Arsene Wenger will have caused a stir to some new player hungry fans out there by stating that he has funds to buy big players

Premier League football season 2008/09 beginnings today, Arsenal will be the first along with West Brom to play this afternoon at a lunchtime kick off.

I expect a good game today as West Brom are a team who like to pass the ball and create chances. I have a lot of respect for Tony Mowbray (West Brom manager) who insists on playing the right way. It is refreshing to see a team promoted with that in mind. It was at least the case in the Championship, so lets hope he doesn’t put his principles to one side.

Sami Nasri should return to side crying out for a bit of imagination and should play on the left. Arsene will have to decide if he wants the penetration of Walcott or the defensive stability of Eboue on the other flank. Being at home you kind hope he plumps for Theo.

Djourou should remain in the side, if not then you have to question Arsene’s confidence in Djourou. I have explained my reasons to keep Djourou in so I won’t go over that again but I hope that Toure has to fight for his place.

Arsene Wenger will have caused a stir to some new player hungry fans out there by stating that he has funds to buy big players.

“Basically, we balance the budget in the way we run the Club,” he said. “I have the money available to buy the players, but we go into the competition with that target. I think every manager should do this.

“We have gone three or four years into a different policy [of bringing on our own players] which we have to see through.

“But I am convinced we have opted for stability with young players, who have spirit of our game, the spirit of our Club.

“And I believe we will show we are more united and that we have the needed belief to be successful. That should be one of the advantages we have in this.”

Obviously both buying and developing players have their own separate advantages so like anything you need a balance hence the imminent arrival of a holding midfielder.

The fact that so many of our player have grown up together and know eachothers game so well is most of the reason why we play the best football in the league and the reason why we out of Everton, Tottenham etc who are able to challenge the massive cash spent by Manchester United and of course Chelsea.

Arsene has backed Hleb replacement Samir Nasri to be a success at Arsenal.

“He is doing very well,” said Wenger. “He is an intelligent boy and that is always a very good ingredient. When you are intelligent in life and with talent, you always have a chance.

“For me he is a player who has a good engine, good technique and vision. He can play the final ball which we like here. He has the technical level to go into any combination and is very mobile.

“We believe he has the ingredients to fit into our game.

“He can replace Alex Hleb in the build-up of the game, in the creation of the chances, and he is very versatile. He is also very young, the same age as Cesc Fabregas. We now have a very young generation which can develop together.

“I expect he will fit well into our collective game and that he expresses a good attitude, is very ambitious and fights very hard for the team.”

I still think it may take him a little for us to see the best of him as he has a run of games but he has obvious quality. I am looking forward to watching him today but I have a feeling that he may have an in and out game. The fact that he is only 21 is quite unbelievable. If we can keep him and Cesc together for 3-5 years then they will be out of this world for us.

I think I will start doing predictions before every game and see what they are like at the end of the season. Readers are welcome to join in before games and leave your predictions in the comments. Any correct ones will be mentioned on the blog.

Last season I started off quite well and got a few correct, then like Arsenal I fell away at the end of the season and got everything wrong. This time round I am looking for big collective improvements from myself.

Enough waffle, lets get on with it.

Prediction: Arsenal 2 West Brom 0 – Two second half goals secure Arsenal victory.

Come on you Gunners!

Have a good day. Drop your view in the comments.

Until tomorrow.

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