Pradeep Kachhala
For those who finally managed to catch the Malaysian game it was very much an anti-climax for a number of reasons. Firstly, the stadium was barely 2/3 full - but Arsenal players will be used to this as soon as 80 mins goes at the E******s. More importantly, I used to like watching pre-season games to catch a glimpse of new players and how they fit into the team... and, no, Jenkinson and Myachi do not count, before anyone gets clever! Apart from that, there is very little comment to make other than (as I will probably repeat continuously over the next season) let’s see what happens between February and May 2012 as historically - even with the Invincibles squad - this is where we have fallen away.
Is anyone else absolutely fed up with reading gossip columns as to how close we are to signing defender X - usually Cahill or Samba? Why does it take us so long to do business? However, this is more of a historical trait rather than one of the many things Gooners are placing the blame for at Wenger's doorstep. I recall the days when Les Ferdinand (Sir Les to his mates) was perennially linked with Arsenal (during his QPR days): the prospect of Ian Wright (repeat surname 3 times) and Ferdinand upfront was what many Gooners felt at the time would be the catalyst to take us back to the top. Which is rather ironic, as in those days we craved flair players to complement our defensive steel, while now the reverse is very true.
Have Bendtner and Almunia left yet? How about that Denilson - what a cameo in Malaysia! Subbing the sub is the funniest thing that Wenger can do to a player - do you think he took him on tour as a cruel show of public punishment? Apparently he threw a tantrum - much like he did in the Sun newspaper two months ago. My argument is, why on earth did we fork out for his flight and accommodation when this is the state of his attitude? Surely taking a Lansbury or JET would have been more deserving. I will put this under point number 1628 in the things that are so wrong with this club...
Last season was Wenger's toughest as a manager. My friend, have a bad start to 2011/12 (and we have a tough August) and this season may be much tougher. At least even Pravda admits that he looked more than a little tetchy on the touchline last spring. Keep water bottles well away from Le Boss - for someone so frugal, he does waste a heck of a lot of water. Amusing Wenger comment of the week - " We are not frail defensively" ...ok, just like Ray Parlour doesn't look anything like Rebekah Brooks of "News of the World" fame... We were only bad at set pieces - really Arsene? Just last season? And why do we give away and concede from so many set pieces? Do the maths - we are particularly poor mentally and it does seem a backtrack from comments he made at the end of the season where he openly criticised our defence.
Anyhow, Gervinho "manwhosoundsbrazilianbutisactuallyfromivorycoast" has signed and apparently is just like Theo Walcott, take that as you will. He might actually be quite good, and he has the same hairdo as Sagna so perhaps he will help confuse opposing players as our next cunning tactic.
Finally Patrick Vieira has retired. An unbelievably good player for AFC - for me he always used to do the job of two midfielders at once. A shame he has chosen to stay at Man City rather than return to London, which I hope he does in the future in some capacity. Patrick, we missed you when you went and if Wenger can find another like you in the deepest darkest parts of the world with his extensive scouting network we would have a real chance of silverware next season.
