtner is solid off the bench, while I have no clue about how good Carlos Vela will be. If Eduardo comes back as strong as he was before he had his leg snapped in two, that can mean nothing but goods things. As long as the goals keep going in, there should be little to complain about.

Can this squad compete for the Premier League title? I would like to think so. But it’s hard to be optimistic about a team that looks even greener around the gills than last year. The talent is there, but is there enough depth? Losing Cesc for an extended period of time would potentially kill the season. I refuse to make predictions, seeing as though I have no chance to be right. It is easy to see what our rivals have done to bolster their squad: Tottenham made a number of moves, Liverpool grabbed Robbie Keane, and United and Chelsea added a few players here and there. In the same way as past seasons, it’s going to have to be in Wenger we trust. But for how much longer will that be the case? Stay tuned to find out this season.