The inter-lull – I pronounce it with a strong emphasis on the last syllable, as the Dutch word ‘lul’ is a less flattering description of the male reproductive organ – is once again testing our patience. Like LB said the other day: ‘don’t they realise some people have serious addictions to feed?!’
You could say football is football and just make the most of it, but when you have been dining on caviar and champagne for a few weeks, it is hard to be appreciative about a plate full of dried-out fishcakes and a couple of table spoons of sloppy baked beans on your plate. Qualifying games for international tournaments have become so boring, and the only thing that really gets our attention during the inter-lull, is any news regarding injuries of our star players. This leaves us all in continuous state of being bored and full of angst, and that is not a healthy combination!
But the seemingly endless wait is almost over and we can once again look forward to a five-course meal of the finest cuisine:
15 September: Arsenal v Southampton
18 September: Montpellier v Arsenal
23 September: Man City v Arsenal
26 September: Arsenal v Coventry
29 September: Arsenal v Chelsea
After a promising start to the season – especially our excellent performance against Pool has lifted our spirits – I have a feeling the next five games will determine how we will fare this season. Of course, nothing will be lost or won at the end of this month, but with three of the hardest away games out of the way, and having battled with fellow title/top-4 contenders Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City, we will know a lot more about the readiness to fight for the title of our team.
We are no longer a team made out of mainly young, promising players, but stocked to the rafter with experienced players who have arrived at the summit of their professional careers. This will be a test for them and we should judge them accordingly – or, as Winston Churchill once put it: “It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required”!
The first game after an inter-lull is never an easy one, as Managers have ample time to assess the fitness of their players and get them all focussed again on the next game. It is usually a big advantage if it is a home rather than an away game. In recent years, I have always felt we are most vulnerable when we have just beaten one of our direct competitors and we are to play a team that we all believe we should beat. So, I am really hoping that Wenger and Bould will get our players down to earth again and make them realise there are no easy-three-pointers in the league. Southampton leak goals for fun but have also scored a lot of goals and this should be another game in which we can assess the strengths of our defence. Let’s hope it is also a game in which we can acctually find the net several times, as some players are desperate for a goal or two
The first game will be a test of our ability to concentrate and be professional, and to take our opportunities if and when they arrive: we only have to think back about our recent home disasters against Wigan and Norwich to know what is at stake.
The second game, against Montpellier, should be a good test for us. I like it that it is an away game which will help us to concentrate from the start and will avoid any risk of underestimating them. It is great to have Giroud in our team who will be able to explain to Wenger and Bould and fellow players the strengths and weaknesses of his former team. Montpellier will either play for a draw – as they are likely to regard a point against us as a good outcome – or they go all guns blazing with the ‘we have nothing to lose’ attitude. A draw would not be a bad result for us, but I reckon Arsene will want all three points as he will want to qualify for the next round as quickly as possible.
The second game will be another test of our ability to concentrate and be professional. It could also be a test of our squad depth as not all players will be able to play three games in eight days so soon after the international break.
The third game will be the second biggest test we’ll get all season (the biggest test will of course be where brave sir robin and his little-boy-inside-him are currently hiding). I reckon MC will be as nervous about this game as we are. I was there when we beat them 3-0, two years ago, and it was one of my favourite Arsenal away games ever – Song’s goal, right in front of the away fans, especially springs to mind! If we can keep a tight defence against them then we can do it against anybody. This will be one of those typical games we will all approach with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. A win would mean a hell of a lot this time, and I reckon it will be one of the best PL games of the season. It might turn out that this game just came too early for our new team, but I still have a good feeling about it.
The third game will be a test of our leadership within the team and our level of unity. We will also know how much every single player is (still) capable to perform at the highest level.
The fourth game will be a good test for our strength in depth. A number of just-outside-the core and wider fringe players will be very keen to show how ready they are for the first team. Although this game holds little significance, I am really looking forward to watching it, so we can see how our young talents have developed over the last 6-12 months. Luckily, the core team will be allowed to rest for a week, which will be a welcome break for them.
The fifth game will be against the Chavs, and it is hard to tell against what sort of team we will play. Will it be an attack-minded outfit or will RdM revert to a park-the-bus approach against the bigger teams? Whatever it is, this is an important game for us and a win would do us a world of good. For once since the start of the season, we have home advantage against a main competitor, and it is our first opportunity to get the home crowd really behind the team.
The fifth game will be another test of our leadership within the team and our level of unity and every single player will be thoroughly examined. I have good feeling about this game as I feel we have a better balance in our team and the recent away thrashing of the Chavs will still be in our and their mind.
Once again, a win would mean a hell of a lot and combined with good results against Southampton and Man City, it might well mean we will be catapulted into favourites for the title. It would not come as a big surprise if this was to happen, but the big question is, would we be able to cope with the added pressure? Recent Arsenal teams have not, but this is a different team with experienced players across the spine, and in all three areas of defence, midfield and attack.
However, we might also fail miserably and struggle with the psychological impacts for the rest of the season.
It is make or break time, and we can all look forward to two weeks of awesome, meaningful football. The wait is almost over!
But what do you think: how will we do in those five remaining September games, and would we be able to cope with the pressure if we are upgraded by the press to direct title contenders at the end of the month?
Over to you!
Total Arsenal.
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Win 4, Draw 1.
However, I think the Draw against Coventry will be a bonus, as it’ll give our 3rd XI more playing time.
I know I will be accused by the likes of Transplant of being a “Doomer” with these predictions, but I feel we need to be realistic.
Thanks Total.
Thank you for a tasty preview of the next 5 games TotalA and it has really whetted the appetite, although I think we should call the (Official) Chav manager “Budgie face” from now on.
In my capacity as blog doomer I would suggest we will win 2 out of 3 PL games, draw against MontyP away and win against Coventry, a team/club in disarray I hear.
Moving onto the game on Saturday, Wenger has said Chesney is available but Diaby will have a late check.
Of the longer term injured Jack will return to full training soon and Sagna is 3 weeks away from a return.
Corporal Jenko will learn a lot in that time.
If we come out of the next 5 games having lost just 1, then I think it will have been a successful run.
I know everyone is massively excited about the new lads after the outstanding performance against Liverpool, but the fact remains that we are still bedding in 3 brand new players and a Diaby who hasn’t played for months. Consistency is key, but it’s most difficult at this time of the season with Internationals, CL qualifiers, new signings and Carling Cup games where lots of changes are made.
The fact we play two winnable games before travelling to City could be enough to get us on a strong run that would benefit us going into a tough few matches.
I think we will find ourselves off the pace a llittle bit until December, and then our kind fixtures over Christmas will see us back amongst the challengers. Then its down to our January dealings and injuries to see if we are genuine contenders. Personally I think it’s still a season too early, but next year we will definately be winning silverware.
I think last season was in the main a successful one for the Gunners, and for a lot of players it was their first season. Of we have another strong run this year then with more signings bedded in, that would mean the bulk of our new look squad would’ve had 2 strong seasons back to back and will be confident going into next year.
In the past we have had a squad full of players who had been hammered by press and fans due to high expectations and some poor performances, and you could the gradual decline in confidence (Eboue, Almunia, Arshavin, Chamakh, Denilson) of a lot of the players and this affected our seasons. With this new bunch, I think we are going to see the opposite effect, as a couple of strong seasons will build teamwork, confidence and more importantly the will to win.
I’m expecting big things for next season.
we need to keep the 2 spanish players fit,if that`ll happen then we got every chance to fight for glory.arteta is 30 and aint got no trophy, for a winner that must be killing him.so hope it will be the extra boost 4 this season.fingers cross.ps wenger should defenatly sign another 4 years
Most of our problems last season were down to constant injuries/changes in defence plus we had a few silly games where we lost focus against lesser opposition. If our defence and core players stay fit then I feel we will compete and be in with a shout of silverware in May. My biggest concerns are Djourou being let anywhere near the pitch and whether we can get into a goal scoring habit very soon. I think mancs and chavs will be nervous thereby making these games tight – Southampton remind me of Swansea last season and play without fear – this one could be edgy.
Nice appetiser Total.
I’m with Didit. 4 wins 1 draw. The obvious standout difficulty is away to City, but on our curent form I can see us getting a draw with the nor fan oilers. What a fantastic boost this will give us if we could pull those results out of the bag.
Will be interesting in a couple of weeks time to see what happens when Jack becomes available. If Giroud can find his shooting boots this will also be a bonus, we need him to step up to the plate and contribute with a few goals.,
Hi guys, silence before the storm, obviously! 😆
Thanks for comments until now.
Chary, agreed on budgie-face! 🙂
Micky, the only draw will be against Coventry – I love it when you are serious! 😆
Slim, another well-balanced comment, as we have become used to with you. 🙂
It makes sense to refer to next season as the one we are most likely to start winning something. The difficulty with that, however, is that we might have lost another two or three key players by then and have to start all over again: perpetual transition!
So, here is hoping, but not expecting, that we can do it this season.
Mids, you are right about Arteta and there are more players who don’t want to wait till next season, and that is the single biggest difference compared to our team of two seasons to go.
GunnerD, agreed on all of that, except for your views re JD. Next to Mertesacker or Koz he will be absolutely fine, but let’s not put him at RB again…. 😦
Hi VCC, good to see you on here now and again. Hope life keeps treating you ok. Have you been to A’dam yet?
Good to see you being confident about the next few games, and I hope they wont disappoint us. Agreed on Giroud: he is just being too eager at the moment, but he’ll come good – and there is also more to a striker than just his goals and assists tally.
Talking of Chav managers TotalA,the current manager(we all know JT is the real Chav manager)has his FA hearing on 24 September.
Apparently in cases such as these brought forward by the FA, the panel has found in favour of the FA in 98% of the time.
21 match ban for family man and diplomat JT anyone ?
Nice summary of what lies ahead Total.
I think we will learn a lot from the Southampton game. The fixtures from last year that still give me nightmares are not the “park the bus” games, but the ones where got carved apart by good footballing sides like Norwich, Swansea and Wigan.
I sense we will be less vulnerable defensively this year (and the three clean sheets so far are an encouraging sign), but we may well have a good test on Sunday. I watched the Saints play ManUre and they were all over them and should really have taken all three points (except for the intervention of a certain person). And lets not forget that Saints were winning against Man City as well.
If we beat Saints I would expect a good result in Montpelier. Coventry is one for the kids and the reserves. Then, at this stage of the season and with our new team still bedding in, I would not be disappointed with draws against the two Oiler teams.
However, if we take a defeat or two during this period I hope people keep a sense of perspective and don’t start dooming all over the place.
Rocky – Sunday?
TA – only read half the post, so far so good 🙂
Good point Evonne, I don’t want to turn up a day early – my bench outside the Tavern may not be ready.
Chary – you are always early, but a whole day of necking Peronis might not be good for your figure 🙂
Let’s deal with the game against Southampton first. I am hoping our manager has a plan “A” and a plan “B” to deal with this one. Keep the boys well focused and this time we score the early couple of goals unlike in our home game with Wigan last season when we had to lay siege for most of the match and still leave with nothing.
Nice post Total. I have been looking forward to something like this as the lull comes to an end. I can hardly wait to have my next fix of proper football. If we win this match, I see no reason why we shouldn’t go through the remaining fixtures that you have mentioned unbeaten.
I am going for the Nasri physique nowadays Evonne, ROLF.
One game at a time, TA….
as Churchill said to Bessie Braddock. 🙂
I think I predicted 7 points from our first three games, so I’m pants at predictions.
I’m so looking forward to watching live football again.
chary,
Nasri physique and a warm bench. LAMOW
It works for the FFL Chas 🙂
As it’s getting colder(and taking Evonne’s wise words into account) I’m thinking of abandoning lagers and perhaps just using shots of vodka to reduce my PMT.
An interesting read.
………………………………………………………………………………….
Arsenal only interested in top-four finish? That is absolute rubbish
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis on why the club’s place in Europe’s elite is about to be cemented by a string of new financial deals
Ivan Gazidis believes Arsenal will benefit from stringent financial fair play rules
James Olley
13 September 2012
Arsenal’s financial prudence in an era of grotesque spending has often left the club looking as if they are waiting on the world to change but chief executive Ivan Gazidis is convinced their time is nigh.
While Chelsea, Manchester City and a number of foreign clubs distort the market with exorbitant transfer fees and wages, the Gunners have operated within their means, patiently waiting for sanity to prevail.
It has been a long time coming. Seven trophyless seasons exacerbate the frustration among fans paying the highest ticket prices as rivals reap the dividends of their short-term largesse.
However, there is a vision Arsenal are determined to see through. Standing as half of a duopoly with Manchester United a decade ago, the board embarked upon a journey to build their own stadium and transform the club into an enduring giant of the game.
Funding Emirates Stadium with an innovative property scheme has reaped rewards but the club’s self-sustainability has rendered them impotent when battling for players. The only way Arsenal can compete and stay faithful to their financial model is by increasing their revenue. According to Deloitte’s 2012 Football Money League, Emirates Stadium provides the fourth-highest matchday revenue.
But they are also the only club in the top 20 who generate more from this source than from broadcasting or commercial income. Sky’s new £3.018billion deal will improve this but it is in the commercial aspect of Arsenal’s operations that they badly lag behind, especially when compared to United.
The kit deal with Nike and shirt sponsorship agreement with Emirates are dwarfed by their rivals but both expire in 2014. Negotiations have begun over fresh contracts, with Gazidis bullish over their outcome.
“In terms of the financial impact on the club, although it isn’t represented in concrete, these new commercial deals will be as significant a step forward from a financial viewpoint as the stadium was in 2005,” he said. “Of every major club, we have the most potential for growth in that area. We are fifth in the world in terms of revenue streams but once that kicks in, it will push us into the top five clubs in the world with separation from the rest.
“That’s a fairly extraordinary thing. Our board get much maligned but what they don’t do is treat the club as a popularity contest. Everything they do is only for the good of the club.
“It is not pie in the sky — it will happen. We will be separated as one of the top five clubs in the world in revenue, whereas had we remained at Highbury we would have stayed with six or seven in the same ballpark position. Arsene Wenger would have to operate under those financial constraints. Even he might struggle in that situation.
“We get accused of a lack of ambition or complacency because apparently the board are only interested in the top four — that is absolute rubbish. This is the most ambitious club I know.”
Of course, the regular accusation levelled against the Gunners is that raising this money won’t help the team improve unless more is spent on players. Arsenal’s net transfer spend over the past decade is estimated at £45million as they search for value but the club are confident that in an era of greater financial regulation they will be able to compete for the biggest names.
UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules are supported by the game’s leading clubs while the Premier League could apply the same protocols next season.
“I think there is a perception that [UEFA president] Michel Platini devised an evil plan to go after English football,” said Gazidis. “That’s not the case. They are rules the clubs themselves developed in conjunction with UEFA. We are seeing serious discussions about introducing these regulations.It’s become mainstream. There are few voices speaking out about FFP.”
Gazidis believes Wenger is likely to remain at the club beyond 2014 — when his contract expires — to see the plan come to fruition.
That is despite the manager enduring criticism, particularly after the departure of high-profile players including Robin van Persie, Alex Song and Cesc Fabregas.
Ultimately, they did not buy into the club’s vision. A player’s career is finite and not all have the patience of Arsenal’s board.
Theo Walcott and Bacary Sagna are among the next to discuss their futures but Gazidis claims the club have always been able to match their rivals in wage terms.
“Can we compete at top salary levels? Yes, we can but we have an ethos at the club — the way Arsene expresses it is that it is not about individual players, it is what happens between them,” he said.
Gazidis believes Arsenal stand on the brink of joining United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich as financial giants of the game. Then everything will be in place to provide a framework for domination on the pitch, too.
Football’s rich list
2010/11 revenue
1 Real Madrid £382.7m
2 Barcelona £359.7m
3 Manchester United £292.9m
4 Bayern Munich £256.5m
5 Arsenal £200.4m
6 Chelsea £199.3m
7 AC Milan £187.6m
8 Inter Milan £168.7m
9 Liverpool £162.2m
10 Schalke 04 £ 161.5m
11 Tottenham £144.4m
12 Manchester City £135.3m
Source: Deloitte Football Money League 2012
Total. We travel to Amsterdam next Thursday on the Marco Polo from Tilbury.
Thanks TA. What ever the outcome of the next few games my friend, we can win this league. I expect us to improve more than our rivals as the season progresses. We have the most potential.
Micky, stop been such a Doomer. hahaha
GN5, I wrote those words for Gazidis.
Thanks evonne
I didn’t realise it was on Saturday.
That’s brilliant – one less day to wait!
Silly Rocky 🙂
Saturday at 3pm
What an unusual time to play a football match 🙂
TA, i have also been thinking about this group of matches, but i stop myself from looking ahead, because a slip up this weekend would really suck. We have to focus on southhampton first. 🙂
N5 thanks for the article, it was very interesting.
I would take two wins and three draws but realistically expect 4 wins and a draw.
Very quiet todayi which is a shame with such a good post, though TA is trying to steal my pre-match thunder
GN5,
The financial list makes very interesting reading. If we can generate an extra 50-100m from the new deals then that will put us firmly in the top 5 clubs and on par with those up there. The important difference will be that we will have very little debts compared to the others in the list and thus more money to compete.
I have just read the Gazidis question and answer session in full on Arse.com and must say it is the best article i have ever read. i agree with 95% of it and backs up what we “delusional optimists” have been banging on about for the last 5 years. I urge people to read it.
I am so excited ime going to say this twice.
The Ghosts of the 30s are stiring
The Ghosts of the 30s are stiring
And yes, “The Ghosts of Terrys pants are string” (and they havent been stired for years hahahaha)
Great read, Total…and I agree with you, we really can set our stall out for a great season over the next few weeks.
Get a result against Man City / Chelsea and it’ll serve notice on the PL that we’re serious contenders this year!
Haha BR, your thunder is well and truly save with you in Copenhagen! Cannot wait till Saturday to read your PM again. 🙂
VCC – hope you have fun in A’dam – enjoy the works of art…. 😉
Rhyle, so true and just imagine what a difference a month can make for us – from written off before we kicked a ball to one of the favourites….. The next few weeks will tell us a lot.
Chass, JNYC, true: one game at a time for the team, but we are allowed to look ahead 😆
Hi Rocky, very good point re the threat of the non-bus-parking teams last season, and like Tony is saying; hope we have a plan A and a plan B on Saturday, whatever they may be! Luckily BR will be able to explain it all to us in his next pre-match review! Non pressure Raddy! 😉 😛
Hi Evonne, sorry for the length of the post. As you know I am not a champion of brevity. Hope you can somehow get yourself through the second half! 😆
I like your post TA..
I think for the first 2 games we will be just ok..
We will beat soton for sure.. Give Diaby some rest, and replace him for Ox.. AOC will know how to overcome his ex club..
I just can wait for City away’s game.. It not just a big game.. but also a verification of our strong midfielders..
Diaby vs Toure.. Who is the best..??
Arteta-Santi vs Silva-Javi Garcia which is better..??
and also Vermaelen vs Kompany (both captain and both belgium..) who is the best for MD..??
Chelsea.. I put it for our hardest rival this season.. Not MU nor City..
but Chelsea.. For God sake the bought Hazard, Oscar, Marin and Moses.. and still go for Felanni, Falcao and Lewandoski.. Where does FFP goes..??
But we will give them a lesson.. that we are better without big silly spending..
For EPL 3 games.. we can have 9 point.. but to be realistic 7 point is enough.. Go Gunners..
TA,
So many changing variables come together to create the unique on-field drama of each game. It’s hard enough to predict what’ll happen against Soton having a good idea of which players will be available, let alone one 5 games away! 🙂
Anyone fancy some dancing kittens?
I like the one with squashed ears.
Dark days at Cologne.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/raphael_honigstein/09/13/kevin-pezzoni/index.html
They should have put Arshavin alongside the Sack, surely?
Chas – I thought Arsh was next to Jenks on that picture
TA – your posts are great, always! And your effort to entertain us is very much appeciated.
The problem lies with me – cannot concentrate for long, bit of a space cadette
Tomorrow. Yipee
Is Arshavin sitting down?
Hi Henry, good to see you back my friend. I like the way you paint the battle between us and Nothern Oilers: very analytical! 🙂
Chas, thanks for entertaining us with the videos this morning. It’s been a dull blogging day but you always know how to spice things up (my daughter loved the ‘park the bus pussy cats’ video). 🙂
Evonne, ‘tomorrow. Yipee’ – sums it all up in two works! 🙂
Raddy 🙂
TA – I finished reading the post, hurray! Great summary of what’s ahead of us.Blimey, 5 big games in 14 days, tough test indeed.
I don’t think it will have a big impact on the rest of the season, we simply cannot afford to celebrate or cry for long no matter what happens. For me one of the strengths of the team is to take each game as it comes, regardless of what happened previously. That strentgh got us into 3rd last season.
But you are right, the psychological impact is tremendous, so it would be good to get into winning ways and set the pace for the rest of the season.
Come on you beauties!!!
oh yeah, thank you Chas for illustrating how stupid cats really are
Evonne, dogs could not do that without weeing the bed several times! 🙂
Morning all
New Post ……………..
Thanks TA..
Despite of our different though about RvP.. we are all gunners..
And of course we want Arsenal to win EPL and UCL..
This season start promising.. with clearsheet so far..
But as I said before.. clear sheet is good but winning is better..
I like to see us win more than draw more..
Cause win mean 3 point.. and draw is only 1 point..
Even if we win just one.. it’s still 3 point equal to 3 times draw..
Hope our strikers will soon arise.. and goals a lot..
Is that any history than unbeatable team don’t win the title..??
I wish Arsenal win EPL this season.. Go Gunners..
Nice blog… I guess if we dont give goals to City we will agaisnt them remember last season arteta’s goal agaisnt oilers.. I have feeling that this time we will win something because players are hungry for win and wenger too after so much criticism fingures crossed,,,,
Good point Manthan – these players have no time to waste and want to win something now! 🙂
Henry – I can see your point re balancing the need for clean sheets and taking enough risk to win games. I guess you could not have a better combination than Bould and Wenger to find that balance all right! 🙂