Silly Season: The Sequel

Oh, to be a Gooner...

Well, Silly Season: The Sequel starts up again and much like our Summer trials we've heard rumors of in-bound Arsenal players but nothing to get too excited about. For one, let's not expect to get a high-profile striker/midfielder in the mold of Arshavin as I think that was a one-off as we had to qualify for the Champions League last season and he was necessary to get us there. AA23 was expensive, and if I remember correctly our most expensive transfer in Arsenal history...or does Wiltord still hold that honor? Anyway..Right now, sitting in third with the game-in-hand being sorted out on Wednesday, I don't see us going in for any sort of attacker. Yes, I understand that Robin is out for what seems like the rest of the season but all of last year's term we scored 68 Premiership goals and we are already at 58. With the return of Bendtner in the next few weeks, and Dudu scoring on the weekend versus West Ham I really doubt we'll see that much-coveted striker. I know what a shame, go clear your eyes.

Losing Song for most of the month of January is far more of a concern than our striker situation. Song has played the most games for the Arsenal this term and it shows. Working both sides of the pitch he'll be missed. Due to Song's ability to sit in front of our CBs he has forced attackers to shoot from farther out, and give Average Al (courtesy of @SampaDee)a better opportunity at making the save. In addition, Song has been successful in busting up talismanic distributors of the ball and that in turn has led to our success in conceding less. Even with Almunia's terrible goalkeeping we are still in a strong position. Now, my biggest concern with the loss of Song is that up to his departure we didn't see any players from within the squad get a crack at the holding mid position. Not even a few minutes. We didn't see fringe players like Frimpong or Eastmond get a run of minutes like I had hoped for which makes me think that Arsene is going to rely on the likes of currently-injured Denilson, or converting Diaby to holding mid. Both are viable options as they have ample first-team experience but both are clearly injury prone. If one, or both go down during this period Song is gone we'll have no choice but to promote from the Reserves as we'll be stocked with attacking midfielders but no natural ball winning, holding mids. This could be a massive issue if Arsene doesn't get some cover in this position but as Arsenal fans cried in the summer for that precious DM nobody came, and lookie here...we're 3rd, fast-approaching 2nd. Yawn.

I'm not a betting man, and certainly never on the Arsenal but I could see this transfer window closing before it opens. I don't see any talent out there that is worth getting, not cup-tied and Premiership-ready. Unless we poach players from other Premiership teams, which isn't our style I really don't see it happening. I've heard Carlton Cole's name about even Bellamy but neither will come; I also heard that we might get cover in former-Arsenal man, Upson. Also, highly doubtful. Of course, throw in the overseas prospects like Dzeko and Cunaldo-like Chamakh and both fetch outrageous transfer fees. So, feel free to insert any name you like but the truth is that Arsene is likely to give the fringe first-team players a go as it has recently proved itself good business in the recent form of Aaron Ramsey.

Aaron has come in for our injured captain and led by example. Perhaps this is what Arsene meant when he said there was a team of leaders and not just one captain? Perhaps. Impressively scoring two Away goals at Pompey and Hammers and suddenly the loss of Cesc is mute...somewhat. I think, if given the chance and with the right ween, others can emulate Ram-athorn's progress (I tried to make another nickname for ya @shegunner but Rambo might just stick)

I would love to see Eastmond and Frimpong get some minutes in January. But I think we'll see a trio through the middle of Ramsey, in Cesc's role, and Diaby w/ fit-again Denilson in Song's special place. It would be ideal to see early goals in the upcoming matches, with a margin of at least two goals early in the second half. It would allow some of these younger lads the opportunity to get 20, maybe even 30min of high-speed play against teams that are still seemingly in the match and chasing a result. It would also be ideal for Almunia to learn how to boss a set piece and win the ball out of the air but I don't see that happening, either.

So, what are we left with? A battered, injury-prone squad that is still in three major competitions. Arsenal have Bolton and Everton at Home, which is perfect for confidence building and then some tricky travels to Bolton, Stoke and Villa. I hate playing the Mudders, as I call them, because they are wild, and unpredictably nasty. A trip to Villa and then a Home match versus Lady Alex's IOU wraps up the month of January. By Villa we should have a fit-again Bendtner, and possibly some in-form Arsenal fledglings. And by IOU we may have Song back just in time; that is, if Cameroon does not make the Final. I hope he's back but not because his nation lost but because he caught one of Arsene's Concords and flew back lickity split! Um, right, it's all too early to see how this January goes but we are in a strong spot, and with the right sprinkle of fringe players into the first-team and we could have a good cycle of players by month's end. As usual, time will tell but fear not, Arsene knows what he is doing and if there is a gem to uncover he'll find it, bring it to the Arsenal and call it Rambo (sorry, had to do it)

Up the Arsenal,
ArsenaLOS