Wouldn’t it be nice for just one day to feel confident that your team is going into the big game this weekend with a strong squad following a busy summer of transfer activities. As we know, the Chief Executive Officer had promised:
“It is very clear we had some shortcomings and in this close season we are going to see some turnover of players. Some new signings will be coming in and some of our existing squad will be going out. As Arsène has said, it will be a busy close season for the club.”
It’s certainly been busy but not in the way you would like to see. So far we have seen the exits of Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Eboue, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and by tomorrow the likely departure of Samir Nasri. In addition to this, some first teamers from last year have gone out on season long loan with Carlos Vela and Denilson taking time out in warmer climates.
On top of this, the hard long season is already starting to take its toll on the playing staff with Wilshire, Rosicky, Djoruou, Gibbs, Traore, Diaby all carrying knocks and are unlikely to start on Saturday against Liverpool. Off these, maybe Rosicky could recover in time. This is now making both Gervinhos and Songs 3 game suspension even more critical that it may have appeared at the time.
So where does this leave the first team selection? Tricky! It could look something like this:
Defence:
Szczseny
Sagna – Koscienly – Vermaelen – Jenkinson
This was the back four that finished the game at Udinese on Tuesday and maybe Jenkinson is yet not adaptable enough to take the unfamiliar berth on the left. The only other formation I can see at the back is that Squillaci goes into the centre of defence which TV taking the left back position
Midfield:
Arshavin – Frimpong/Rosicky – Ramsey – ?Walcott
This does very much depend on whether Rosicky can shake off the knock that he received on Tuesday night. If not, then I can only see that Frimpong will start and play in Songs holding role but for someone who only made his Premiership debut as a replacement on Saturday against Newcastle this is asking a bit much. Another consideration would be for Walcott to drop deeper into a 4-4-2 formation leaving our options for……….
Attack:
?Walcott – RvP – Chamakh
On paper it looks like a weak First XI can be put together but things start to get shaky when you consider who might be on the bench:
Substitutes:
Fabianski – Squillaci/Jenkinson – Lansbury – Miyaichi – Oxlade-Chamberlain – Bendtner – A.N. OTHER
We actually only have 6 substitutes and with greatest respect to the youn lads in the team is a big-spending Liverpool and Manchester United the types of teams that you want to start cutting your cloth against? It’s also highly unlikely that 2 substitute goalkeepers will be named on the bench. This is highly embarrassing for a club that claims that it wants to challenge for the title this season. To have a squad that it so threadbare is really difficult to comprehend and needs to be addressed immediately following another season of hot air and postulating about potential targets that disappointingly never seem come to fruition.
We’re still awaiting for the super quality signing Arsene and on this form maybe two or three before the weekend would be helpful.
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In other news we heard on Friday that Arsenal have agreed terms with Deportivo Saprissa for the signing of Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell we still awaiting final confirmation of signature with the player. Earlier today, Joel was listed on the Arsenal.com First Team drop down list but this seems to have disappeared. Apparently, he has desires on the number 12 shirt which is certainly free at the moment and it will certainly be good to see Campbell on the back of an Arsenal shirt once more. However, fans should still be cautious about Campbell’s ability to adapt to the Premiership considering he age and experience. Even the boss went as far to say in last nights programme notes:
“Joel is a young prospect, he has talent and he can play right, left or centrally,”
“We took a gamble on him but, from what we have seen, it is worth taking.”
Interesting note for fact facts: There has now been a Campbell in an Arsenal shirt in the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and now the 10’s.
With tomorrow being another day of not escaping the Arsenal merry-go-round that will included more transfer confirmation, speculations and likely frustrations it’s all becoming a little bit tedious. It’s just the beginning and is unlikely to slow down until the close of the transfer window at the end of the month. Maybe then, we can really have a look at the squad Arsene will have in order to mount a challenge for the league title.
Let’s just hope we’re still in the running!
GG
GloryGunner: Thoughts on THE Arsenal 