Granted we didn’t sign one marque CMF and we’re relying on Jack but who else would you have had over Arteta….? There can’t be many. Don’t get me wrong i would have loved to have seen Hazard but he plays on the flanks and isn’t exactly known for his ability to dictate play in the centre of the park. He is incredibly skillful but Gervinhio was more productive for Lille, plus they were not going to sell for less than £40M which is more than what we spent on all 5 of our shiny new players

Here’s my take on our summer transfer in’s and out’s and how we now stand. I’ve read a lot of mixed reactions from Gooners and it was therapeautic to get my thoughts down in black and white.

First up, we replaced Nasri with Gervinhio and he already looks like he’ll stop with the tippy tappy and smoke past players to set up chances, plus HE WANTS TO BE HERE AND FIGHT (;-) 18 goals and 10 assists last year… FROM THE WING!!!

Wilshere will take over the Fabregas role of primary creator

Arteta will take over the Wilshere box to box link role

We’ve signed the best CB available, 6’6″ captain of his team and defensive mainstay in a German national team that is ranked 3rd in the World

Park looks to be an upgrade on Chamakh and Bentdner up top. Used to 4-3-3, scored 12 goals in a crap team that never attacked. Captain of his national team

Current starting LB for the Brazil national team, for sure better end product than Clichy. Maybe not as good defending as going forwards but it’s not as if defending was Clichy’s strong point.

Eboue replaced by Benayoun….. er no brainer. Quality at Liverpool and considered a good signing by Chelsea 12 months ago but had an injury hit season before that averaged 30+ games and roughly 10 goals per season. Captain of his country

Out- Denlison, probably the laziest player in our history

Out- Bentdner, probably better than Chamakh but still not as good as he thinks he is. A season up north starting regularly will do him good

Out- Eboue, liked the guy but bob average

Unlikely to be ever seen again in an Arsenal shirt- Almunia and Squillaci- good riddence

In- Myachi one of the best players in the Eredivisie, lauded by the Dutch media- 3 goals and 5 assists in 12 games

In- Joel Campbell, Best young player in Costa Rica, already a starter for the senior side at just 19. Played in 3 international tournaments in 2011. Top Scorer CONCAF U20, already 2 senior international goals for Costa Rica (How he didn’t get a special talent visa only Fergie knows!)

In- Jenkinson, already shown he’s a decent back-up for Sagna and better than Eboue defensively. Lifelong Gooner will fight for the shirt

In- Oxlade Chamberlain, supposed to be as a better prospect than Theo…. one for the future maybe has only slightly less pace than Walcott but more trickery and better delivery. In the Lg 1 team of the season at 18y/o.

We’ve got rid of the sh*t players that don’t care and that everyone hates. We’ve given Wilshere more creative resposibility. We’ve bought a replacement for Na$ri who’s more direct. We’ve signed a 6’6″ experienced international centre back, 2 seasoned PL performers, the current Brazil LB, a better back up striker than Bentdner and Chamakh.

It looks like as a team we’re filling our team with pace, we’ll be more direct and attack from the wings and show less of the tippy tappy sh*t that everyone hates….. And some people are still complaining? Jheez!!

Granted we didn’t sign one marque CMF and we’re relying on Jack but who else would you have had over Arteta….? There can’t be many. Don’t get me wrong i would have loved to have seen Hazard but he plays on the flanks and isn’t exactly known for his ability to dictate play in the centre of the park. He is incredibly skillful but Gervinhio was more productive for Lille, plus they were not going to sell for less than £40M which is more than what we spent on all 5 of our shiny new players

M’Villa and Gotze 2 more good players by all accounts and a club record £25m bid submitted but rejected tells you that surprise surprise teams don’t want to sell their best players, just like us last year with Cesc.

I’d say this starting 11 is at least on a par with last years, maybe better!

Szczesny

Sagna Mertersaker Vermaelen Santos

Song

Arteta Wilshere

Walcott RVP Gervinhio

with a bench of Kosielney, Gibbs, Ramsey, Benayoun, Park, Arshavin, Frimpong which doesn’t include, Diaby, Djorou, Chamakh, Jenkinson, Chamberlain, Myachi

Don’t forget Benayoun is a short term option so it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see an arrival in January of a further upgrade. Perhaps we’ll be able to have a run at some of those big names again if they’re already out of the ECL and closer to the end of the contracts….

In the wake of the aberration that was Sundays result this is a pretty damn good outcome and I for one am excited to see this Arsenal team play.

Mean Lean’s Response

Thank you Stuart, I really enjoyed that and agree with plenty of what you say. I can feel the excitement in your writing and that is exactly how I am feeling right now.

In my eyes, the squad looks a great deal stronger and far deeper than it was. The only real weakness is that of Cesc Fabregas. An obvious hole of quality missing but the strength in depth can cover his absence in other ways. I also see Jack Wilshere as the man to properly replace Cesc and Arteta to be the link between Song and Jack.

I don’t think we will play the same way with that creative player looking to thread through the eye of the needle. Which made us pass the ball outside the opposition box until that chance came available. I think our game will be based more on quicker, direct bursts with dribblers like Wilshere, Gervinho, Santos and Benayoun exchanging passes and zooming into the box instead of only using the pass.

I love the fact that we have brought in experienced players who have all been captains of their sides at some point and that is no accident. Our work in the market has brought the type of blend that we have been after for some time.

Before our signings and after the 8-2 defeat, I put some money on us winning the league at 50/1 while it could be a big ask still, things certainly look much brighter than a week ago.