My Vision
Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 30 July 2011 10:22
As an Arsenal blogger, much of what I write about is based on what is happening around the club and what is being said on a day to day basis. You can imagine that at times, content is very limited and I have to delve head first into dustbins to find scraps to feed on but yesterday we were served a giant platter of juicy steak, roast potatoes and all the trimmings thanks to Arsene Wenger, Wojciech Szczesny and Thierry Henry. Unfortunately due to time restrictions, I will have to take a few bites and run.
Sticking the metaphors in a doggy bag for a moment, I found Wenger's comments on Cesc Fabregas very straight forward and very honest for pretty much the first time. This is obviously the year that Arsenal and Arsene intended to allow our captain to leave the club but as has been the case, Barcelona have told us that they are popping to the bank and will be back in a second. Hours later, they are not answering their mobiles and have not even sent us a text to let us know where they are. Rumours have it that they have even found time to stop off and pick up a Sanchez.
As ever, Arsene was very coy about his potential targets and given how teams like Tottenham and Manchester City like to set up camp outside of Arsene Wenger's home equipped with sandwiches and binoculars, so it is little wonder why we don't go all Mancini when it comes to targets.
Juan Mata and Phil Jagielka are names that have been on fans lips over the past few weeks and it was those two names that were brought up at the press conference from digging journo's. Wenger seemed more certain about Jagielka explaining that it is down to clubs to agree a deal before talking about a player where as when it came to Mata he said that liking a player doesn't mean that you want to buy. Make of that what you will.
Given the fact that we have not gained any cash from selling Cesc as yet and that we are not yet in the Champions League then it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to suggest that at least one of these factors will have to be met before we see the proverbial splashing of ze cash on big money players.
Like it or lump it Arsenal (not Arsene, but Arsenal) run the club as a business and that means not taking risks and making sure the money is in the bank before it is reinvested. Well at least, that is usually the way we have worked since I have known the club back in the George Graham days.
Whatever happens, we need an end to Cesc-gate, one way or the other (I'm gonna getcha...)
When it came to Monsieur Nasri, Wenger's tone seemed a little different to how it has been of late. He seemed far more confident about his attacker staying at the club.
Samir loves the Club. My wish is that Nasri stays. I’m convinced he is going to stay at Arsenal.
Who knows what has been going on behind closed doors, perhaps Nasri's stance is starting to change maybe Arsene has been working on Nasri with his swirling hypnotic eyes who knows. Perhaps Cesc Fabregas is key to so many things happening like Nasri playing in a role he prefers, Mata joining and the money being available to spend on overpriced players based on their nationality, who knows? If that is the case and Cesc really does not want to be here then I think someone should send out a search party for Barcelona to come correc and pay up the money for their so called lost son. If they don't want him then we should report Barcelona to the authorities. That'll learn em.
Anyhoo, here is some friendly advice because I love you 'all so much. If you find your knickers getting into somewhat of a Mata-esque twist then I suggest you untangle, take a step back and chill. Trust/Like/Hate our manager but obviously he will be trying to start the season with the best possible squad and our stress levels will not have any say into how we start the season so lets see how it unfolds without raising our blood pressure too much.
In real life news, Theo Walcott's injury is not as bad as first thought and he should be raring to go for the start of the season which like Frosties, it's great. Shame he isn't around today or tomorrow but hey, I can live with that.
Wojciech Szczesny has told us all to look out for the new set piece work. Interesting. I imagine the squad have all been paying close attention to Daniel Larusso or to younger readers Dre Parker and as soon as the ball is swung into our penalty box then the Arsenal players will produce top quality flying kicks but I guess that may result in a few penalties. That tactic could only really work if tried by Manchester United preferably at Old Trafford.
Jokes aside (regardless of how unfunny they are) I am intrigued to know what the squad have been working on. Shezzer hasn't been the only one to have spoken of our set piece work, Arshavin recently mentioned how the squad have been working on correcting it.
Hopefully whatever it is, it works and it is done well by both teams on Saturday and on Sunday. Whatever we see in the Emirates cup is usually what our plan is from the start to the finish of a season. Lets hope our pressing and set piece improvement makes a big difference to our defensive and attacking game.
Thierry Henry still knows how to woo Arsenal supporters. While the Arsenal is clearly in his heart, I reckon he knows just how to pull on the ol heart strings and... it works. I still love thee Henry. I watched that clip that is doing the rounds. A 14 minute video of all his Arsenal goals, wow. What a player. He spoke very highly of Gervinho and said that he would kill plenty of defenders this year, like I said earlier, that plan may only work for United at Old Trafford but hey, it might just work.
Henri Lansbury remains in Arsene Wenger's plans according to the manager after recent speculation suggested that his career may have come to an end at Arsenal. Wenger said he needed a chance and while I like his commitment I struggle to see how he will get games just yet in a congested midfield area where Song, Frimpong, Cesc (I know, I know), Nasri, Diaby, Ramsey, Wilshere and probably Rosicky are all ahead of him in the pecking order. Before people jump on my back for that, I like the lad and we need more players like him with the commitment and will to win that he has.
I am looking forward to the first Arsenal game today. There are a few things that I am looking out for.
1) Will Nasri play in the same team as Ramsey, if so will Nasri play in Cesc's role?
2) Will Wenger totally mix and match his two teams? or will he choose the team that is likely to start the season
3) Is it the end of Jenkinson's time alongside our first choice defence?
4) How will Gervinho work alongside Van Persie should they start together
5) Will Jack continue to have added attacking responsibility?
There are plenty more but I don't want to bore you senseless, if I haven't done so already.
If I was going to guess two teams for two different days then I would go with something like this..
Team A:
Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Song Wilshere
Nasri
Gervinho Van Persie Arshavin
Team B:
Fabianski
Jenkinson Squillaci Djourou Traore
Frimpong Rosicky
Ramsey
(Gervinho/Nasri/Arshavin reused and rotated) Chamakh Vela
I will probably be completely wrong but nothing will be new there then. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Cesc will not be playing because his head is backwards or something but you already knew that anyway.
Right, time to eat and wait till the Arsenal entertain me.
Back tomorrow.
Fancy writing your own articles for fellow Gooners to read? Click Your Vision section.
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30-Jul-2011 11:26 | | MeanLean
Lucky that you found out now. The good news is that you no longer need to come back ever again. Plenty more choice out there pal.
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30-Jul-2011 11:26 | | brese - beautiful!!
I always enjoy reading your posts buddy, but just one quick one on the team A defence, don't you think TV should be pushed to RB (replacing Gibbs) then bring JD to CB. they (JD & LK) seem to have quite an impressing combination together. but that's just my opinion.
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30-Jul-2011 11:31 | | MeanLean
I can see how that can work at certain parts of certain games but personally I don't see that being a long term solution. Not sure if Vermaelen is dynamic enough to play almost as a winger like Arsene likes to use his full backs. Certainly good option to see out games against long balls into the box but also Vermaelen is our leader and organiser, we need him in the middle to do that best IMO
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30-Jul-2011 11:44 | | Spectrum
Mean Lean - That telescope you look through..... I think you're looking down the wrong end.
" ******************"
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30-Jul-2011 11:48 | | 'holic
Nice work Mean. Enjoyed the effort you went to in order to put something out there.
See you tomorrow.
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30-Jul-2011 11:57 | | MeanLean
Funny that, I tend to think you look down the wrong side. its that whole differing view thing again. crazy isn't it?
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30-Jul-2011 12:04 | | Spectrum
Mean Lean - Yes it sure is. But then, I don't write a blog and have the cheek to call it Arsenal "Vision".
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30-Jul-2011 12:07 | | russell
jenkinson is injured and has to have op so he's out for 6 moths by all accounts, Got injured late in the own goal game
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30-Jul-2011 12:09 | | russell
Just looked on arsenal site and he's not lised as injured so must be paper bull again. he's quality an was quality all game apart from that bizarre own goal
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30-Jul-2011 12:12 | | MeanLean
Check the name of the blog "My" Vision. Self explanatory really. I also don't have the cheek to post a ridiculous catchphrase on as many blogs as possible
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30-Jul-2011 12:15 | | Goonerfish
Good read ML, as always.
I still think Nasri will sign within days of Cesc leaving (if he does).
The EC as always will give us a nice indication of how Wenger wants to start the season, it'll be a last chance to test combos. I expect Song-Jack-Nasri combo to get minutes under the belt over the weekend with a view to them being our first choice midfield.
I'm there tomorrow and can't wait!!
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30-Jul-2011 12:31 | | Spectrum
Russell - Oh no ! If that's true, looks like Arsene will have to implement Plan B. But wait ! He doesn' t have a Plan B.
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30-Jul-2011 12:36 | | Spectrum
Mean Lean - Play semantics if you want, but if it's "Your " Vision, I wouldn' t boast about it if I were you.
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30-Jul-2011 12:40 | | Gerry Lennon
Did I not read that there are only six subs for these two games? So team B will be redundant in that form? Perhaps a try without Arshavin - and just have a front two? Then swap Arshavin for Nasri at h/t?
Just a thought ...
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30-Jul-2011 12:44 | | Spectrum
The way things are going, " I believe " we won' t sign an EXPERIENCED "super, super quality " defender, but we'll rely on Bartley or maybe Miquel, instead. Fits with Wenger's philosophy. Anyway, there's apparently no defender out there " that is better than what we already have."
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30-Jul-2011 13:03 | | MeanLean
Not sure where I was supposed to have boasted but Speccy, I don't really care. There is not much you like about AFC, I get it but don't care too much. Shame for you.
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30-Jul-2011 13:40 | | azy46 - Why Support Arsenal?
Spectrum, why bother supporting Arsenal if you clearly hate everything about us? Call yourself a fan, your a joke. Good read, see you tomorrow.
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30-Jul-2011 13:49 | | feeno
Spectrum why dont you just go looking down the barrel of a shotgun, perhaps with a big toe on the trigger.
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30-Jul-2011 14:13 | | George - Vermaelen
How about Vermaelen playing as a holding midfielder instead of Song
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30-Jul-2011 17:23 | | gooner
russel, jenkinson played today against boca juniors..... you've probs got the wrong player, considering henderson has been ruled out for 6 months, it must be him who you're talking about?
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31-Jul-2011 01:31 | | john - Deluded W****r
“You never want to concede goals, but overall I do not give too much importance to that,” AW
Well there you have from The deluded professor. Need i say more.
I am so looking forward to the new season starting to finally get rid of this lunatic. we are a shambles, but it has to get worse before it gets better. Condemn me all you want you AKBs , but i see Arsene getting the sack before Christmas.

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31-Jul-2011 13:42 | | richie - Is it needed? YAASID again
Do we really have to suffer the above for a new season?
I'm so fed up stating that this blogger is a 5th columnist Spud!
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31-Jul-2011 14:13 | | richie - AKB & Proud (As long as he's our manager I'm loyal
Would you like to bet on whether AW will still be in charge come next May?
I'm sure he's not gonna retire! Unless the board know of an available manager that they think can improve on the present model then he'll still be our manager next year!
If your another Chelski wanna be then join them! They can change managers twice a season and they have a sugar daddy to buy them all the players you want, they are in London so not far for you to move.
Speaking of moving can't you move to a Chelski blog (Unless like spectrum your a spud in disguise) that way us Gooners can discuss
our team and football. You know the things that are important to us (football and our team) why come on this blog. Not to slag off Arsenal our players and our manager.
No one that isn't deluded could claim to be a Gooner and say they want things to get worse for the club before they can get better! Thats so obviously not the position any supporter (any Gooner) could take about their club, its clear where your loyalties lie!
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01-Aug-2011 03:00 | | Man United Killa - Still bothering
Spectrum, I see you are still here bothering showing some losers the way.Seriously, why do you bother?We have not even been able to hold leads in our pre season games.Coincidence? I think not!Same old problems.Different Day!
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