After managing to free myself from the clutches of work yet again, it’s time to share my thoughts on the Gunners that would have extended periods of football with the World Cup looming. Arsenal like every other top European side, had a couple of players that made it to their World Cup provisional lists while some others would have to make do with watching the tournament on their television sets.
All the continents of the world are represented in the soccer fiesta and like the last World Cup in South Africa, Gooner Daily would be keeping a keen eye on the club’s ambassadors on international duty. Looking at each playing positions of the squad, Gooner Daily reviews the playing personnel to know who made their national team squad lists or not.
GOALIES
With Poland not qualifying for the soccer showpiece, Wojciech Szczesny is set to have a good holiday and I’m sure he’d be taking more selfies or something. Lukasz Fabianski on the other hand, would be working with his agent to search for a new club, as his seven year stint with the club is set to reach its climax. As for Emiliano Viviano, I reserve my comments.
DEFENDERS
Arsenal has seven senior defenders within its ranks and from this lot, four players have been called up to represent their nations. While the young English duo of Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson would be waiting for their turns to shine on the big stage someday, Spain’s Nacho Monreal would be saddened to know that he can’t add to his caps bearing in mind that Spain is among the favorites to win the tournament.
Didier Deschamps called up the defensive combo of Bacary Sagna and Laurent Koscielny, two players that are odds to even feature in their national team’s starting XI. The same might not be said about Thomas Vermaelen, that found games hard to come by this season, and Per Mertesacker that shockingly failed to make any appearance in Euro 2012. I hope his form this season would show Joachim Low that he’s the real deal.
MIDFIELDERS
You don’t need anyone to tell you that Arsenal is a club that is fully-stocked with midfielders. The club rotated nine midfielders across three playing positions this season and it’s really disheartening to know that only four from this crop have been called up by their national team managers.
Players like Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey are blameless because their countries didn’t even qualify for the tournament, Mikel Arteta would be wondering what he has to do to play international football someday. The French combo of Abou Diaby and Mathieu Flamini were also overlooked but kudos to Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and the English duo of Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for getting a chance to fly Arsenal’s flag in Brazil.
FORWARDS
Olivier Giroud had a fantastic season by his standards and he was called up to spearhead France’s attack. Lukas Podolski also made the list but the likes of Serge Gnabry, Nicklas Bendtner, Yaya Sanogo and unfortunately, Theo Walcott, would ahve to watch from home.
In summary, Arsenal would have four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards playing in the World Cup. Gooner Daily would keep a keen eye on these player’s progress and their updates would be seen on the blog.
A FA Cup final preview comes up tomorrow.
Sayonara.
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