Arsenal’s activity in the transfer market has puzzled and worried majority of the supporters. Many people consider the boss to be contradicting himself and some feel he has lost the plot (as always I guess).

I think if we take a closer look, everything the boss has said makes sense. The following are the key points to note

• The boss knows that one or two people are needed
• A limited budget is available
• Everyone is working hard to get the right people in
• It is not easy to get the right people in. It’s definitely not as simple as flashing a cheque and plucking a player.

After the first leg against Twente, AW said that there will be one signing before the second leg. That happened. I don’t think he himself expected Silvestre to be that signing but it seems like a calculated deal. So what happened to the player that AW had in mind!? My guess is that either the talks are still ongoing or someone demanded over the odds and the deal fell through. It is also likely that the arrival of Silvestre gave the boss the option of using Djourou or Song in the middle of the park.

I don’t think that is the ideal solution and I am sure the boss would agree. But I have a feeling that has reduced the acuteness of the need in his mind. In any case his latest comments still mean that they are working really hard to bring one or two players in.

Now let us move to his comments about his squad being strong enough. If the squad is not strong enough right now then everyone should forget about the trophies coming in. How can one signing make such a huge difference? What if a 20 million player comes in and gets injured in the first match? Does that mean that it’s back to square one? Does it make sense to get such an expensive player in? Moreover, if someone like a Gareth Barry comes in but Cesc gets injured, does that mean all hopes for silverware get hurt as well!? So when the boss says that the squad is strong enough he is right. When he says he is working to get one or two players in, that makes perfect sense. When he says he needs to focus on the present squad, he knows!

The boss has the responsibility of lifting the squad and instilling a sense of belief within them. He has to support the squad and that is what he is doing. He also needs to figure out a balance to the squad. He knows the “what if’s” and he has to find a solution. He also needs to work on various tactical aspects to get the best out of this squad. How is he able to find someone like a Kolo Toure and make him a brilliant center back? He can because he finds the right quality and focuses on developing it.

In my opinion the most important aspect is the budget. It is limited. While everyone keeps saying AW has the money to sign a player he wants, the number that most often come out is around £ 30 Million. If the budget is around 30 million, perhaps the max one can gamble is around 10-12 million. If Chelsea could afford to get Shevchenko for 30 million and then forget all about him, it was because they had funds in excess of hundreds of millions. Under these circumstances it makes sense if Arsenal bid around 10M for Alonso. If it fails, there is not much they can do. If Liverpool can’t get Barry for 12-15M or so then Arsenal cannot pay more either. Consequently, his comments about the importance of quality are perfect. It is not the big name that matters. Other clubs have signed big names and won a lot because there budget was far, far higher than what Arsenal have.

The second financial aspect is the wage structure. Can a new guy be given a very high wage especially if he is unproven in the premier league? If Arshavin demanded a big salary or if my guess is correct then Inler demanded a big chunk would it be prudent to accept it? What would be the ripple effects for the rest of the squad?

I am not saying that Arsenal can do well with the present squad. In fact I am pretty certain that Arsenal need at least 2 or 3 players. But I can understand what the boss is doing and what his situation is likely to be. I can see the gamble on Bischoff. It will be clear by January whether he can add something to the squad or not. It will also be clear whether the likes of Rosicky and Diaby will contribute anything or not. If Cesc remains fit and the present squad rallies around him Arsenal can stay in the hunt till January. It’s a big risk for the boss but I think there is only so much he can do. And most certainly he is doing all of it.

Essentially, it boils down to the funds available and if it is around 30M then AW’s hands are really tied. The board has to come up with a much larger budget for him. After all they are the ones who will gain the most from the added value to their stocks if the gunners can win some silverware. They are extremely lucky that they have a shrew, hardworking and visionary man like Wenger but it’s about time they stand up to support him. I think they are letting him and the fans down.

Sometime during the pre-season in 2007 Wenger made a very insightful remark. He mentioned that pre-season friendlies were good in that they allowed him to play 3-4 players out of position, whereas, in any league match he could not risk more than 1.

Considering the midfield that lined up against Fulham, one can see the importance of this statement. 4 out of 4 in that mid field were out of place. By out of place I don’t mean playing in a different position, I mean just not good enough to play a major part in that position over the whole season.  If that midfield starts against any big team one can expect another mauling along the lines of the 4-0 against United or the 5-1 against Spurs.

I am amazed that Wenger still maintains this team is good enough. It was evident last year that the first team were world beaters and the second string was a bunch of school boys with considerable skill but even more considerable room for improvement. Not much has changed.

Looking at the exodus so far, even the first team is no longer a trophy winning team. The best mid field that Wenger can put out if there are no injuries would be something like

Eboue               Fabregas           Diaby                Rosicky

I am not sure if Diaby would be the best choice but I am going by the boss’ opinion about him.  If Diaby does not take that position Denilson, Nasri, Djourou, Song etc won’t do much better either. Walcott may come in for Eboue but I still don’t find him good enough for the full 90 minutes, forget the whole season.

So the first team itself would have 2/4 players out of place. Even the most optimists of supporters would not harbor any title hopes in such a scenario.

It is not that Walcott, Nasri, et al are not good players. The problem is that Wenger always wants to play the “Arsenal Way”. These players are not good enough for that. The arsenal way demands exceptional positional awareness, deftness of touch, all round vision, boundless stamina, a burning desire to win and an indomitable spirit of togetherness. These players do not have all of it at all times. I know its very demanding to expect that but you can’t win trophies while entertaining all the time without these qualities being ever present in each and every member of the squad. Last season was close because the main players had these qualities. Last season didn’t see any trophies because some players didn’t have these qualities and some lost them partially at vital moments.

Considering this situation, Arsenal needs at least 3 new signings. If Rosicky can return to full fitness, he can be like one new player brought in. But who would rely on that! The second requirement is to replace Flamini. It’s the most obvious and most talked about vacancy at the Emirates. I don’t think Alonso can fit the bill here. Amongst the players I have seen I feel M. Diarra, De la Red, Barry, Mascherano, and Gattuso are some of the players who could fit in. Amongst them Barry is perhaps the only one available and in my opinion the boss should sign at any cost unless he has a typical signing lined up (highly unlikely).

The third player needed is someone like Alonso who can chip in as a creative central player. There is a desperate requirement for a back up for Cesc. Denilson, unfortunately, is just not good enough. I am not sure either Nasri or Rosicky will be able to fill in either. In the present scenario a 6-8 week injury to Cesc would mean goodbye to all title hopes and quite likely to a top 4 finish as well.

The other option here is to work on tactics. If the team is not good enough to play the arsenal way then arsenal have to find another way. For instance,

• RVP can drop deeper and play more centrally on the pitch. He does this sometimes and looks quite a creative force.
• Adebayor moves more on the wings especially to link up with Clichy as Nasri has a very nagging tendency to float inwards.
• Walcott comes in and around the box. He has speed and he has a decent shot on him.
• The team in general sits back a little more and plays more on the counter. This will help the defence and will hopefully reduce the number of stupid goals that are conceded. There won’t be acres of space between the defenders and the nearest mid fielder as was often the case against Fulham.

There are many such small adjustments that can lead to a better performance. I believe the boss knows the areas he has to work on and he has faith in the players he has. Perhaps he thinks that he can pull it off with the right amount of work on the training grounds. The fixture list has also been kind to him and I can see him gambling on some of the players gaining fitness over the coming weeks. Whether it works or will it be a complete disaster? Only time will tell. My prediction is that this season will be remembered as the turning point in the Arsenal loves Arsene story (or my admiration for the great man will cross the boundaries of my own imagination!)

After a brisk start, when West Brom were totally clueless, the tempo of the game fell steeply. The Boss, in his post match interview, mentioned the effects of having played on Wednesday.

“It’s a first game of the season and we had a physical match on the Wednesday night and I was a little bit worried before that we would not be very sharp, but we started well and were in control and we just couldn’t finish them off,”

But I can’t believe the lack of intensity was fully down to the midweek game. The team spirit that existed at the start of last season is not visible anymore. When in full flow last season, first half at Old Trafford or first twenty minutes or so of the CL quarterfinal away leg, the gunners were intimidating and untouchable.

I am not sure this will be the case this season. There are many observations that make me apprehensive.

Instead of taking responsibility, Gallas has already started behaving like a spoilt brat. During a pre-season friendly Van Persie was having a go at Walcott, something that is likely to happen more often this season given that Walcott has a more direct Ronaldoesque approach to the game and just doesn’t know when or where to pass! (No, he is not that bad, but there is just too much room for improvement). And these have looked like conflicts and not pep talks that are supposed to help raise the level of play.

Adebayor is now completely afflicted by the Thiery Henry disease and does not have the same class to bail him out. It is amazing to see him standing on the pitch pointing at his feet almost every time someone fails to spot him or chooses to ignore him in the box. After Henry left, Cesc and Hleb both mentioned that often they were scared of trying something other than putting the ball at his feet. So Adebayor is certainly not contributing to the team spirit.

Last season I could actually feel the team spirit even while watching on TV. This season the team already seems disjointed. Its difficult to imagine big performances in this state.

The second big problem is the lack of creativity. Some of it is down to the low intensity levels. When everyone on the pitch is moving in slow motion it becomes easy for sides to sit back and defend. But a good deal of it is down to the players. I have not seen a more creative trio then Cesc, Hleb and Rosicky but that’s a thing of the past. Sadly though, Nasri and Walcott are far away from Hleb and Rosicky. They are too direct in their approach and don’t have the vision. Not yet at least. With these two on the wings Arsenal will rely more on pace and it can be countered relatively easily, especially if the crossing abilities are very poor.

This brings me to the next problem. I can never understand, how a team, competing for the biggest trophies in football, not get even 10% of the crosses right? That’s a random stat but it would be really interesting to know how many times an arsenal cross floats harmlessly by. Especially now, with good aerial presence in the box it is really important to sort out such matters. Good crosses will automatically add 8-10 goals a season and that can make a really big difference.

Apart from this the usual problems remain. The defenders just can’t handle a big, powerful striker. To some extent this has to do with lack of support from the mid-field and only a “top, top quality” signing can solve it. Even that might not be enough. Some degree of tactical training is needed. Among the top teams, Arsenal is the only team that cannot win the second ball even against the likes of West Brom. Unless this issue is sorted out the long balls will always be a problem no matter how good the defenders are.

On the positive side it was great to see Gallas and Sagna shoot from outside the box. Eboue took too many shots. But that is not a problem. It might be interesting to find out how these defenders aim when they take a crack. I feel if they are told to aim for the center of the goal the chances of them putting one in the back of the net would be far higher.

Overall it seems like a fighting start to the season with lots of work to do. But unless the boss can get the spirit back I don’t have many hopes.

Technology can certainly help in making the game fair. But technology is not the real solution. It would only be making matters worse, if every decision was to be referred. The real solution is to build the spirit of the game into the letters of the law. It is about time the laws of the game are modified.

A batsman should, by law, be required to walk if he has edged the ball. Similarly a batsman should be allowed to raise his bat and indicate that he has edged the ball. He should be given a right to defend himself against poor LBW decisions.

Technology should be used to verify the claims of a batsman in either case. If he is dishonest, it should result in a 3 match ban. So if a batsman has edged the ball, he can choose to take a risk of getting banned against the benefits of getting away with it. The ban should increase exponentially for repeat offenders

The only real problem with this solution is that batsmen would claim they didn’t realize they had edged the ball. Ignorance is bliss! Technology in conjunction with experience (of past cricketers) can be used to decide on this issue. After years of watching the game, I don’t think it would be difficult to identify whether the batsman is being honest or not. After all, the match referee does make subjective decisions on so many issues based on audio, video and human evidence. If we accept them as correct, why can’t we accept a decision on the player’s integrity?

This system does not look to eliminate umpires altogether. Indeed, they will continue to play a vital role. But such changes would definitely make the umpires’ job easier. I am sure the umpires would welcome any such modifications as the amount of pressure on them is increasing with every added camera and microphone.

Another question that can be raised is, “why limit honesty to the batsman alone?” I must confess it is a valid question. I do not believe honesty should be limited to the batsman alone. If a fielder is found appealing for a catch that was illegal, he should receive a similar ban. If lingering at the crease after being given out is dissent, then appealing again after the umpire has said not out should also be dissent. Many such issues need to be sorted out. The main thought, behind this post, is not to come up with new laws that will improve the game. The idea is to show that simple solutions can bring fairness, dignity and respect back into the game. That is the least Cricket and its lovers deserve!

Last year I thought they combined very well, especially in the absence of Henry. This season might be a different story though. Wenger seems to be more interested in adding width to the game. In such a situation, at max, one of Hleb or Rosicky will play.

This brings me to the use of Eboue and Clichy as wingers. Eboue has tremendous talent. But he seems hell bent on wasting it. He holds on to the ball for too long, his crossing is not always good, he takes too many wild shots on goal and often does not drop back in defence even when he is playing as a right back.

With his speed and skills on the ball he may make an interesting option on the wing. But I see him losing his starting place to Sagna very soon. Moreover Walcott has displayed good skills on the right side of the field and might be chosen ahead of Eboue in that position.

Clichy on the other hand has been most impressive in the pre-season. Traore has also done a great job at left back. But Traore lacks experience and ends up ball watching at times, which enables players to get behind him. Traore is a bit better at crossing the ball. It might make more sense to make him a winger and leave Clichy as a full back.

Going forward the midfield looks very strong and the presence of versatile players means that there is no need for any new signings.

Gilberto and Diaby will have a big role in this campaign if Arsenal are to challenge for trophies. This is more so because Senderos, Djourou, and Flamini are not the big stage Arsenal players. I think Wenger has not sold them because of the sheer number of games that the team has to play in the season. They can definitely play in the relatively easier fixtures.

Toure and Gallas have not formed a partnership so far. Their performances cant be compared to Terry/Carvalho or Vidic/Ferdinand. I wont be surprised if Arsenal have the least number of clean sheets amongst the top 6 clubs.

Strikers

Persie is going to score some fascinating goals and pick up a couple of red cards. He might have the most number of goals, might have the most number of missed sitters and will definitely have the most number of yellow cards amongst the strikers in the league.

His performances will definitely be the key to any silverware hopes. If he can work the angles better on his shooting his conversion rate will definitely be higher. It is very disappointing to see him hit a lot of great shots straight at the keeper or just wide of the mark. Fitness is another area of concern. I am not sure he will last the whole season.

Da Silva has great composure but he will take time to fit in. If Wenger chooses to attack more from the wings he will have an important role to play as he can be the target man or work the flanks. He might just be a surprise package for a lot of opposition sides. He is a typical Arsenal player but has that something extra that has been lacking over the last few years. The number of free kicks and corners that go waste can reduce with his presence in the box. One audacious attempted chip over the Lazio goalkeeper from inside his own half confirmed that he has great awareness and opportunism.

My guess is Adebayor will have more assists than goals. That would not be an ideal return for a striker but his finishing still does not inspire confidence. I am hoping he proves me wrong.

Bendtner has great physical presence and has some skill for his size. But he seems too raw to be a major contributor. My guess is he will be a regular in Carling Cup and perhaps a few FA cup matches. But if one of the main strikers gets injured it might be difficult for him to fill their boots!

I am not sure Adebayor and Persie should start together. Persie as the lone striker with Hleb just behind him would be my choice against the defensive teams. Adebayor and Eduardo or Persie and Eduardo against teams that have weaker full backs. All-in-all this season there are better scoring prospects than last year and the departure of Henry could turn out to be the best transfer in the last few years.

The more I think about it the more I am convinced that a very strong squad is now ready. A Starting line up of Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Gilberto, Diaby, Fabregas, Rosicky, Persie and Da Silva does not seem inferior to any starting line up that the other big teams can field.

The success of Chelski and Pool over the last few years lies not so much in the footballing skills of their players as it does in their attitude on the field. Every player in these teams has been willing to run up and down the field for the duration of the match. This is like having an extra player on the pitch! Sadly though, the same is cannot be said for the wengerboys. I had great hopes from Gallas in this regard. But it seems he switches off, instead of lifting others with his performance, when he doesn’t see others coming back in support as often as his former Chelski teammates.

I admit that a touch of class does come with a certain lack of discipline. More often than not the class makes up for it as well. The problems emerge when a lack of discipline is combined with a lack of killer instinct. This is the reason a motivated Arsenal team performed so well against the big clubs but lost games where they should have trashed the opposition.

Wenger is aware of this problem and I hope the loss of Henry will motivate others to raise the level of their game. At times last year, I felt that the players just wanted to put the ball at Henry’s feet and consider their task done. This often left them looking clueless when Henry was out injured.

This brings me to the other important criteria for success over a season, squad depth. Last season the gunners suffered due to lack of backups. This season hopefully Denilson, Walcott, Traore, Fabianski, Adebayor, Senderos and Djourou will move up a notch. The other big clubs have all brought in established or proven players for having depth in their squad. Wenger on the other hand is backing his young guns to fire. In such a scenario the seniors in the team need to take the extra load. Henry, Ljunberg and Gallas failed, let us hope this season is different.

I wish him all the best, especially against ManYoo, Chelski, Pool and Spurs!

He has also explained the signing of Sagna as a cover for Eboue and Toure when they leave for the African Nations Cup.

While I don’t doubt him for one instance when he makes these statements, I do wonder if it would not be highly demotivating for the new signings to hear the boss speak in such a manner.

For years I have always believed in Wenger and his policies but such statements and the current uncertainty at the club left me wondering if he is fully in control of the situation

I was very disappointed with Gallas’ work ethic last season. It seemed to me that he was too used to the midfielders coming back in support. At Arsenal he would have to work harder than he did at Chelsea. Somehow it does not seem likely. I wont be surprised if Wenger is looking to replace him as well.

The arrival of Da Silva is a step in the right direction. It will be interesting to see how soon he can settle in EPL. Arsenal have been missing a classic center forward for quite some time. From whatever I have seen of him on youtube, he seems tailor made for the job.

It is a bit surprising to see Arsenal linked with Eto’. If that happens, history will record it as the dumbest move Wenger ever made! Martins on the other hand might be a great signing. He adds something extra to the attack force that is currently at Wenger’s disposal.

I am pretty happy with the team Arsenal have and I cant really put my finger on any player who, if signed, would really make a big difference. That is not to say that Arsenal will win the premiership or champions league next year. But I doubt if they can win with any new signings either. I do expect them to be closer to the top though.

So far so good.

Well its been a day since i wrote this and it seems a lot can change. Fabregas can move, money can come in from Reyes and Ljunberg transfers and Gallas will hopefully be discarded. Add to this the arrival of Sagna, interest in Martins and some free cash for Wenger and we have an eventful transfer period coming up. All these moves would be positive moves for Arsenal. The only one where i have some doubts is the exit of Fabregas but if they get an offer around 25 mil pounds it could be worth offloading him.

He is a brilliant player and the move could be a disaster if Hleb and Rosicky dont raise their game. But it might be a risk worth taking as I see the attitude of Fabregas creating problems in the future.

Waiting and watching …