Written-Off Arsenal Remain A Dangerous Beast – Five Reasons That Could Fire Arsenal To Glory

Posted by SmartArse

As we (and the entirety of Planet Arsenal) have acknowledged there is certainly cause for concern as we approach the new season. Cause for concern, yes. Outright despair? Hardly. Though as ever it seems the press rather disagree. Arsenal have been written off like a battered old Skoda.

A few quick quotes to show you what I mean:

“Threat in the cup competitions if Wenger takes them seriously but face fight for top four places” – Phil McNulty, BBC Sport

“Other big guns must be favoured ahead of them [prediction 4th]” David Hytner, The Guardian

“Arsenal stuck on repeat with third all they can hope for” The Daily Mail

“Has the Premier League’s Big Four become a Big Two?” BBC Sport

“As things stand, and if we accept our main goal this year is to win the Premier League, I don’t think our squad is capable of it.” Arseblog

And they’re not alone. For those of you nodding sagely in approval, shame on you! Though Arseblog has been included in the quotes above its important to note the caveat to his outward pessimism:

“That said, if we added a keeper and a proper centre-half, one with experience and quality, then I think it’s possible.”

Possible indeed, and not just with those additions (and until August 31st passes I refuse to believe they wont happen). To my mind they’d give me the confidence to predict a guaranteed top three finish, but even with the squad as it stands it would be foolish to rule Arsenal out and here’s five key reasons why:

Fired up stars on the rebound

Many many, thanks to Raymond Domenech and Fabio Capello. By leaving Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott out of their World Cup plans they have gifted two undeniably talented players the drive and focus they need. This is especially true in the case of Nasri, thusfar a frustrating figure in an Arsenal shirt. In pre-season he’s looked a man possessed. We all know what a threat he is; almost untouchable when he fancies it, brilliant in possession and a huge goal threat. I firmly believe he’ll finally become the lynchpin his talent has threatened but only intermittently produced. Just imagine what could happen if he can produce moments like this on a regular basis.

We’ve got Cesc Fabregas!

Sing it loud, sing it proud and fuck the naysayers who think the summer’s events will make him a shadow of his former self. The best central midfielder (yeah Gerrard you heard me) in the league remains an Arsenal player, the captain and most important cog in any potential success. The epitome of the determination we’ll need to succeed. Only a total tool could write off a team this man is playing in.

Competition

It would be fair to suggest that Arsenal were at their worst last season when at their most complacent. With the exception of our two problem positions (those-that-shall-not-be-named) we have depth to rival the best. Clichy will be pressured immensely by Kieran Gibbs. Sagna’s crossing still shit? No problem, we’ve got Eboue. In central midfield we have, at a rough count, Cesc Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Ramsey, Wilshere, Denilson, Frimpong and even Nasri dukeing it out for three slots. The same is true further forward. Walcott, Rosicky and Eboue offer genuine alternative to Arshavin and Nasri out wide, while the little we’ve seen of Marouane Chamakh are enough to show just why Arsene wanted him so bad, not to mention Vela and Bendtner.

Seriously, nobody else is actually that good

As we noted before, we’re not the only ones facing an uncertain start. Chelsea have lost four pre-season games in a row. They’ve lost Carvalho, Ballack and Joe Cole. Ashley Cole looks totally distracted. They’re still finding minutes for Ferreira. And Drogba isn’t even fully fit yet. United still look weak in central midfield, for some reason still putting faith in Michael Carrick, overly reliant on the ageing Paul Scholes, and still lack spark away from Rooney. As far as I’m concerned if all three sides had fully fit squads last year we’d have won the league. These remain two of the weakest Chelsea and United sides we’ll be fortunate enough to face.

And as for our opponents on Sunday, Liverpool? Remember this side isn’t that different to the one that finished SEVENTH last year. Carragher is still crap and slow, and Glen Johnson will still shit a brick every time Arshavin runs at him. A neat coup in getting Joe Cole yes, but they can’t play him and Gerrard in the same place, and even if they could, if they are feeding David N’Gog (as looks likely for Sunday) rather than Torres it won’t matter a jot who we’ve got in goal.

I’ve not suddenly had an epiphany and forgotten all about how awful we can look at the back, and still have recurring nightmares of Fabianski falling over but nor have I forgotten just how good we are going forward. Write us off at your peril world – we’re still dangerous. Our future is uncertain, not inevitably doomed

Mindlessly optimistic? Perhaps, but I can’t say I care too much about that when we’re only two days away from having Arsenal back. At any rate it’s fun. If you don’t believe me check out the twitter hashtags #teampositivegooners and #ebouefacts – absolute gold.

Honestly, the way some people are talking you think they’d rather go back to the Arsenal-less days of the World Cup. The new season is almost upon us and I for one, am letting the excitement overtake the terror.

Come on the Arsenal!