The last fortnight has been agony. As an Arsenal fan, I am used to watching fast, free-flowing football combining supreme passing and mesmeric movement with beautiful goals.
The international break usually gives me the opportunity to experience what it must be like to be a Spurs fan. – Pointless matches with little to no chance of winning anything meaningful. Over-priced and underperforming players, wearing a boring white shirt is something that our friends at the lane are used to and applaud each week.
But this week a new England hero has emerged from the Old Trafford Shadows to possibly lead a new look arsenal attack against Manchester City at the lunchtime kick off tomorrow.
For the first time in years, last season saw Arsenal lack real pace. With Theo and The Ox injured the team looked one paced and lethargic.
Now, by papal decree, Wenger has replaced Giroud with the previously un-fancied Danny Welbeck and all of a sudden Arsenal have blistering pace both on the wings and in the middle of the park. The Ox is back and hungry, Joel Campbell is itching to get a chance and Walcott is 2 weeks away from a first team comeback.
Alexis Sanchez has returned from his international break fit and eager to carry on his goal scoring exploits (2 in 2) and amazingly, apart from Ramsey, the usual International break meltdowns that we tend to suffer have failed to materialise. The treatment room is relatively empty as this week we welcome back Gibbs and Arteta. Ozil didn’t play for Germany against the Scots and will have shaken off an ankle knock.
The choice Wenger must make is who should replace Ramsey if he doesn’t pass a late fitness test, but in the centre of the park you must say Arsenal are quite well staffed. The good news, dare I say it, is that Abou Diaby came through another reserve game unscathed and put in a decent performance. Hopefully he will be knocking on the door soon enough. Another guy ripping up trees in the under 21’s is Chuba Akpom. He now has 5 goals in 3 games and should get a chance against Southampton in the league cup.
New signing David Ospina is now fit and should take his place on the bench over Martinez. You would think that Welbeck is a certainty to start against City but Sanogo, who also scored in the International break for France, has been trusted to hold the line previously and did a fantastic job against the Blues in the Charity shield last month. Wenger trusts him and we all know how stubborn he can be, so don't be surprised to see Sanogo in the starting 11.
Last year’s corresponding fixture saw the teams play out a draw when Arsenal more than held their own. The Charity shield match cannot really be used as a barometer stick but it certainly didn’t harm the confidence of the team and if they play as well as they did in August, the game will certainly be a great one for the watching millions.
City have Jovetic injured and have lost Negredo to Valencia. Stoke turned them over at the Etihad last time out and all of a suddenly they don't look as scary as they once did. This will be a real test of this Arsenal team and one which I expect we will pass with flying colours.
Proper football is back ladies and gentlemen.
@georgiesbest101
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