Arsenal - In Depth

It was contrversial and not a little bit surprising when England called Theo Walcott in the England side for the 2006 World Cup. From an Arsenal point of view, what was extraordinary in Walcott's inclusion was the fact that the 17 year old had yet to appear in the Arsenal first team. That Walcott joined two OTHER Arsenal teenagers in the World Cup adds more credibility to the Arsene Wenger youth revolution currently reloading the Arsenal first team. But more was to shortly follow.

Just before the summer transfer deadline, Wenger was able to add William Gallas and Julio Baptista, seasoned internationals both to the team while discarding annoying malcontents in the process. Rosicky had already been brought into replace Bobby Pires but Wenger added yet more depth to the midfield with the quiet signing of Denilson, a supposed defensive midfielder who captained the Brazil under 19s. All this in a summer where Wenger also made permanent the contract of Song Billong.

Last year many many many Gooners bemooaned the sale of the superannuated Patrick Vieira to Juventus... as Wenger did not replace either he nor the energetic and experienced Edu in the Arsenal midfield. Queue the predictable chatter about the Arsenal lack of depth in the engine room and the worry that Arsene had lost the plot and a seat at the top table (the CL) of English football. Well. Ever since that Juventus match at Highbury where Gooners rained the former Arsenal captain with the most sarcastic of Vieira... oh oh renditions, the tide has turned for the club in terms of depth and confidence.

While it was amazing that Theo Walcott was included in the England side, it was surely much more extraordinary that young Denilson was this week brought in the full Brazil side without having played a minute in the Premiership. He did not play in the match against the Swiss, apparently but unless the injury bug bites the Arsenal in the next two hours, Denilson will not even be on the bench against Newcastle today at the Emirates. Arsenal reservist by day, Brazil international at night. Such is the Arsenal depth now.

So far, both Gallas and Rosicky have bedded into the Arsenal first team as if they were 5 year veterans of the club. Its actually difficult to think about the club WITHOUT them now. Today it seems that Arsenal will give the full Premiership debut of Julio "The Beast" Baptista in the middle of park alongside Flamini and Cesc. A long term target for Arsene Wenger, and one which he was prepared to pay £20m to secure, Baptista has yet to have a run of matches for the club due to injury. Wenger had wanted to sign Baptista 16 months ago with money as almost no object so he clearly knows where he would like to play him. For me, Baptista's power and technique will serve him very well in the middle... plus his Lampard like knack of making late runs into the box will offer Arsenal another option in attack. One that may quiet the increasingly moronic "shoot" calls from fans atthe Emirates.

12 months ago Arsenal only had 18 year old Fabregas, Gilberto and Flamini in the middle with the teenaged Song not quite ready for prime time. Things became so sparse that Pires played some time in the middle, where he looked uncomfortable at best.

Oh what a difference a year makes. The progress of Fabrice Muamba on loan at Birmingham has been marked, Song is doing well, Baptista is a Brazilian international... as is Denilson.... now there is exceptional competition for places in the centre.