Internationals are crap... and fantastic

Just when the Arsenal were clicking into form and inviting the likes of Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy back into the fold we have yet another International break through which to fret about the fitness of our players.

William Gallas was barely fit the other day but performed admirably alongside Kolo Toure in central defence to earn Arsenal a hard fought victory at the Valley. He may now be called upon to do the same for France and further risk proper injury at a time when the Arsenal back four is beginning to settle.

Looking back to the summer, Senderos suffered an injury with the Swiss that has kept him out of the team so far this season. As David Dein said yesterday, there must be some recompense for the club losing such an important player for long stretches of his employer's season.

With nearly the entire squad being involved in either full or under 21 international squads, we can only expect grim news of injury.

However, even the most vicious crtitic of international footbal would find it difficult to argue against the development of Manu Eboue in playing for Ivory Coast in the African's Cup last season. He had yet to start a Premiership match for the club but his development in playing for his country was so rapid that only a couple of months later he was placing the likes of Zinadine Zidane into his pocket while bombing forward and causing chaos in opposition boxes.

The same can be said for Senderos. His involvement in the Swiss side has seen him grow in confidence and stature. The experience of having to play Ireland and be absolutely immense in a playoff situation can only have long term benefit for the Arsenal. Surely those tense Swiss matches left him in good stead for the later stages of the Champions League last season.

There is also Theo Walcott to consider. And while I feel the media hype around his involvement in the team did the player no favours, it must be noted that training with the likes of Gerrard and Terry can only have helped his development. Indeed, as a 17 year old Ronaldinho also went to the World Cup to taste the flavour of the competition rather contributor to the cause. And things have worked out ok for him.

Just get these matches over with and get back to the important football of the Premiership and Champions League.

Good to be a GOONAH!!

The Gallas is half full

As if there was something wrong with being undefeated at home (including a victory in the Champions League qualifier against Zagreb), Arsenal put to rest the media fuelled impressions that the club have struggled to settle at Emirates with a hard earned 3-0 victory against Sheffield United.

On Match of the Day, Arsene Wenger even suggested that the bigger pitch served to tire the United resistance as there was more pitch to have to defend and track the Arsenal movement.

Quite.

"We've broken our duck". Now let's move on. Ta.

Like many Gooners, I was slightly concerned about how William Gallas would fit into the side. It's very well known that he caused waves within the Chelsea camp about wanting to play in his favourite position in the middle of defence. And yet having sent Ashley Cole over to West London to secure Gallas, Arsene Wenger then asked Gallas to slot into the left of defence. I worried that his quick change of number from 3 to 10 offered unfortunate insight into a problematic mindset but having seen Gallas play so well at leftback for the club my concerns have eased.

Gallas has quickly shown why Chelsea got so upset about losing him. He's got everything. Absolutely everything. With the value added traits of being both French and boyhood mates with Thierry Henry. And for such a young side, his experience and leadership at the back has been an immense addition for us.

It is still odd to see Gallas play for us but not in a bad way. Its weird to see him line up against Manchester United for us... and for us to keep clean sheet at Sold Trafford.

I have been impressed most by his composure and assured passing. Yesterday, the Emirates became increasingly agitated as the match drifted into the second half. That sinking feeling of being dragged by a resolute defence into an annoying stalemate began to grip the stadium, when Gallas romped forward to be met by an Henry cross and a Fabregas touch and struck his chance with the calm resolve of an experienced world class striker. Not bad for a leftback.

With the news Philippe the Senderos is closer to a competitive return than initially thought, the Arsenal defence is beginning to look not just solid but world beating. Let's be clear, bringing Gael Clichy, Lauren and Senderos back into the side surely makes ours the best defence in the country and in fact, given the array of talents the group provides, probably the best in Europe. Non Gooners laugh when I say this... forgetting that we went 10 matches without conceding a goal in Europe last year and had a better defensive record in the league than Manchester United last season in spite of our struggles away.

And we've now added William Gallas to the side.

Quite.

I am a voyuer

At the end of an emotional week of transfer speculation and ultimately tranfer moves, Arsenal Chairman Peter Hill Wood urged Gooners to move on from the Ashley Cole drama noting that he had no ill-feeling towards Chelsea and hoped that Chelsea could say the same.

I think I speak for most Gooners, when I tell you that I was delighted with the events of transfer window as it closed and am looking forward to seeing the new boys add some needed grit and power to a talented young side. And in spite of Ashley Cole's ill advised taste in women and lunch companions, I truly wish him the best with England and Chelsea knowing full well that he inevitably will join Anelka, Petit, Overmars and Vieira in wondering where it all went wrong.

But like a spiteful ex-girlfriend, Chelsea FC released a wild-eyed press statement which foamed at the mouth in suggesting Gallas had threatened dove-like Jose Mourinho with scoring OGs or being sent off should Gallas be selected in the Chelsea XI.

Words cannot do justice to the satisfaction reading this statement gives me

I note also that Chelsea have released a statement on Mourinho's behalf defending his comments in relation to the playing for France is "slavery" issue involving Makelele. Where once Mourinho would have free licence to hold press conferences waxing poetic about all he thinks about absolutely everything, he now either finds himself muzzled by his club or more likely stunned into silence by losing his control of the Chelsea squad to Peter Kenyon.

Delicious.

Im sure Moaninho will appreciate it when I say that I will be enjoying tuning in to the increasingly bizarre melodrama being played out at Stamford Bridge. Like a voyeur, I will take great pleasure watching further events unfold.

Eoin

A Balanced and Settled Side... finally

In the evening hours of Thursday 31st August, I journeyed about the various Arssenal blogs I like to frequent offering comment about the Argie signings down Upton Park as well as searching for rumour and speculation concerning Arsenal moves (if any) that evening.

What I found on these sites was appalling. A very large group of "supporters" were calling for Dein's head... and Wenger's. Why? Because we hadn't signed Tevez and Mascherano. But c'mon. West Ham haven't really signed them EITHER! We had other fish to fry. And lets face it... we didnt really need a striker.

Sack Wenger? You're a load of idiots.

And so it proved.

Hours later, Arsenal Football Club were able to acquire arguably the best defender in the Premiership as well as £5m for malcontent and part time National Lottery chav Ashley Cole as well as jettison winter shy forward and want away Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes for Julio Baptista AND £3m. But we ALSO removed the legend that is Pascal Cygan for a reported £2m (!!!!) to Villareal (Pires must be delighted) and signed young Brazilian defensive midfielder Denilson for up to £3.5m. WOW!

As I wrote on several of the same Arsenal websites later that evening and the next day. I TOLD YOU SO!

For all of you supporters who bottled it in the run up to this Arsenal masterpiece of a transfer window lets take stock of what has happened.In one move, Arsenal immensely improved the back line while significantly weakening Chelsea's. And more generally, Arsenal lacked experience in the side as well as power. In Gallas and Baptista were have excellent power all over the pitch. And suddenly, the Arsenal squad looks very very deep with competition for places everywhere. AND, we're still the youngest side in the Premiership with an army of young players, Muamba, Denilson, Merida, Mannone, Traore, Van Den Berg, Bendtner, Vela, Lupoli... etc etc... just behind the first team to feature in the Carling and FA Cups and well as Championship highlights this season.

Furthermore, Chelsea now have only Terry and two less than convincing center halves, while we have Toure and Gallas (the BEST central two on earth in my reckoning) as well as Swiss Tony and the immensely talented Djourou. Ok, they've got Ashley Cole so they've improved at left back, but Gallas is also excellent there and probably better defensively while Clichy is a Cole-clone and 4 years younger.

AND CYGAN IS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a joyous evening!

The balance of the side is much much better now. With Diaby and Baptista we may have the toughest engine room in the league (book those trips to Bolton now!). As well, Gallas will add experience and pace to the back line and Im sure being told that he will be left back from time to time will sound better en francais.

I must admit that losing Reyes is gutting as the kid has unbelieveable talent but not for him were those pesky February away matches at the Riverside. In spite of his Arsenal style attributes, he never really fit in in England. I wish him well and in fact expect that he goes on to be wonderful with Real Madrid. But I would honestly make the Reyes for Baptista trade 8 days a week with or without the £3m added in. I would like to see the Nevilles try to kick the Beast and secondly not only will Baptista at least match Reyes' goal tallies with Arsenal, Theo Walcott can slot into Reyes role both out wide left or up front for the Arsenal. And Im sure Walcott doesnt mind the cold.

But for me, the most important thing to happen on Thursday evening was to now have a settled side. Think about it. For YEARS we and the Arsenal side have had to deal with Anelka... Vieira... Henry... Reyes... and Cole leaving rumours. However, with Henry staying and Cole and Reyes out, we now have a settled and balanced side for the first time I can remember in the Wenger era. Add to that our new financial clout at the Emirates stadium... (great article about our financial prowess
http://www.arsenal-world.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDZ6&id=257289 ).. as well as Wenger's continued ability to find and sign the worlds best and brightest young players... and Arsenal FC has certainly begun a new era as one of the biggest clubs in the World.

Not usually the most Arsenal friendly of newspapers, the Sunday Times have a fantastic take on Arsenal's transfer deadline maneuvers

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2340356,00.html