A Very Different Arsenal

Arsenal has changed many times over recent years as we've sold on many players each year. But if the was one thing, our style remained the same in quick passing and holding onto the ball for a large period of time with so called 'tippy-tappy' football.

That style has change completely with the players capable of it, with the likes of Fabregas and Nasri gone, it's harder for us to keep a hold of the ball.

Okay we haven't had a full strength team out as of yet, but we can't hold onto the ball for more than 10 passes at best. Maybe this is due to a more direct play of football, but this brings pressure on us as we still aren't that solid at the back.

Mertesacker looks solid and class player who can get his foot in and his positioning is excellent as he seems to intercept the ball more often that not. However he'll only get better with Vermaelen next to him.

I have to mention Song was excellent last night against Olympiacos at the back, he was my man of the match, but wr miss him badly in the middle.

I've also noticed Arteta holds on the ball for too long and this slows down our attacks. It makes us less gung ho, which could benefit us.

Arsenal fans need to get used to the fact that we won't dominate and dictate the flow of the game from now on. So no mote groans when we let a pass go astray, no more moaning or booing.

Yes our clubs gone backwards, but what do you expect.


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Just Own Up to the Obvious

I haven't written or posted a piece on Our Arsenal for a while since our humiliating defeat to Manchester United (I don't need to remind you of the score) and also our deadline day excitement of several players joining the club.


Since that day we have endured an International break, which we though would help the dust settle and hopefully bring us back with a fighting spirit to try and get our performances raised and a chance to have at least a false hope of any challenge (which I don't believe we have any capability in the slightest).


The match against Swansea didn't fill us fans with any confidence. Arteta was somewhat of a presence in central midfield with some decent passing, but he's no Cesc Fabregas and we won't ever find a player with his ability to find a pass, although Arteta does have some ability to find a killer pass. The scoreline was a lucky one with a gifted goal, which was still a decent finish from Arshavin.


We've missed Gervinho's directness and this showed against Dortmund in the Champions league, but even though we could have won the game, a sublime finish made us draw the game 1-1. It was a hard scrappy draw. Germany is not an easy place to go, especially against the champions of Germany.


The defeat to Blackburn showed some of the old Arsenal back, but most in terms of bad defending. Why can we never sort this position out? Santos looked decent, Mertesacker looks slow. Gervinho and Arteta both got their debut goals for the Gunners. That was the only real spark. The two own goals from Song and Koscielny summed up our lack of defending.


You have to face it Arsenal fans, we're not the team we once were, I'm not even going as far as the 1998, 2002 and 2004 invincible teams. I only have to go as far as last year, because this team has changed and it'll take a few years to form any type of challenge. The teams dynamic has changed, it doesn't have the ability to play quick touch passing. We have to adopt a more direct play, which in this league you need to have. Wenger must not try to make a team made for the Champions League.


But van Persie is the only world class player we have left, so the fans have to wake up and notice we're just not a top 4 team anymore with the players at our disposal. In this case maybe it'll force our hand to play more as a team. It's still early days of the team gelling together. But keep your expectations realistic because we're no longer a force in English football.

Mikel Arteta Unveiled in the Red and White of Arsenal

The new arrival from Everton, Mikel Arteta has finally been taken shot of in his new colours as he had the opportunity to train with his new team mates for the first times yesterday.

You can find pictures of him on Arsenal's official website. Arteta will wear #8.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/mikel-arteta-picture-special?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29&image=1


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Five New Signings on Deadline Day

I haven't written for a while due to the sheer excitement of transfer deadline day and what a transfer deadline for Arsenal! The board and Arsene decided to loosen the purse strings and go for 5 experienced players rather than untried and untested youth. That's why us Gooners are pleased we have bolstered our squad with experience despite the lack of a 'super quality' signing as Wenger always states he looks for.


The ages and the amount of leadership quality for a number of the players and winning mentality is huge compared to those residing at the Arsenal prior to their arrivals. They will vastly improve our squad, and now we have more a look of a mans team and it proves that project youth had failed. At least these signings brings a new found confidence, for the time being.


Those players lucky enough to wear the prestigious red and white from Arsenal are:

• Park Chu-Young (Monaco)
• Andre Santos (Fenerbahce)
• Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen)
• Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea)
• Mikel Artea (Everton)

To celebrate the arrival of the new signings, I'm treating you to compilations of each player.

Park Chu-Young - 26 years old - Striker - South Korean International (54 caps)

André Santos - 28 years old - Left back - Brazilian International (22 caps)

Per Mertesacker - 26 years old - Centre back - German International (75 caps)

Yossi Benayoun - 31 years old - Winger/Attacking Midfielder - Israeli International (Captain) (84 caps)

Mikel Arteta - 29 years old - Central Midfielder - Spanish (12 caps U21)