Right On Track.

First and foremost, I tend my sincere apologies (to every gunner fan at heart) for taking an absurd hiatus from blogging and keeping this movement (or so I seem to have proclaimed then) alive. But I assure you, the spirit is very much alive and the hope is growing amidst gooners all over the world with every game gone by. Certainly, we are in a very well poised position in the league as yet for my prediction of a return to the top of the table come January, 2010. 

I begin with a brief, but much needed review of certain key figures who have been quintessential for the club in the season so far.

Arsene Wenger. The master, the wizard, the face of Arsenal football, the talisman. For a moment, just think of what this man has brought and continues to bring to Arsenal football. His eye for talent, his tactically superiority, experience, composure, patience and belief in himself represent to me, what this season has been so far. But for his repeated use of Abou Diaby in the centre of midfield, I can disagree with absolutely no other decision he has made this season. Right from what I think is his best signing in years (Thomas Vermalean), he has got everything right; from team selection to his statements in the press, he has shown an almost clairvoyant belief in the team. Kudos to him, In Arsene we trust forever. I wish to refrain from comment on whether he should be offered a role on the Board of Directors once he feels his time on the front rungs are over, but that supposed 'lifetime' contract should duly be negotiated and signed.

Cesc Fabregas. I think the time has come now to dismiss of the fact that Cesc is 21 years old. One has to remember that despite the fact, he has over 300 games under his belt and by no means is experience at issue for Fabregas even at the highest level. His vision, passing, touch and close control have attained an audacious degree of perfection, just as his signature lackadaisical style of play is proving to be his trump card (especially in the recent North London derby where his sharp run from the half way line on the 44th minute took the defense completely by surprise). Despite him having captained Arsenal for only just over a season now, I will dare to call him one of the best skippers the club has seen in recent times. His composure and body language at all times have been of the highest order, just as has been his concentration, tremendous work rate and an infallible will to win. With more assists than any other in the league (9 in 10 games), Cesc Fabregas for me has been the thrusting force of this run to the summit. 

RVP. Initials that make any European defense tremble today, Arsenal's top scorer has been nothing short of spectacular (especially in the last few weeks). Having started off slightly choppy and inconsistent, his commitment and work rate were evidently much higher this season in the weeks to come. Van Persie was one of those concerns that I had pre-season, and in my earlier post I stressed on the need for him to become far more consistent and the problem was nowhere else but in the confidence levels he had. Goals have seemed to have taken care of that. As Wenger himself has said, he's something between Henry and Bergkamp when it comes to style. I can't agree more with that; his form and goal scoring touch will prove very essential in the coming weeks.

Thomas Vermalean. The flying rock. By far the most proficient centre-back Arsenal have had in years (Martin Keown was the last flying rock that I can think of), he's been among the best defenders in Europe so far. A naturally goal-scoring defender, his tackles are decisive and crisp. He's calm, composed and very good at putting in those last ditch tackles. He also seems to have developed a very workable relationship with the rest of the Arsenal back four, something which we often lacked in the last couple of seasons. One of the best players of the season so far for me.

Alex Song. A revelation of sorts this season; he's finally out of the closet. I voiced concerns at the start of the season about the lack of a decisive holding man in midfield and the possible need for Wenger to look to the transfer market for personnel in the area, but like most other times, Wenger's belief in his players has paid off. Alex Song has been superb. His game seems to have grown by several notches; its not just his passing thats improved, its more like he has learnt to accomodate himself into the Gunners' midfield better this season. He is another player in the centre of midfield alongside Cesc, who's form will be very crucial. 

William Gallas, Nicklaus Bendtner and Manual Almunia round up my list of very deserving players so far this season for me. All three have put in solid performances consistently (Almunia seems to have slipped into the groove very smoothly after his injury). Gallas seems to have found his goal scoring touch again and he has poked in a few very important goals already this season. Bendtner seems to be developing into a more diverse player, perhaps on the lines of Marc Overmars. His recent injury looks like a month's absence and this is a slight concern as that means a very in-form player being lost, but this should only mean very good news for Samir Nasri and Thomas Rosicky, both returning from long term injuries and rearing to go. 

November will prove to be yet another crucial month for Arsenal. A perfect test given the team's position as of now; they play AZ Alkamaar (UCL), Wolverhampton, Sunderland, Standard Liege (UCL) & finally, the big big one - Chelsea. Four teams which they have to kill off, and I think they have acquired that ruthlessness now. I wish to refrain from comment on the Chelsea game for now, a couple of weeks into this month should give us a better insight into the possible outcomes of that game.

Big Money Transfers and Arsenal F.C

In light of the absurdly heavy activity taking place in the world football transfer market, with over 130 million pounds being lashed out by Real Madrid for the siginings of Kaka and Christiano Ronaldo alone, I find it of utmost neccessity to defend Wenger's transfer policy.
To begin with, the sort of players that Wenger generally buys (and has bought). Certainly, Arsene Wenger has seldom bought a star player to his club. Insanely proficient and talented yes, but nevertheless not a star. At Arsenal F.C, we make these players shine. Thierry Henry, Nicholas Anelka, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Marc Overmas, Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas, Methieu Flamini, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure...the list is endless. And even if you were to add up the transfer fees at which all of these players were bought, it would not add up to the 130 million pounds that Madrid have coolly thrown away. Firstly, we do not have the resources for such lavish displays. And secondly, it would be inhrerntly against the very pholosophy of football that Wenger advocates, were he to spend on players such as Ronaldo, at such exhorbitant prices.

Manchester City, having already have purchased the services of longtime Arsenal target Gareth Barry, have come out and announced their plan of buying a total of six players this window. I read a few posts on a TeamTalk forum where gunner fans were expressing some concerns as to Arsenal not having been linked with the transfer of any top player as yet. Wenger has never let his transfer market activities reach rumours-ville until the very end, and it has happened many a times that the press hears of the transfer just at the time of it. Besides, Arsenal do not require such a large number of players, and I repeat and maintain that a top class holding man in the centre of mid-field is all that Arsenal need. With Gareth Barry out of the picture as a potential target, a new prospect is a far more exciting proposition.

Season 2008-09.

Hello everyone, welcome to what is the very first communication from what I hope will be, a rapturous movement among gooners the world over, in a bid to back Arsene Wenger's Arsenal Football Club (of 2009-10) to reach the summit of the Barclays Premier League come the New Year of 2010. I am certainly not here to review the season gone by in terms of landmark games, goals, statistics of any sort I might say, but for certain very key details which I believe had, and continues to have a lasting impact on the team's performance.

To begin with, Wenger's footbaling philosophy and choice of personnel. Both of which, I believe are (quite obviously so) keenly connected. Since his last all conquering side, the Untouchables of 2003-04, Wenger, as is quite evident now, has pursued ardently the policy of growing and nurturing his talismans. And to a certain extent, the Untouchables too were a product of this strategy. Thierry Henry, arguably one of the best strikers to have played in the Barclays Premier League is a fine example of Wenger's scouting and coaching abilities. Patrick Vieira, Nicholas Anelka, Ashley Cole, Jermaine Pennant, David Bentley to name a few others.
The current side, after four full seasons, is yet to prove a point in terms of winnings and trophies, and rightfully so, the fans do have a very valid point to grieve about. But what I think the fans do not have a right to grieve about is Arsenal's near future, the very next season, under Wenger's command. In the last three seasons, Arsenal's full strength starting XI has seldom started. Under a mere 45 games in three full seasons. You could at some level put such a large number of injuries consistently to Arsenal's playing style, but one has to concede this largely to misfortune. And mind you, Arsenal's present starting XI of choice (Almunia, Clichy, Gallas, Toure, Sagna, Nasri, Arshavin, Fabregas, Walcott, Adebayor, Eduardo/V.Persie) still stands to be one of the most capable footballing outfits by any standard in the world over. But nevertheless, there are aberrations, or rather miscalculations if I might say on wenger's part here to a certain extent.

Robin Van Persie, who I personally believed capable of consistently producing a 30 goal output per season has been largely disappointing in the last couple of seasons. Injury ridden, temperamental, inconsistent, and a general lack of zen in his playing style. Furthermore, it fails my memory as to when he last scored in an all important game.

William Gallas. Has been in and out, largely out though. Out through injury, out through lack of performance, and out of form. The whole birmingham game episode I believe has certainly worn off and can no longer be used an excuse. William Gallas is a premier league, F.A Cup, Euro and World Cup winner and his leadership, consistency and performances in the last two seasons have been below average to the standards he was capable of setting at Chelsea.

Abou Diaby. Unarguably, in my view, the worst of the under performers last season. He never caught on, lacked fitness for most of the season, and gave the ball away on an alarmingly consistent basis. He semeed promising in the last season at Highbury but has been seriously out of touch ever since he returned from his long term injury. A case of misfortune one can say perhaps, but Wenger's continued belief in him by playing him as a substitute on a regular basis and even as a starter over Denilson has baffled me I must say. On this, I can only hope, that Arsene knows.

Emmanuel Eboue. I will be slightly less critical of him, he really has received his share I must say. He seemed to bounce back for a few games right after the booing episode, but his form slumped again. His trademark 'slash-shot' as I call it remains one of the most embarrasing of Arsenal player moves in recent times.

Coming to Wenger's transfer policy. Wenger has bought. Enough to win the premier league title and the champions league I believe. Andrei Arshavin and Samir Nasri have been two very fruitful signings, alongside Eduardo. But a string of injuries, suspensions and bad timing with regard to top player form has hit arsenal terribly. When was the last time Rosicky, Fabregas, Nasri and Arshavin play together? Never. Or even Walcott and Rosicky? Arsenal's potential, injury free starting XI is still a formidable force to reckon with. However, I fully second any opinion that Arsenal need a top ranking holding man in midfield. I dare not name any players for I am a blind believer in Wenger's supreme scounting network.

Coming to the issue of Arsenal F.C being the nurturing ground for top class players, who eventually leave the club in search of tangible glory, yes; perhaps this is a minor concern. Mathieu Flamini has been the only clear cut example of such an incident. David Bentley and Jermaine Pennant left at a time when their services were largely overshadowed by the legends of the previous arsenal reign. True, the Flamini episode did hurt, badly. But I do believe you can pass this off as a one off incident. This arsenal outfit, despite being depraved of silverware, will stick till the end. We have genuine reasons to believe that the end of the drought is near. Lastly, I shall dwell upon the talismans. The era of Thierry Henry being Arsenal's talisman and hero was short lived, though increasingly pleasuring to the eye. This new Arsenal outfit is heralded by the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Van Persie & the man who I believe will change Arsenal's fortunes the coming season - Andrei Arshavin. There are precious few today in the football world who seem to contain this deadly cocktail of technical prowess, sheer speed, flawless dribbling and a mind thats far ahead of the game at his feet. Judging by his performances for Arsenal last season and those at Zenith, Andrei Arshavin is one man who is truly capable of holding any game by its scruff. With a midfield of Arshavin, Fabregas, Nasri & Rosicky; things do look promising. With Cesc Fabregas recently pledging his loyalty to the gunners, it is imperative at this point that Fabregas wins silverware. The same goes for the likes of Adebayor, Van Persie, who are all world class players in their position, deprived of materialistic glory.

I shall end this long first post here, hoping that I have wooed the gunner spirits in you just enough to believe and fuel this notion. Discussions, debates and anything gunner is heartily welcome.
Gunner for life.