Well said sir! I do believe that our squad is more seasoned, as you say. I can’t wait.

Anyhow, Your blog is excellent and it’s great that it’s going “big-time.” (No David Bentley pun intended.) Although I only just found it, I’m already checking back during the morning for the latest post. I too am a west coaster, so the 7am–and sometimes 4:45(?!)–kickoff motif resonates well with me.

Also, I have to say, that while it’s only been a few years of Goonerhood for me, I’m totally into it and a big reason is AW. IMO, when you look at the structure (or lack thereof) in club football at the highest level, what Arsenal and AW are attempting to do is one of the most daring and revolutionary projects imaginable. Trying to figure out the long-term prospects (economics and football wise) amidst the day to day decisions the club and manager face seem extraordinarily challenging given that football is such a passionate and fortune (luck) driven game.

As for your above post and the season ahead, I think AW (and his scouting network) is out there but he would really prefer to stand pat. If experience is overrated (as it appears AW thinks) is team continuity also overrated? These are big questions and this season should provide some answers. Certainly the latest Galactico experiment will be interesting to follow, as will the big shake-ups at the selling teams (ManU and AC Milan). To think that we are attempting to compete with these clubs (and their larger strategies) is pretty wild, given the extremely contrary nature of our approach. Nonetheless, if we can keep our team intact, or replace like for like (perhaps with a slight upgrade, at least in attitude), I actually like our chances. This past season was a tough one, but I believe we have emerged with a deeper, more seasoned squad, ready to push on.

So, keep up the good work….I’ll be reading.

I’ve always beleived that Arsene is nobody’s fool contrary to what some fly-by-night, spoilt, Arsenal fans would want us to beleive. He has this habit of putting pressure on himself before anybody else does.

Before Arsene, I remember the ‘boring old Arsenal’; and ’1 – 0 to the Arsenal’ days. Then Arsene came and everything changed for ever. He basically spoilt us with the most titilating football that many have basically never seen before or had hitherto only dreamed of; with its attendant success in terms of silverware.

Suddenly we have a bigger new stadium and a younger core to our team. Yet, expectations keep rising. Arsene knew all along that the “Project” would take its toll; that there would be a price to pay. But he set himself a realistic time period and stuck to it.

Now is it! The time period elapses this new season. It is pay-up or pack-up time. He is basically telling himself, his staff (who have faithfully stood by him through it all) and most importantly, the players that it is time to pay the fans their dividends with either a QED or a AIW. In the case of the first, the base will be solidified. But in the case of the latter, the building shakes to its foundation; with a ‘time-for-reconstruction’ bell tolling. It will then be time for everyone to get a BFH.

He is, therefore, basically laying down to the boys a ‘perform-now-or-we-have-wasted-our-time’ warning. More than the fans give him credit for, he knows what he is doing.

Go Wenger! Give the boys a kick to the backside!!

QED = Quite Excellently Done
AIW = All Is Wasted
BFH = Bus Fare Home

Trying to get inside Wenger’s head is a task not for the fainthearted or those not wholly committed to The Arsenal. Perhaps it’s Wengers feeling, should we not win anything, that the “plan” is still correct, but the current squad is not the one he needs to bring it to fruition. Maybe he sees those 4 players (along with Theo and Bendtner), especially, as the youngsters who’ve really grown together and therefore would be the better foundation from which to launch a winning side in the mold he envisions. Among the current squad, Cesc came through the academy, along with Theo, Bendtner and Djourou did as well…but RvP, Shava, Gallas, Toure, Song, Clichy, Nasri and Ade were all brought in as already first teamers from other clubs. Perhaps he’s envisioning a side wholly “Arsenal grown” as the only way to bring that vision to completion.

When I read the entire interview, it left me feeling a little off. I know the translations are correct, but it seemed to me that it was an odd interview in several ways…very un-Wenger-like. Almost like a man who knows he has all the pieces and can see the foto on the box of what success looks like…but somehow no matter how hard he tries, his puzzle isn’t quite fitting all together properly.

This is a do or die season for Arsenal and Arsene as we know it. Failure to win either the CL or EPl will certainly result in a number of changes to players and/or staff.

I think the interview reinforces that Arsene is aware of the situation and so his final squad will reflect which alternative he opts for in achieving success, youth or experience. Seems to me he is still on the youth kick with the players we have been linked to.

Should be a very interesting season.