Arsenal FC: 2013-14 Season Preview

Gedion Zelalem

This is probably the one big name fans have been excited about since the days of Jack Wilshere, a few years ago. The boy is 16 years of age and yet he punches above his weight. While Vietnam and Indonesia were inferior opposition, Zelalem was brilliant against tougher opponents in Japan.

Gedion ‘Zesc’ Zelalem

He is the player who likes to see more of the ball and has a certain calmness when playing around with it. It would remind you of the rise of a certain Raheem Sterling in Merseyside really. He is quick with his feet and sees things happen which even more senior midfielders wouldn’t.

His partner in midfield, Wilshere, had this to say about him, “He keeps the ball away from you and shields it. He’s not very big but he is strong. He drifts in and out of players. He’s quite a strong lad and technically he’s right up there. He’s a good one for the future.”

The credit for Zelalem’s discovery goes to former Arsenal youth player and current scout, Danny Karbassiyoon.

RAMBO!

Another positive would be the resurgence of Aaron Ramsey. Playing alongside Arteta or Wilshere, the Welshman has moulded himself into a typical holding midfielder, making up for the departure of Alex Song to Barcelona last season.

While he is certainly a box-to-box type of player, making a run ahead to support the attack, the mature presence of Arteta, shielding the backline means Ramsey can be spared the cane for being the occasional front-line hero.

Post his Shawcross debacle, Ramsey was often accused of being unfit, losing the ball too often or for making irresponsible runs, but this could be blamed on the fact that he was often deployed as a winger instead of Theo Walcott.

Transfers

Squad Analysis

12/13: 4th11/12: 3rd10/11: 4th09/10: 3rd08/09: 4th07/08: 3rd06/07:4th05/06: 4th04/05: 2nd03/04: 1st

After screaming, “Ours is golden” in 2003/04, this has been Arsenal’s record in the Premier League over the years.

The truth remains that Arsenal have a threadbare squad with a record number of exits from the first team and the youth system over the summer. Many players who had been touted to take to the first team were let go.

The only positive would be the clearance of almost 500,000 pounds/week in salaries as the likes of Andrei Arshavin, Maroaune Chamakh and co. were moved off the pay books.