Arsenal’s season until now – Five areas of improvement

TotalArsenal

Shiny happy Gunners – Mean Defence – The Conductor is back – Goals by many – Quality on the bench.

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I was convinced that with the departure of brave sir Robin and Alex Song, and the arrival of our three major signings: Podolski, Giroud and Cazorla, this season would be another transitional one, and that we should not count on Arsenal winning any silverware this season. However, there are plenty of signs that this might not have to be a trophy-less season, as the new players have settled in a lot quicker than expected, and we have come reasonably well through a difficult fixture list.

All in all, there are five areas of improvement on which we can build our hopes for winning something soon.

1.) Shiny Happy Gunners

Whilst Arsenal made good progress with regards to the levels of togetherness and passion with which we played football last season, the whole team appears to have made further progress this season. Especially Podolski and Cazorla seem to smile all the time and play with great joy and passion. Add to that the likes of Arteta, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Jenkinson, and hopefully soon: Frimpong, Wilshere, Diaby and Rosicky, and many others, and we have now a team full of key players who love to play football, and are really happy to play for Arsenal. It has been a long time since we have been so deprived of mercenaries and long may it continue.

What would we give to play for our club? The answer is: absolutely everything! So, it is always important to see our players play with real passion for the club and give their all: that’s the least we should expect. I love the enthusiasm and shiny, happy faces of this season’s team and it bows well for the future.

2.) Mean Defence

How long have we been craving for a mean defence? Now, we are not there yet, and the last two PL games have been a harsh reality check for Arsenal, but there are still signs that our defence will be more solid this season. Five goals conceded in the first seven PL games is a huge improvement from last season and if we can keep this average up for the rest of the season we will end up with 27/28 goals conceded, which would be a huge improvement compared to last season’s PL tally of 49.

Mertesacker has really settled down in his second season and after his injury. Bould is working hard with especially the defence, and every single defender has come out saying how much they enjoy working with him. We have also been relatively lucky with injuries and there is plenty of quality cover in all positions; with the exception of the goalkeeper position, where we lack experience (although Mannone has not done that badly until now).

3.) The Conductor is back

Fabregas has finally been replaced and Cazorla has been a total revelation. What a great player we have in Santi Cazorla: Wenger has got himself a new conductor and that’s why he has been smiling again in the last few weeks. See also my recent post about our new Spanish maestro: https://bergkampesque.com/2012/10/10/arsenes-best-signing-since-moving-to-the-emirates-could-lead-us-to-the-top-again/

4.) Goals by many

After a difficult start, Arsenal is starting to score a good number of goals now, and they are nicely shared between all our attacking players. We should be really glad we are no longer uber-dependent on brave Sir Robin to score the majority of our goals: five goals by Gervinho, four by Podolski, four by Walcott, two each by Cazorla and Giroud, and a handful of players who scored one goal in all competitions since the start of the season. Let’s hope Giroud and Cazorla will improve further and the rest will keep up their great scoring form, and we will be fine this season. 13 goals in the last four games is a sign that Arsenal is making good progress.

5.) Quality on the bench

Despite a number of injuries to key players in defence and midfield: Szczesny, Sagna, Wilshere, Rosicky, and recently, Diaby, we have still been able to field a good first team, whilst having quality players on the bench. As long as we can bring on the likes of Koscielny, Walcott, Ramsey, Coquelin and Giroud after 60 or 70 minutes into a game, we have a good chance to hold on to a lead, or change games round. I reckon we need to invest in an experienced goalkeeper and a classic DM to further strengthen the team, but that’s it.

The above five improvements have made a real difference compared to last season, and are likely to provide a solid foundation for future, if not imminent, successes.

Keep the faith, fellow Gooners!

Total Arsenal.

61 thoughts on “Arsenal’s season until now – Five areas of improvement”

  • Great Post, TA, 🙂

    I hate to say this but at the beginning of last season AW rather than his usual urbane and professional self, was a very hurt and rattled man. What occurred was a very personal blow for Arsene, who gave his loyalty and belief to his players and probably expected it in return.

    He would never admit it, but I think he was shaken to the core by the desertion of Cesc who he had nourished and supported since he was 16.

    I know there was all that talk about Cesc’s DNA blah, blah, but I think AW was in denial about the likelihood of him leaving Arsenal, and was hoping against hope that Cesc would stay.

    The Nasri situation was not so obvious, but he had consistently said in October he would sign a contract in January last year and then in February that he would sign a contract in the summer.

    That, in my opinion, was why AW left replacements until the last moment and it all looked and, probably was, a last minute dash.

    This summer everything was carefully planned and new recruits dealt with early, and the decision by shitty van Persie was a dreadful disappointment but not a disaster.

    The result has been the fine points you have highlighted and the quiet content of many of us ‘normal’ fans, who feel that the Arsenal are in with a chance of success, rather than the anger this time last year when doom prevailed among many.

    Not me! And not some like Terry aka Tug Boat Tilly, and probably you too. 🙂

  • One of the inevitable consequences of having a settled team is that certain players will want to leave because they are not getting enough first team opportunities.

    I read today that Santos is unhappy and might ask to move because he does not see much future at Arsenal. My view? If a player is not inclined to fight for his place — sod him — let him go and get someone who is prepared to do so.

    Another who will probably go in January, tho’ I would prefer him to stay is Arshavin. The talk about him going to Fulham on a free are growing. Disappointing — but we will see!

  • Good afternoon RA 🙂

    I think you are totally right re Cesc: that was a big disappointment for Arsene and maybe something broke inside him; made worse by the betrayal of Nasri, although the latter is a mere mortal compared to the semi-godly Fabregas. It was just so good to see a smile back on his face when he was told recently how good new signing Cazorla looked.

    He really is recruiting a different type of player now and what a difference it makes. Compare Arteta, Koscielny, Gervinho, Mertesacker, Podolski, Cazorla with Adebayor, Nasri, Bendtner and Arshavin and you know what I mean. 🙂

  • RA,

    Gibbs has been brilliant until now. The boy has become a man over the summer. Santos needs to fight for his place indeed. If he is not prepared to do it then there is no place for him at the mighty Arse.

    Arshavin…… what can we say that has not been said already? A waste of a talent. 😦

  • I have a confession to make, TA.

    Despite being banned from all alcohol because of the medication I have to take, I have sneakily opened a bottle of champers given to me two years ago by a client.

    It is delicious and after two small glasses it has left me slightly woozy!

    Thank goodness the Glic is not around or he might take advantage of my girlfriend who finished the bottle off!! 😆

  • Hah RA, I am not sure whether the GLiCster would need your girlfriend to be intoxicated in order to seduce her. He has got the gift of the gap and his pulling skills are award-winning. The only solace you have is that he lives far away! 🙂

  • Good points Total, with one omission. The biggest difference I see with this current side is we have grown a pair. This, I think must have something to do with the appointment of Steve Bould. In his day, no one messed with him, and Im sure he is instilling this attitude into our squad big time. Although still a bit timid, I even see a slight change in Walcott. Look at the challenge he put in the other night at Wembley, not so long ago he would have chickened out of that confrontation big time.

    We were all down when Cesc left, but Santi has not only put a smile on our beloved players faces, but has also given us supporters something to grin about lately. Although early days but I feel Santi can completely help us to forget Cesc (he is certainly helping me anyway) . It would be interesting to see how many Gooners would swap Santi for Cesc……I wouldn’t.

  • Hi VCC 🙂

    Thanks for that addition and you are spot on! We have grown a pair all over the pitch, and yet, the beauty is our disciplinary record is fantastic with only three yellow cards and no red cards in all competitions until now!

    Santi has been great and both club and player could not have come together at a better time. The conductor has found his orchestra and the orchestra is no longer leaderless.

  • Hi Gooners, it is I, the most potent virile gooner on the web, even being this far away wont save Redders bit of fluff ! . hahaha

    There is something different this year, a new togetherness, a comradery, a bonding of like minded souls, a band of brothers in arms………………….stop it….stop it……..I`m making myself blub all over my laptop !. 😥
    But, I still have my feet firmly on the ground, at the this stage last season, we won 7 and drew 1 of the 8 games. If we do the same in the next 8 games, I`ll be well impressed, tall order though, there are some tough nuts to crack !.

  • Replying to myself will make me feel at home, just like looking in the mirror !.
    Web mirror, web mirror on the screen, who is the handsomest there`s ever been ?, why it is you, oh glicsomest bastard !. hahaha

  • Total…..don’t dampen GLiC’s ardour, that picture is sure a likeness of him, but the inbreds of Cornwall are notoriously ugly so that why mingling with the ugly race he sees himself as handsome.

  • That is a typical cornish inbred, you can understand why all the young bearded ladies take an interest in me !. hahaha

  • Anyway, I`m a one women man nowadays. I was only unfaithful to my missus twice………………….the 1980`s and 1990`s !.

  • Just humour him Total. Being amongst those inbred Cornwalites even Rooney would look pretty.

  • Total….GLiC has already bought his ticket to the dark place, this was his poem he wrote for his local inbred society bash last week end.

    Beauty is everything
    In this shallow world
    If your ugly then prepare
    To live in he’ll

    You’ll never be accepted
    And seen as the same
    Your whole life you will
    Be treated as one big game

    What have you got to smile about
    GLiC is ugly in every single way
    And these nasty, vein shallow people on bergkampesue
    Enjoy telling me that every single day

    I’ll never be treated as equal
    And seen as real human being
    People out there will never understand
    I think and have my own feelings

  • Hey VCC, I`ve got 2 tickets to the Queens ” shut that door” Rangers game. I shall keep an eye out for you in your closet queens kit !. hahaha

  • If I could get a ticket for that game I would dress up in a womans outfit and go with you. People would think we were the ugly sisters

  • These past few weeks I’ve been a house husband doing all the chores in my pink pinafore. I think you would fancy me GLiC.

  • In the Arsenal ladies team showers .yesssssssssss !.
    So if you had the choice, what would you rather be, yourself or the most beautifull looking lezzer on the planet ?. hahaha or is thay too easy a question ? hahaha

  • Prevening Bergkampesqueres.

    TA, what an excellent post. Just the sort of thing to get my blood pumping and my mallet thrashing

    These boys will give winning a trophy a real go. There is a new found spirit and unity been forged at the club, and when you combine that with the obvious talent and quality then anything is possible. We wIll go close this season, and with a bit of luck might just win the league. What ever happens, we should enjoy it.

  • Not that I`m knocking it,but Bergkampesque sounds similar to Burlesque and I have this image of house husbands Total and VCC walking about at home like Freddie Mercury in the ” I want to break free ” video !. hahaha

  • Carefull VCC, he means you to take tug Boat Tilly’s aka Terry’s women’s clothes off.

    It’s a trap to catch innocents like you or me!! 🙂

  • Would I be rude to a handsome b*stard from Cornwall? 🙂

    Well, it means “sling your hook” or “buzz off” or “hook your buzz” — can’t quite catch the accent when it’s typed!! 🙂

  • Redders
    About 20 years ago they did a survey and found out that the majority ( well over 50% ) population of Cornwall was from out of the area. Last week someone did a new survey/opinion poll in Cornwall, where people were asked if they were, Cornish ?, English ? or British ?. The overwhelming majority said Polish !. hahaha

  • Shite, I hope that didn`t sound too politically incorrect !. As some of my best pole dancing girlfriends are girls without poles. Stretch prefers girls with poles or trannies ( his prefered title for them ) !.

  • Red Arse……I won’t take the female attire off before the Monday morning, cos I’m ViCiCy at week ends only.

  • Very good Post TA

    And I think the first comment from Redders is spot on about Arsene and the betrayal he must have felt – and how it changed how he went about things this summer.

  • Recht schonen guten morgen fellow Gooners! 🙂

    Today’s post will be an ode to our Big Friendly & Focussed German and should come out around noon.

  • Morning TA, 🙂

    Rocky at 1:17 shows what a class act he is in agreeing with me! 🙂

    Now I think about it we rarely ever disagree — but I am working on it!!! 😆

  • Morning Redders 🙂

    It is your natural tendency towards Mozartesque harmony that keeps you from finding something to disagree about. 😀

  • spot on TA, the togetherness on the pitch is a joy to watch. It’s something that’s been missing for a while and it’s sure to take us to glory!

    @ VCC

    being house bound isn’t easy. As uni is over an hour away and i don’t really need to go in most of my days consist of wake up, gym,shower and back in the PJ’s by 9am. It isn’t easy but somebody has to do it!

  • Oz, I am pretty sure VCC does not allow himself him back in his PJ’s at 9am in the morning! He is an all-action man!! 🙂

    You, on the other hand, are a student and I would say enjoy it while it lasts. There have been many days in my (previous) working life when I wished nothing else than being a student again. Those were the days! 😛

  • It is the BR life TA, and it is a good one (this honours stuff is a different kettle of fish though. They said it would be the toughest high of our lifes…they obviously have never lived a day in GLIC’s shoes though, it isn’t easy being that debonair).

  • @ Oz…….as Total says, enjoy your uni days while they last. I sincerely hope you have no outside pressures (work commitments,beer, girls) while you are studying so hard, you need to have total dedication and time to become a success.

    Being back into my PJ’s before 9am………are you having a giraffe?

    Morning so far….
    6:55 drop Daughter off at station.
    7:15 walk my best friend George.
    7:40 drop Wife off at work.
    8:00 feed George and two cats.
    8:15 feed myself
    8:45 catch up on emails reference job hunting
    In between catch up an Arsenal forums
    9:00 prepare beef stew for tonics dinner.
    Thereafter try and connect a new DVD player ?????.doh doh doh.

    Don’t grow old, grey and senile like me. Good luck with your studies, I’m only joking with you because I know only too well how hard and time consuming my Daughters three years at Bath Spa uni was. Having decided on performing arts she had a full on programme that could easily go into the early hours with rehearsing.

  • Agreed Oz! 😛

    He is the prince of debonair – nobody does it better than him. 🙂

  • cheers VCC, goodluck with the job hunting. I don’t know how you older blokes cram everything into a day. I hope your daughter got through everything and passed with flying colours.

    How’d you go with the laptop hunt!

    Australia beating the Germans. The break is getting weirder by the second!

  • T (Total) minus10 minutes and counting !. hahaha
    I`m out for a while to chainsaw a tree……TIMBERRRRRRRRR hahaha
    Many years ago I did a Brush cutting and chainsaw course, the chainsaw test was unbelievable !,the only way i can describe is, think of having to do a driving test and then after having to take out the engine and put it back together again, whilst knowing all the car part numbers !.

  • And Redders, no jokes about ” if you go down to the woods today your in for a big surprise, glic with chopper in hand “!. hahaha

  • Slight delay at mission control Cornwall, it`s raining !
    Slight delay at mission control Norfolk, Total is trying to recover his hampton from the vacuum cleaner ! hahaha

  • I was thinking more that with you having a chainsaw, Glic man, it would be better for others to keep their choppers in hand! 🙂

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