Needs to hit the ground running
So here we are, the summer has flown by (hasn’t even felt like it’s started if you’re in the UK) and now we reach the point of a new season to get our teeth into.
A new season, a season that comes with a new hope, a hope that we can eradicate a lot of the negatives from the previous season and build on a steady upward curve back to where we expect to be.
Whether you are a fan of the manager or not, first and foremost we are fans of Arsenal Football Club and want success and the very best fortunes for the club of our hearts. Football fortunes are not achieved overnight and we are currently delving in a dip of a J-curve to where we want to be.
Football transfers – when you don’t have an unlimited stream of money flooding your club – are often approached like a game of poker. The price of a player can shoot up based on leaked information or the potential buyer showing their cards early and getting dragged into a bidding war.
We’ve heard the testament of former players about transfer deadline day and a lot of the actual decision-making is out of the hands of the players – even when they want a move early into a transfer window – as negotiations are left to the money men to duke it out for their best interests.
Li Ke (aka Nico Yennaris)
We as fans know where we need strengthening and we know the club are doing business behind the scenes, unfortunately we cannot expect names to be dropped in Mikel Arteta’s press conferences as that can affect negotiations. We just have to hope they are working on securing the right players and get the deals over the line.
One of those deals doesn’t seem to include Aaron Ramsdale anymore. A linked player that has truly split the fan base’s opinion on the abilities he has to offer. Other keepers will now be sought as pretty much all Arsenal fans will agree Runnarson falls short of the level required for a back up keeper.
Either way, transfer business will be on hold whilst we focus our attention to our opening day opponents Brentford, newly promoted and first timers to the premier league. Definitely a likable club and a team we cannot take for granted. Over the years we’ve had a few former players represent Brentford. Highly rated Josh Dasilva fancied bettering his career chances at Brentford over Arsenal and has gone on to develop into a key and impressive member of the Brentford squad. He now has the platform to show his talents at the highest level in England and has every chance to fulfil his potential at this level.
Dominic Thomson made the move to Brentford a couple years back and although not a first team regular, time is on his side to break into the first team.
One former player we remember fondly is Nico Yennaris, oops I mean Li Ke enjoyed a good career at Brentford. Although no longer at the club he completes a trio of former Arsenal players with recent connections between the clubs.
The real danger we have to look out for tonight is Ivan Toney. A player who steps up to the Premier League off the back of a highly prolific season in the Championship where he broke the record for most goals scored in that division over a season. Gone are the days when a striker from the Championship had to prove they were good enough for the Premier League.
We have had recent evidence from the likes of Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa or Patrick Bamford at Leeds United who have proved themselves as fully capable of delivering in the Premier League. Toney needs to be kept quiet at all costs, the Griffin park Community Stadium crowd will be buzzing with new season buoyancy and it’ll require our defence to be on top of their game to keep the crowd and the Brentford attack quiet.
New boy ready to impress?
I’d expect new boy Ben White to make his full debut and his recovery pace will be key to stemming the flow of the oppositions attacks. Partey will be a big miss and I hope the injuries won’t be such a regular feature this season.
Up front I genuinely believe despite the lack of pre season goals that our captain will deliver this season. Write off Aubamyang at your peril, he still has the quality in his boots and do not underestimate how much an early goal into the season will help him kick on. I don’t believe any more striking talent will be coming in and so the responsibility will lie at the feet of Auba, Laca and a now up to speed Pepe.
Yes, there is a hell of a lot that needs to be fixed at the club but I’m still looking forward to this season and what it could bring. We don’t have the added distraction of Europe and so should make a far bigger impact on the league table than we did last season.
I can’t wait to get back into the Emirates and cheer on the boys, alas for tonight I’ll have to settle for my armchair but I’m certainly looking forward to having football back. Come on Arsenal!
Pre match prediction: Brentford 1-3 Arsenal
Born a stone’s throw (and a 271 bus ride) away from Highbury. Arsenal is my life, I celebrate every win and I suffer every defeat, it’s all about taking the good with the bad. Writing and sharing about everything Arsenal certainly keeps me sane!
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