Samir Nasri is looking determined and sharp. Theo Walcott looks to have taken a much needed step forward this season and the likes of Alex Song, Carlos Vela, Abou Diaby and Denilson are all one year older, one year more experienced

It has been a long summer, or it has seemed like a long summer. We have been mildly entertained by the world cup but now we are almost at the home stretch to the real deal. The Premier league is almost back and more to the point, the Arsenal are back in town.

This pre season is turning out to be pretty much the same as many before it. Wenger fighting for continuity but departures have meant that changes have had to take place. William Gallas and Mikel Silvestre have been released while Sol Campbell has moved to Newcastle instead of staying on at the Gunners.

It hasn’t all been one way traffic though because Marouane Chamakh has joined from Bordeaux, presumably replacing Eduardo in the squad who has chased first team football all the way to Shakhtar Donetsk. Chamakh has already impressed the Arsenal faithful during our pre season. His ability to hold up the ball and bring others into play will benefit the team greatly, especially away from the Emirates.

His power in the air will also be a bonus at both ends of the pitch.

Laurent Koscielny has been brought in to fill in part of the center back exodus. His performances in the Emirates cup provide hope for the future, we just hope the future starts from Sunday. He has worked closely alongside Thomas Vermaelen who is now the experienced senior central defender, so we all cross our fingers that those two can click from the very start after many hours of hard work on the training ground.

We are still light defensively, the numbers clearly do not add up at this moment in time but have no fear, the cheque book is still lying on Ivan Gazidis’ desk, ready to be used when the time is right.

The central defence is not the only position in question, the goalkeeping position is another area that has an air of uncertainty about it. Manuel Almunia had a turbulent campaign last season. Inconsistent early form was followed by a long term absence from the team then his form fluctuated until the end of the season. His number two Lukasz Fabianski had a less than convincing season, making high profile mistakes that resulted in goals conceded. I hope for his and Arsenal’s sake that he can wipe last season from his memory and rebuild his Arsenal career. I would be very surprised if Fabianski started the season as our number one, if he does then I would expect a goalkeeper to be walking through the Arsenal doors.

Mark Schwarzer has apparently told Mark Hughes that he wants to play out his career at Arsenal and that his club are stalling on the fee Arsenal have offered. We will see what unfolds before the transfer window slams shut.

Not everything is panic stations, far from it. We have many things going for us. Samir Nasri is looking determined and sharp. Theo Walcott looks to have taken a much needed step forward this season and the likes of Alex Song, Carlos Vela, Abou Diaby and Denilson are all one year older, one year more experienced.

There seems to be a seriousness about the squad this year, a determination to correct the wrongs from previous campaigns.

How can I end a season preview without mentioning Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal have managed to hold onto our star player after a long torturous summer of Barcelona speculation. Barcelona talked the talked but couldn’t walk the walk and offer the required amount to prize away one of the best creative midfielders in world football. We may only have him for one more season, the future is still unclear but having Cesc on board will give our club greater chances of success.

I am also very excited about the young players being included into the first team squad. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Emmanuel Frimpong, Havard Nordtveit, Craig Eastmond and Henri Lansbury will be joining Jack Wilshere to mix it up with the big boys. I am sure many of those youngsters will feature mainly in the Carling Cup and perhaps some FA Cup games and it will be down to those individuals to improve and push their way into the first team.

While injured first team players may not come back as new signings, promoted youth players are certainly like new signings.

The new season is a very difficult season to predict as many teams are rebuilding their squads, all we can hope is that our players can show produce their best and ‘give everything in every single game’

Time to get behind the team and hopefully we can end our trophy drought.

Next up, three points at Anfield.

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