It was rumoured that we had a bid rejected last season and I had a feeling that there may have been some truth to it. However it doesn’t seem that they are desperate to let him go

Season 2008/2009 was a strange season overall, we didn’t really get the chance to see the proper Arsenal all through the whole season. The beginning of the season the team were getting used to new first team players (Denilson, Walcott and Nasri) and a new way of playing. This caused inconsistency throughout much of the early campaign. Then we were faced with injuries, before you state that every club has injuries I want to point out that we had more than the average amount of key players out.

After regaining consistency with less players (Walcott, Cesc, Adebayor, Rosicky and Eduardo) we struggled with our attacking play and balance to the team.

Just as our squad were almost all together, they were stuck down yet again by the deadly injury virus. Gallas, Clichy, Djourou, Sagna, Almunia, and Eduardo (who very briefly returned) and we were dismantled by Manchester United and Chelsea. What team wouldn’t be punished with most of your first team’s defence out at the business end of the season.

So unlike the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool we didn’t really get to see a long enough stretch of games with our squad healthy enough to make a fist of things.

This is not a moan for last season, I talk about that in more detail in the season review. This is an article about what to be hopefully for in season 2009/2010.

At this stage we have no new players and no players have left the club, so I shall work with the present and not get all hypothetical on your Arsenal.

Natural growth of squad
We started last season with a compact squad and after end of season injuries at season 2007/2008 we hoped and prayed that we wouldn’t suffer as bad this time round. We now know that it wasn’t to be and our bad luck in the treatment room continued. This forced Arsene to blood players who at the start of the season were not ready for first team action. The Carling Cup run was the final exam for the likes of Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs and Carlos Vela and they all received their certificates and passed with flying colours. As the season went on the likes of Song, Djourou and Gibbs established themselves as Premier League footballers. Aaron Ramsey and Carlos Vela have sampled enough first team football to know that they will be able to handle themselves and improve with the same number of games as their Carling Cup teammates.

Next season Wenger will have a larger pool of players to choose from who can step in and do an assured job in their position. The likes of Jack Wilshere, Fran Merida and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas can be last seasons Kieran Gibbs and hope to find themselves in the first team here and there when called upon. Hopefully this time it will be Wenger’s choice instead of being forced into it by a lack of numbers in his squad.

Nature taking course
More often than not young players improve and develop the more they are played. This is linked with the previous point. We had an average age of 22 last season which is very impressive considering the fact that we finished 4th in the league and in the semi finals of the Champions League. As the likes of Alex Song improved dramatically I expect them to climb the ladder even higher during next season.

The return of key players
There can be no getting away from the fact that we have missed two big international players for the whole of the season. These are players who play for good quality nations.

Tomas Rosicky was supposed to fit for the start of last season but his injury could not be diagnosed, this time round his problems have been located and dealt with. We have missed his experience, goals from midfield, defensive abilities and his creative edge. That just tells you what kind of player Tomas Rosicky is. Eduardo Da Silva the master finisher has been missed. He came back last season with only a handful of fit games and displayed his predatory abilities including that fantastic volley in the cup. Before I die I would like to see what Eduardo can do for a full season with creative players such as Arshavin, Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas behind him.

Andrey Arshavin
The Russian play maker has 4 months in the Premier League under his belt and has already showed his class. All Arshavin needs is a pre season, a settled position and team around him and we will see big things from him. We still haven’t seen the Arshavin, Eduardo combination as I am sure it will be explosive.

This is without any new signings. Arsene Wenger has already said that he will be adding experience to the squad so we have some very positive things to look forward to.

If we keep Emmanuel Adebayor then I expect a big season from him, even if Wenger decides to cash in on him then we have enough players to replace him and alter the way we play. To me, our biggest threat is not the other top three teams it is injuries. If we keep our key players fit for most of the season then we will have as good a chance as anyone that is for sure.

In other news, Udinese defender Cristian Zapata has claimed that Arsenal are watching him and want him to join.

Zapata said:

“Juventus, Fiorentina, Milan, Arsenal and Villarreal have requested information about me, There are many teams that are keen to sign me but an official offer has not been made so far.

“I think if a good offer arrives then Udinese will have to consider it. But the club don’t need to sell me immediately.”

It was rumoured that we had a bid rejected last season and I had a feeling that there may have been some truth to it. However it doesn’t seem that they are desperate to let him go. Arsenal sure haven’t spoken to him though because if they had then he wouldn’t be blabbering his mouth everywhere about our supposed interest.

It also seems that Wenger has once again turned down Real Madrid. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was talking about his options of bringing in a new coach and said:

“From the beginning we have worked on two possibilities – Wenger and Pellegrini,” he told L’Equipe.

“We have always been attracted by the Frenchman and we talked to him several times. He didn’t come because he feels very responsible about what has happened and what will happen at Arsenal. He didn’t want to abandon the club that he has given such a lot to, but as [director general Jorge] Valdano said, ‘Pellegrini is the Wenger of Spanish football’.”

It is just a shame that some Arsenal supporters are not as loyal to our manager as he is to our club. He would be paid far more money and have a massive transfer budget, a new life in Spain but he cares about our club and his players and we should all be grateful for that.

Right, I am already late today so I shall make a break for it. Enjoy your day.

Don’t forget that you can submit your own articles on the YourVision section and receive feedback from fellow Gooners.

Latest article YourVision – Our defensive stability from the past must return…… (By DJ Dragonfly)

Don’t be a twit, just add Arsenal Vision by clicking on the image below.