Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 03 September 2011 12:42

Bloody typical isn't it? There we were all praying for the International week to ride in, like a Zat Knight in shining armour, it was supposed to take our pain away and let us mentally regroup. No, not the players but us, the fans. A torturous summer came to a head at that place where we were beaten by that score and Gunners around the world were about to find the nearest cliff and jump but then as we all wallowed in our collective misery, the board unlocked the safe that contained Arsene's golden cheque book and in came half a new team.

It is like the equivalent of being at a really dull party that contained only four geeky blokes and your best mate Phil. You leave to get the last train but Phil stays behind. When you are half way through your journey, Phil calls you on your mobile with loud music blaring in the background 'Hey, Mean Lean. Beyonce, Jessica Alba, Megan Fox and Kelly Brook have all turned up and they are dancing on tables and asking for you'

That is how much I want to see us play again. For some reason I believed that we didn't have many players away on International duty until I looked on .com. Arrgggh, all these faces staring back at me as I scrolled down the list. I really think that Arsenal injuries have left me mentally unstable. I bet other supporters look at their players on International duty and wish them good luck and then skip down the road whistling and getting on with life. While Arsenal fans sit naked in basements rocking back and forth, humming to yourself and praying that the injury demons do not take our players away again.

Anyway, you have to say it is a case of so far so good. Aaron Ramsey will have done his confidence no harm by captaining and scoring for the Welsh. With new signings Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun, the youngster will have to raise his game a little. He hasn't been able to step into Wilshere's shoes this season let alone Cesc's and it may take him some time to get to that level but you can see obvious glimpses of what he will become in a few years. An all action, skilful, goal scoring midfielder. It would be very surprising of he didn't fulfil that potential in time but right now he needs help and he needs time.

I was a little concerned that we would end up having Ramsey as the full time and permanent replacement for Fabregas. Which would have been wonderful for his personal development as it was for Alex Song post Flamini, but I believe the team would have suffered in during that time.

Now he can exchange passes with Arteta and Benayoun and come off with half hour to go or come on to rest legs instead of having to play 90 minutes every week. That along with the pressure of having to create chances  and score goals in big games.

Theo Walcott played a big part in England's win over Bulgaria. Clearly learning plenty from Alex Hleb, he was involved in two pre assists including one impressive drive in from the right into the middle and then slipped pass into Ashley Young. I take it Fabio Capello no longer wants to kill Theo when he comes in from the flank. That is nice I guess.

Speaking of Theo and positions, check out Squid Boy's piece on our number 14. A good insight into his desire to play as a striker and his current role.

Wasn't little Oxlade-Chamberlain impressive a couple of days ago? You can see why we have been fighting tooth and nail to get the youngster to Arsenal. There is another England regular on the way, Just give it time my friends, time.

We haven't been hitting the target of late and that has been a worry so far this season. If we are to have Internationals then firstly we want them back fit but goals are certainly a Brucey bonus.

New boy JY Park kicked it all off with a hat trick in South Korea's early game against Lebanon. His first was the typical poachers goal, sliding in the air (if that makes sense) to meet a cross. The kind of Theo cross come shot that is always begging to be tapped in but our strikers are standing outside the box yearning for some more build up play.

I want to get something off my chest for a second. I hate when commentators say 'A great whipped in cross into the box but the striker is at fault for not being in that area'

I agree that a striker needs to get into good positions in the box but it cannot be called a blinking good cross if there is no team mate in the box. We don't play the game blind folded. A great cross is when a player has the vision and ability to pick someone out. Ramsey's cross for Walcott in the home leg against Udinese was a great cross. A smashed ball across the box to Mr Back post is useless.

Anyway, back to Ju Young Park. His second was a great header at the back post, great because he had to be brave and committed and not just jump because he had to like Bergkamp used to. He leaped above his man and powered the header past the keeper. We do not see enough of that at Arsenal. Players with the commitment to be first to the ball, especially in offensive positions. It is partly why so many of our free kicks and corners are wasted. You have to wonder how many goals we are missing over the course of a season due to wasted set pieces both directly and indirectly. Hopefully with the signing of Mertesacker, Park and Arteta can readdress that balance again.

Sorry Mr Park, I keep veering off track. His third was a little like a Theo finish but I like the way he intelligently held his position before latching onto the pass, making sure he was onside. Adebayor could have watched that replay ten times and would have not seen it.

Park's drilled shot across the keeper hard and low was the kind of finish you want to see late in a game where the scores are level and not side footed into the keepers midriff. That makes me pull my hair out, well it would do if I didn't shave it off.

Park is certainly an unknown quantity and I have no idea what to expect from him. Will he be Eduardo (pre injury) or will he be Kaba Diawara (forever). As a former legend used to say, the truth will be on the pitch.

So a hat trick for Park ey? Not too shabby until Robin van the man Persie stepped forward and grabbed four. I only now wish that South Korea had played last Sunday instead so van Persie could have helped us out a little more.

I have to say, Robin I love thee immensely. What would we have done at the end of last season without his goals and performances. But his display at Old Trafford was shocking. Not just his footballing performance but his leadership just wasn't there. I am not picking on the guy, why the hell would I? But the way he hung his head was a little disappointing. I understand why he is captain, he has been here for so long, loves the club and everyone looks up to him but for actual leadership qualities I would have plumped for Vermaelen. Not that a band around your arm actually means that much. It is your character and how you put that across that really matters. I guess I am getting sucked into the English tradition again.

Anyway, I am certainly willing to erase that performance out of my memory if he can do that scoring goals thing that he does so well for the Arsenal.

You would think that the rather large surplus of cash left over this summer has to go back into some tasty big contracts for the likes of Robin, Tommy V and Theo. If we want to avoid the Nasri, Flamini and erm, Adebayor situations then we really need to make a change to our wage policy. We need to pay our top earners more and make sure our best players are not so easily whisked away.

We have an obvious wage structure and we are self sustaining but even if it means slashing our transfer fund by 50% (which isn't much I know) I think it would be better for the long term. I think we have many world class youngsters who have yet to reach that level but they will in time. Keeping these players together is more beneficial than bringing in new players and then selling three years later. Well that is my view anyway.

As the stadium debt is being paid down, it should be time we pushed Arsenal into the Manchester United bracket of wages. Although that may well have to wait until our commercial deals get renegotiated.

But I am fed up with Arsenal being seen as this middle of the road club that others think they can come along and nick our best players. It is time for the board to take Arsenal as the badge suggests. Forward.

And with that, I am going to head back into the basement and rock back and forth until our players arrive safely back home.

Back tomorrow

• Add New
• RSS

Comments (11)

• 03-Sep-2011 13:26 | | JimLeyland
  

  Good post! I was wondering: When are the commercial deals running out? How long do we have to wait for them to be renegotiated?

• 03-Sep-2011 13:47 | | Arsenal NoVision  - World Class Youngsters
  

  You are right we have had and continue to have world class youngsters but unfortunately when they grow up they are, with a few exceptions, distinctly average. We should not be surprised by this as Britain has had grand slam junior tennis champions and world junior 100m champions however can you remember the last senior 100m or grand slam winner !!
  The experiment has failed and Wenger just needs to be put out to grass as coach of our academy teams!!

• 03-Sep-2011 13:57 | | MeanLean
  

  Arsenal no Vision.. Haha that was so funny *sigh*

• 03-Sep-2011 14:13 | | Fastforward
  

  If Arsenal were successful the sponsors will come knocking. Until that happens, Arsenal will stiil have to play catch up.

• 03-Sep-2011 14:26 | | MeanLean
  

  I hear what you are saying and it is true but even without trophies, Arsenal are always an attractive proposition to sponsors. We are a big club who play attractive attacking football and you can see by the amount of games we get on Sky and the amount of press we get that we are a club who are highly sought after. But yes, a winning team is much more attractive than anything else

• 03-Sep-2011 14:57 | | MeanLean
  

  Hey Jim,
  
  I think it may well be 2013. If someone can correct me then please do

• 03-Sep-2011 15:13 | | GoonerEris  - Commercial/Sponsorsip deals
  

  Commercial deals are based on contractual agreements. Our Stadium and kit deals were long term deals which were good value for money in '03/'04, when they were penned.For instance, very few sponsors will offer as much as £80m (for 10 years) upfront for Stadium naming rights/kit deals. Most of our deals will be up for re-negotiation by 2014; by that time, we shall see if we can't get some juicier deals.

• 03-Sep-2011 15:52 | | Man United Killa  - from where I stand
  

  With reference to Squid Boys article, i strongly feel that Theo will easily make 20 goals if he plays through the middle.All he will need is a through ball to run unto.Another thing, the presence of Theo will further enhance our pressing game-defenders would rather stay with the speedster than push up thinking "crap what if he breaks the trap".
  Funny point you make about the cross..I agree and that has been my problem with Theo sometimes.He just does not have the makings of an accomplished winger but the potential to be an accomplished striker..YES..very much so.
  Speaking of our goal scoring form as a team,its nothing short of disappointing but mind you creative power has been missing from the side since day one this season.The presence of Arteta,Benayoung and Wilshere will mitigate this problem to a large extent.And finally,I almost forgot there was something called a free kick goal as I cant remember the last time we scored one--those also count as goals you know?so I am glad we have Park,Arteta and Santos in the side.I have on worry-looking at Santos' attacking abilities I am starting to worry that he might not be a good defender.I am not sure if we mistakenly signed a striker in our attempt to sign a defender.

• 03-Sep-2011 16:41 | | Anonymous
  

  If Arsenal could only sort the defense out, I believe this season could bring about a few upsets!
  
  The new lads appear to want success more than the former crop of players.

• 03-Sep-2011 23:53 | | Mohd
  

  Dein asks Arsenal to keep faith with Wenger.Well imagine the FM is a driver with a co driver.Now the driver has been making mistakes.Yes it is logical to trust thre driver but at the same time the co driver has every right to ask the former to stop the same mistakes and try something new.
  If the driver insisists his way is the only way,I am afarid he is heading into a crash. That my fellow gunner fans has been the way the last six years. No more errors will be tolerated.

• 04-Sep-2011 08:12 | | Omglol
  

  Fine post M.L. as aways. You forgot to cover Henri lansbury performance ;) 2 goals/ 2assits and he linked good with OX Chamberlain. Anyway i think if we are so detriment to get wage up, we could brake the contract we have up to 2014 and make far better that can justify the money payed for braking the old one. And love RVP free role, he played few times last year in that role and i loved it. Hope we see more of RVP behind striker, where he can express him sell, and often burst inside and score. Cant wait to see the boys playing again, hope. Wilshere is ready for next game.

Write comment

Your Details:

Name:

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Powered by Compojoom comment 4.1.7 stable