Happy with Gunners

Thursday, 01/09/2011

by Richard Leighton, Shoot's Arsenal blogger

There’s no getting away from it, Sunday’s battering at the hands of Manchester United was the most humiliating defeat in my 20 years as an Arsenal supporter.

It was worse than my worst nightmare. Everything Man United did seemed to result in a goal, to the point where I literally couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Even if he won’t admit it, it was without doubt Arsène Wenger’s lowest point as Arsenal manager. Since building the invincible team of 2004, circumstances have been such that the team has been slowly dismantled and this is what we were left with – a side barely worthy of the name.

There’s little point sifting through the wreckage of the defeat suffice to say that it was a team of players who have either never been good enough, are not yet good enough or are no longer good enough.

Sure I can sit here and lambast those players for inept performances but the reality is the blame lies solely on the shoulders of the man who bought the players, picked the team and organised them into a unit. The phrase ‘lambs to the slaughter’ has never been so fitting.

Since that dark Sunday at Old Trafford the boss has moved to put things right by purchasing four players in the final 48 hours of the transfer window and with them came a wealth of talent and most importantly experience.

Striker Park Chu-Young is 26-years-old, captain of his native South Korea, a leader on the pitch and got good experience having played in two World Cups. Left back, Andre Santos, is another one who at 28 is ready made. He has Champions League and international experience and is possibly our most important acquisition.

Per Mertesacker stands at an intimidating 6ft 5in and is what Arsenal fans have been crying out for. No Premier League experience but you don’t get 75 caps for Germany by being rubbish. I guarantee when he starts bullying Didier Drogba the roar from the Emirates crowd will be epic.

Finally there’s Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta. Now this really is unfamiliar territory for Wenger. Both have been playing their trade in England for years, both are very talented, creative footballers and both are around 30 years of age.

They may not be the megastars some people wanted us to buy but I am so happy to have them at the club. Perfect for the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere to be around at this stage of their development. It means Ramsey won’t have to play every game and suffer the same burnout Wilshere is currently dealing with.

I haven’t felt this much optimism for a long time. Whether it’s misplaced or not we shall see but, for me, the season starts now. Bring it on!

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