Pre-Season: A Poker Game
Posted by Young'un in Arsenal | 27 July 2011
We’ve just about entered half-time in our pre-season preparations and it’s difficult to draw too many conclusions, such is the unreliable nature of this period as a yardstick by which to measure the season proper. The Asia Tour by all accounts can be regarded as a roaring success in that we have reached out to our evidently massive foreign fanbase, and seemingly tied up some much-needed commercial deals in the process.
Training in such heat and humidity will benefit the fitness of the players, mentally if nothing else, knowing if they can perform in intense Asian conditions, they can do so on a freezing midweek encounter in Lancashire also. Following the 2-1 victory in Germany we now sit at the table with decisions to be made.
The transfer market, as always, is at the forefront of our minds and we are assured by the club that we are active players and that Mr Wenger is doing everything possible to shuffle his pack, ensuring Arsenal go into the 2011/12 season a fresher, more rounded squad.
As anticipated, the boss has kept his cards close to his chest throughout although he did publicly admit that Manuel Almunia and Nicklas Bendtner are edging closer to the exit door. Gael Clichy, Denilson and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas have all moved on to pastures new, to mixed emotions among supporters.
Should you believe the papers, the departure of the joker in the pack, Emmanuel Eboue is also imminent meaning that on paper, it appears to have been a good start in terms of shifting the deadwood. The cult hero status definitely went to Eboue’s head and I can count his good performances since 2009 on one hand. The players may miss his dressing room presence but I for one won’t miss him on the pitch.
In the other direction we have seen Carl Jenkinson (presumably a direct replacement for Eboue) and Gervinho join the club for sensible fees. Both appear to be shrewd acquisitions, particularly the latter, who seems to add a different dimension to our attacking play, and it was great to see this new ace combine with Jack straight away; they look a promising pair. But as I say, pre-season isn’t always the best indicator, Gervinho could easily fold under pressure as he could succeed.
The poker-like nature of “player turnover” is intensified in this current climate, with inflated prices meaning that more often than not we are unable to call or raise the stakes; the simple fact of the matter is we don’t as yet have the financial muscle to compete with our rivals at the top.
Wenger never reveals targets in public because once the player in question is identified, his value instantly doubles as Manchester City amongst others prepare to trump our offer. Keeping things on the low-down, bluffing and biding our time rather than thrashing out deals is frustrating for us but it’s the way things should be done. One could argue we are gambling with the Fabregas situation but I do believe we hold all the cards. We are under no obligation to sell him and are right to hold ‘em out for a more respectable offer.
The basic point of this article, other than to childishly incorporate as many technical terms as possible, is to address the fans who grunt “spend some…money!” and hopefully hit home the truth that buying players and improving the squad is not as simple as pressing ‘X’ on the Playstation controller.
Do I want us to be active? Of course; I’m all for making Arsenal a superior footballing force. Telling you what I’d like us to do in the market is for another day. Today I hope to put things in perspective; that the way Arsenal is run does not rely on splashing the cash, but a game of shrewd patience. Keep the faith.
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