It's Good to be Back, How Times Have Changed, and Chelsea on Sunday

First thing's first - it's been a while since my last blog post, September 2011 to be exact. During that period of absence I have to admit it's been the most frustrating period in my lifetime as an Arsenal fan and I somewhat expected the same outcome every year, we'd pretend to challenge and then fall away, because of this I wouldn't expect us to win every game like in the past - we were no longer favourites. yes our football was still to a good standard, but it wasn't the counter-attacking team who played 'sexy' football.

Knowing that it is never easy supporting the Arsenal, as they never make it easy on and off the pitch, but the whilst at the same time during 2011-2014 Arsenal have promised so much and have yet failed. We've lost key players and never truly had a squad depth capable of coping with injuries to the first eleven.

During these years we've had to hold back spending and selling our best players every year to cover the loan from building our impressive stadium at Ashburton Grove. The signing of Mesut Özil signified that we could now and go out and make a marquee signing. The German gave such a lift to the fans, the players, the club as a whole, as it showed we could compete with the best in signing world class talent, and he is world class, no matter what Michael Owen says, and yes he is better than Raheem Sterling. We won a the FA Cup last season and with the help of Özil we got to Wembley, the game against Everton comes to mind.

To truly confirm that we had passed selling our best players and now able to relax the purse strings without any financial consequences, the signing of Chile's best player and one of Barcelona's top wide men, Alex Sanchez, proved that we had moved forward and that we can now afford to buy at least one top world class talent every summer.

As we've seen the team has grown strong with an array of attacking players from Giroud, Welbeck, Alexis, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, But what we have to special thanks to is Francis Coquelin being recalled from on loan at Charlton Athletic. He has been that solid dependable defensive midfield we've missed since the days of Gilberto.

We now see a squad just a few world class players from truly challenging for the title next season, and Sunday against Chelsea will be a true test of whether Wenger can finally challenege Chelsea with Mourinho in charge. With Wenger not having beaten a Chelsea side managed by Mourinho, this would be the best opportunity to do so. Chelsea aren't playing great football and only need to secure points here and there and Mourinho wouldn't want to lose this one and will most likely park the bus in front of their goal to nullify our attacking threat.

I expect us to have too much for Chelsea at home on this occasion with such a competitive squad looking to start the FA Cup final, this match will be a great audition in who to take into the big games. I think the team picks itself at the moment with Opsina, Bellerin, Gabriel (Mertesacker injured), Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Özil, Alexis, Giroud.

It's great feeling to be a Gooner again, and even if the other lot down Seven Sisters still don't think we can challenge for major titles, we shall see next season.

Gooner Till I Die.

Transfer Window Countdown: 9 Days

9 days left of the transfer window and yet it's still quiet on our front. It actually makes you wonder if we will sign any one at all. Wenger has come out and said that he'll sign experienced  players. I'll believe it when I see it Arsene, change your stubborn ways.


Transfer Speculation:


Eden Hazard - Lille


All summer we had been linked with Hazard and he was the star player last season for Lille. Instead we opted for Gervinho, who had proven a good bit of business. How ever if we can get Eden into our team as well, then we'll have two players who know each others game and we could have a deadly attack. Even though there are sources claiming a deal is to be done for £20m+, I still can't see Wenger getting his man, as Lille have already said he's not going anywhere.


Scott Parker - West Ham United


I'm pretty surprised no one has snapped up West Ham's player of the season last year even after their relegation to the Championship, but I still think he'll move on to a Premier League team before the transfer deadline. We are linked with him yet again, with Arsenal desperately looking for experienced players. I'd take him in a heart beat, that's how bad our situation has got. Apparently we've sent a scout to watch him, in my opinion, why on earth do you need to watch him, he's played top flight football and a proven player for many years. You either want him or you don't.


Gedion Zelalem - Olney Soccer Club


On a brighter note, we've signed someone! That's right a 14 year old, who'll join us on his 16th birthday in January 2013, juts what we need! We saw this guy in the Dallas Cup, which Arsenal Youth basically took part in. One for the future?... far distant future if you ask me.


Kaka - Real Madrid


We had a high note through news of Zelalem signing for us *sighs*... but to more disheartening news. Yesterday I spoke of Kaka's odds to join us looked more promising, but the Brazilian squashed rumours straight away by insisting he is staying to prove his worth and gain trust from Mourinho in order that he can start for Real. Well that one didn't last long did it.