Every Gooner across the land, indeed all fans, are eagerly waiting for tomorrow afternoon’s Premiership kick off. This summer has been a long one, with no Euros or World Cup to keep us entertained during the club break. Wimbledon doesn’t really float my boat, and so far this summer, the Ashes have failed to live up to the 2005 thrills.

So our late Saturday starter on Merseyside can’t come soon enough. But who are most Gooners looking forward to seeing the most this Saturday at 5.30? A year ago 8/10 would have said “Cesc” without a moment’s hesitation. But I, and many others I know, can’t wait to see “I am Gooner” start his first full season in red and white. Andrey’s double double at Anfield at the end of last season really did whet the appetite and we wanted more.

We have had to wait three long months, but now we are about to see the Russian master have a real crack at the Premiership and I can’t wait to see him run rings around the so-called best defences in England. Especially against the Pie eaters from say, Hull, Blackburn, Wigan, Stoke, Bolton, Wolves and Man City to name a few. That is of course if they don’t kick him to death in the tunnel before the game even starts.

Since Thierry left, Cesc has been the No 1. The darling of the fans. The picture boy. One of the first in your fantasy football team. This year? Andrey’s name will be very prominent on many a teamsheet across the land. Don’t misunderstand me. I still think that Cesc is a very special player and although has still to convince he has what it takes to be skipper, is one of the top five midfielders in the world. And no doubt, the relationship between the pair will produce many a goal for us over the next 10 months, but Andrei has something about him.

Dennis Bergkamp had it, Thierry Henry had it, Ian Wright had it at times. When he gets the ball you know there is a good chance something is going to happen. A good cross, a defence-splitting pass, a sharp shot, a cheeky nutmeg and sometimes an amazing finish as we witnessed first hand on Merseyside in April.

Here’s to hoping that Andrey quite likes the blue side of Liverpool for target practice too.