Written by podge b on Saturday, 09 July 2011 07:28

We have a philosophy at Arsenal that young players are developed here and given a chance it's not perfect and sometimes new signings are needed to supplement the youth. Every season at Arsenal one of our squad steps it up a gear and simply reaches a different level in recent seasons Song,Vermealen and just last season both Nasri and Wilshere did it. There will be at least one next season but who will it be? A number of factors are involved most importantly close season and pre season work followed by playing time and luck we cant forget luck. Nasri was already a starter last season so his playing time was expected, he put in serious work last summer to improve himself and it paid off as he enjoyed a great end to 2010. Jack Wilshere fresh from his loan spell at Bolton took his opportunity when Diaby was injured and Denilson was being Denilson to become first choice.There are many players in our squad that might step up hopefully they all will and we will pack the trophy room next May. Maybe this time it isn't just about becoming better footballers we need more leaders in this squad.

Gael Clichy is gone and while a good player he offered no more than an extra passing option to keep possesion when attacking and made frequent mistakes at the back most of which cost us points. There might be a new signing or Arsene may promote Gibbs to first choice. Many fans don't think Gibbs is ready and that's fair enough he hasn't yet shown if he is but we know he is a great athlete; 90min stamina recovery pace and deceptively strong for his frame.He can cross much better than Clichy and can gets more involved in attacks, if Gibbs improves his defending by our first game August 13th I think? then he should be an improvment on Clichy, he will need to stay relatively injury free of course which isn't a guarentee.

I wanted to put Bartley here but I feel even if he stays in the first team squad he will 4th or 5th choice at centre back he wont start enough to have a huge impact. Koscielney had a lot of bad moments last year got sent off a few times gave away a few penalties many think he simply isn't up to it however the performance against Barca was amazing he showed his tackling ability and how well he reads the game. He has a big future and with a full season at Arsenal under his belt he will hopefully have improved his faults which which he seemed to be doing throughout the season as his lapses were fewer, he became accustomed to the pace of the english game and he was physically stronger. He showed promise last season and has a long way to go before he reaches the top but he could make huge strides next season.Wont be first choice but will play a lot of games and will be crucial to how well Arsenal do next season.

This is the one I am most optimistic about the one which was meant to happen last season. Jack Wilshere is now a standout performer in our midfield he is important to our system now and it is his second season so by the Law of Arsenal he will suffer a long term injury in Aug/Sept/Oct. Wilshere offers technical ability, vision, bite and drive in midfield but a physical presence he is not. The team lacks height and strength which is often exposed against the likes of Stoke and Blackburn, Abou Diaby is a terrific athlete with bags of skill but he is very inconsistent even within the same game. He could be the perfect partner for Song if he steps up, we have seen Diaby make crunching tackles pick the ball up go past a couple of players and play a great ball,make powerful off the ball runs into the box and finish but we haven't seen it often enough. He has had his injury problems and that needs to improve as a consistent run of games could lead to a consistent run of performances. We have an excellent holding midfielder in Song an exceptional playmaker in Fabregas we need a top class box to box to complete the set. So many crosses just flew across the box last season now imagine Diaby bursting into the box to get his head on those crosses. Diaby is now 25 he isn't that young anymore he should be entering his prime Wilshere should be his back up not the other way around It's time for Diaby to grow a pair,kick some ass and make us stop pining for Vieira because this is most likely his last chance.

I haven't bought into the crisis talk I still think this current squad is just a COUPLE of signings away from being a great team if the above players step up. Our midfield with Diaby could be better defensively as Song wont have to make driving runs up the pitch as Diaby will be doing that and if he does Diaby can slot into his position This will also cover for Gibbs defensive frailties as Diaby has played on the left and can defend.Fabregas feints a pass to Nasri coming in from the right then turns and lasy it off to Diaby who is driving into the box will hopefully be a regular sight next season.

GK:Fabianski/Szczesny

RB:Sagna

LB:Gibbs

CB:Djourou & Vermealen

CM:Song & Diaby

CAM:Fabregas

RF:Nasri

LF:Gervinho

CF:Van Persie

That's a balanced first XI that with the right tactics is defensively strong and offensively devastating,isn't vulnerable to dirty teams,is tall...ish and doesn't sacrifice the qualities that make Arsenal one of the best teams in the world and the second most entertaining. And now I wait to be called a fool for having the cheek to put some faith in the players and club I support.

Mean Lean's Response

The great thing about having a young squad is that you can expect those who get regular playing time to keep on improving. While some do not give a monkey's about that side of the game, I genuinely get excited at the prospect of our talented players getting stronger and showing a new side to their game every season until they hit peak, obviously this is not always the case, some players stagnate, some suffer bad injuries and never get back to their best but more often than not, a young player will be on an upward curve.

Wenger seems to have put all his faith in Kieran Gibbs at the moment and it is quite easy to write him off as not ready just yet. In some ways I tend to agree but I am sure he can get to a very good level very soon. He comes across very well when being interviewed and is a local lad. If we can mould a group of talented local kids, all with the technical ability required to play for the team, then that would be great for the future and give us a solid foundation to continue building and improving.

I think you hit the nail on the head when talking about Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby. If, and it is obviously a big if, Diaby was fit from the beginning of last season and had taken part in a full pre season then Jack Wilshere wouldn't have been the player we see today. He is that Jack Wilshere because he has been allowed to grow into his role. Wilshere is one of my favourite Arsenal players at the moment because of the fight and commitment he gives to the team but physically you can see the glaring gap when we come up against physical teams.Set pieces have been our undoing on many occasions last season and I wonder if the percentages would have gone in our favour a little more had Diaby contributed to more games.

Abou Diaby is very much judged on the player we see ambling about the pitch, lacking fitness, lacking games. Giving away possession and holding onto the ball for too long. That image is imprinted in fans minds without a second thought about the lack of games he has had. If the argument is that he is never fit then that is a valid argument but to say that he is not good enough is personally unfair.

Not last season but the season before, he managed a run of games without injury. He partnered Alex Song and had dropped a little deeper to support his defensive team mate. Perhaps that was Arsene's first tweaks from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1. Diaby was wonderful during that period. Strong in the tackle, drove forward when needed and won balls in the air. It was during the time when we demolished Porto at the Emirates.

He, like Kieran Gibbs need to win their battles with injury. Once they do that then they can be one of the best in their position, not only in the Premier League but in Europe.

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Comments (20)

• 11-Jul-2011 18:48 | | .....  - ..........
  

  even without the trophies i'm still content to be an arsenal fan. It's been an interesting journey. Arsen is an inovator and unique mind whos given the globe so much, to abandon him now is bull shit. I admit the experiment with this current team hasn't gone as planned but there you go, it's been fascinating to watch many young players rise up the ranks and lets not forget we had some amazing underdog victorys last year
  
  chelsea 3-0
  barca 2-1
  man united, cant remember the score but we won
  
  anyway, is it not clear that we're getting closer. As far as letting are best players leave lets list the big ones
  
  kolo toure
  adebyor
  henry
  viera
  flamini
  
  is it just me or did most of these players do very poorly when they left arsenal. When arsen sells someone its often for the best. He's doing his best to keep nasri and fab, and to be honest I don't think they're going anywhere.
  
  Last season deph at the back was a huge problem, but this season we've got vermalin back and arsen is planning on investing on a fourth cb, also dejourou and kocielny have been improving at a crazy rate and are becoming quite a force
  
  in midfield, we're doing quite well with creativity and also surprisingly in the defensive areas of midfield, with song having a brilliant season, wilshere proving himself at cdm. We lack a finisher and need someone to take the goals burden off v.p. Hence the signing of gervinho. However I will admit we need a couragous gutsy leader who loves a tackle and can drive the team forword, this is our biggest problem and I don't think cesc is a captain
  
  However apart from that it looks to me arsen knows exactly what he's doing, and has conceded publicly that some big changes are needed to move forword, he is the man to make those changes, have faith. And lets not forget the transfer market is far from closed, I think we'll have far more players brought into the club for next season, and hopefully get rid of a few who aren't pulling their weight. The team is nearly, and also if don't be so naive to think you know the answers and that arsen has no clue what he's doing, believe me if you'v thought of he's also thought of it. That is, if its a good idea of course
  
  
  p.s sorry about shit spelling, never a good area for me

• 11-Jul-2011 19:12 | | colesy
  

  Here we go again! Firstly Wenger spouting rubbish that we're only one or two players from being contenders (sorry but aren't we always one or two players short?). Now today he's suggesting he'll keep both Nasri and Fabregas at the club next season (season tickets sales faltering anyone?). Now this rubbish suggesting both Gibbs and Diaby could help rescue the fortunes of AFC- come on! Diaby is shit - full stop. Oh, and he gets injured a lot. Gibbs just cant manage more than 3 games in a row. We are in serious trouble if we have to rely on these two to solve all our problems.

• 11-Jul-2011 19:27 | | torontogooner
  

  I think when cesc goes, arsene needs to take the money and demand mascherano as a part of the deal. Call me crazy but i see him a gutsy courageous leader that we need. He also PL experience so thats a bonus. I can see a midfield where the creators are nasri, ramsey, wilshere and defenders are song, diaby and mascherano although diaby and wilshere can both attack and defend. That along with an improved defence maybe one solid defender brought in and a forward lineup of RVP, theo, gervinho, arshavin should be a very capable and balanced team.
  
  
  P.S. I do not want him to sell cesc, he's our best player and you don't get better by selling your best player. This is just my thought on IF he had no choice but to sell

• 11-Jul-2011 19:32 | | James
  

  Can't believe this idiotic blog. People like you hold the club back with your lame support. How can you pin your hopes on a lazy chump like Diaby and an error prone lightweight midget called Gibbs? Proven failures. It's utterly laughable. Not only do Wenger and the board have zero ambition but neither do dumb bloggers like this one. You'd spout this rubbish for the next 20 yeas, defending the indefensible. It's horrendous.

• 11-Jul-2011 19:57 | | Bergmars
  

  Neither would play more than ten games,this is why the reverse gear is stuck,same old Wenger apologists abound.

• 11-Jul-2011 20:24 | | Jenkinson
  

  Have you forgotten Ramsey?
  A strong box-to-box player and Captain material.
  I still think we willneed a DM - maybe Matuidi as cover for Song.
  For the rest we have: Cesc, Nasr, Rosicky, Diaby, Wilshere, Arshavin, Gervinho, Walcott.
  8 players for two positions in front of Song, Matuidi and Ramsey!
  3 GK's
  2RB's
  2Lb's
  5Cb's
  That still leaves 2 for a full squad - what have I missed?

• 11-Jul-2011 20:41 | | Red  - Spot on Sir
  

  it seems the bloggers and twitter hacks are really content to be shit. Great point.

• 11-Jul-2011 21:52 | | Phil C
  

  Sounds like you're playing 15 a side Torontogooner. Is that how it works in Canada? If we could get away with it we should have a chance of winning something.

• 11-Jul-2011 22:31 | | Podge
  

  If you actually watch Arsenal games regularly you would see Diaby is capable of brilliant displays from time to time his problem is consistency and fitness I also think he lacks maturity too.The 4-4 with Newcastle showed how Diaby can dominate a quality midfield Tiote and Nolan are good physical players and Diaby ran the show until he overreacted to a strong challenge. I was pointing out that they ARE injury prone and that if they improve on their fitness they COULD be massive players for us this season but you are too fucking ignorant to entertain any suggestion that you didn't read in the Sun.

• 11-Jul-2011 22:45 | | Podge
  

  How the fuck does anything I write or say have any bearing on how Arsenal will perform? Gibbs is 5'11 that's hardly a midget in fact it's actually pretty tall. Gibbs has played for his country at senior level he is seen by everyone but fake Arsenal fans as Cole's eventual replacement. Did you think Jack Wilshere was ready last year? I'm pretty sure you didn't but he ended up being one of our best players. I want Arsenal to win EVERYTHING I smashed a chair to pieces when Birmingham won the Carling cup final I hate seeing my club lose. My first choice would be buy Baines but Wenger isn't going to pay double what a player is worth and he shouldn't, Gibbs has been knocking on the door for a while now it's not like he is fresh out of the academy without a senior game he went up against Ronaldo in a champions league semi final and but for short studs on a slick surface had good game. Diaby has the quality and has shown it what he needs is consistency which a lot of talented players tend to develop around the age of 25

• 11-Jul-2011 22:51 | | Podge
  

  I didn't forget Ramsey but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him have a great season and I don't think he is going to make huge strides forward in his development this year.As of now I would say yes we need a DM but I do want to see Coquelin and Frimpong in pre-season to get an idea where they are in their development.Remember we have to have 8 homegrown players and if Denilson and Bendtner leave we are down 2 so we may have to register 1 of Coquelin or Frimpong to meet that requirement.

• 11-Jul-2011 23:45 | | torontogooner
  

  Obviously i'm talking about the collective team with starters and depth/squad players.

• 12-Jul-2011 02:59 | | jgunz
  

  you can replace diaby with wilshere.

• 12-Jul-2011 03:26 | | jgunz
  

  frimpong is quality i predict he will have good season as squad player getting at least 10 league games as cover and rotation for song.
  good luck gibbs i dont think that you are PL quality just yet but im happy to be proved wrong if become ashley mark2(loyalty version 2.0).

• 12-Jul-2011 05:42 | | colesy
  

  I see around 25 arsenal matches a season and I've supported the club since 1978. I've seen enough of Diaby to realise how poor he is with his constant inability to pass to his team mates- always trying to take on one too many opposition players. You cite the Newcastle match - many people point out that Diaby cost us that match with his teenager attitude and sending off!
  Gibbs and Diaby both have a shocking injury record for seasons now- what makes you think this year will be any different. It's this 'head in the sand' approach to everything that's so obviously wrong at Arsenal that Wenger and AKB's can't acknowledge which winds up so many. Mark my words, Diaby will be Diaby again this season and Gibbs will not manage more than 15-20 games all season.
  By the way, don't try to be clever by suggesting what paper I read- it certainly was consistent of you to get that wrong too!

• 12-Jul-2011 09:43 | | Podge
  

  He did cost us that game but his first half performance is why we were 4-0 up in the first place. He does play very well occasionally and if you say otherwise while watching a good amount of Arsenal games you are either wrong or lying.The man has ability but yes injury has been his problem.How is my head in the sand if I acknowledge the past problems with them? Messi was seen as too injury prone to ever be great in his first 2 seasons in the Barca squad and how did that turn out oh yeah over 90 goals in the last 2 seasons.Do you actually have 1 positive opinion about Arsenal?

• 12-Jul-2011 12:22 | | colesy
  

  what's Messi got to do with Diaby???!!!!
  Seriously- you're missing the point. You talk about "Abou Diaby is a terrific athlete with bags of skill". You go on by saying Gibbs "he should be an improvment on Clichy".
  We cannot rely on either of these two players as both have an injury record and neither have sparkled even when they have managed to get into the team. I see Wenger relying too much on the same bunch of underperforming or unreliable(injury proned) players and we will finish even further away from the Top team than last season- get ready for Thursday night Europa football everyone!!!

• 12-Jul-2011 12:45 | | jgunz  - stop lying to yourself
  

  all of the big players have gone on to be successful. dont feed th myth.
  
  kolo toure = 1 fa cup,finished above us in the league.
  adebyor= money money money
  henry=two league titles, one champions league
  viera= four league titles, one fa cup
  flamini = one league title
  Ashley cole= two PL titles two FA cups one carling cup
  we need to demand that wenger brings in chris samba as he is the type of no skill neanderthaol that would allow us to deal with stoke, bolton, wolves,blackburn, and all the other lump it and hope teams.

• 12-Jul-2011 16:51 | | Podge
  

  Messi was seen as an inconsistent but hugely talented player who wouldn't fulfill his potential.It looks like each time you responded you completely missed the point of the article. This is a best case scenario article it doesn't once say we should put our faith in these players or that they certainly will make those improvements this year. I made the point that this is likely Diaby's last chance to show he can be that consistent presence we have been missing. Diaby is clearly a talented footballer he has excellent ball control a good passing range very good tackler but he does tend to dawdle on the ball and let games pass him by the whole point of the article is that IF he cuts out the crap play and performs to his obvious potential then we have a fantastic midfielder, he would hardly be a France regular if he was a bad footballer.Gibbs is similar to Clichy only he has the excuse of youth, putting Gibbs in there doesn't weaken the team from when Clichy played Gibbs in the team will pose a more attacking threat from the left flank and the defense wont be compromised. If Gibbs improves his defending he will be a huge upgrade from Clichy.
  The argument that they are too injury prone to put faith in is valid and that's why I used the Messi comparison.Again I'm going to make an assumption about you that you want us to sign Scott Parker despite the fact he also has a poor injury record and is for that reason "unreliable" Parker is old and will cost around10m if we sign him and he gets a serious injury that's it a waste of 10m+his contract because an injury prone player at 31 isn't worth shit Parker's injuries have already him fairly immobile and taken what pace he ever had he has skill but it is diminishing he has a 1 season left as a top class performer any further decay in his athletic ability and the only thing Parker has is heart and that is not enough. Take a financially free risk on Diaby performing(therefore can buy a new midfielder) or take an all round risk on Parker. Or we could hope Wenger signs Arturo Vidal and then happy days

• 13-Jul-2011 07:59 | | MajorDamo  - So where would you play Wilshere?
  

  You seem to have left Wilshere out of your 1st team squad. Ahead of Diaby? Funnily the more I think about the two, the more similar they seem to be as players.

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