It's been a while since my last blog, and quite a bit has happened since. Arsenal have picked up two frustrating points on the road, Olivier "Gorgeous" Giroud managed the most innocuous leg break ever recorded and I've been battling illness - only worsened by the torturous ordeal that Besiktas inflicted upon us at the Emirates a few weeks ago - the less said about that, the better.
And since the last time Arsenal stepped out onto the pitch - which seems like months ago, thanks to the international break, we've been busy. The transfer window came to a close and Arsene Wenger pulled another rabbit out of the hat with one of his most intriguing signings for years. It brought the AFC spending spree 2014 to a grand total of around £80m.
Fans are divided as to whether this transfer window can be considered a success. This newfound power in the transfer market has given Arsenal the ability to draw in top names such as Alexis Sanchez, but is the team now equipped to challenge for major honours again? I'm not entirely certain.
We shouldn't kid ourselves; one trophy in nine years still constitutes a drought for a club like ours. Between Wenger's first trophy at Arsenal and the 2005 cup success, we had won 7 trophies in 8 years. That is the kind of consistency we are looking for. Of course, the amount and quality of the competition these days makes that incredibly ambitious, but it won't feel like the return of the glory days until we find an achievable and realistic consistency of winning trophies.
To put it one way, this summer's transfer window to me, is a bit like a packet of Haribo Starmix, but with a lack of cola bottles. We've got the big names in Alexis, and the bare essentials in Ospina and Debuchy. We also have huge future prospects in Calum Chambers and newbie Danny Welbeck - who is supposedly "dat guy" (anyone?).
But there is a glaring absence of the kind of players that make you think this team has got the lot. I was absolutely staggered we weren't in for either a centre-back or defensive midfielder on deadline day, and even more surprised that Wenger seemed to prioritise securing striker Welbeck when there are less CBs on the books than centre-forwards - and that's with the returns of Walcott and Giroud to come.
All summer, we were meant to be in for Sami Khedira. But the rumour mill died down and inevitably, he stayed put, leaving us woefully weak at DM. New skipper Arteta and yellow card extraordinaire, Flamini - both in their thirties - are flawless on one day and liabilities on another. A fresh injection of class in that area, be it Khedira or Sporting's Carvalho, who was reportedly the subject of a below-par deadline day bid, would have beefed up a very bare Arsenal defence at the best of times.
I put it to you that had we bought a defensive midfielder and/or centre-back instead of Danny Welbeck, Arsenal would be in a far better position to go for the title. The striker position can sort itself out. Alexis, Sanogo and Walcott, at a push, can fill in the role vacated by Giroud - who will be back in January. Of course, January is another opportunity to have another crack at completing the squad before it's too late and I wouldn't be surprised - in fact, I would expect Wenger to go all out to secure the players we need - especially if the injuries mount even more.
With all that said, I can't wait to welcome Welbeck to the club with open arms, because let's face it, at £16m, he is a steal. What I like about him already is his hunger. It was apparently him that instigated a permanent move out of Old Trafford, and after the words his ex-manager, Van Gaal offered him on the way out, he should have the motivation to succeed coming out of his ears.
And if that contributed to his brace for England on Monday, his debut can't come soon enough for me. At 23, he could end up being "that guy" that we can rely on to get the goals we crave.
It still feels odd that he is an Arsenal player, especially for someone who has failed to convince me of their quality during his time at Manchester United. I often thought that he shouldn't be playing at the level he was - but he's already had quite a career - a Premier League medal, scoring in the Bernabeu and a shoo-in for the World Cup squad - can't be half bad. It's surely only a matter of time, then, before it really takes off.
I think, if you said in May we would buy Alexis Sanchez and build on our strong English core for the future with the players we have recruited, I don't think we could really imagine that happening. On the other hand, there is massive frustration from the failure to bulk up our defensive options.
Although the January transfer window is still to come, it is a massive gamble by Wenger to stick with what he has, as if injuries pile up and vital points are dropped, he is solely responsible. However, if we get lucky and we somehow get by, it won't matter. But there is almost a sense as if Arsenal's season is already treading a very thin line.
And with Manchester City on the horizon, a massive pointer as to where our season is ultimately headed will be upon us by tomorrow lunchtime. It could be the most untimely of setbacks, or the perfect kickstarter. Let's hope for the latter.
Come On You Reds!
And since the last time Arsenal stepped out onto the pitch - which seems like months ago, thanks to the international break, we've been busy. The transfer window came to a close and Arsene Wenger pulled another rabbit out of the hat with one of his most intriguing signings for years. It brought the AFC spending spree 2014 to a grand total of around £80m.
Fans are divided as to whether this transfer window can be considered a success. This newfound power in the transfer market has given Arsenal the ability to draw in top names such as Alexis Sanchez, but is the team now equipped to challenge for major honours again? I'm not entirely certain.
We shouldn't kid ourselves; one trophy in nine years still constitutes a drought for a club like ours. Between Wenger's first trophy at Arsenal and the 2005 cup success, we had won 7 trophies in 8 years. That is the kind of consistency we are looking for. Of course, the amount and quality of the competition these days makes that incredibly ambitious, but it won't feel like the return of the glory days until we find an achievable and realistic consistency of winning trophies.
To put it one way, this summer's transfer window to me, is a bit like a packet of Haribo Starmix, but with a lack of cola bottles. We've got the big names in Alexis, and the bare essentials in Ospina and Debuchy. We also have huge future prospects in Calum Chambers and newbie Danny Welbeck - who is supposedly "dat guy" (anyone?).
But there is a glaring absence of the kind of players that make you think this team has got the lot. I was absolutely staggered we weren't in for either a centre-back or defensive midfielder on deadline day, and even more surprised that Wenger seemed to prioritise securing striker Welbeck when there are less CBs on the books than centre-forwards - and that's with the returns of Walcott and Giroud to come.
All summer, we were meant to be in for Sami Khedira. But the rumour mill died down and inevitably, he stayed put, leaving us woefully weak at DM. New skipper Arteta and yellow card extraordinaire, Flamini - both in their thirties - are flawless on one day and liabilities on another. A fresh injection of class in that area, be it Khedira or Sporting's Carvalho, who was reportedly the subject of a below-par deadline day bid, would have beefed up a very bare Arsenal defence at the best of times.
I put it to you that had we bought a defensive midfielder and/or centre-back instead of Danny Welbeck, Arsenal would be in a far better position to go for the title. The striker position can sort itself out. Alexis, Sanogo and Walcott, at a push, can fill in the role vacated by Giroud - who will be back in January. Of course, January is another opportunity to have another crack at completing the squad before it's too late and I wouldn't be surprised - in fact, I would expect Wenger to go all out to secure the players we need - especially if the injuries mount even more.
With all that said, I can't wait to welcome Welbeck to the club with open arms, because let's face it, at £16m, he is a steal. What I like about him already is his hunger. It was apparently him that instigated a permanent move out of Old Trafford, and after the words his ex-manager, Van Gaal offered him on the way out, he should have the motivation to succeed coming out of his ears.
And if that contributed to his brace for England on Monday, his debut can't come soon enough for me. At 23, he could end up being "that guy" that we can rely on to get the goals we crave.
It still feels odd that he is an Arsenal player, especially for someone who has failed to convince me of their quality during his time at Manchester United. I often thought that he shouldn't be playing at the level he was - but he's already had quite a career - a Premier League medal, scoring in the Bernabeu and a shoo-in for the World Cup squad - can't be half bad. It's surely only a matter of time, then, before it really takes off.
I think, if you said in May we would buy Alexis Sanchez and build on our strong English core for the future with the players we have recruited, I don't think we could really imagine that happening. On the other hand, there is massive frustration from the failure to bulk up our defensive options.
Although the January transfer window is still to come, it is a massive gamble by Wenger to stick with what he has, as if injuries pile up and vital points are dropped, he is solely responsible. However, if we get lucky and we somehow get by, it won't matter. But there is almost a sense as if Arsenal's season is already treading a very thin line.
And with Manchester City on the horizon, a massive pointer as to where our season is ultimately headed will be upon us by tomorrow lunchtime. It could be the most untimely of setbacks, or the perfect kickstarter. Let's hope for the latter.
Come On You Reds!
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