Drawing to a close

Good evening everyone.
A busy week that was and I'm glad it's over. Due to the new term kicking into high gear I wasn't able to write much and that's a problem I'll have to solve next week. Not quite sure how, but I will. So check back often.
Not a lot going on these last few days, truth be told. The Interlull is doing it's job perfectly once again, depriving us of club-related stuff we're so used to. I did spend quite some time, gloating at Man Utd failure during transfer window. A lot of people blamed Arsenal FC for not being able to bring players in (something we proved wrong, courtesy to our great late transfer), but look at our rivals.
They have brought a youngster for a laughable fee and Fellaini for a ridiculous price of £30 million. An old pal did his trusty manager a favour and switched places. I guess, it's not as bad, as it would have, should we be only capable to buy Flamini, but ultimately United's campaign is a failure. An utter disaster.

Ozil and Viviano in, Bendther and Park stay

Good day everyone.
Sorry I wasn't able to report yesterday, but I had a busy day. Much busier, than expected, in fact.
As all of you are no doubt aware by now, two new players joined us in the final hours of the transfer window: Emiliano Viviano (on loan) and Mesut Ozil.
The first deal is a run-of-the-mill one. We lacked experience and capable back-up for our two Poles, so we went out and loaned a decent goalkeeper. I don't know much about Viviano, other than what I've read in the interview at the official site. He seems a decent enough guy, so let's see, what the future at Arsenal have in store for him. Whispers are, a buy-out clause was included in his contract, allowing Arsenal to sign the keeper at the end of this season for €6 million. Let's see, what happens next. There's a whole season for our newcomer to play to be able to prove himself.
Another acquisition (a permanent one, this time) is, of course, Ozil. It was something so extraoridary, so unusual, so unexpected, that I didn't even know what to say at first. I blamed the manager and everyone, who's involved in out transfers (not without basis at the time), but I'm taking my hat off for securing that deal. Fantastically well done.
This transfer smashes the club record to pieces, coming at a whopping £40 million and I think, the player is worth every penny spent on him. He's 24, in fantastic shape, with a lot of experience already and, most importantly, he's a team player. In his four years at Real Madrid Ozil has netted twice as much assists, comparing to a number of goals he scored. Pretty much everything points to the fact, that the German is a passer and was most likely brought in, because of his build-up play, which we weren't very good at lately. I'm not the one for the numbers (yet), if you want them, so have a look here, if you are interested.
Ozil, interestingly, is the biggest signing in the Premier league this summer. It was somewhat surprising to learn that, given how much money Man City and Tottenham splashed, but it turned out, not one of their newcomers came at a bigger price, than ours.
Ozil has spoken about why he came here, citing a phone call from our manager as a major factor. Seems Wenger still has his stature, courtesy to the name he made himself earlier, winning a lot of things with us. Players aren't only drawn to the club and the wages, managers also play their role, and our manager has a world-known reputation. It's not always this way, even in the biggest clubs, which may explain the fact Moyes was only able to sign Fellaini on deadline day.
There was an interesting bit in the papers, where Levi, Spurs' president, was cited as trying to thwart our efforts in acquiring Ozil. It was even suggested, that it was part of his "Sell-Bale plan", but Perez clearly wasn't inclined to include such a clause in their deal with Real. I don't know, whether there's any truth to this rumour, but if there is, it's both outrageous and funny. Outrageous for obvious reasons, funny because we've eventually pulled the deal off and left Spurs with nothing twice inside three days. Delicious.
You know, it's actually not long, before I begin to hate Tottenham well and truly, should they continue in this vein. Villas-Boas keeping Bale close to the chest, so we won't buy new players before derby, Levi doing likewise, to see us fail entirely. Two scumbags. And well done, Arsene.
All this joy from bringing in a top-level midfielder somewhat hides the fact, that no striker was bought.
We tried, hard as we can, to sign Ba until last possible moment, but Mourinho pulled the plug. He was later quoted as saying, he doesn't want to strengthen us further, seeing as how we already are title contenders, having bought Ozil. Guess we should not have put so much faith in Ba, knowing, who's pulling the strings behind this situation, but it is what it is.
It only leaves us with Giroud and (probably) Walcott. I'm not sure about the last one, because I don't know, who can cover the right flank, should the need arise. Ozil, maybe, but from the bits I gather, he'll most likely play under the striker. It leaves TGSTEL for us to content with. He didn't leave for Crystal palace, cause we pulled the plug, when it became clear we won't sign Ba.
Speaking to International Football Management, the Dane expressed his displeasure at staying, but said, he'll do the best he can for the team. Hope, that's the case, because he's the only back-up we have. An injured back-up, at the moment. Time for him to pull himself together, recover from his injures (mental and physical) and get primed for a recall to our senior squad.
So, where does this all leave us in terms of the squad? We are still  short in central defence, though Vermaelen should return after the break and out attacking options are far from ideal, worsened by the fact that the Ox and Poldolski won't make the team in the near future. Goalkeeping and midfield situation are solved for the time being. We now have to hold on until the winter transfer window and hope it'll bring a few players with it.
As the players have all left to play for their respective countries, the next game will be held 10 days from now. Because of it, I don't think I'll be able to write every day, but check back regularly, cause you never know.
Until later

In-between

Good evening everyone.
Yesterday I wrote about a preliminary transfer report, in the hopes I'll have something to report in 23-hour time, but seems I was wrong. So just a short one for you today.
As of yet, we still have not completed a single deal, which is quite horrific, seeing as the transfer window shuts in less than 5 hours. There are, however, encouraging signs about quite a few players, so I'll start with those.
The most heavily linked player is Mesut Ozil, with all and sundry blowing their trumpets, the move has already taken place. Goal.com even went as far as to tell as the exact sum, we'll pay for the Turkish German. They also mentioned his wages, something close €150 thousand per week, making Ozil (hopefully) our highest paid player. Fingers crossed, he'll join us in no time, though according to the papers, he already has.
The other player is Italian keeper Emiliano Viviano, with Palermo's president and the official tweeter account of the player saying, he's undergone a medical. If those sources are to be believed (I'm trusting no one, till I see official confirmation on the site), Viviano has joined us on a season-long loan with an option to buy him for €6 million at the end of it.
Others are linked less strongly. Talk of Di Maria is never ceasing, while Kaka seems to have moved back to Milan. I'm not 100 percent sure, but then again, Arsene never showed any interest in the player. The news papers can talk of this move readily, knowing the pile of cash we have in the bank. Over the course of the summer every prominent player was linked to us just because we have the money.
I don't know the situation with Benzema and whether we're still interested in Mata and Cabaye. No word whatsoever on the fate of Real Madrid man, Cabaye's talk also seems to have died down, while Mata is on the brink of joining PSG. I'll be surprised, if he does. The Spaniard is a huge talent, comparable to that of Cazorla, and if Mourinho decided, he's disposable, well, the Portuguese is bonkers. I understand he may have his own vision of the team, but Mata was one of the leaders last year, combining with Hazard to great effect and if the manager wants he to go, I'd say we should jump at our chance.
Oh, I forgot to mention another Chelsea man on, who's probably on his way out. Demba Ba. The reason, I'm commenting on this situation, is because the Senegalese is rumoured to be in Wenger's sights, if not for a permanent transfer, than maybe a loan move. We shall see in due course. Tomorrow, actually.
Nothing to add to that, which I'm truly sorry about. I hope to wake tomorrow morning, only to find out, we signed all of the above. Just do it, Arsene. Open your chequebook.
Back tomorrow

Tottenham review: you can't buy class

A very good evening to all of you. What a joyous evening that is.
As you may have guessed, Arsenal came out victorious in a North London derby today. Just an hour ago, actually. But first things first.
Arsene Wenger made three changes from the squad that have beaten Fenerbahce five days ago. Rosicky for injured Podolski, Gibbs for Monreal and Koscielny for Sagna. I have to say I was a bit surprised by the manager's decision to start Jenks over Sagna. My perplexity was increased still, when I saw Chadli (I think) running riot on our right flank during the entire first half. Maybe it was down to the fact, that Walcott wasn't providing any cover for our young right-back. He did play closer to Jenkinson during the second period, which ensured all Spurs' attacks broke down swiftly down that flank.

Tottenham preview: one way out

Good day to you.
In a few hours time we will host Tottenham in a hotly contested  North London derby. The last two encounters at the Emirates ended up with us beating our neighbours to a pulp, and I hope, that's the case today.
As I've already said yesterday, I feel no particular hatred towards Spurs. Most Arsenal fans, however, view this fixture as crucial and, might I say, the manager's already unstable position very much depends on the outcome of today's game. I don't think even Champions League qualification (or, rather, unqualification) could have affected the decision, whether Arsene Wenger should stay or leave, more. Even a defeat from Villa on the opening day wasn't, in the end, that important. Sure, it was viewed as a direct result of our transfer inertia (rather than just coincidental), but the outpouring of anger, which followed that defeat wasn't linked to a result alone.
Tottenham is an entire different story, however. The level of hatred between Arsenal and Spurs fans is unprecedented. During these 90 minutes the team simply HAS to win. Not because the opposition is weaker (on paper, that is), not because three points are important, but because much more is at stake here. The alternative, for the fans of both teams, is unacceptable. It's not a case of "Do or die", much more "Die but do".

If a team wins, every decision of the manager will be justified. Not in the long run, but definitely for now. Every player, injured during that game, will be viewed as a hero. All in all, emotions, extreme emotions, will be running high, that's why the importance of result cannot be underestimated by those involved. And it's a straw, our manager should hold on to tightly.
Win, and he'll get some breathing space with the signings. Win, and there'll be an opportunity to get several senior players up and running before the next game. Win, and the manger will be looked at with more pride and lenience to (occasional) oddities.
I think, Arsene Wenger understands that. He also understands, that a defeat will have a lot of fans lighting their torches and heading towards his office. The extreme emotions I mentioned earlier will leave no room for mercy, no understanding from the fans, no support from them. The heat, that will emanate from the fans, will scorch Wenger alive, should he lose. Because it will be him, who'll lose. Not the players. Every accusation, however unfounded it is, will be aimed at the manager. The fans will do their utmost to have Arsene fired, should we lose, and they'll not be interested, in who replaces him or whether the club has the opportunity to find someone on such short notice. This may well be the most important game during Wenger's 16-year stay with us. No kidding.
In terms of team news, apart from Podolski, we have no fresh injures. I expect Flamini to start the game on the bench, apart from that the team pretty much picks itself and should look like: Szczesny-Sagna-Mertesacker-Gibbs-Ramsey-Whilshere-Rosicky-Cazorla-Walcott-Giroud. I gotta say, I'm still uneasy about the Whilshere-Ramsey partnership, cause it leaves our back four exposed. The manager will have to work something out, but I doubt he'll choose Flamini over either of these guys.
It is a squad, more than capable of winning the game, to my mind. Sure, Tottenham has a slew of new players (none of those are near the form or abilities, demonstrated by Bale last season), but one thing may be against them. The manager was right to say, that bringing a lot of players in is a risk. In the long term, Villas-Boas may work out, how to effectively use them all, but for today he doesn't as much has a team on his hands, than just a number of individuals. This may work to our advantage, cause we, opposed to Spurs right now, have a  TEAM, not a bunch of players.
And these players have already showed, what they are capable of, demolishing Fenerbahce and deservedly beating Fulham. We have a shallow squad, no doubt about it, it will hamper our chances in the long run, should it stay as it, but we have enough players to do the job today. Fingers crossed, they will, so out only worry, come 9 p.m., will be non-existent signings. Come you reds.
That's it for now, back later with a review