Rival Rendezvous: The Arsenal Season Preview

The most important thing on the minds of most Manchester United fans at the moment must be the excitement of Sunday's's encounter with our 'noisy' neighbours Manchester City in the FA Community Shield at Wembley, but I bring you today something really different out here. A couple of days back, I was able to convince Pranav Menon (a friend of mine on Twitter) to do this blog feature with me. Pranav, who goes by the name of "Desi Gunner" in the blogosphere, also manages a reputed Arsenal fan blog by the same name. So in this season's first edition of 'Rival Rendezvous', we talk to Pranav on what should Arsenal fans look forward to this season, the never-ending transfer saga of Cesc Fabregas, the manager & more...

1. Given the way Arsenal crumbled last season, how optimistic are you about the new season?

Pranav: A new season. A new story. New hope. A new signing or two and we are good to go.

2. Critics have been calling for Wenger's head coz of no silverware for the past six seasons. Do you think this is justified?

Pranav: Arsenal is the team that it is because of him. They've qualified year after year for the CL. Arsene Wenger deserves credit for that. The manager doesn't need changing. It's more to do with the philosophy.

3. What do you think went wrong last season? It was all going good, and suddenly everything changed...

Pranav: Arsenal as a team did not show up during the last two months of football of last season. Their win percentage was abysmal. It was more to with the teams mentality than anything else.

4. The English press has been abuzz with rumours linking Nasri & Fabregas (of course) to moves away from the Emirates. Do you see them playing for Arsenal come September?

Pranav: One of the two would stay is my guess. If somebody donated Barca with 10 million pounds and if they can come up with a decent offer I see Cesc going.

5. If in case both or either of Nasri & Fabregas leave, will Arsenal be able to mount a challenge for the title this season?

Pranav: That would depend on how much time Wenger gets to spend that money and how much would he be willing to splash out. An attack minded player and a central defender and we should challenge for the title.

6. Arsenal have signed Gervinho & Carl Jenkinson for a total outlay of approx £12m. What is your take on that?

Pranav: Young Carl Jenkinson has been brought in to replace the Turkey-bound Eboue. Not seen much of him other than his brilliant OG. But then he has obvious talent it seems.
Gervinho on the other hand I think should be a very good addition to the squad. He's already found his scoring boots for Arsenal. Let's see if he can deliver when it matters.

7. What positions do you think Arsenal actually need reinforcements in? And who are the suitable candidates for them?

Pranav: As I said an attack minded player. Juan Mata is a name that't been floating around for a long time now at the Emirates. But if I could have influenced Wenger in anyway I would have loved to see Benzema in

an Arsenal shirt.

Defensively we need a CB. But with Wenger you just never know whom will he sign. Honestly to be fair with him, English defenders are so over-priced getting a decent defender in a good deal is going to be difficult.

8. On the financial aspect, it is well known that Arsenal have one of the best sustainable club models. But then what stops Wenger from spending? Pray provide some insight on that.

Pranav: Even if Wenger was to manage say a team like Man City I do not think he would have spent like a Mancini or a 'arry Redknapp or even Mourinho. It just isn't his style.

9. Do you personally believe that Arsene Wenger's policy will work? Or do you agree with the outsider view of it being flawed in some aspects?

Pranav: Wenger lives in a world too idealistic for his own good. While I appreciate all his achievements and the way it has been achieved, I think it's time for him to change his method and approach in a few ways. Will he be able to do that is besides the point.

10. Final question - how do you rate Piers Morgan as an Arsenal fan?
No seriously, my final one to you is that if not Arsenal, who will the league title this season?

Pranav: Being a betting man, I would put my money on Chelsea.

By the way, I find Piers Morgan very interesting and love abusing him.

I express my personal thanks to Pranav for this blog feature. You can check out his brilliant Arsenal blog 'Desi Gunner' by clicking here. You can also follow him on Twitter @Desi_Gooner.

Think Arsenal will manage to make it to the Champions League next season? Let us know by leaving your comments below or drop me a line on Twitter @AbhinavCJ & I'll get back to you right away!

That's all Folks!

Yours,

CJ

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Pre-Season Round-Up: Manchester United's Tour Of The USA

Hey readers! It's been quite some time that someone wrote something new on this blog! However, with all those transfer rumours abound in every tabloid & broadsheet, it's really difficult to write up something sensible. Good news in the past month, as most of you know is that Manchester United signed three relatively 'young' players this summer for a total outlay of 50 million pounds - David De Gea (GK), Phil Jones (DF) & Ashley Young (MF). But then, two of the club's loyal servants in Wes Brown & John O'Shea switched to Sunderland. We thank them for their commitment through these years, and we wish them success in their career ahead.



Thank you Wes & Sheasy, and Best Of Luck!

Well, as the title suggests, the club's pre-season tour of the United States concluded in the early hours of today (in India atleast) and it was a huge success just like last summer. On the field, United sparkled as they made it five wins out of five in the tour, beating the likes of the MLS All Stars & Champions League winners FC Barcelona! So here is a video round-up of all that happened during the tour games, in case you've been living under a rock for the past month -

July 13: Manchester United 4-1 New England Revolution

July 20: Manchester United 7-0 Seattle Sounders

July 23: Manchester United 3-1 Chicago Fire

July 27: Manchester United 4-0 MLS All Stars

July 30: Manchester United 2-1 FC Barcelona

Hope you enjoy the highlights of the pre-season tour!

Feel free to let us know your thoughts on how Manchester United fared in the US by leaving your comments below or drop me a line on Twitter @AbhinavCJ & I'll get back to you right away!

Meanwhile, it's the Community Shield game next Sunday i.e. August 7 at Wembley, where we face our 'noisy' neighbours Manchester City. So don't miss it!

That's all Folks!

Yours,

CJ

Speak Out!: A Red Devil On Why He Loves United

Hey everyone! I know it's off season & thus there isn't much action out there in footballing terms, and compound that with an attack of severe writers' block, you got no posts on the blog! 

High & dry on ideas, I appealed to our readers if they would like to write for Traffordshire County through the past few months. And today finally, we got a new writer on board - his name is Alok Aryal & he is a hardcore Red Devil from Nepal! So here you got him honest & straight forward on why he's so passionate about football and of course, Manchester United... 

Football is not just a game, it is a religion. Football is a game which is watched and enjoyed by majority of the people in this world, from a child to an old man. Some people watch international football which includes tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, the Euro, or even the Asian Cup. As seeing the context of the country where I live i.e. Nepal, maximum people enjoy watching these international competitions, some of which I don't even know the name! I  too watch international football - I support England - but I follow club football a lot more.

I support Manchester United Football Club of England, located in Greater Manchester, Sir Matt Busby Way M 016. I started watching Manchester United games from the season of 2003-04, without missing much of them. Unlike most fans in England, I am not a born fan, but from the 2003-04 season, I've been addicted to Manchester United. They have been the religion I want to follow. Old Trafford, the stadium of Manchester United, is the place where I have the dream to go. Following through every game and news of Manchester United is not just a hobby, but my passion. Without football & Manchester United, I guess my life would be incomplete.

The players of Manchester United have been an inspiration to me. Eric Cantona, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Denis Law, Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson are some of the legends I wish I could have watched them play, some truly inspirational players. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were the players whom I watched playing for United in my first season. As I watched more & more football, I came to know that there are few players who are loyal to the club, and sometimes even the loyal players have to leave the club for some reason. I waited for 3 seasons to see my club win a Premier League title.

Then came the 2006-07 season, and Manchester United was crowned as the English Champions for the 16th time in their history. Then for two more seasons Manchester United retained the championship equalling Liverpool's long standing record of 18 league titles. In the 2007-08 season Manchester United even won the Champions League, beating Chelsea in the final! However, 2010-11 season was the biggest season in Manchester United's club history being crowned the English Champions for a record 19th time, finally overtaking Liverpool as England's most successful club.

Some people have often called me a 'glory hunter', just because I support Manchester United. As a matter of fact, the first three seasons I watched were won by first Arsenal (in which they were unbeaten) and the rest two seasons were won by Chelsea. If I was a glory hunter, I would easily have changed the club I supported.  But people are not glory hunters as such, if they follow the team from inside with the passion burning inside them. The time from when you started watching the game does not matter, the thing that matters is how much passion do you have for your club and the game!

These days, I've been known in my country as a great supporter of Manchester United. I feel good for it, because my passion is infinite toward Manchester United. And watching Manchester United play at Old Trafford is my biggest dream and I will fulfill it, for sure. I've learnt great lessons from the club's never-say-die attitude, and the winners' spirit of Manchester United.

Manchester United is my life, my religion and I can't live without them. I'll follow Manchester United till my last breath because Manchester United is in my heart, my soul, my mind.

Glory Glory Man United!!!

I express my thanks & gratitude towards Alok for his contribution to Traffordshire County.

So why did you start supporting Manchester United??? Feel free to leave your comments below or drop me a line on Twitter @AbhinavCJ & I'll get back to you right away!

That's all Folks!

Yours,

CJ