Forget the pundits, somehow, someway, this season is ours.   It’s Arsenal’s.  There is something special about this season.  Henry’s celebration just showed it all in one big emotion.   Because even though this season isn’t a Gooner fantasy or perfect, it is special. And every game, win or lose, it’s becoming more and more obvious.  Arsenal is the story.  Arsenal is the future of Premier League.  Arsenal is something special.  

Now that Henry’s actually one of us…

Gooners everywhere are, rightly, swooning over Henry’s magical return. But I’m obsessed with his comments after the game.

“I don’t know what to say. I love the club and I hope I can do more. I hope it won’t be the last one. The feeling I had when I scored was amazing. I rejoined the club as a fan; before I wasn’t. Scoring a goal when you support the team, now I know how some of the guys who played for Liverpool or Man United or Chelsea felt when they scored a goal for the club they support.” (emphasis added)

Henry always played at his best. But now he’s one of us: he’s a fan and as a result he’s a player in a different way. He’s now living our dreams on the pitch. His celebration was the same if you or I had scored. A passion and heart we’ve seen in flashes from players, but only just now starting to gel.

Change was needed…

For too long Arsenal has been the center of a constant shadow, with a big rain cloud constantly overhead. In the last few months, however, things have begun to change. The cataclysmic changes that happened during the summer violated every principle of Wenger’s French genetic upbringing. But it was necessary. Wenger hates sudden change; he wanted a gradual change. But sudden change was needed. It hurt, but it worked.

This season, Gunners and Gooners have gone through the emotional process together. Victory Through Harmony.  That hasn’t applied for the last, what, four years?

So yes, we might only have Henry for 2 months, but 2 months might just be enough. Coming on as an Arsenal’s ultimate supersub, he brought poise, experience, technical ability, and leadership. He also brought passion and history too. He’s in a special space in his career, one that can only benefit Arsenal as we go through a difficult stretch. It’s obvious that he has nothing to prove; he’s only playing for the love the game and Arsenal. In that order. It’s obvious, infectious, and perfect.  Imagine the impact in training.  What must Wilshere be thinking?

But that just highlights a greater point about the Club right now. The locker room hasn’t been this united in years. And that’s why this year is special. Gunners are happy. They are happy with the Club. They are happy with each other. They are happy with Gooners. This is a winning mentality. This a Club that has the ability, injuries aside, to make a real push in the second half of the season.

This is a special time. The ups and downs only make it more magical.  This is Arsenal’s time.

The start of this season might have been the best thing to happen to Gooners in years. Reality is back in play and it’s a blessing. For too long Gooners have been a slobbering emotional wreck. But after the start of this season, the weird shadow of relegation, and, the “club in crisis” headlines, even stolen games seem somewhat less drink inducing. Yes my friends, Gunners and Gooners have grown up.  Thanks to a dose of Reality.

Go back in time and Arsenal seemed to be the first Big Club ready to collapse in the new era.

The loss of Fab and shocking! (exclamation point for drama) departure of Nasri signaled not just a Club in decline, but a Club cliff diving into a lake without water. Yes sure, five players were added, but they were all desperation buys; nothing could save Arsenal. Travel back a few months before that and things weren’t any better. The squad’s epic collapse during the 2010/2011 season was like a New Year’s Eve Hangover: wicked, mind bending, identity questioning, and death welcoming -why continue to live like this???

Yes yes yes, it was an “emotional roller-coaster”

How many times did bloggers and writers write “emotional roller-coaster” to describe the Club, the season, the Club, the challenges, and Gooners everywhere. It’s no surprise that a bunker mentality took over. Forget talking to other Club supporters, Gooners couldn’t even talk to each other. It got so bad, some other Club fans actually took pity; “taking the piss” wasn’t even that much fun for them anymore. How could it be, Gooners were beating them to the punch in critiquing the Club.

But the worst was the overwhelming feeling of self-pity that suffocated Gooners at pubs and online. It was insufferable.  Everyone had something to say and none of it all that good. Journalists poked fun, but Gooners raged everywhere, there was no getting away: the blogosphere screamed murder; the twitterati shed digital tears by the hundreds of thousands; and, Facebook was a memorial of sorts. Gooners became the first crowdsourced digital soap opera.

Then, like life, things changed.

Just unlucky that…

For too long, watching Arsenal meant being equally mad at the official, FA, UEFA, Wenger, AND Arsenal players.  No one was safe.  Not so much anymore.  Following the early season reminder that “things could be worse” as an Everton supporter friend of mine likes to point out to me, reality, so long the overlooked benchwarmer in the Arsenal universe, was given a chance to play and got stuck in.

Even better, reality, at least so far, hasn’t given up its spot in the Starting XI.  Thank the football gods for that.  Today, Gooners have hope tempered with patience.  Transition is the watchword and excitement is starting to creep back into our goofy grins, 140 character diatribes, and text messages.  Yes, we should have won “that game” but the season isn’t over. And, yes, 
“he should have scored that goal” but we can still rally.

Gooners are more likely to say, “ah, he’s just unlucky.”  And that’s a good thing, because it’s true. Luck beats talent every time; it’s not just an excuse.  Arsenal are a good team. A very good team in fact.  Better, they are a very good team with tremendous youth and talent.  Don’t think the other Clubs haven’t noticed.  Szczesny, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Koscielny.  All of them are under 24.  All of their best years are ahead of them and they are proven at this level.  Add in Chamberlain and one has to be, should be, excited about the next few years.

Gooners should be happy. The light at the end of the tunnel is here. Maybe not quite yet, but it will be here tomorrow.  Reality has sunk in and there’s no stopping it.

Ooh Ooh Ooh to be…Ooh to be a Gooner!

There’s more potential, if less excitement, this January transfer window for Gooners. Why? Because times have changed and Arsenal is no longer looking for a January talisman. For the first time in a long-time, the Club, the fans, and the players are on the same page: a mercenary would be good. But, for once, no savior is needed.

Some fans live for the transfer window. The season is just the preliminary time to prepare for the anxiety, false hopes, and, lets face it, transfer porn for too many -especially us blogger types. Random names from random websites are thrown across the Gunner blogosophere, twitterverse, and shouted about in pub shrines.

For the last several years, however, Gooners have turned to the transfer windows with a terrible mix of despair. On the one hand, the constant threat of you know who leaving overshadowed everything. And, on the other hand, the constant hope for a new shining light to be purchased always seemed out of reach.

This year, something seems different. This year, the Board seems ready to spend. This year, the Club really is just a mercenary or two away from making a good run. This year, a decisive move, loan or purchase, might be enough to have a real impact. Just look at Yossi.

What to watch out for

I won’t bore Gooners or tease them with possible purchases. I would be surprised if there are any stellar signings this winter transfer window. But I do expect some subtle purchases (maybe a fullback for cover) or (ideally) a decisive move for a loan and an option to buy in the summer (striker maybe?).

For Arsenal, loans might just be the ticket as the Club moves through this transition period. Sure, many Gooners might think that loans are for small Clubs, but Arsenal is a team in transition, not just away from Fabregas, but also from youth to veteran. Quality veterans for short-periods of time can be monumental to Shepard that process.

For instance, it’s unlikely ManCiteh would ever let Arsenal have Tevez on loan, but if Arsenal just had his wages, that’s ~£6M for the second-half of the season. Then he’s gone. That’s £6M for a fresh (hasn’t played all year) Tevez with a chip on his shoulder. How many games is that worth? Is it worth qualifying for a top 4 finish? The point is, that’s the high-end, so who else is available?

Build it and they will come

After the disaster start to this season, the last couple of months have been about sending a message: The Arsenal is back. Although things aren’t perfect, that mission has been accomplished. Arsenal look like a team on the up and up. Nasri’s move looks like a #FAIL for him (money not withstanding) and Gooners are downright positive these days.

The football world has noticed it too. It’s not just that Arsenal are solidly in the top 5 and in the second round of Champions League play. It’s the mentality. It’s the realization by everyone that losing Fabregas didn’t mean the Club would be relegation fodder. It’s the realization that this Arsenal squad is something special and will be for sometime.

Arsenal don’t need to make a big splash this January. Just one or two small moves that make sense will send the biggest message of all.

Mikel Arteta has not just saved this season, Arteta might just have saved Arsenal’s future.  So as three Gunner Titans unveil their new bronze statutes, Gooners should keep in mind the unsung hero that might just have saved Arsenal’s season, by saving the squad, not just today, but for the next several years.  

Objectively, Arsenal should have bought Arteta last summer. But lady luck and the football gods are strange concubines, and things have worked out even better than expected. Picked up at the last minute, Arteta has shown what Arsenal has been missing for too long during the Fabregas era: pure focus. I’m not knocking Fabregas, but as Nasri so obviously pointed out, the team “knew [Fabregas] was leaving for an entire year.” Don’t think that uncertainty didn’t cause conversations and problems in the locker room. Arsenal is not Chelsea. This is not a bunch of mercenaries.

Arteta may not be Fabregas in talent. But neither is Fabregas Arteta as a leader. Arteta has gone from leading a perennial mid-table squad to the Round of 16 in the Champions League. He knows how short and brutal the game is. And, he’s just what Arsenal have needed for two years now.

Why we needed Arteta (for awhile)

For the last two years, Arsenal have been trapped in the space soap opera that was the Fabregas affair. And, regardless of your opinion, or mine, we all knew Fabregas was leaving. Bracketing the impact of that knowledge on the field for a second, the uncertainty around Fabregas screwed up Arsenal’s transfer plans. Sure we have Wilshere, but we didn’t quite know who or what to buy. Forget splashing the cash, Arsenal had NO transfer strategy until Fabregas left. Throw in Nasri’s quick departure and immediate moves were necessary. But more critical was Fabregas. For Arsenal to move on, the squad had to lose the lynchpin that wasn’t: Fabregas.

Arteta fills that void for the transition perfectly. There is no question he wants to be a Gunner and that he’s enjoying himself. Also, there’s little question that as Wilshere develops and a new talent, say a Götze or Hazard, are brought in, that he can move to the bench with class. He provides the quality, depth, maturity, and leadership so desperately needed to manage these transitions. Think Giggs.

Arsenal have a massive future, think about it for a second, it’s good to be a Gooner: Chamberlain (as good as we could only wish for), Jack Wilshere (fresh for the final push of the season), Koscielny (maybe the best find, ever), Ramsey (is the magic back?), Walcott (still special), Coquelin (slowly becoming more important under our noses, more on him later)) , and Frimpong (lots to learn, but has the potential). That’s the core of the squad with magical potential. That’s an entire midfield. Rock for the defense. And, an insane striker team. Don’t think the other Clubs don’t see that too. Arsene has something special on his hands. But getting there requires something special too, a leader that can rise to the occasion today and tomorrow. That’s our unsung hero: Arteta.

In time there will (or should be) odes about Arteta

It’s unlikely that Arteta will go down in Arsenal history as one of the kingpins of Gunner lore. But if he keeps this up, he should. Sure, things can change. But as it stands right now, Arteta is exactly what Arsenal need. If he can become the Club’s Giggs for the next 3-5 years, he might just be worth a bronze statute.  The Gunner Moses that parted the sea to lead Gunners (and Gooners) through the football chaos.

The exit from the Carling Cup might seem bad on first blush, but deep down Gooners should have an inappropriate giggle. After this season’s debacle of a beginning, Arsenal are becoming something special. And, it’s not just Arsenal fans that see that. Sure ManCiteh won, but watching the ManCiteh game, even the biggest haters were able to see the magic.

Whenever you have Coquelin and Frimpong starting, you know it’s a young team. But what was most stunning in a game that saw Park, Chamakh, Coquelin, Frimpong, and Chamberlain start, was that Arsenal could have and probably should have won. Against any other team that might not have mattered, but when the other team has Dzeko and Nasri starting and brings El Kun off the bench, that sends a message.

The beauty, and pain, of sports is that the outcome is not determined. So yes, ManCiteh might have been favored, but Arsenal should have won. And, Arsenal should have won, but one mistake means they lost. That’s sports. But magic can still happen.

Bye-bye Fabregas, oh, and Nasri too…

Gooners can be forgiven for forgetting Fabregas so quickly. The rough start to the season meant nobody wanted to think about it. But as the team has grown, as Arteta and company have come more integrated, Arsenal have finally begun the transition so desperately needed. For those that thought keeping Fabregas was essential else the end of the world was here, his loss has proven eye opening. For too long the squad has been living on edge with Fabregas. Their loss has been harsh, but our gain.

For a team who’s newest talisman was supposed to be Jack Wilshere, but was always RVP, this season has been an unqualified success so far. I have no idea if Arsenal will buy anyone this coming January -I highly doubt it -but I do know that players all over the world that might have doubted if they would come to Arsenal have changed their tune. The Club in Crisis has become the Club on the Hunt. Young talented players are beginning to look at Arsenal again as a team on the rise. Yes, on the rise. That hasn’t happened in a while. For the last several years, Arsenal have been a team that failed to meet expectations.

The Carling Cup team showed the way. In a team with mixed youth and veteran leadership, Gooners saw a system. If there is anything Wenger has missed these last few years or so, it was the ability to impose a system that lasted for a consistent period of time. Fabregas and Nasri were supposed to bring that, but well, we know what happened. But the Carling Cup showed that even when the team isn’t playing at its best, a new system is finally starting to impose itself. There was no Arteta or Ramsey, but Arsenal are starting look the same no matter who they play.

I’m not saying Arsenal played the same as with the starting XI, I’m just saying the overall system was one that Gunners of different levels could easily slot into. That’s important as the season gets long in the tooth. Frimpong may be going out on loan, but other players need to be able to slot in as fast as possible. Remember Bendtner on the right wing? Shudder. that just can’t happen again.

Final thoughts and a holiday grin

Lowered expectations always make things easier. But finally, finally, Arsenal seem to have turned the mental corner. For too long Arsenal have been stuck on Fabregas. And, no doubt, had Nasri stayed, Arsenal would be a step up already, if only because the transition would have been easier. In fact, I’m sure Nasri, while not upset that he left -£200k a week will make that easier -is wondering what would have happened if he hadn’t left. But losing both of them freed the team.

Today, there are no more questions about the keeper. The central defense is locked down -hey Bolton, you should have sold Cahill when you had the chance! The midfield is in transition, but Arteta, Ramsey, Song, and even Cogquelin, Diaby, and soon to return Wilshere give hope. The only questions are on the front line. And watching Chamberlain play just has to make Gooner smile.

Is Chelsea the new Arsenal? As a Gooner I know I shouldn’t care, but watching Chelsea play the last couple of matches (Arsenal and Liverpool) I couldn’t help but think a shift in the Premier League has occurred. Arsenal, finally, are becoming the new machine of the Premier League.

For the last several years, Arsenal has entered the Premier League as a top four Club with title ambitions. The experience has been worse: start strong, fade in the end. This season, however, has been anything but the same; a rash of new players joining at the last minute; a slew of red cards and injuries; and, destruction at Old Trafford of a Carling Cup. But what began as horrible, is beginning to turn into something wonderful.

Lessons from Stamford Bridge

Watching Chelsea, one can’t help but be reminded of old Arsenal, a creaky central defense, young talent, but over reliance on older players. Sure, the passing game has moments of brilliance, but you can’t really rely on it. It’s not a perfect comparison, but Chelsea fans now know the sinking feeling Gooners have known -the late game dread. The firm and unshakeable belief that somehow, someway, Chelsea will conspire to throw the game away. Bonus points that John Terry is the main culprit.

A new Arsenal fortitude

The scent of anticipated failed expectations might finally have been cleansed from Emirates. Sure, the expectations have been exchanged for weekly prayers that Arsenal don’t fall out of the top four, or at one point, wouldn’t be relegated, but with change comes opportunity. Arsenal have been living under, frankly, ridiculous expectations.

As talented as the squad was, it wasn’t built to win. No squad has a real chance of winning with the Fabregas shadow of doubt undercutting the squad day in and day out, at least not in the Premier League anyway. But something special is beginning to develop at Arsenal; and, we’d all be blind to ignore it. Remember the concerns about the goal keeping situation? Gone. Total lack of confidence in the central defense? Gone as well, even if issues do pop up. Midfield instability? Nope. Arteta has stabilized that and Ramsey’s return has given the squad a new engine.

No more band-aids?

I’m an optimistic, if cautious Gooner. At the beginning of the season I thought this season had opportunities so long as the team hung together. That seems to have happened. And, with Wilshere coming back and Diaby too, Arsene seems to have a selection problem coming down the pipeline. This is a problem I would always love to have. Even with injuries hitting, Arsenal finally seem to be moving away from the band aid approach to team selection.

Arsenal don’t have the same magic passing we used to have. But there is a machine like quality finally starting to emerge. As players have begun to learn about each other, they’ve begun to impose their game on others and keep the discipline and focus to finally close the game. As the season goes on, it’s this type of fortitude that is most important. It’s the mentality so long missing that is starting to emerge, just as Chelsea seem to be losing it.

Karma’s a funny thing.

Gooners take heart, the beginning is here. After an awkward breakup that sent Arsenal on a bit of a blinder for couple of months, the future is now.  Thanks to the loss of Fabregas and Nasri there is a new heart and a new identity being forged. Yes. I said it. Losing Fabregas and Nasri has helped, because from chaos has come the change so desperately needed.

For too long Arsenal and Gooners have suffered the constant emotional antagonism by the media, doom and gloomers, and just the irrational. But in truth, the fault was somewhat our own. Locked into a devil’s embrace with Fabregas, Arsenal was stuck in purgatory. It’s obvious now, that Arsenal have finally begun to move on. Finally.

Forging a new identity

How could Arsenal move forward when one player was so obviously bigger than the Club? How can Arsenal challenge when the unquestioned leader of the squad was unquestionably trying to leave the squad? Forget defensive instabilities, youth, and a lack of mental strength –Gooners and Gunners were forced to constantly ask ourselves, who are we?

So many questions make life difficult and boring. No wonder the squad lacked mental strength, it was too tired.

Some, many of whom I quite respect, thought that any one was foolish to even hint that Fabregas should leave. Call me a fool, but I thought Fabregas should leave. Not because I dislike him or failed to appreciate his superb quality. Indeed, I dearly wish Fabregas wanted to stay, but lets be honest, do any of us miss the drama surrounding him? And, if Gooners don’t miss it, you can bet the locker room doesn’t miss it either.

So, after a rough breakup, a trip to Vegas, and doing a few things we can’t take pictures of, it turns out things are moving along just fine.

We know we can…we know we can…we know we can…

Even the loss of Nasri, a big blow, has turned out okay. Instead of entering another long and drawn out “will he won’t he?”, Arsenal has been able to move on, and move on quickly. For the first time in a long-time, Arsenal seems to have a sense of character born out of true desire to be Gunners.

Wilshere is proclaiming allegiance. Gervinho is calling for Eden Hazard to join us. RVP and Vermaelen wear the captain’s band with a pride not seen in years. Gooners are fairly ecstatic with our central defense and goalkeeper. The preseason that was the first month or so, with five new players and three players serving red card suspensions is over.

Perhaps best, this Arsenal team should only get better. Ramsey, after his horrific injury and questionable confidence earlier this season seems to finally be getting back in step. If he really has the talent we all think he does, the Arsenal midfield will continue to become more dominant as the season progresses. Add to that Arteta’s growing understanding of our system and other players –his goal was no shock –and Arsenal’s midfield has a stability we haven’t seen in years. Oh, yeah, and Wilshere and Diaby are still both out. That’s depth returning to Arsenal just when the squad will need it during the winter run.

So what’s going on?

The loss of Fabregas and Nasri was horrible, in terms of talent. And, if they wanted to be here, I would take them back in a second. But the drama surrounding them was too much as well.

Perhaps it’s odd, but Fabregas had to leave for the squad to mature. The loss of Nasri simply preempted another Fabregas soap opera before it got out of hand. Believe that.

The loss of the two best players let the other players be more vocal about the squad, especially a young squad like Arsenal. Instead of being asked constantly about Fabregas, or Nasri had it come to that, these players are now focused on the squad that’s here. They can let go of the pressure that having Fabregas meant and play to their quality. And, the truth is, Arsenal’s talent is in fact quite high.

It took some time, but the Arsenal summer purchases and squad are looking really good: veteran leadership with Arteta (Mr. Stability after Sagna) and Meretsacker (wanted to be here last season in truth) and Santos (with his scary like preternatural clam), and new creative talent with Gervinho (spent 5 years preparing for this moment and already a starter) combined with Ramsey’s return, Song hitting his stride, RVP playing out of his mind and Koscielny proving that he might be some form of prodigy.

Sure, not everything is perfect. But who cares. For just a moment Gooners, lets enjoy stability, growing confidence, a few clean sheets here and there, and winning.

GOA has always been a staunch supporter of Kroenke and not because he was American, that was just sort of a bonus fun fact. GOA believed, and still believes, that Arsenal must modernize their organization in order to survive at the top of the elite -namely improving the commercialization and organizational aspects of the Club, which were woefully antiquated. New ownership though, cough cough ManCiteh and PSG, have changed the game.

Rumors are that Usmanov is out and about again, trying to find the shares needed to force a take over.  Don’t cry for Silent Stan though, if it goes through, Stan will make a killing at the price Usmanov will pay.  Nonetheless, GOA, clearly, has been on Kroenke’s side for the last couple of years. Stability and tradition, we said.  Arsenal are doing fine and on the up and up we felt.  Fast forward two more years and two things have begun to make us wonder differently: (1) the new PSG, and (2) Nasri’s move North.

Long-time GOA readers need not worry, the sad start of the season isn’t the cause of the change.  GOA doesn’t scare that easy. Nope. It’s the system that is pushing GOA over the line.  Football, like everything else, now lives in “Google Time.”  The times change and they change fast.

Footie fabulousness

For years, football fans have followed the ridicuous “accounting” procedures at Real Madrid and Barca out of fascination. One the one hand, it was in Spain, so at least the other teams had a chance at the CL. And, Real, at least, lived up to the hype by purchasing every big name player there was. So, whether you were a fan of Real, or not, one at least appreciated the soap opera that ensued. In Barca’s case, they engineered a new style of play that was pretty to watch. As fans, we looked to Italy for booms, busts and fabulousness too; and, lets be honest, Serie A didn’t disappoint.

The Premier League, however, suffers from too much competition and just plain nonsense. Having Chelsea and ManCiteh, means that two teams can compete for any player in the world. Even Barca, Juve, AC, and Inter have limits. As a result, these two Clubs essentially locked up two of the four positions for the CL. This leaves other teams, including ManU and Arsenal, two of the world’s biggest Clubs fighting for two positions, oh, and don’t forget Liverpool and the wannabe Spuds bring up the rear.

The strangest thing is that ManCiteh is now a powerhouse. I mean really, ManCiteh???  Who…ever…would…have…thought?

Gooner whining?

Fair play, if Arsenal were one of the guaranteed spots I might not care as much. But that’s really the point isn’t it? Arsenal isn’t and I’m a Gooner. Worse yet, Arsenal played by the rules. The Club stays within a manageable salary range; the Club developed a stellar Academy; and, in the midst of transfer madness, Arsenal still respect other Clubs. But the facts might be more brutal: Arsenal can’t keep up. And Arsenal is one of the top grossing Clubs in the world (Top 10), if we can’t keep up, we have a problem.

Now we have PSG as the new biggest shark to enter the water. Fact is, Arsenal might just need to change. Blaming Wenger or the Board is irrelevant if the entire system is aligned against you.

I’m confident that Kroenke can introduce new measures and techniques to modernize Arsenal and increase revenues. But I’m not confident that Kroenke can do it fast enough.

This isn’t a question of whether he has the money. It’s a question of whether he wants to treat Arsenal like a crown jewel or an investment. Kroenke’s an investor, he’s stable, and adds value. As a fan of the game, I love that. He makes money the Club develops, all is well.

Unfortunately, PSG, ManCiteh, Chelsea, Barcelona, and even the Italian Triad (AC, Juve, and Inter) don’t play that game. If Arsenal were in any other league this wouldn’t matter. But having two sharks plus ManU floating around means that Arsenal is at a severe disadvantage, at least for the short-term.  Worse yet, we can’t rely on the “regulator,” i.e. FIFA to do anything.  For all the talk, FIFA hasn’t done anything yet, the Fair Play Rules were designed to be evaded…oh, and Clubs spending big money is good for business…sigh.

Should Kroenke sell?

GOA hasn’t completely changed positions yet. Kroenke doesn’t need to sell yet. And, there is still hope for the squad to recover; the long-season and early collapse are in Arsenal’s favor. Arsenal are rebuilding and will get stronger as the season progresses -I honestly believe that. But the reality is that the Club cannot compete in salary bidding wars, or when any of these Clubs step in to raise the price of a player, and that does raise some concern for the long-term.  That’s where Usmanov obviously comes in.  For Usmanov, Arsenal is clearly a crown jewel for a billionaire.  That means money for increased wages; that means buying players the Club need now; it means, when Arsenal bid on a player, other Clubs can’t push us out with a bid of £1-2M because we know we can’t outbid them (something many Gooners don’t seem to understand).

The times, they are a changing, so GOA is listening…change or be left behind.

I have a strange hope growing for the second half of this season.  Arsenal are now officially the Premier League’s darkhorse. Ignore the pundits, other mangers are, and for good reason.  Fans get too caught up in starts and stops, but as any manager will tell you, the season is long and much can still happen with four competitions on the line.  Arsenal aren’t “there” yet, but they are closer in talent than the season so far suggests and mentally, they’re only getting stronger.

Expectations for this current team have been everywhere, especially after the horrid start to the season. What’s interesting, however, is that Arsenal’s bad start might just bode well this season. How often have we watched the team have a good start only to flame out in the second half of the season?

But this might just be the year of the surprise.

Keeping it real…

I’m not naive, this team isn’t the greatest squad. But it has something that has been missing for quite a while: guts & heart. Adding four new starters (Arteta, Gervinho, Mertesacker, and Santos) and things are bound to be confusing for awhile. For some reason people were under the impression that the team would explode onto the scene with the new signings.

But that really made no sense. Anyone that has ever played on any group sport knows it takes time to learn about your teammates. Arsenal need that time. So yes, things are a bit shaky right now. Yes, the defense isn’t quite there (side note: can we keep Song in the defense? more on that in another post) but all that matters is Arsenal are learning to win. Learning to win in the midst of incredible pressure from fans and media; pressure compounded by the horrible start to the season; oh, and a wicked attack of the injuries.

But through it all, they’re learning to gut it out. One game at a time. Sure, the quality isn’t right, and the organization goes AWOL at times. But Gooners should be pleased. For the last couple of years we’ve started with a bang and ended with a whimper. Good teams get stronger as the season toils.  They find ways to win.

Arsenal finally have a chance to be that team.

This is a second half squad

This team has second half rise written all over it. Arteta is becoming the team’s pivot point. Gervinho is still getting comfortable. Mertesacker has the poise in the backline we’ve been waiting for. Santos is a veteran of quality. And they all just met about a month ago.

As for the youngsters, Ramsey isn’t back yet. But give him some time. He desperately needs more games (and confidence). And, Frimpong isn’t quite ready yet to impose himself as a defensive midfielder -for instance, he still hits when he should tackle, but that’s a holdover of playing with youngsters, he’ll improve. Oh, and this AOC kid seems to have long-term brilliance potential. Wilshere is out, but should come back just when we’ll need his energy. Diaby is still out, but returns soon as well, just when we need depth with a player that knows the system.

And that’s one of our biggest issues, depth. Depth with grit. When the season hits in full force in January and Arsenal are knee deep in four competitions; when the season is going down to the wire for the four places to qualify and ManCiteh are self-destructing; Chelsea are feeling their age; Liverpool are finally learning how little talent they actually have; and, ManU becomes exhausted, Arsenal will just be starting to gel with a squad that has the grit to succeed.

One more pickup

There is, of course, still a need. There is still a need for that creative spark to gather the team. Arsene seems to know this, with his eye on Goetze, Hazard, Parejo and who knows who else. And, I won’t be surprised if another creative spark is added in January, but I won’t try to guess who.

But Gooners should be excited.  One young super star on this squad in the January window might be the spark to launch the Club forward.  So as we watch the Arsenal these next few months, judge them not on how well the win.  Judge them on whether the grow game to game; whether they learn to gut out games.  Because it’s a long season.

The game against Bundesliga Champion Borussia Dortmund was a big emotional lift for Arsenal. Even in the midst of a draw -against a very good German team playing at home -one can’t but help feel that Arsenal pulled one out. With three new additions in the squad, the team played gutsy and scrappy football. Beauty wasn’t the watchword, but success starts in the smallest of a step.

Yes. A win would have been huge, but Borussia Dortmund played attacking fearless football and the goal was well taken.  What was more important was that the three new additions have brought something to this squad that haven’t existed in years: depth. How long have Gooners waited desperately to field a second string that could give the squad a fighting chance. One of the reasons the ManU disaster was annoying was because Arsenal just about fielded a Carling Cup squad.

Talk about bringing a knife to a gun fight.

So yes. A win would have been better. But a draw against arguably the strongest squad in our Group, at least at this point in time, bodes well for the future. Finally, finally! Arsenal showed a depth and scrappiness that has been missing for quite too long.

New Kids on the Block

The New Kids walked into a media crush. Meretsacker, Arteta, Yossi, welcome to the Thunderdome. The pressure is on and the critics hate you before you’ve even played one game! Welcome to the Thunderdome!

That said, these three showed the value of veterans. A value that bodes well for the long season ahead. It’s always difficult to come into a new club, especially with the pressure these three had -replace Fabregas and Nasri. Although none were perfect, we saw what veteran professionalism brings -when in doubt, play hard, gritty and scrappy.

Sure, there wasn’t a lot of creativity, but the lack of offense can’t be blamed entirely by the new kids. Veteran leadership, however, showed through; no matter how disorganized things are, play defense! And that’s exactly what we saw. Yossi was a bit off offensively, but he more than made up for that on defense. Arteta too. Tasked with adding a creative flavor, Arteta is still learning where to find a charging Theo, linking up with RVP or trading places with a wandering Gervinho.

But you can see the learning curve is happening.

Looking Ahead

So what makes the future look bright?  Injuries. Wilshere, Ramsey and Rosicky were all hurt. But Arsenal were able to play Arteta and Yossi. Two legitimate starters in their place. Even if they aren’t the equal of Wilshere or Ramsey, they are Premier League players and Arteta for one, carried his squad.

Finally. Depth.

Don’t sleep, if Arsenal had those two players earlier, the season would not have started as it did. I’m not saying it would be all Wins, but definitely not the disaster start.

It seems, finally, that Arsenal can suffer injuries and still give the squad a chance to win. In fact, if the game against Borussia Dortmund was any indication, the problem now, rests solely on the offense. The defense and midfield have a backbone and depth now.

Imagine the return of Wilshere, Ramsey and Rosicky. Imagine a Starting XI with a midfield of Song, Ramsey and Arteta; and a front line of Wilshere, RVP and Gervinho. Total football is back. Oh, and that leaves Rosicky, Arshavin, Frimpong, Djourou, and Walcott are all on the bench. Not bad.

This is a squad that has the depth to compete at the end of the season, both mentally and physically.  Will Arsenal win anything, I don’t know.  But they have the endurance now to push through the coming campaign to stay up top and threatening.  And right now, that’s what matters.

Should Arsenal add another player?

The big question is whether Arsenal need to add anyone in the January transfer window.  With the new additions though, there won’t be any new veterans, that steel already exists.  Expect youngsters.  And, with the offense again sputtering and failing to live up to any expectations, moves in the winter window right now are still strong for an Eden Hazard or Marvin Martin to add that extra attacking flair.  They are also strong for others to move on.  But more on that later…