What seemed a very tricky run of games was successfully navigated by Arsenal. Prior to the Everton game i wrote last week that the results from Goodison Park and the return leg of the Besiktas tie will go far in shaping our early season outlook. Fast forward 7days and we have done just that. We picked a valuable point away at Merseyside then closed out the Besiktas game despite facing the worst scare of elimination we have ever faced at this stage of the competition. We were lucky in many respects over the two legs and credit to Besiktas who pushed us all the way, but at the end of the day we showed that our 17years longevity in the Champions league isn't just talk. There's bags of experience in this team and when the going got tough we called on that experience to bail us out.
Our reward following that game was to be placed in a rather difficult group with Dortmund, Anderlecht, and Galatasary. 13-14 points i reckon will be enough to see us top this group..Something we absolutely must endeavor to accomplish this time around seeing that our previous finishes in 2nd place at the group stage has not helped our cause in the tournament. We must see ourselves as capable of fighting with the best the continent has to offer and beating them. Athletico Madrid last year showed us that it isn't always all about the size of your budget or the Big names in the team. A compact unit possessing the right Talent and focus is what you need far more than the egos. Its been said in some quarters in the media that its pointless celebrating being in a tournament for 17 years without having won it. Even though these haters will like to deny they don't know its the consistency in participation that we are celebrating, i have to admit we have underachieved in the Champions league viz-a-viz our now regular 2nd round exit year in year out. We must do something about that. I believe in the quality of our team and can say quite confidently that on our day we can beat anyone over two legs. Its time to make a proper quest for this trophy, for the benefit of the Club, our Great Manager and the fans. So how do we do this is the big question.
We no doubt have boosted our confidence to high levels with our early season results. Our form on the pitch in terms of cohesion can be better but things could also have been worse. The team still needs to gel better upfront and with Giroud out long-term, that fluency is what we need to find fast. Alexis Sanchez was superb against Besiktas at home, showing the kind of finishing and guts that made me an admirer from his Barcelona days. I remain one of those who reckons he'll be a great signing for us because at Arsenal he will get the regard, trust and respect that the Catalan side never really gave him in his 3years there. The weekend game with Leicester will see a very confident Arsenal side looking to grab the maximum points to anchor itself at the top-end of the table. And with the Transfer window 2days away from slamming shut (as i write this Saturday Morning), our fate this season can still be said to be in our hands.
Do we buy to offset the Giroud absence going forward? or do we as the boss says in this interview make do with the crop of hitmen we already have. My feeling is that we must find someone who will come in and give our opponents that fear factor up front. The guys we have Podolski, Walcott , Sanchez and Sanogo all have their qualities but don't need reminding what a big signing can do for the morale of the squad. Plus knowing our Injury curse, any of Poldi, Theo or Sanchez may cop a niggle (God forbid) leaving us in regrets when things start to hot up. If we agree that our sights are set on bigger things than the FA cup this season then we must spare no effort to realize just that. Monday is deadline day and at Center Back we need one more man , a DM (defensive midfeilder) too and then that forward conundrum needs to be buffered. Maybe the Boss will do the Versatile player who will combine the CB/DM roles and then get in a striker if he can get the right price. Fingers crossed we come out stronger with the right buys to help us achieve our goals..later
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