Every club football fan has waved sayonara to the international break because club football is just around the corner.
From an Arsenal perspective, Robin van Persie and Park Chu-Young added four more goals to their country’s accounts, Aaron Ramsey, Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky had the honor of leading their nations into action, Gervinho showed why he’ll be an integral part of Arsenal’s football with his stellar performance against Rwanda and Wojciech Szczesny made a save that earned plaudits from the great Oliver Ganges Kahn.
With the 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford a dead and gone affair that will still remain in the hearts of gooners worldwide, the fans will be expecting atonement when Arsenal hosts Swansea.
Ramsey has told the media Vultures that he wants a fresh start and Arsenal wants to set things right on Saturday:
“We want to put things right after our last result. Hopefully we put in a really good performance and get back to winning ways.
“We have had a good think about things and it will be a fresh start now. We have brought in some quality players, Arteta and Benayoun are two creative midfielders who are really comfortable on the ball and they will be great additions to the squad.
“I saw last season, when I played against Swansea for Cardiff, that they are a good footballing team and like to pass the ball. It will be a good footballing game but hopefully we come out on top and get all three points.
Arsenal’s Premier League form has been very dismal starting from the 2-1 loss to Birmingham in February and a win against Swansea will go a long way in winning the fans back and restoring confidence to the squad.
Mikel Arteta is a player that could be in line to make his Arsenal debut next tomorrow but he arrives in Arsenal as the mindset that he’s Fabregas’ ideal replacement.
Arteta has told everybody to stop comparing him with Fabregas:
“Fabregas and Nasri were two top players for the club, they did really, really well in the last few years and now we have some new players coming in to try and make the same impact. I am sure we will.
“I don’t want the fans to be expecting the same as them because every player is different.”
“We need some time to adapt as well, but I am sure that we will give everything we can to make this team better.”
Arteta brings his good passing range, creativity, amazing technique, close control, good set pieces and influence to Arsenal. These are attributes that were synonymous with Fabregas when he was in Arsenal.
Arteta has also told the media Vultures that Arsenal can win the title. He was faced with an interview and he did well to share his views over several issues at the club.
When he was asked if he has seen his new teammates:
“A few of them. Most of them are on international duty at the moment but I have trained with some of the younger lads and all of the staff apart from the manager who is away. It has been very positive.
On knowing any Arsenal player on a personal level:
“No. I knew Cesc a little bit because he is Spanish and Manuel Almunia just to say hello to when we play against each other, but not much.”
On training:
“It was good. I only trained on Monday, but you can see that the ball is involved in every exercise, there is good tempo in training and I think it is good, very good.”
On the different footballing culture from Everton:
“At Everton I think we used to run a little bit more than what we do here, without the ball. But it has only been a day so it is hard to say. In the next few months I will be more suited to answer that question.”
On what he’ll bring to Arsenal:
“I hope to bring creativity, 100 per cent commitment, work and help the team to do better.”
On the views that he’s touted as a replacement for Fabregas or Nasri:
“No, I don’t want to use the word replacement. They were two top players for the Club, they did really, really well in the last few years and now we have some new players coming in to try and make the same impact. I am sure we will. I don’t want the fans to be expecting the same as them because every player is different. We need some time to adapt as well, but I am sure that we will give everything we can to make this team better.”
On his strongest playing position:
“The manager asked me to play in every position [at Everton] and the good thing is to get different things from every position. I played a lot on the left, I played a lot in attacking midfield and I played in front of the back four as well. It depends what the manager wants here from me – I have not had a chance to speak to him about that yet.”
On how he can help the younger players:
“It is too early to say but I know what type of character I am and what I like done. Hopefully there are things which we can make sure we improve. I can advise and hopefully that is going to help them.”
On his take on Arsenal’s Premier League campaign so far:
“Well it is not the best of starts obviously. Looking at the other teams, at Manchester United and City, both have nine points already but it is early stages. The season is very long with the Premier League, Carling Cup, Champions League and FA Cup. There is still a lot of work to do, but we want to start winning on Saturday and get that right. From then hopefully everything is going to be more positive.”
On his belief on Arsenal title challenge:
“This club has to be there with them fighting until the very end, that is for sure. Nobody can be happy saying they are too good or have spent more money. We can fight, and I do not think that is the right mentality. We have unbelievable talent here and if we can use it the right way I am sure we can fight with them.”
On how he feels about his potential debut:
“I am really excited. It has been a bit strange having been at the same club for six or seven years, and it is a big change. Even when you just put a different kit on. But I am so excited, I hope I can do my job well and if I have the chance to play, I will give everything.”
Fabregas gave 110% in almost every game he played so the gooners will be hoping that Arteta will be an essential piece of Arsenal’s jigsaw puzzle.
In other Arsenal related news, Per Mertesacker has told the media Vultures that nervous but excited:
“It is like before the first day at school. I have a new challenge in a new country, a new style of play and a new language and I am ready for it.”
“It is exciting. It is a new phase in my life and I am really looking forward to it, but I also feel nervous.”
With the Verm out of action for a month, Mertesacker will have to blend with Koscielny because he’ll definitely ahead of Djourou.
To round it all up, Arsenal is linked to Barcelona’s Little Messi called Gerard Deulofeu and Walcott will be fit enough to play Swansea
That’s a wrap for today.
Sayonara.
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