Arsenal - Underestimate at Your Own Peril
As Arsenal approach the start of the season, the team is brimming with confidence since the two pre season cup wins in the Emirates Cup and Ajax Cup.
What a joy to watch the young Gunners string passes together and attack with such speed and venom. The swagger is back and the confidence is overflowing with each passing movement and goal. What a turnaround since the post season when we lost the leader of the team!
The Crazy Mouth is still at the post and I reckon he will be good for another season or two. With the signing of the promising Fabianski as a challenge to our reliable but boring Almunia, our goalkeeping department seems to be in good hands.
At the heart of the defence, we have the ever reliable Toure who is maturing to be the next Captain. Beside him, we have the stand-in loud mouth Gallas who have practically pissed off everyone. I hope he lets his talent do the talking on the pitch and less talking off the pitch. With Sagna strong tackling and the flying Clichy as the full backs, we do have a defence that can be the best in the premiership. This is only if they do gel together in time and stay injury free for the whole season.
With the effervescent Gilberto and flamboyant Fabregas holding the central area down with strength and dexterity, we have a strong central midfield that can match any team in the world. Hleb and Rosicky are both tricky and very clever football players. With a sudden burst of speed and flick of the boot, they are able to penetrate defences like butter. Eboue is the stand in right winger that is making waves down the opposition flanks since being converted from right back.
It is in the strike force that we have a mouth watering combination of young players. Although not fully established as regular 30+ goals a season striker, Robin Van Persie has shown the talent and eye for goal that has propelled him to the front page of many newspaper in the post season. With the talented new signing of Eduardo and the imposing presence of Adebayor, we seem to finally have strikers to finish a cross with diving headers and spectacular finish. We should not forget the young talent of Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott with Bendtner already netting for his country and Walcott billed as the next big talent in England.
The only problem that might derail our season will be the lack of cover available and also the temperament of the young guns. Outside the top 13 or 14 players, the squad is real thin without much experience. With a few suspect temperaments and a long season, the stability and guidance of the older heads will be more important.
With a little bit of luck and bags of courage, it will be our year! Go Gunners!
Rick Chong is a professional sports writer who specialises in the English Premier League. He also manages an Arsenal Forum for Arsenal fans.