Behind Enemy Lines: An Arsenal Fans View

The first Behind Enemy Lines feature of the all-new season 2005-06 campaign sees us breach enemy teritory to bring you the views of 'Arseblogger' - Editor of Arseblog.com a Gunners fan site - to get his views on Newcastle and Arsenal among other things ahead of the big match.

Questions compiled by Howaythetoon (Saturday 13 August 2005)

Q: Arsenal's defeat to Chelsea in the Community Shield - how will that effect your season?

Not in the slightest. The Community Shield is just a friendly, there's no psychological advantange to be gained. Last year we spanked United in it and lost both league games so it really means nothing.

Q: Patrick Vieira's sale came as a shock to many, certainly those looking in on the outside, can Arsenal afford to lose such a top player? What are your thoughts on this?

Vieira was a great player for us, no question, but he pushed some fans to the limit with his constant flirting with Madrid each summer. As well as that the Vieira we saw for the last 18 months was not the Vieira of old and there are suspicions that while his best days may not quite be behind him there aren't too many in front of him. Anyway, nobody knows Vieira better than Arsene Wenger and if he felt it was a good time to sell him then who am I to argue? I don't think he'd have let him go if we didn't have as precocious a talent as Fabregas to step up though.

Q: Newcastle's Jermaine Jenas has been mooted as a possible target of Arsene Wenger's with intense speculation linking the midfielder with a move to Highbury or White Hart Lane, is he a player you would like to see in the Red of Arsenal? How has this speculation went down with Gunners fans?

I'm not sure, to be honest. At this stage of the summer he'd certainly add some depth to the midfield but whether or not he's right for Arsenal I'm not sure. Certainly if you'd asked any Arsenal fan to choose between Jenas or Julio Baptista then I don't think too many would have gone for your man.

Q: Your close-season transfer dealings, happy or disappointed, and in your own words, why?

There is a feeling in general that we haven't strengthened enough, especially with the loss of Vieira. We've brought in Hleb, as well as two youngsters, Alex Song from Bastia and interestingly enough a French left back called Armand Traore. We know the manager is looking for a goalkeeper and that's an area a lot of people would like to see us make a long term purchase for but the main gripe, if you will, is the centre of midfield where we need to add something. At the moment the trio of Flamini, Gilberto and Fabregas looks a little weak and with injuries and suspensions over the course of the season I think most Arsenal fans would be very disappointed if we didn't make a signing there.

Q: Is the Premiership overrated?

Not really, I think like most leagues it's got leagues within leagues. The top 3 or 4 in England are like the top 3 or 4 in Spain and Italy. There's some great talent in the Premiership but maybe there's still that reliance on work ethic where continental sides have a bit more tactical awareness. You might have been able to add flair to that but I think on their day Arsenal play some of the best football I've ever seen, and I'm not just saying that because I'm an Arsenal fan.

Q: In your opinion where will Arsenal and Newcastle finish at the end of the season?

I think Arsenal can win the league but certainly top 3. Newcastle, I don't know. I just don't know whether Graeme Souness is the man for the job. He won things at Rangers, but then I could have managed Rangers and won things. He's hardly set the world on fire elsewhere. I think you'll do well to finish top 6 unless you bring in at least one top class striker.

Q: Which Newcastle players (if any) would you like at Arsenal and why?

Given (no pun intended) our need for a goalkeeper, and the fact that I'm Irish, I'd quite like Shay Given.

Q: Would you welcome a buy-out of Arsenal from a Russian billionaire?

Not at all. Like most football fans I hate the way Abramovich has come along and used Chelsea as his way of upping his profile outside of Russia. They have a very good manager and very good players but they've inflated the transfer market to ridiculous proportions, their arrogance from manager to the odious Peter Kenyon all stems from the fact they know they're filthy rich and you don't have to do too much reading to ask serious questions about how Roman came about his fortune. I'm proud of the way Arsenal is run, that we're building a new stadium, that we've had to work hard to do and the money we have is money we've earned.

Q: Sky Sports; the saviour of football or the disease that's destroying it?

Somewhere in between I suppose. If it wasn't Sky it would be someone else. It's the world we live in.

Q: What are Arsenal's strengths and weaknesses? What area of the field are you strongest and weakest in?

It's such a difficult questions - strengths: We win more matches than we lose! We attack well, we defend quite well again, the players know each other very well and we have players like Henry, Pires, Bergkamp, van Persie etc who can turn matches with a bit of individual magic. As for a weakness, a lot of people say it's because we don't have a 'plan B' when teams play defensively against us but the idea of having someone like Jan Koller to lump long balls to isn't that appealing really. Personally I'd like us to shoot more from outside the area - you never know your luck.

Q: Which players for both sides will, in your view, be the ones to watch in the match?

For us Henry, Fabregas and Senderos. If they play well I think we'll win. For you, Shearer is always a handful and will be a real test for Senderos who, although very talented, is still learning the ropes a bit. Emre is a crafty little player too.

Q: Which NUFC player (if any) do you fear the most?

I think most people are scared of Lee Bowyer, he looks like he bites.

Q: What are your honest opinions about Newcastle as a club, as fans, our City and our Stadium?

Club - sleeping giant
Fans - topless fat men
City - never been
Stadium - noisy

Q: What are your thoughts (if you have any) on NUFC's Chairman Freddy Shepherd?

He's a twat and I think your fans are very tolerant.

Q: On every club message board or fan site there seems to be a big debate brewing over seating and standing and the standard of atmosphere's up and down the country. Every stadium has had their atmosphere effected in some way or another, Newcastle and Arsenal included, what can fans and football do to improve things, to bring back some kind of life to grounds? Your thoughts on this subject.

Bring back standing but it'll never happen.

Q: Finally, a prediction for the match?

3-1 Arsenal

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