Season Preview: 2009-10

Well, as regular readers might have noticed, I've taken a bit of a summer holiday this past month, so I didn't do any blog posts. However, I've been tweeting the entire time over at the Fab 4 Arsenal Twitter Page, so if you're not already following us, please go ahead and do so to get more regular updates and thoughts from myself and the blog. But anyway, that note aside, it's time to return to blogging with a season preview of the forthcoming campaign. I'll be looking first at each area of the squad, and then summing up our chances for the new season.

Defence

Defence was the area looked upon by many gooners at the close of last season as the part of our squad that we needed to reinforce. I did then and still do now disagree. Last season our defence was finally sorted out after the horrors of the first half of our season. We went so far in improving our defence in fact that we kept four 0-0 draws in a row. Is that bad defence? No; and it wasn't until 4 out of our 5 first-choice defenders were injured in April that our season fell apart. That signaled to me that, if we were not so terribly unlucky again, we'd be just fine with the players we had.

Over the summer we did lose Kolo Toure, but we gained three new defenders in Traore, Senderos, and Vermaelen. The first were returning players from loan who have subsequently had excellent pre-seasons, and the third player was, I believe, and improvement on Toure. Our ageing Ivorian had never been the same after the 2008 African Cup of Nations, and was looking to be in decline. We've replaced him with the captain of Ajax, a 22-year old centre-half who has a bright future ahead of him and looks hungry for success.

No, player-wise, defence is not a problem. And in fact I think if anything we've strengthened over the summer. So assuming we don't lose 4 or more of our "back 5" (counting the keeper), then I think we'll be just fine this season.

Midfield

Midfield is where, if we are to make a new signing, this is where it ought to be. Not in the attacking midfield - because with Fabregas, Rosicky, Nasri, Walcott, Wilshere, and even Arshavin we're just fine - but in defensive midfield. Denilson, Song, and Diaby (if he can be kept in a defensive role) can do the job adequately, but adequately may not be enough to win a trophy come the end of the season. I think we need a new player in DM to truly have the defensive balance Arsene Wenger seems to be looking for, but listening to the latest news surrounding the club, a signing looks unlikely.

So assuming we don't get a new one, then I believe it is Song who will have to do the job. See my last article for my argument in full concerning Alex Song, but I believe he can do the job if necessary. Perhaps with our new 4-3-3 formation we'll end up being just fine. Maybe, just maybe, we'll overwhelm our opponents with our attacking fluidity and not give them a chance to attack us. One can only hope.

Attack

Up in attack we're loaded with talent and ability. If there is one area of the team which is fully strong and capable of winning a Premier League title, it is our attack. Yes we lost Adebayor, but his height and aerial prowess can be matched by Bendtner should he fulfill his potential. Add to that we've got Van Persie to be our free-kick taker and highly creative striker, we've got Eduardo to do the Henry-type stuff, and Arshavin to do - well - the Arshavin-type stuff (there's no one quite like this man).

Scoring goals was not our problem last season, and I don't believe it'll be our problem this season. In fact, with the return of Eduardo and the acquisition of Arshavin, I believe we may just have the best strike force in the country this season.

Overall

So all in all I believe we will be the top-scoring team in the league this season. Combine that with an improved defense, and a midfield that can control a game, and I predict a great deal of success this season. Yes we will have our struggles, but our team has matured in the last year, they've grown and gotten better, and we have added to the team with some fantastic new and returning players.

There is great cause for optimism this season, and those gooners who are shouting doom and gloom should be ignored. Sure we're not perfect, but looking at the squad as a whole, how can one help but be anything except excited about our prospects next season. I look to the 2007-08 season as a model of how I believe this year will be. We had lost Henry & Ljungberg (this time it's Ade & Toure) and the press were writing us off, expecting the Spuds to take our place in 4th. And what did we do? We came out, took the league by storm, and with a bit more luck, would've won it. Let's shock them all again shall we? The season starts this Saturday, and I can't wait.

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Fab 4