Happy weekend Gooners!
At the gym today, I was doing my pathetic attempt at biceps curls next to an Asian man who looked like he'd swallowed Zeus, and began to wonder on the way home about lads in the Arsenal squad who have got the meat on their bones to be truly imposing. Outside of good ol' Bacary Sagna and the transparent Emmanuel Frimpong, we don't seem to have much muscle available. I like to think, however, that although we lack a Yaya Toure, Micah Richards or Cheick Tiote enforcer-type in our lineup, we make up for it in sheer combativeness.
The embodiment of this combativeness this season will likely be the young, tempestuous duo of Jack Wilshere and former Arsenal doormat Aaron Ramsey. Jack has always had a nasty reputation for launching into any tackle he wants to, leaving the fan base to close our eyes and cross our fingers hoping that he comes out with as many ankles as he went in with. Aaron Ramsey however, perhaps due to a nasty encounter with Ryan Shawcross of Stoke, has been a bit hesitant to fly into tackles with the reckless abandon expected of youthful exuberance.
Ramsey this year, however, has been nothing short of a revelation. I don't think that I would draw the ire of most Arsenal faithful by suggesting that, at the moment, he is well and truly more influential in games than the previous apple of our eyes, Jack Wilshere. Ramsey's emergence is about more than just his on-field abilities; Aaron Ramsey is vindication for the Arsenal way.
Yes, the much-maligned Arsenal way. The one where no players are brought in year after year, and players are often jettisoned by the time they hit 32. (Remember Robert Pires?) This is all part of Arsene's grand plan of developing internally to succeed. Had all of our cries for a midfield enforcer actually been heeded, would Ramsey have had the opportunity to acquit himself so well in the deep-lying role? Doubtful. It still may not be the proper thing to do, and I'm not attempting to justify Wenger bringing in NOBODY, but it is rather easy to see why he seems reluctant to buy a star when we carry so many young Gunners on the verge of breaking through to the first team.
So instead of buying a star, the best thing to do, in Wenger's world, is to bring in a former Gunner for his favored price of free. Ladies and gentleman, Mathieu Flamini! When Flamini was last in the side, we were still riding high on the euphoria of the 'Invincibles' era, and watched earnestly as a group of young guns were growing up to emulate their predecessors.
Needless to say, the train has been slightly derailed since 2008, as we've lost a captain, another captain, and a few other unmentionables. While Wenger has drawn some criticism for having yet to actually pay for a player, this transfer makes a lot of tactical sense on paper. Flamini arrives seasoned and schooled in the art of Wengerball, adds a further element of combativeness to the defensive midfield, and can cover for either full-back position. Seems like a good package for such a skeleton crew of a team. Such a versatile player could do wonders, and don't forget, the bloke isn't a half bad player either.
Finally, we end on a bombshell with Arsene Wenger boldly claiming that, due to the raft of injuries that have plagued the club, he would consider rolling out The Greatest Striker Who Ever Lived if he had to. That's right. Nicklas Bendtner. (Shudders a bit) The fruit cake that Arsenal just can't seem to get rid of keeps on giving after leaving a wreck of broken-down negotiations in his wake this past summer. Boasting a 6'4" frame, a Kanye-esque ego, and supposedly superb training form, Nicklas Bendtner may be called upon to lead the line, as he is the only striker remaining behind Olivier Giroud and a confused looking youngster in Yaya Sanogo. This of course after Lukas Podolski's two month hamstring injury in midweek. Here's what Wenger had to say on the matter:
'The chance for him to leave now is very small and if he comes back well and gets fit, I will use him,'
Oof. Not a glowing review by any means, but knowing Wenger, you can never be sure quite what he means by what he says. Personally I've always been a fan of the great Dane's international form, so if he can replicate that at all for us and prove that he isn't a total Miroslav Klose, then I say let 'er rip.
More later on the upcoming North London Derby, and the chances of seeing the once-great Kaka in an Arsenal kit.
Cheers Gooners!
And as always, break a knee Van Persie,
Thomas
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