Arsenal 2007/08 preview

Wenger's men face fight for Champions League place

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 8th August 2007

Arsenal Spurs Wenger

Wenger: 12th season at the helm

Predicted position: 4th
Star man: Cesc Fabregas - Keeping hold of the young Spaniard this summer even though he had talks with Real Madrid was crucial. He is improving every year and has the quality to inspire Arsenal's young guns to a greater level.
One to watch: Abou Diaby: Wenger has been looking for the next Patrick Vieira for years and Diaby may be ready to take up the mantle. Strong, dynamic and comfortable on the ball, the Frenchman is likely to be one of the best young midfielders in the league this season.
Manager: Arsene Wenger: Rumours abound about Wenger's future but he will be hoping to mould at least one more great Arsenal team before moving on.
Ins: Eduardo da Silva (Dinamo Zagreb), Lukasz Fabianski (Legia Warsaw), Havard Nordveit (Haugesund), Bakari Sagna (Auxerre)
Outs: Jeremie Aliadiere (Middlesbrough), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Mart Poom (Watford), Arturo Lupoli (Fiorentina), Fabrice Muamba (Birmingham), Freddie Ljungberg (West Ham), Jose Antonio Reyes (Atletico Madrid)
Best signing: Eduardo da Silva
Sky Bet odds: 10/1
Likely top scorer: Robin van Persie
Possible best XI (Lehmann, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Adebayor, van Persie)

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Arsenal head into the new season with hope rather than expectation.

If last season marked the start of a new era following the move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium, the absence of Thierry Henry for the new campaign means The Gunners will remain in a state of transition.

Henry has been Arsenal's talisman for the last decade and even gained a popularity in England that transcended football before completing his long-awaited transfer to Barcelona in June.

But with Henry gone and Freddie Ljungberg also criticising the club's lack of ambition as he joined West Ham, most fans will fear there is more danger of Arsenal finishing fifth than first this season.

Manchester United appear to have stolen a march on their rivals with some eye-catching signings, Liverpool are sure to mount a stronger challenge after a busy summer of transfer activity, and Chelsea will be determined to reclaim the title.

Tottenham manager Martin Jol has also looked to strengthen after two seasons of finishing just outside the Champions League places, but Arsene Wenger has taken a different approach.

He has complete faith in his young players and stayed true to his promise that he would only make one or two major signings.

Reason for optimism

The capture of Eduardo da Silva may have raised a few eyebrows but Wenger has an excellent record of unearthing gems.

The Brazilian-born Croatian has plundered goals for Dinamo Zagreb over the last couple of seasons and, though the Premier League is a huge step-up, his finishing ability could prove invaluable to a side that has struggled to put away chances.

With Henry and Robin van Persie injured last season Arsenal were lacking a bona fide predator up front, but da Silva could still struggle to get in Wenger's first-choice XI.

Emmanuel Adebayor showed last season that while he may lack consistency he can be inspirational as well as frustrating, and the Togo international is likely to play a major role.

However, leading the Arsenal line will be Van Persie, a player who few in the Premier League can rival in terms of skill and whose performances in pre-season suggest is better than ever.

At the other end of the pitch Arsenal have been more suspect than spectacular in recent years, but the arrival of Bakari Sagna from Auxerre gives the defence a more solid look.

With Sagna at right-back, William Gallas and Kolo Toure in the centre and the exciting Gael Clichy on the left, the back-line also has the right mix of athleticism and power.

Barring injuries, Emmanuel Eboue may find himself playing on the right wing more often than in defence, but competition for places in midfield will be equally intense.

Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto are certain starters in the centre and Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky have also slotted seamlessly into the Arsenal side.

However, Wenger must find a way to get more goals from his midfield, a puzzle he has struggled to solve since Ljungberg and Robert Pires were firing on all cylinders during the days of 'the invincibles'.

Wenger has a collection of young players at his disposal who remain unproven but are full of promise, such as Abou Diaby, Denilson, Armand Traore and Nicklas Bendtner.

Theo Walcott is bound to attract more attention than any of the other youngsters and his pace will prove a useful weapon in the latter stages of matches, even if he is not likely to start regularly in the Premier League.

Ready to upset the odds

Arsenal may lack the experience to quite last the course in the title race, but Wenger will be hoping his side can spring one or two surprises.

The Gunners have dropped points in recent years because they have been unable to break down the stubborn resistance of so-called weaker sides who only set their stall out to defend.

Opponents will no longer fear Arsenal quite as much without Henry, which could turn out to be a positive if they are given the freedom to play their passing game.

Wenger would also have the option of adding to his squad in the January transfer window to propel Arsenal to a top four finish.

So although Henry has departed, Arsenal are still firm favourites to qualify for the UEFA Champions League once again.

Comments

Luke Gadget (Arsenal fan) says...

Everyone writes off Arsenal far too quickly, i have trust in the manager and the players spending vast amounts of money does not guarentee sucess but spending well and being selctive allows you to build a world class team to last several seasons as Wenger showed when he built the double winning sides leading to the unbeaten team. I agree there are many questions but I believe doubters will recieve all the answers they need. I belive arsenal will cement a place in the top four and could challenge if we staert well and don't allow ourselves to be bullied by teams who aern't interested in outplayin us. The defeats we inflicted on Man Utd last season shows when we play against teams prepared to play football we can win and compete well, and hopefully we will learn from last years defeats at the hands of those lower placed clubs. Goooners

Posted 14:55 9th August 2007

Matt Walker (Arsenal fan) says...

I find it quite embarrassing to be fair that we seem almost reluctant to enter the market to bring in fresh homegrown talent. It is as if Wenger only looks to bring in African origined french speakers, I now hear Lassana Diarra could even be on his way. I hate to say it, but Tottenham are really setting a great example, and in years to come will at least boast the spine of the English team. The days of Adams, Seaman, Bould and Wrighty have been completely changed by Wenger, now I find it hard to pledge leagence to this team of mine that supposedly represents England...yeah right

Posted 09:36 9th August 2007

Ord Marshall (Arsenal fan) says...

I expect the Gunners to be P.L. and Champion League winners. Why? 1. Too often successes at a young age causes ones head to swell, so last years disappointments was great for them in that it humbled a young and very talented team. 2. The lost of Henry is forcing each player to look away from an individual player's contribution to working collectively to achieve their goal. 3. Their youth makes it easier for them to recovery from injuries and or disappointments. 4. They have had time to grow together as a team and prove to all that the faith that their manager have shone in them is well founded. 5. Finally, Fred Ljunberg leaving for West Ham, for such a CURIOUS REASON, tells me that he recognize the talent in the team and the fact that he would not be playing all that much. If the retain mental strength, they're going far.

Posted 02:39 9th August 2007

Ivan Teo (Liverpool fan) says...

I hve mixed emotions on Henry's departure to Barcelona. On one hand, as a rival, it's great to see the back of him. On the other hand, it's pity that i may no longer see one of the world's best footballer parading his skills in the Premiership. I honestly believe the impact of his departure has been downplayed by the media, which isn't helped by the fact he missed a chunk of the Premiership last season. The Premiership is a poorer and duller league without him. Arsenal still plays the best football in the country. My concern is can their players handle the physical game dished out by teams outside the Big 4? Try asking Sam Allardyce or Mark Hughes not to ask their players to rough up the Arsenal players when they play each other. Getting "toughen up" does not mean getting involved into scuffles with opponents. Do players like Fabregas, Eboue havd the temperament to handle the challenge?

Posted 16:44 8th August 2007

Andrew Jones (Arsenal fan) says...

I fully support Wenger's choice to bring in the youngsters. I believe Arsenal will challenge for the title. We may not have a galaxy of "stars" but Arsenal will be a force to be reckoned with!

Posted 15:52 8th August 2007

Martin Devlin (Arsenal fan) says...

As a gooner i think its a fair opinion! but i think we will definitly win some silverware this season maybe not the league but i think we can win some major trophys with our young squad!

Posted 15:13 8th August 2007

Sebastian Quarterman (Arsenal fan) says...

people are having a laugh if they think tottenham will finish above arsenal. the top 4 teams will stay the same, although the order will change, but the gap from 1st to 4th will be much smaller this year. Chelsea, Man Utd, or Arsenal could all walk away with the title at the end of the year, but no matter how many players liverpool buy, i just dont think they have it in them t win it, 2nd at best, 3rd of 4th more than likely.

Posted 14:24 8th August 2007

Alex Rose (Arsenal fan) says...

why is eboue not it the possible best 11. are you stupid and dont realise that wenger said he will be playing him at right mid thisseason. get him in that squad as arsenal fans love him.

Posted 14:10 8th August 2007

Gary Watt (Arsenal fan) says...

Arsenal are going to be much better this term. Our form last year without Henry as captain seemed better than when he did play so like most fans, i think we will have a very exciting season ahead.

Posted 13:59 8th August 2007

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