May 11
Where do we go from here?

Watching our collapse against Manchester United set me to thinking about what changes we need to make at Arsenal. Right now we just aren’t good enough to win a trophy. We need to offload some players and we need to start looking at other players who could come in and address our shortcomings.
Goalkeepers. Almunia has had a good season, but is he good enough at his age for us to build our future around him? Fabianski was a serious disappointment in the FA Cup semifinal and despite some memorable saves during the season, he just leaves me a little short on confidence. There is nobody coming up from the Reserves right now who merits consideration either so I feel Wenger needs to look to bring in somebody else.
Defence. Our main weakness. Our lack of depth cost us a chance to win trophies this year and it seriously needs to be remedied. Sagna is a decent right back, but he really needs to work on crossing the ball. He doesn’t really frighten people when he comes forward. Behind him we have Eboue, who Wenger prefers playing in midfield, Hoyte and Gilbert. Hoyte is young and raw and hopefully the loan at Watford did him some good. However, based on what I saw of him earlier this season, he is not an adequate replacement if Sagna gets injured. Gilbert will probably be sold, having had a good loan spell at Leicester.
At left back we have a number of players but they are mostly young and inexperienced. Clichy had an okay season, plagued by defensive errors mixed with some fine attacking play. Clichy’s injury at the end of the season hurt us and we’ll only be able to wonder how his presence could have changed the outcomes of some of our key matches at the end of the season. Gibbs is a young and raw talent who has great potential. Wenger needs to put him out on loan next season and get the experience he needs to come back and push Clichy for the job. Armand Traore has been out on loan this past season and returns next season, perhaps as a back or as a winger? Wenger may keep him around to backup Clichy or push him further forward to provide us with a real left winger. Pedro Botelho is another youngster with potential, but he’ll probably not get a work permit for another year.
In the middle Wenger opted to go with the two shorter but quick centre backs, which means we cannot dominate the high balls the way we should. Will William Gallas return? He had a pretty good season and his loss at the tail end was devastating. Given the turmoil around his dismissal as captain during the season I fully expect him to leave. Kolo Toure had an awful first half to the season but came on and played well in the second half. He and Gallas are similar, but Kolo is younger and faster, which is why Wenger will want to keep him around. He is also more of a team player and has a better attitude around the locker room.
Behind these two stands Johann Djourou, who had a decent season and seemed to play more confidently. Is Djourou good enough to take Gallas’s place (if he leaves)? Maybe, but I’d feel better if Arsenal went out and acquired someone else. Mikael Silvestre played more than I expected this season and was not a total disaster. He is a liability playing against the likes of Chelsea and ManUnited. Arsenal still control the fate of Philippe Senderos and one wonders what will become of him in the next four months. Alex Song played in the middle but was not particularly impressive there. His future is in midfield. There is nobody in the reserves ready to step up and play yet. Havard Nordveit is on loan in Norway and Kyle Bartley needs at least another year.
Midfield. Our weak midfield was unable to provide enough protection for our suspect defence this season and it cost us big time. Many of the players improved dramatically, particularly Alex Song, but we still lack the tough edge needed to dominate the middle. The holding midfielder position was the biggest problem for most of the year after Wenger chose not to buy anyone to replace Flamini and Gilberto. Denilson improved greatly during the season but I feel he lacks the physical edge to dominate the big games. He is quick, efficient, and hard working but by the end of the season he was looking tired and flat. Alex Song, on the other hand, got better as the season wore on and is playing very well right now. In fact I feel he’s the most improved player on the team and this season marks a coming out of sorts. Is he the player of the future here? Perhaps he is. Wenger will be tempted not to buy another central midfielder because he has a trio of young stars emerging from the youth squad. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Francis Coquelin, and Emanuel Frimpong are all fabulous talents who will be knocking on the door next season for their opportunities.
Cesc Fabregas will probably remain with Arsenal for at least one more season (I hope). I believe he feels Arshavin could make a big difference and want to give it a go at Arsenal for another year. I still feel Cesc needs to improve on his corner kicks and free kicks and he needs more time to gel with all of his new teammates in midfield. Abou Diaby has been a big disappointment for me, he just hasn’t taken that big step forward in his career. He has loads of potential but he’s always injured, often being played out of position, and dwells on the ball too long. The time has come for him to move on. Behind him sit a number of potential future stars such as Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Fran Merida, and Henri Lansbury. Wenger’s dilemma is what to do with these youngsters and how to integrate them into the side. They all need experience and some may be loaned. However Ramsey and Merida are at the point where next season should be the season they start to come into the squad and contribute. Wilshere is still young and might be loaned out next January. Lansbury is coming off a sensational loan spell at Scunthorpe and deserves consideration. I haven’t even mentioned Mark Randall who will probably be loan out as well if he isn’t sold.
On the right Theo Walcott came of age this season. He became more confident and assertive and looked our most dangerous player. It is essential that we renew his contract. Behind him sits Emmanuel Eboue. I believe Wenger likes Eboue, wants him to succeed as a winger and may keep him around another year. I wouldn’t. I appreciate the way he dribbles and scares defences, but his end product is usually a feeble shot or an inaccurate pass. He did have a few good games near the end of the season, but fans won’t forgive him for being sent off against Spurs. Arshavin can play on the right and Nacer Barazite returns from his loan spell at Derby. He has the potential to contribute at this position.
On the left we have an abundance of talent. Arshavin can play on the left, Nasri can play on the left … both had good seasons, Rosicky can play on the left, Traore can play on the left, Merida can play on the left. Where does Rosicky fit in? Will Arsenal keep him around another year? Do they have too many players who play on the left? Both Nasri and Arshavin can play on the right as well, but who will Wenger keep and who will he move?
Attack. Emmanuel Adebayor has to go. His attitude this year, his work rate, his productivity all a disappointment … and he’s being paid more than ever. On the eve of our biggest game of the year comes the news that he wants to play for AC Milan. Can he not keep his mouth shut until the season is over? I appreciate the physical assets he brings to the game, but he’s not bringing the mental assets to the games this season the way he did a year ago. He definitely has taken a step back this season. Too bad we can’t get the 30 million pounds we were offered last summer for him.
Robin van Persie has had a great season and until March he had been pretty much injury free. Will he sign a new contract? Maybe. I hope he does. Nicklas Bendtner is still a raw product, but he shows signs of great things to come. He needs to be more clinical in front of goal, his first touch could be a little better, but he doesn’t lack confidence and he plays with energy (something Adebayor doesn’t always do). Eduardo never really contributed this season, constantly picking up small injuries which hampered his return. If he can overcome this he could be effective next season. He does have the honour of scoring the most outrageous goal of the season though. Carlos Vela is young, goes to ground a little too easily, but he oozes skill and could become a star. Jay Simpson will return from West Brom and may stick around next season. He works hard and has a good attitude.
So there we have it. I believe Gallas, Eboue, Senderos, Diaby, and Adebayor will probably be on the way out. Silvestre could be out as well, but Wenger probably wants him to mentor some of the younger players. Tomas Rosicky will be interesting to watch. If Arsenal believe he won’t last a season they’ll probably send him packing as well. Who Wenger will buy, nobody knows, but next year Andrei Arshavin could be a big factor if the Gunners are to contest for the Premier League.










