Open Season

The premiership is back at last, and not a moment too soon. The story of the summer was of course the exorbitant amounts of money being exchanged for Europe’s top players (also Adebayor), but now is the time for them to start justifying the jaw dropping sums of money spent on them. For some this will be easy; Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema, Real Madrid’s new attacking line are good enough to shine in any league (Benzema is definitely one to watch).
However, oil-rich Manchester City’s transfer purchases might struggle to live up to the enormous expectation heaped upon them by long-suffering fans of the club. Suffice it to say that even the best players in the world would labour to atone for the deficiencies of centre back liability extraordinaire Richard Dunne, or the prosaic managerial style of Mark Hughes. City are without the best players in the world, instead toiling with an ensemble cobbled together from cast-offs from other premier league teams. Some early predictions had them pipping Arsenal to fourth place, but there’s a fair chance the gunners performance this weekend up at Goodison Park will have a few revising their opinions.
Wenger’s men put in a very respectable opening day performance, strolling past a lacklustre Everton side 6-1. One particularly notable performance came from Cesc Fabregas, dedicating his performance to Dani Jarque, Espanyol captain and friend who died of a heart attack during pre-season. Two goals and an assist saw the captain deservedly take the man of the match award, although some credit for the lopsided scoreline must go to Everton’s normally resolute defence who crumbled half way through the first half. The main focus of post-match analysis was on Everton’s uncharacteristic collapse and its implications for the rest of their season, but this will suit arsenal well, who function best when expectations are low and they left to fly under the radar. Credit must also go to a couple of others, namely the debutant Vermaelen, grabbing a goal and looking assured at the back, Denilson who scored a spectacular effort and was composed in his passing, and Alex Song who looks better with each passing game. It is of course premature to suggest that he will solve Arsenal’s defensive midfield problems, but he is showing a great deal of promise, and this might just be his season.
Song put in another great performance against Celtic in the midweek champions league qualifier, proving to be Arsenal’s standout performer. Involved in breaking down opposition attacks all over the pitch and in driving the team forward, he showed composure beyond his years and seems to be justifying Wenger’s decision not to enter the transfer market in search of a defensive midfielder. The rest of the team meanwhile looked uninterested by comparison, but will still have a two goal lead to take back to the emirates for the second leg. Arsenal’s young side refused to be overawed by the daunting atmosphere inside Parkhead, playing much the better football whilst barely breaking a sweat, and should see themselves through comfortable in one weeks time.
A rosy start to the season for Arsenal, but potential clouds on the horizon in the form of successive trips to Manchester to play Utd and City later this month. Still, in this form Arsenal need fear no one, and if there is a serious title challenge to be mounted, the foundations will be need to laid now.