Arsenal celebrate 125 years as a football club this year. It is a significant and historic anniversary; one which is celebrated in our new crest that includes a wreath that brackets the standard Arsenal crest as well as the motto 'Forward' written underneath. However forward is far from how we started the season! Psychologically our Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham was the deathblow to our season last year. In hindsight the game revealed our lack of mental strength and ability to 'bounce' back. We faded away, dropping out of all other major competitions and finally only managing to finish fourth. It was clear that last season we lacked leadership as the fiasco with Febregas lingered, speculation ever growing as to when, not if he would make his move back to Spain. We had our captain in body but not in mind or spirit. After long, drawn out negotiations Fabregas finally made his move back to his beloved Barcelona in the Summer. The effects of losing our once talismanic play maker were clear to see at the start of the new season - we were unable to score in both of our first two matches and through a series of injuries and suspensions were forced to ask our new teenage signings to go from being boys to men against the defending champions Man United. The result, an inform and clinical Man U were just too much to cope with and annihilated us with a humiliating 8-2 victory, which embarrassed fans, players and manager alike. Something had to be done. But as a pheonix rises from the ashes Wenger responded by making some vital and much needed new signings on the last day of the transfer market.
In total we signed five new players yesterday, four on long term contracts, one on loan. Each brings something that has been lacking in the Arsenal squad this season - every one of them are experienced players in their late twenties or early thirties, several of them have international experience too, making many appearances for their respective countries. We have reinforced our defence, midfield and forward positions. Per Mertesacker, our new German defender, will add much needed height and physicality to our game at 6'6 inches tall. Mikel Arteta has vast amounts of Premier League experience and should link up nicely with our other talented mid fielders in Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey. Arsenal play a very particular style of flowing football. However, arguably Arsenal have lacked a clinical finisher in the past and so a new striker was desperately needed to add greater attacking threat. Hopefully this is precisely what South Korean Chu Young Park can give us, as well as the leadership qualities he brings as captain for his national side. With Chu Young Park, Walcott, Robin Van Persie and Gervinho we should have plenty of attacking options both from the wings and from the centre. Moreover the additions of Yossi Benayoun (on loan) and Andre Santos should provide extra support for our more forward going players and Benayoun's Premier League experience, like that of Arteta, is invaluable to us at the moment.
As an Arsenal fan I am being very optimistic about these new signings. There will be some who just dismiss these signings as 'desperation buying' on the last day of the transfer market but I believe this is a real positive step Forward. Some Arsenal fans even believe our crushing defeat to Man U was the wake up call we needed to actually spend in the transfer market. I am not sure about this line of logic as I don't believe any defeat of that magnitude is a good thing, especially not for a club like Arsenal with such a prestigious history. Conversely I am glad we have made these signings and do believe that Wenger and his scouts have chosen well. What remains to be seen is whether Wenger, with the qualities and strengths these new players bring to the team will be open minded enough to change his tactics when necessary in order to prevent further defeats this season. When you reach the bottom the only way to go is up and I am optimistic that we can once more go 'Forward' as a club. However it is a long way back and securing a top 4 finish this season will be harder than ever. However, "Victory grows out of harmony" - Victoria Concordia Crescit.
