Arsenal's USA tour is going well, from what I can gather, and, what's more important, it's generating a lot of news to talk about. Most of these come right from our manager, so we can be sure these are concrete.
The biggest thing that has happened inside 24 hours is Ospina's signing. It's not the official site I'm sending you to, but this quote from Arsene is very real indeed:
“You know at the start Szczensy will be the No. 1, then again we’ll be down to performances and, if Ospina shows that he is better, he will play.”
Good to hear we've plugged the last obvious hole in our squad. It means one simple thing: we already have a decent team, which can genuinely challenge for the title. If we add someone, great, if we don't, no tragedy. Assuming no one leaves.
Talking about Ospina, I think we've signed as good a player as it gets. I can only judge him from what I've seen during the World Cup and I rather liked what I've witnessed. Ospina has let in just four goals in five games (all but one looked unstoppable) and was very solid overall. Good reflexes, quick off his line, strong in the air. The string of saves he's performed against Urugyay was match-winning stuff.
Whether Ospina will be №1 is the question Arsene answered. If he's good enough to convince the manager that he's better than Szczesny, then he'll play. Simple and very effective. The Pole knows a goalkeeper in his prime isn't coming to Arsenal to just sit on the bench, so he'll be on his toes. But, even if Szczesny is flawless, I'm sure we'll see Ospina in the cups. That's the way it usually goes.
Of course, this signing casts a huge doubt over the possible acquisition of Casillas. Just yesterday I've weighed up the chances of bringing the Spaniard in, and the possibility of Iker coming to Arsenal as a third-choice shot-stopper seemed entertaining. Who would have thought we could one day purchase Casillas so that the Spanish international will have to fight for the second spot? Basically, he'd be warming up the bench, if this transfer happens. That's why I'd say Iker coming to the Emirates now is unlikely. His position here will be no better than it is in Spain (well, maybe slightly better), so what's the point? Yes, it'll still be a good signing, especially amidst all the talk of Casillas desire to leave Real on a Bosman, but it'll be completely non-sensical for him.
Realistically, I'd put my money on a promotion from within. Damian Martinez has been much talked about, so it's a good opportunity to give him the sniff of first-team football. His involvement in first team matches will still be brought to a minimum (League Cup only, perhaps), but it'll definitely stand the Argentinean in good stead to train with the regulars and gain experience from his older counterparts.
In other news, I've stumbled upon an interesting snippet, which claims Arsene have abandoned his attempts to sign a new DM and instead is going to try Wilshere in that role. While I don't much trust the source (the reason I haven't given the link to it), it's interesting to toy with this possibility.
I remember Wilshere was given the number 10 shirt after van Persie left. Historically, this number is given to the playmaker, the one who sits behind the striker and feeds him. This was Dennis Bergkamp, of course. Van Persie was a winger-turned-lone striker, Gallas (I vaguely recall him wearing the shirt) was a defender, who was just handed the free number, but Bergkamp fits the mould perfectly. Though often deployed as a second striker, the Dutchman played a little behind Henry (ah, good old days) and was the only playmaker Henry needed to score a bazillion goals.
So, anyway, after van Persie left, Wilshere was honoured with the shirt (he said "honoured" himself, I'm not making anything up) and everyone assumed Wilshere will become our go-to playmaker. Then we signed Cazorla. And then Ozil.
On those rare occasions that Wilshere played under the striker, he hasn't performed overly convincing, something that led to Arsene stating, that he sees Jack in a more deep-lying role. And now I think the Frenchman said that to not only shield Wilshere from criticism: he was telling us what he really thought.
See, Jack isn't exactly suited to playmaker's role. He doesn't have that selflessness that Ozil possesses. Jack likes to take on players, likes to slice defences apart not so much with his passes, but rather with his bursts of speed. That doesn't mean he cannot pull off a 100-yard passes or hasn't mastered the technique required to pass the ball quickly, no. On the contrary, I regard Wilshere as one of the most technically gifted players on our team, but that doesn't imply his style is similar to that of Ozil's or Cazorla's. Jack isn't a passer, he's a dribbler. He doesn't shy away from defensive work, like Ozil sometimes does. He's not scared to get his foot stuck in, to physically battle opponents or to do dirty work.
Is the combination of these factors enough to become a true DM? I hope so, but there are still some question marks over this (possible) decision. Firstly, Wilshere is injury-prone and that presents a problem. He isn't scared to get physical on his opponents, but he sometimes comes out of these encounters on a stretcher. After he's out, who is going to replace him? This year we at least have Arteta, next year we may not.
Secondly, Wilshere is not always disciplined, something that creates another problem. As a sitter, he'll have to really stay behind and clean up and I'm not 100% certain he'll be able to do that. Not because he can't tackle or intercept, but because Jack likes to be in the heat of things, he likes to play closer to the striker, to create opportunities for himself and his partners. Now it's not critical, because Jack's deployed on the flanks or under the striker, but it will become critical if he's trusted with Arteta's duties. One foray forward can cost us a game. That's exactly why we've dropped Vermaelen, and, mind you, the Belgian is much more experienced and tactically aware, than Wilshere.
For reasons above, I'm not sure Wilshere can make the grade this season, but if Arsene is able to discipline Wilshere and explain to him how important DM's are, then Jack has all the elements to become a good sitter. And I'm afraid deep-lying role is the only position more-or-less up for grabs in the starting line-up now, because everything else is packed with talent and it's hard to see Wilshere fitting anywhere else. Rumour has it, Wilshere will feature as a DM against Red Bulls tomorrow, so fingers crossed it's the beginning of Jack's era in that position.
Finally for today, here's a good read for you on what sources of information you can trust in today's mad transfer world. Why am I not in there, eh? Just kidding.
Back tomorrow with fresh news for you.
Until then
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