Tomorrow’s Community Shield fixture between Man Shitty and Chelshit will serve as the perfect curtain raiser for the season but Arsenal fans would watch that game with half an eye before switching their focus to Germany as the Gunners lock horns with Lukas Podolski’s former employers, FC Cologne. The fans have longed to see Podolski and Giroud strut their stuff and they’ll also be excited about the prospect of Santi Cazorla getting some action as well.
The squad has been training vigorously in Germany in their bid to gain full fitness and the captain vice-captain, Thomas Vermaelen, believes that the team is shaping up nicely ahead of the forthcoming campaign. The Belgian expressed his delight on the team’s progress and he’s extremely confident that the Red Army will hit the ground running. He had some nice words for the new kid on the block, Santi Cazorla, as well as the youngster, Serge Gnabry.
The defender took out time to also talk about the new assistant manager, Steve Bould, labeling him as a very focused individual,
“Steve is really good to work with, especially for defenders as he has been a defender himself. He knows what it is all about and gives us a lot of tips. He works a lot on the shape of the team and that is very important, so I am very happy he came to work with the first team.
He is very focused on details. A lot of players, because we are getting older, we know how to play. But he looks at details and the shape of your body and to be honest I am learning a lot from him.”
I wasn’t too impressed with the defending in the Far East tour, but I’ll give the team the benefit of doubt because the line ups weren’t the strongest there is. Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos really need to work on their positioning while a decision has to be made on the deputy right back for the season. Francis Coquelin has proven his quality in that position but Carl Jenkinson is also knocking on the door as well.
Vermaelen contributed immensely to Arsenal’s attack last season with some vital goals but he was culpable in doing his primary job. Laurent Koscielny was more disciplined than the Verm and I’m sure that they’ll learn from each other to form an impregnable unit at the heart of Arsenal’s defense. The Big Fuckin Giant, Johan Djourou and Ignasi Miquel will play their parts in the course of the season and I can only wish them the best.
Moving on, the media Vultures have given us a fresh dose of transfer tidbits this morning and I’ll start with the potential arrivals before laying emphasis on van Persie the Gunners that are linked with moves out of the Emirates.
Apparently, it now seems as if Real Madrid is taking a stand on Nuri Sahin. The Turkish deep-lying playmaker has been heavily linked with a move away from Santiago Bernabeu with many possible destinations in mind. Unlike Park Chu-Young that could actually fry an egg with his warm seat on the bench, Sahin’s seat could manage to boil water at least. Despite Mourinho urging the former Dortmund playmaker to consider a move elsewhere, he has been insisting on staying at the club and fight out for his place.
This now brings Arsenal back to square One in the club’s hunt for a holding midfielder to replace support Alex Song. Yann M’Vila was hugely tipped to arrive at the Emirates after the Euros but the Rennes hierarchy hasn’t received any formal bid from Arsenal or anyone else. However, it seems as if Arsenal is in a somewaht precarious situation, as Barcelona has been sniffing around for Alex Song’s services. The media Vultures have stated that Song has agreed personal terms with that Alien lot but no formal agreement has been reached between Arsenal and Barcelona.
As expected, the Catalonians (with the exception of Cesc Fabregas) have taken their cheap route by using players to coax their fellow professional into buckling. Shakira’s boy toy, Gerald Pique, has shared his own opinion about the Cameroonian gem with a tarantula on his head,
“Song is a great player with an impressive physical ability and good technique. If he comes, which, from what I’ve read looks like it could happen, we are happy to welcome you.”
After reviewing Pique’s gibberish, I was quite concerned about that line, ‘If he comes, which, from what I’ve read looks like it could happen’. Song hasn’t released any official statement declaring how it has become clear to him that he in many aspects, disagrees on the way Arsenal should move forward. Making three great signings then selling van Persie and Song will be a classic tale of one step forward, two steps back.
Barcelona intends to offer Christian Tello as makeweight for the deal and I truly hope that we decline their proposed bid with a complimentary middle finger as well. I’m pretty sure that Barcelona’s scouts were watching Song under some bushes in Germany as he engaged himself in a penalty shoot-out with the cuddly Andre Santos.
Elsewhere, the Metro reports that Arsenal has given Park Chu-Young an ultimatum to find a new club in the summer – or risk facing another lenghty spell on the bench. Park was hijacked right under LOSC Liile Metropole’s noses last season and it’s really shameful to know how his career has panned out. He spearheaded Korean Olympic Under-23 attack alongside Ji Dong-Won in the course of the Men’s football tournament and he inspired his team to a Bronze medal finish with a 2-0 win over neighbors, Japan.
Everyone’s favorite defender, Sebastien Squillaci, has been linked with a move to Olympiakos. Whether he’s linked to Olympiakos, Bastia or my present Football Manager 2012 team, the sooner Squillaci leaves the club, the better for everyone (One slot available, wage bill reduced).
Have a great Saturday.
Sayonara
You can follow Gooner Daily on Twitter @goonerdaily. I’ll follow back
Feel free to visit Gooner Daily’s Facebook page and click on the like button.
You can also join Gooner Daily’s Mailing List to get notifications of new posts by email by clicking on the Follow button
Leave a Reply