Arsenal head to Anfield with Arsene’s contract signed
11 comments August 15th, 2010
On Friday afternoon Arsene Wenger hinted we’d get news on his future soon. He wasn’t bluffing. Just twelve hours later, the official site announced that he’d signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until 2014.
I’m a little surprised by the length of the deal. I had wondered if, as Arsene’s retirement approached, he might opt to go for shorter, rolling contracts. I’m glad he hasn’t. A four-year deal provides stability and certainty. It’s hard to convince a player to sign if he isn’t sure who’ll be his manager in a year or twos time.
There will be dissenters, but I think most fans will be glad to see Arsene decide to stay. One the eve of a crucial season, it’s a statement of faith in his squad. Arsene insists:
“My heart belongs to Arsenal and my desire is to see this team win silverware.
My commitment and drive are as strong and fresh as ever. Signing a new deal means that I can see this talented group of players reach their potential. Trust me, they are ready to deliver.”
We all hope you’re right, Arsene. The hunt for trophies starts today, with a mouth-watering game at Anfield. I could spend some time talking about the need to sign new players, but I suggest we’d be better off focusing on those who are available today. A good start to the season will alleviate some of those concerns about the squad.
All the talk is about who will start in goal. Rather obviously, Arsene has suggested that whoever plays today will be his number one. Well, yes: it’d be odd to pick your number two. One hopes, however, that this does not rule out an arrival – it looks as if both Mark Schwarzer and Shay Given could be available at the right price. My gut instinct is that Lukasz Fabianski will get the nod today, but perhaps I’m simply preparing myself for the worst. I really hope it’s Manuel Almunia between the sticks.
The back four picks itself: Sagna – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Clichy. It’ll be a test for the new boy, especially if Fernando Torres gets any game-time. Hopefully he takes to the Premier League like a particularly adept duck to water.
Midfield is where we may struggle. The whispers on the internet grapevine are that Cesc Fabregas hasn’t travelled, whilst Alex Song and Denilson have both been described as “short”. Abou Diaby is available, and I suspect we may see him start alongside Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere.
Upfront, Robin van Persie will probably begin on the bench, meaning a debut for Marouane Chamakh – supported by Andrey Arshavin, who does enjoy Anfield, and one of Walcott or Eboue. For defensive stability, I might go with the Ivorian – plus, we know how handy Theo can be from the bench.
It’s a huge match. Liverpool and their new manager will be desperate to get the new era underway with a win. We need to make a statement of intent and reassure fans we will be in contention this year.
Ready or not, the season is here. The butterflies have begun. Come On You Reds.
