AFTER nearly five years of writing Goodplaya I’ve decided to give myself a three week sabbatical during this close season.

So barring the Arsenalistic equivalent of Michael Jackson pegging it you won’t hear from me until around Tuesday 21st July when I’ll return refreshed for the countdown to the new season.

Have fun in the meantime.

IN today’s Mail Martin Samuel teases that maybe, just maybe we would not turn down flatly an outrageous offer for Cesc this summer.

His piece comes following a similar one by Steve Stammers in the Sunday Mirror at the end of last month.

Do I think Cesc Fabregas will leave Arsenal this summer? Well I’d be very surprised. Without writing an essay on it (which one could), it’s one thing letting a 29 year-old Patrick Vieira or Thierry Henry going. A 22 year old Cesc would be another issue. I also don’t buy the argument that statistically we are better without him. I recall four dreadful 0-0 draws (the equivalent of a run of 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats) without him. Our creativity returned both thanks to Arshavin settling and Cesc returning.

With him in the team we have certainly looked light in midfield at times. But frankly I’d blame what was around him and not the man himself.

But there is a but.

Martin Samuel is not primarily paid to dig up transfer gossip. He is paid (very, very handsomely one can assume cos it ain’t cheap hiring the chief football correspondent of the Times) to write beautifully crafted pontifications and not to fill transfer column inches. Equally the man from the Sunday Mirror has been covering Arsenal for many years and being first on the Vermaelen story was by no means the first time.

Reading between the lines, my hunch is that the stories come from whispers being divulged by an element on the board.

Finally for today, I hear the hunt for defensive reinforcements has not ended with Vermaelen.

IT’S a weird one our defence.

37 goals conceded last season was clearly too many. And yet the statistics show that from the 28th of December, just five league goals were shipped in 13 games. Counting the cups it was seven in 19. That, by any standards, is very good.

Things did, admittedly, then go tits up, with four given away to both Liverpool and Chelsea and three, painfully, to United. Equally though that run coincided very obviously with our backline being decimated by injuries.

The cornerstones of the good run - Gallas and Almunia - were laid up.

So too was Clichy. It’s harsh but true to say their replacements - Silvestre, Fabianski and Gibbs - all endured a few nightmare moments.

The point I’ve tried to make above is that there was some merit to the argument that actually Almunia, Gallas, Toure, Sagna and Clichy were performing pretty well. But irrespective of that, I am (like many of you I suspect) of the opinion that irrespective of what the statistics showed, something needed to change and most obviously in centre defence.

So the signing of Vermaelen is a welcome one.

He’s a good age, he’s experienced and crucially, we’ve got him in nice and early in the summer.

You may have read on another site that the signing marks some kind of a departure from Arsene’s usual transfer business, in that the player signed is neither French or African. The argument goes they are the only players Arsene ever signs. If you don’t know who I’m on about, don’t worry. If you do, keep reading.

The argument is utter rubbish.

Firstly, Vermaelen is just one of many non-French and non-African players to join the squad in the last three years. Arshavin, Ramsey, Eduardo, Rosicky, Bendtner, Vela, Gibbs, Fabianski say as much. Add in Cesc, RVP, Denilson, Theo, Senderos, Almunia etc etc and you there are all kinds of nationalities.

Secondly, almost every manager has an area he will recruit disproportionately from. With Mourinho it was Portugal, with Rafa it’s Spain and with Arsene it’s France. Given the success of France as a country and Frenchman at Arsenal, it’s hardly a quirky obsession. It’s just the norm.

Thirdly, many of the current French players are very good players. Few supporters would argue with Clichy, Sagna and Nasri. Fine, Silvestre looks knackered. And fine, Diaby fails to produce. But he hardly lacks talent. And then you come to Gallas. He’s French. And yet he’s the antithesis of the inexperienced nice guy the writer I’m talking about rails against so strongly. Square that.

Then we come to the Africans. There are currently an almighty four in the squad, from a continent of 922 million people. Four. One of whom is our longest serving player and was part of the Invincibles. Two others (Adebayor and Eboue) are not exactly my cup of tea, but four hardly amounts to an unhealthy obsession.

Particularly given Arsene has not signed a single African for three and a half years by my reckoning.

It’s a ridiculous argument frankly that deserves demolishing.

Note: Please be careful with your comments. I’ve already had to edit one.

LAST season we stuffed things up early on despite a very decent opening set of games.

If we do it this time the points dropped will be to generally tougher opposition.

The season actually starts on August 12th with a ridiculous round of international friendlies. Then it’s Everton away. Last time we started at Goodison Park we were invincible. 4-1 would do nicely again.

Champions League qualifiers have caused the postponement of Bolton at home midweek. That, coupled with United away means that come the first international break we could already be some way behind.

The need for new signings to be bedded in before the season starts could not be more obvious.

I’m not sure if we go into the UEFA Cup if we miss out on the Champions League, but assuming we do and that the dates are the same, then the earliest time for Bolton would be October 28 if neither of us are in the Carling Cup, ditto Wednesday 2nd December.

If not then I imagine it would be the 22nd or 23rd of December.

As you can see, this is a jam packed season.

The pattern early on is four league games between international breaks. I’ve dealt with the first one. Our second contains City and Fulham away. Again not easy.

The next one has West Ham away and it’s not until Wolves away on November 7th that we face one of the easier away games. Chelsea at home on November 28 and Liverpool away a fortnight later both follow Champions League fixtures.

Burnley will fancy themselves under the lights and in the cold at Turf Moor on Tuesday 15th December. Bad scheduling for us that one.

It’s Villa at home on Boxing Day - a repeat of 1994-1995 you will be fascinated to know. Pompey on the 28th is also not the first time we’ve faced them in holiday season.

Bolton away in January ain’t great either, but with the north-west now supplying eight teams, it’s hardly unexpected.

And then we move onto an incredible run of fixtures. In the space of a fortnight we face Villa away midweek, United at home, Chelsea away and three days after that Liverpool at home under the lights. Blimey.

In a horrible world we will be recently out of the cups and come final whistle against Liverpool way out of the league running.

In a much nicer one we will be still in the hunt with 11 games to go and none against last year’s top three or Villa or Everton.

Interesting how last season we played the top three three times in our first 32 odd games and this season six times in our first 27.

Spurs away on April 10 will be moved if either side makes the FA Cup semi-final.

On the plus side, Allardyce away is saved for May day when the weather might not be too bad in Blackburn. Let’s hope we are in a position where his players have a reason to kick lumps out of us as a favour to his old mate Fergie.

All in all, the season is notable for the four midweek games scheduled so that the league can finish two weeks earlier than last season, in keeping with FIFA rules ahead of the World Cup. Interestingly although all club games apparently have to be done by May 16th see here, the Champions League final takes place six days later, on a Saturday in Madrid. Now that would be a nice trip.

WOW. Everton away first. United away a fortnight later.

Then United home on Jan 30th, away to Chelsea a week later and Liverpool under the Emirates lights three days later.

The big four fixtures done and dusted by February 9th! The opposite of last year.

Fulham at home on the final day looks mundane by comparison.

Longer analysis some time later.

LOOKS like some blogs got hoaxed.

In fact I’m told it is a tough trip to the north-west.

Full reaction later.

I FULLY appreciate that by telling you I’m not really in an Arsenal mood right now, I’m not exactly selling this, an Arsenal blog, very well.

It’s not that I’m in a bad mood. It’s just with three weeks of the close season down and nine to go, I’m actually still quite enjoying an Arsenalless life.

The only rude interruption has been the withdrawing of the season ticket cash from my current account - a monthly budget screwer if ever there was one.

Thus far, I should point out, the only thing to actually fully happen is Lukasz Fabianski signing a new contract. Goonerholic regales how he picked up nine clean sheets in 18 appearances last season. Interesting. Now let’s cut out the suicide dashes.

It’s the new fixtures on Wednesday and that’s always something to get your teeth into. Let’s hope to start and finish at home.

Right, enough of that and onto a few more of your responses from the Goodplaya quiz when I asked you if there was anything you wanted to say. Here goes:

We are desperate to win something, with 4 trophies to win it’s more than likely somebody in the top 4 will miss out and I’m disappointed it always seems to be us. We also seem to have mixed priorities which end up meaning we don’t actually focusing on anything.

Villa this season confirmed to me that despite all the talk none of the chasing pack are close to that top 4 in any meaning full way. One the one hand we again are being told by the press we past it and in big tro
yea….pls buy gareth barry and santa cruz

I’d start to consider Song for the centre-back pairing as I think central midfield is a role Denilson could really start to thrive in.

It is not a matter of whether to buy or not because we HAVE to buy. This Arsenal squad isn’t bad, but it is not good enough for the title, it needs some key personnel and that’s what we must do if we consider ourselves a big club and a genuine title challenger.

Come on You Gooooners!

I think the club needs to look at the frequency of injuries suffered, and the strange delays that often occur in getting a player back to fitness.

Arsene should stop playing his players out of positions, ie. RVP, Nasri ,Diaby, Cesc and sometimes even Bendtner.

We are young but we will learn and the future is certainly looking very bright.

It was difficult to pick a player of the season as nobody really stood out (except Arshavin but couldn’t give it to him for only half a season.) I would have given it to Almunia before the blunder against Man Utd but in the end chose Clichy.

VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT

ps. I was born on June 30 1989, 35 days after Anfield. Lucky me, eh?

Who would have thought that the new stadium would become an albatross around our necks but what’s done is done and so let’s give the gaffer up to the end of his contract before judging him; he has at least earned that much of a right from us.

I dont think people realise how strong the premiership is now and how strong it has been for the last four or five years. it is easily the hardest league in Europe to win and with the exception of Barcelona in La Liga any one of the top four in the premiership would win any other league in europe just unfortunate for us that Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool are so strong.

Adebaoyr looks to bring negativity to the team.
Please sell him!

I think we should give Michael Owen a chance!!!!
I think you are doing a marvellous job especially through such kind of surveys that capture our views and thoughts on the club and its player. Keep up the good work! Cheers!
we miss rosicky!
he and clichy will tear it next season like they did for the first half last year if they are played together.
ps i love arshavin

433 suits the the players that we have in the squad.
Judging when wenger leaves is based on many more elements than just winning trophies particaully what resourse he gets form the current or even new board.
Picking a player of the season was hard!
I think last year we saw that Wenger’s plan with building a team from younger players was working, but that plan can only work if we build on the team and add a piece or two every now and then.

But last year we sold two vital cogs in flamini and hleb, and that is more like Ajax’s philosophy, there is no way a team can be built if you are selling important members each year.

Lastly, the most puzzling thing that happened in the last two years, is how we had flamini, diarra, and gilberto last year, then mishandled the situation so badly that we were left with none of those this year.

Wenger has to be more ruthless with his players. If flamini doesn’t sign a new contract before january, then he should not be in the first team regardless of his form, if it jeopardizes diarra’s position in the team, who could have been the long term solution. Similarly, if both flamini and diarra leave, we should not sell gilberto just because he can get a better contract elsewhere.

I HEARD yesterday that both us and Spurs have been very much sniffing around Sebastien Bassong of late.

How the apparent impending arrival of Vermaelen affects that I don’t know. Though with City once again supposedly after Kolo Toure and reports this morning suggesting William Gallas could be headed for the exit door, two new signings at the back would not be inconceivable. Particularly when you consider Mikael Silvestre, one of our current gang of four, has hardly impressed either.

Anyway, I thought I’d just pass that on. It’s certainly no guarantee he will sign for us.

Other than that, I’ve not a lot to say. Frankly, I’m really enjoying the breather from Arsenal action. It’s an 84 day break and today is day 17. That means we’re already a fifth of the way through the close season. Couple in the last few weeks of the break being full of friendlies and it won’t be long before it’s back.

I certainly won’t be killing myself to watch the England game either.

It’s a tube strike today in London. As a cyclist, I’m feeling smug.

MASSIVE apologies to all those who entered the Goodplaya quiz last week.

Your answers went straight to the spam section of my email inbox for some unfathomable reason and I’ve only just noticed. Totally my fault.

Unknown to me, quite a few people entered without the need for yesterday’s clues. And quite magnificently Stephen Jenner got all the answers correct without the need for the clues. He therefore wins the prize.

I can only apologise for my technical incompetence. As recompense I’ll do another quiz this week, with more books up for grabs.

Questions and Answers:

1) Who am I? Both my first and last goals for Arsenal were in the league cup. They were separated by six and a bit years. Answer: Ian Wright

2) What connects Jimmy Carter, Marc Overmars, Jermaine Pennant and Dennis Bergkamp? Answer: All scored their first goals vs Southampton.

3) Who were these nine teams? Everton, Boro, Blackburn, Norwich, Fulham, Bolton, Man City, Charlton, Aston Villa. Answer: It’s our first 9 games of 2004/05 season (40-49 of the Invincibles).

4) Complete the sequence: French, French, English, Portuguese, German, Austrian, ????? and ???? - Answer: Dutch/Liberian. They were our eight main signings in the summer of 97. Marc Overmars and Christopher Wreh were the two missing.

5) Who am I? My debut was 10 minutes at Chelsea followed by another sub appearance at Coventry but it wasn’t until my first start the following season that I scored. Answer: Anelka

6) Make the link between Norwich at home in 90-91 and Liverpool in the Carling Cup in 06-07? Answer: I should have said Norwich in 91-92. The answer is they were both fogged off.

7) What do these results refer to? 1-2, 3-2, 3-0, 1-2, 1-0, 3-1, 2-2, 1-1, 2-4, 0-0, 2-1, 2-2, 2-1. Answer: Home games vs United under Wenger in the league.

8 ) Who am I? A consolation goal scored by a current Premiership manager put paid to my hopes of setting a new record. Answer: Dave Seaman when Steve Bruce scored a late penalty in our 3-1 win over United in 90-91. It dashed Seaman’s hopes of setting a record for the fewest goals conceded in a season.

9) Name the game: lower league opposition, 2-0 down at one stage, lucky not to have a man sent-off, a left footed free-kick was part of the comeback and eventually we ran out two goal winners. Answer: Preston North End ‘99.

10) Who am I? I scored three Arsenal goals, one against Forest and two at Palace. Answer: Chris Kiwomya.

Further to this post, I’ve just realised a load of people had entered but the answers went straight to my spam folder for some unfathomable reason. Huge, huge apologies. I’m currently wading through the answers and will announce winners etc soon. Apologies again.

THUS far I’ve received precisely no submissions for the Arsenal quiz I set on Thursday. I think it’s not that people aren’t trying to do it, the problem seems to be it’s a little too cryptic.

Good luck.