As we edge closer to the Premier League, the fans are anticipating the football as the Gunners are set to begin their preseason adventure against Singapore Select XI. The design of the Emirates Airline plane was simply awesome and P3tr C3ch has finally decided his jersey number for the forthcoming season,
Starting new chapter at 33 years of age with 333 games in the premier league … That's an easy choice 😄 pic.twitter.com/UIIVuGIkma
— Petr Cech (@PetrCech) July 11, 2015
With Cech secured and on his way to Singapore, the fans are eagerly anticipating the next player (s) that would be switching allegiances to the Red and White of Arsenal. Morgan Schneiderlin was a player that was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal but eyebrows were raised when Manchester United came into the picture and with Man Utd in for the kill, I’d envisaged that they’d hijack any potential plans Arsenal had for the French lad.
My concerns became a reality when ESPN reported that a transfer had been agreed between Southampton and Manchester United. BBC Sport also published a piece that the Frenchman was set to have his medicals ahead of his move to Old Trafford. This bit of info comes shortly after the Red Devils secured the services of German legend, Bastian Schweinsteiger after the maestro spent 17 years in Bayern.
Now that Schneiderlin is out of the picture, what’s next Arsene Wenger?
We were linked with Geoffrey Kondogbia – he signed for Inter. We were linked with Schneiderlin – he has signed for Manchester United. The Metro linked Arsenal with a potential bid for William Carvalho but only the Heavens know were he’d end up.
What if we don’t sign any holding midfielder and go through the season with what we have? Mikel Arteta recently extended his contract with the club so Arsene Wenger still believes that he has a role to play in the team. Since the midfielder joined the club in 2011, he was been an influential player and a vital cog in the midfield engine but he’s reaching his twilight years and injuries have been a major thorn in his flesh. His deputy, Mathieu Flamini, is a far cry from the player he was and last season showed that he’s past his peak to continue competing in a top-level club like Arsenal. We heard about the link with SC Bastia but I don’t think the Gunners would release the midfielder to allow him leave on a free transfer.
I don’t expect Francis Coquelin to play every game next season but it’s going to be interesting to see how thing pan out. I have issues with Arteta’s fitness and Flamini’s ability but it’s something I expect Wenger to manage efficiently.
Sayonara.
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