Comments on Wicked Deflection: Do Arsenal have a Good Enough Squad for the 08-09 ...

The problem with Ramsey is that he's 17. I doubt ...

2008-07-22T06:56:00.000-04:00

The problem with Ramsey is that he's 17. I doubt we'll see much of him, unless, unbeknownst to me, he's the best 17 year old since Wayne Rooney.

I think Nasri and Ramsey will get some games. We'v...

2008-07-21T22:08:00.000-04:00

I think Nasri and Ramsey will get some games. We've seen Nasri play well in Ligue 1. Ramsey looks like he is ready for the big stage but maybe AW will hold him back a while like he did Walcott early on. I can't wait to see Vela playing to get a feel for what he can do. I am hoping he takes as little time to settle in as Torres at Liverpool. Coquelin has tons of talent but is still too raw.

Arsene will, I think, want to maintain the "contin...

2008-07-21T20:42:00.000-04:00

Arsene will, I think, want to maintain the "continuity of the side," as he says, so if Rosicky and Van Persie can ever get fit, there will be spots for them in the first 11:

Adebayor Van Persie
Rosicky Denilson Cesc Walcott
Clichy Gallas Toure Sagna
Almunia

If one of the midfielders or forwards in this 11 is unavailable, then Diaby will be in there.

It would be expensive to replace Gallas. I don't s...

2008-07-21T20:09:00.000-04:00

It would be expensive to replace Gallas. I don't see any defender in the same class as he available within the club currently. He also provides pretty good leadership on the field.

Frankly, with regards to injuries, I think Arsenal have been unlucky up front but extremely lucky in the midfield and in the back last term except Rosicky's knee-knack and Sagna's late season absence. The team weathered quite well the injuries to Hleb, Cesc, and Flamini early in 2008.

RvP would have contributed much if he hadn't been injured on international duty. I am hoping that at least RvP can stay healthy this entire season and with Adebayor staying, the strike force will be world-class.

Rumors about Gallas leaving - I'd seen a bit of th...

2008-07-21T19:46:00.000-04:00

Rumors about Gallas leaving - I'd seen a bit of that. I hope he stays.

Adebayor is definitely good enough.

There was also something in the Times today about, "In Arsene we trust." He's a great manager, and a fine gentleman, and his style of football is brilliant, but I think he's given too much credit, sometimes, for being brilliant.

The injury-enforced absences of Rosicky and Van Persie have been so frequent and so prolonged, I can't help but think of them as on the outer fringes of the first team. It would be a miracle if either of them could make it through a season without a long spell out injured.

With Arsenal being a small club relative to Chelsea and Manchester United, they need a fair slice of luck to win the league. The squad hasn't been deep enough to sustain the long-term absences of two of their would-be best players, and I see it shaping up the same way again.

If two or more of the key players are out for half of the season, I don't think Arsenal will win the league.

I'd rather have Xabi Alonso than Gareth Barry because Alonso's passing is so good. I could see Alonso and Adebayor playing well together. Still, Barry's a good player too, and would probably fit in really well.