Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

Arsenal – on the verge of being a great team, or parked on the verge with a wheel missing.  Both in a way, we have some great talent in the squad and things are not as bleak as the ‘everybody must go’ crew would have it, but until we fix the defence we will be stuck on the verge.

Yesterday’s game struggled to grab any attention.  Manchester City had third place locked up quickly and the big story of the day was the close delegation finale.  On the upside we came back from behind twice, on the downside we had to come back from behind twice.  Van Persie scored again, staking a claim for Arsenal player of the season, and so did Walcott.  But we misjudged an offside move and failed to track a cross, so another draw.

Rumours today of a bargain attacking midfielder, Ricardo Alvarez, already secured.  We may need such a player, depending on who leaves this summer, but the back four and another defensive midfielder is where the priorities lie and the team won’t get off the verge until we get this right.

I know it’s early days yet but here are a couple of things about the Arsenal team that are feeding my optimism this season.

First up is Jack Wilshire.  He has started the season well and really looks at home in the team.  I like his versatility.  He looks at home alongside Song when we are defending. He’s persistent and although not tall, he is well built. He doesn’t get muscled off the ball in the same way that the younger Fabregas did.  But when we have the ball he also looks at home further up the pitch alongside Fabregas, Nasri and Arshavin.  He is quick-thinking and confident on the ball when under pressure.  His team-mates seem to trust him, giving him the ball even when he is in a tight spot.

The second good point is that looking at the team this season I’m beginning to think there may some point to corners.  Last season I couldn’t get excited about Arsenal winning a corner at all – so many of them seemed wasted with the ball ending up in the keeper’s hands or heading off on a long excursion via the centre-circle.  Now, with Chamakh, Squillaci and Koscielny joining Vermaelen in the squad, you can begin to see where more goals could come from this season.  I know we didn’t get many corners last night – to get a corner the other team needs to touch the ball – but when did get one, or a wide free-kick, there was definitely a greater sense of anticipation.

We all wanted to see more strength added in the summer window, but what we have got looks stronger and deeper than last year.

With the clock ticking, not to mention an increasing injury list, Arsenal need to close the deals on Schwarzer and Squillaci.  Arsene Wenger obviously believes that many footballers are over-valued and, in an objective analysis he’s probably right, but there are times when any club or any business has to pay the going rate to get the assets they need.

Arsenal’s time is now.  We are used to being outspent by Chelsea and Manchester United – and still competing.  Now we have to contend with Manchester City and Tottenham spending big as well.  This could be a crucial season for Arsenal and we need a squad that is big enough and has some experience woven in with the young talent that we have in plenty.

We have ten days to buy a keeper and a central defender.  I think we need another defensive midfielder as well to cover Song but I’m losing hope on that one.

Time to get moving and pay what it takes.

Two days after the Nasri news it is announced that Frimpong has done his cruciate ligament in training and will probably be out for most of the season.

Are Arsenal just unlucky?  We seem to be getting through players very quickly during this lead in to the new season.  This new injury also highlights that we are very light on defensive midfielders.  Who will cover for Song, given that Diaby doesn’t stay put when he does it and Denilson bounces of determined forwards?

At least there is more encouraging news on the central defender front with the move for Sebastien Squillaci looking fairly likely.  The fact that Sevilla withdrew him from the Champions League game suggests that they think an agreement on price is a distinct possibility.

French TV channel Canal+ would have us believe that Sebastien Squillaci is heading from Sevilla to Arsenal.   If true, this is slightly disappointing given that Squillaci is 30 years old and we have been linked with more exciting prospects over the summer.  But we do need another central defender and the clock is ticking.  Would he be fit enough to put in enough games?

Squillaci has played over 300 top flight games for the likes of Monaco, Lyon and Sevilla and 20 games for France.  If he’s fit enough, he’s good enough.

One week to the new season. Three weeks to the end of the transfer window. I’m quite an optimist but even I don’t think Arsenal are ready yet. The friendlies just seem to confirm the strengths and weaknesses of last season. That is to say, great going forward but too weak and disorganised at the back to avoid dropping points.

Chamakh looks good and Wilshire is clearly ready for the big league. Nasri is looking great.

But at the back it’s same old same old. We need another mature, experienced, imposing central defender and a goalkeeper who is more than just an agile shot-stopper. They need to good at reading the game and being in the right place. They need to take charge and organise.

There are loads of exciting rumours out there, but the clock is ticking. Just hope a couple of them are true.

In his post-match interview today, Wenger says that Frimpong isn’t going out on loan. So why is the 18 year old defensive midfielder staying rather than getting match experience out on loan? Because he’s going to get it at Arsenal?

Plus, when Djourou came on today he played defensive midfielder rather than central defender!

Maybe this means that a new defensive midfielder to provide cover for Song isn’t on the cards. Maybe I should go to bed now!

OK, it was only a pre-season friendly so no panicking, but here was a game that Arsenal were winning 1:0 and playing the better football; then went on to get only a draw and come close to losing.  Just the reminder we need or an ominous sign?

Great debut by Marouane Chamakh. He isn’t just the big, traditional centre-forward as billed. He’s got great feet and a great eye for a pass.  Very encouraging from the Moroccan.  He was deservedly man of the match. Vela replaced him for a short cameo and also made an impact with some chances.  Koscielny made a good start too and was looking good with Vermaelen – but for the goal.

The second half substitutions broke up the flow and we began to look a bit sloppy.  Mark Randall came on and really should have scored from a double chance in the six yard box.

Then we did something all too typical, a goal conceded from a set piece scored by a late running player.  Keep up the hunt for another central defender Arsene, and another defensive midfielder too.  There were some good signs for the season today, but some stark reminders too!

The BBC seem pretty certain that Sol Campbell is on the way to St James Park.  He is said to be there for a medical today.

If so, I hope that Arsene Wenger is still in the hunt for another central defender. Djourou could be good for the future, but Arsenal need more established players right now to win the title.

With Sol Campbell staying I’m beginning to wonder whether that’s it for central defenders. Personally I would like to see another bought in but it may not happen now. But that doesn’t mean that the defensive rebuilding work is done.

I think that we still need a better goalkeeper and another defensive midfielder.

At the weekend all the talk was about Stekelenburg and Akinfeev. Both would be a step forward. But so would Schwarzer and I reckon that’s a rumour that has only gone quiet because the press have bored themselves with it and because all the Fulham talk is about the vacant manager slot.

I think that the defensive midfielder slot is just as important. Song is a big favourite of mine but we can’t rely on him every time and if you look at the successful clubs they generally have the option of playing two holding midfielders when the going gets tough. Plus we lose Song every other year when the African Cup is on.

Eastmond and Frimpong look interesting for the future but they’re not the established mature players that Arsenal need to balance out the team. We need go for another Song.