Written by Mean Lean on Friday, 09 September 2011 17:25

I can smell the hamburger stands along Gillespie Road, I can almost feel the excitement that lurks in the air on match day, I can almost hear the conversations about the squad coming from all around you (I do miss those Highbury days). Yes, the Arsenal are almost ready to play and I must say, I haven't been this excited about a game for sometime.

Arsene Wenger has reappeared on the official site for the first time in a little while, well since that game against that team. It seems as if remarkably, only Tomas Rosicky is the only doubt from those who travelled and played for their countries which is erm.. remarkable.

I don't know about you but I feel rather unsettled before a match until I know what team we are likely to field. Well the boss has settled my nerves somewhat by stating that Santos is not yet match fit not only that but Rosicky has a knock. I thought he would have had a good chance of playing as he only played in one of the International games and not the two that many other players had to, like Ramsey for example. Perhaps that has something to do with the knock he suffered, I do not know.

While Santos is an exciting and experienced option at full back, Kieran Gibbs who is now fit again has started the season very well (when fit of course) and based on appearances he doesn't really deserve to be dropped. It will be an interesting battle at left back but I am sure both players will get enough game time when they are both fit.

It seems almost guaranteed that JY Park will not be a surprise starter as our new forward is currently in Paris trying to obtain a work permit. He hasn't trained with the team yet and having to make the trek over from France and then start tomorrow after having played for his country may well be a stretch too far. At best he will find a place on the bench subject to his work permit. If he does then I hope he gets some type of run out.

Arsene speaking in his press conference responded to questions of panic buying at the end of the window. I am actually very surprised that this is still being given credence.

What serious manager would go out and start buying players based on one fixture regardless of the result and score line?.

Wenger had already hinted that players would be replaced once they left the club, he also said that transfer business either took place right at the beginning (Jenkinson, Gervinho, Campbell and Oxlade-Chamberlain) or right at the end. These two points have been conveniently ignored to fuel the Arsenal in crisis stories that have been thrusted in our faces.

Today was the first day at training for the new boys who were on International duty. You can picture it now. Arteta standing hands on hips rocking from side to side waiting to catch the eye of Yossi Benayoun and then a firm handshake and quick chit chat about the former Mersyside derby's until the uncomfortable silence and then back to stretches until Theo struts over and introduces himself.

It must be a very unusual feeling around the training ground right now. There some great pictures on the official site with all the boys in training. Would love to know who is impressing the most, who looks the most nervous and who is linking up with who. If I could come back as anything then it would have to be an Arsenal training cone. Perhaps not but would be great to be part of the training sessions. Instead of big brother, why can't they have a big Arsenal. Where camera's follow the Arsenal players 24/7. Surely that is the way forward in the sport.

Basically. I have written this blog because I am massively looking forward to watching the team play. I couldn't actually sleep the other night as formations spun around in my head with pictures of the players. My girlfriend is right when she says I am beyond obsessed.

Anyway, back tomorrow with some pre match stuff.

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Comments (19)

• 09-Sep-2011 17:52 | | Samira  - ^^
  

  I'm bloody excited too. Much will be revealed 2mrw.

• 09-Sep-2011 17:58 | | Anon
  

  Who have you been watching? Gibbs was garbage in pre season, Traore outshone him and Gibs was dire at the start of the season as well when Traore should have been played ahead of him.

• 09-Sep-2011 17:59 | | GunnerPete
  

  First mate you are not beyond obsessed..you are a true Gunner. There is a difference. All true Gunners have one priority in life..AFC. Like you I cannot even guess the starting line up but at least we have a squad of sorts.All I would say to the snides who loved our third teams drubbing at Manure is..just you gits wait. When we can pick from all our players our team will be awesome and better than we have had for 4 years or so. Dont mention Cesc and Nasri to me as both have played at less than 60% for two years and most of the times they were great was aginst the minnows. I forecast now that Gervihno, Jossi, Arteta, Oxlade Chamberlain and Jenkinson will be big stars this year......AFC to win 2-0.

• 09-Sep-2011 18:07 | | Vuja De  - Tabloid Broadcasters & Fleet Street...Not Fit For
  

  Arsene did more than just hint at new signings, before the game against Utd on Sunday 28th August had even taken place.
  
  On the Friday before that game, i.e. 26th August 2011, Arsene announced at his usual late morning media conference that he needed to buy three players before the window shut...a centre half, a midfielder, and a striker.
  
  Not only did our official website carry that announcement later on during that same day, but all of the media outlets that attended the same media conference carried the same news as well, in one form or another.
  
  At the same time, we know that news of our lining up both Santos & Park as potential signings also broke later on during that same Friday 26th August 2011, i.e. well before the Utd game.
  
  And yet all of this was conveniently forgotten by those media outlets who have a responsibility to bring us the news, as opposed to manufacturing it to suit their own particular narratives.

• 09-Sep-2011 18:33 | | bill  - anon - are you joking
  

  Good riddance to Traore. He has always been rubbish. Sure he had a bit of speed but he basically cant defend. Great to get shot of him, I say. Gibbs is the future.

• 09-Sep-2011 18:35 | | Tunde Imam  - Let them say!!
  

  Words i believed is a free gift from God... I dont care what any one from the media or haters says, our season starts for real tomorow!! We will do our talkings on the pitch.. Watch out for the new Arsenal... Talk is cheap!!! Let them say....

• 09-Sep-2011 18:43 | | Alireza Fayyazmanes  - support our Arsenal
  

  Tomorrow i am sure we will win and this will be a beginning to stop our misery, and i beleive our squad are ready to do this. i say again to all Arsenal fans , our duty is right now stay 100% behind our team and the manager. LONG LIVE ARSENAL

• 09-Sep-2011 18:55 | | Anonymous
  

  Its our high hope that our season starts 2moro with a convincing win.

• 09-Sep-2011 20:06 | | slugboy
  

  anyone a bit nervous about the new boys settling in?

• 09-Sep-2011 20:09 | | MeanLean
  

  I am for Mertesacker, Park and Santos. Not so for Arteta and Benayoun though.

• 09-Sep-2011 20:14 | | MeanLean
  

  Spot on

• 09-Sep-2011 20:33 | | Otunba fezzy  - Gud
  

  Infact,am hapi 2 I cant wait 2 see dem 2moro...1lov gunnerz

• 09-Sep-2011 20:33 | | Hightech  - U sound biassed
  

  Gibbs was useless in terms of defending since he's given the chance but traore never had that chance to shine.u are among those fa**rs dat overrate cahill simply bcos he's english.RU**ISH

• 09-Sep-2011 22:03 | | Man United Killer
  

  ....."What serious manager would go out and start buying players based on one fixture regardless of the result and score line?" good question..Answer: Wenger is not serious!

• 09-Sep-2011 22:08 | | Man United Killer
  

  @ Hightech...good point..Gibbs is rubbish..there is a lot of rave already about Wishere..about how he is going to be the England Maradona..no one ever mentions his hot headed demeanor..as long as he is English!

• 09-Sep-2011 23:13 | | turaya  - mr
  

  anyway lets all wait till tomoro before we start judging both the players and manager.is only tommoro game that will tell us whether we are still on d track or not..UP GuNneRsSSSsssssssssssssss....

• 10-Sep-2011 01:30 | | pika
  

  My girlfriend is right when she says I am beyond obsessed.
  
  
  its called addiction
  
  
  ."What serious manager would go out and start buying players based on one fixture regardless of the result and score line?" good question..Answer: Wenger is not serious!
  
  oh...and you are ? ... ha ha ha ......

• 10-Sep-2011 12:02 | | cyp gooner
  

  u can,t jugde new players after 1 game guys don,t expect wonders today

• 10-Sep-2011 13:29 | | Thorough  - Hmmmmmm
  

  Thanks Anon on the bit about Traore. I am of the same opinion. Traore has suffered from one major thing in his Arsenal career: never having the chance to play with the first eleven. He has always come in when the team was down to bare-bones, in which case his talent is not appreciated because what is lacking in the team at such moments are leaders, of which he is not one. I watched him in that Carling cup final some years back and I don't think he has gone bad all of a sudden. Remember Gallas said he has 'monstrous potentials' and I stand by that. Even Vermaelen looked terrible playing against Barcelona with Silvestre as partner and Denilson offering the pair a cover. Our incompleteness as a unit has really wrecked some players careers and I hope Traore's sale does not join up with the few bad sales we've made.

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