Possibles: CMF Andrei Arshavin – Zenit St.Petersburg CMF Xabi Alonso – Liverpool MF Ruben de la Red – Real Madrid CDF Vincent Kompany – Hamburg ST Obafemi Martins – Newcastle GK Shay Given – Newcastle FW Bafetimbi Gomis – St. Etienne ST Klaas-Jan Huntelaar – Ajax
What’s Left in the Kitty – Around 53m US (includes completed sales)
What Lies Ahead: Aug 16 West Brom (H) Aug 23 Fulham (A) Aug 30 Newcastle (H) Sep 13 Blackburn (A) Sep 20 Bolton (A) Sep 27 Hull (H) Oct 4 Sunderland (A)
Possible Starting XI: GK Manuel Almunia RB Bacary Sagna CB William Gallas/Johann Djourou CB Kolo Toure/Philippe Senderos LB Gael Clichy RMF Emmanuel Eboue/Theo Walcott CMF Aaron Ramsey/Abou Diaby CMF Cesc Fabregas/Theo Walcott LMF Tomas Rosicky/Samir Nasri FW Emmanuel Adebayor/Eduardo FW Robin Van Persie/Nicolas Bendtner
How They’ll Stack Up: Without a piece of silverware in three seasons, Arsenal fans are starting to quietly question manager Arsene Wenger’s vision. It may not be quite as quiet if the side does not add to their squad in the coming weeks. Wenger has said he needs just one more body to complete his team – but their lack of depth was exposed last season when the injury bug took a bite – and not much has changed. Granted, Wenger’s young charges only finished four points off the top and were regularly on par with the top two, but to make that jump back to the top, they need more depth – especially when you consider how Chelsea and Liverpool have strengthened this summer. Wenger has shown himself to be an astute manager – one of the best in the world – so perhaps trusting his vision is best….And his young squad have insisted that with another season under their belts, they are better equipped to handle the rigours of the league - and Europe - this term. Even the manager admitted he’d made some mistakes last term and while it is hard for someone of Wenger’s mentality to put his faith in the unknown, he needs to do so more often and trust he’s made the right buys (ie: Theo Walcott should be starting). Last season they got off to a flying start which helped them get that early confidence and this season should be no different. They should be able to go without a loss for this first stretch and won’t face a true examination of their credentials until November when they face United at the beginning and Chelsea at the end of the month. If they can stay healthy, there’s no reason why this Arsenal team shouldn’t be right there once again at the close. But unless they bring in a few more bodies, it could be another season of disappointment at The Emirates. And while I see them challenging for a top two spot, I don’t see them getting one at this point. Arsenal for 3rd - again. But they’re going to play some very entertaining football regardless of where they end up.
I'm Jeremy St.Louis and I'm an Anchor/Report er on the 'Fox Soccer Report' airing on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sportsworld Canada. Having found the game a little later in my life, I'm by no means a footie expert but I do have my opinions and I'm happy to share them with you.
Please feel free to respond to my blog postings at your leisure with comments or questions about the postings or the show. I will try to answer as much as I can.
Fox Soccer Report is produced from Winnipeg, Canada.
The show has been on the air since September of 2001.
