Are Arsenal in danger of becoming a club in perpetual transition?

No matter what anyone says, last season was a very good one for the Gunners. Before a ball was kicked, various pundits - including some of us supporters (if we're honest) - were predicting a poor campaign.

Thierry Henry had broken our hearts by moving to Barcelona, Freddie Ljungberg had shifted postcode to West Ham and there were even fairly loud murmurs that we'd struggle to finish in the top four of the Premier League, let alone challenge for honours.

As it was though, Arsenal set the pace for the first half of the season, playing some of the best football yet under Arsene Wenger's reign. The team was scintilating at times and despite not winning any silverware, we came oh so close - just four points behind the league champions Manchester United and two dodgy penalty calls away from a semi-final place in the Champions League.
Had it not been for Eduardo's horrific leg injury, I truly believe we would have won the Premier League. It's impossible to say if that would be the case, but when you look at the ridiculous points we dropped, starting with that draw at Birmingham (then the draw with Villa, the goal-less game at Wigan, the frustrating home draw with Boro) then the margin between winning the league and ending up trophy-less was very narrow indeed.

All in all, it was a great stepping stone to prepare for this coming season. But then the call of the Euro came looming: Mathieu Flamini voted with his feet over an improved deal at the club; Alexander Hleb moved to the quiet picturesque fishing village of Barcelona; and if the newspaper headlines are to be believed, we could also be bidding farewell to Emmanuel Adebayor and William Gallas before the season starts in three weeks time.
Of course when we lose players, Wenger always finds one or two newbies to replace them - either through a shrewd buy or by promoting one of the youth team. But it takes time for new players to adjust to the pace of the Premier League and as a result it feels like Arsenal have been a club in transition ever since we reached the Champions League final in 2006.
And even the most optimistic supporter knows that whoever emerges as this season's revelation in Arsenal colours will automatically become a target for Real Madrid, Barcelona or one of the Milan clubs. Or all of the above.

So the question I have for you lot is whether you think we are in danger of being in perpetual transition - a club that players use as a stepping stone to the so-called European giants? The only thing I see giant about them is the wages they are prepared to pay out to players, but then we all know that salaries are the central issue at Arsenal Football Club. If Arsene Wenger were to be hit by the team bus tomorrow, I dread to think how many transfer requests would land on the boardroom table.

Personally speaking, I'd have no problem in letting William Gallas go to PSG, as I think he's lost a yard of pace and is no longer the player he once was. But having a settled squad who enjoy playing the game together and who know each other inside out is more important, so I'm hoping that Le Gaffer can keep the remaining members of his team happy and perhaps even boost their confidence with an inspired signing or two before the new campaign gets under way.

What do you reckon? Do Arsenal's finances mean that we'll always be a selling club? Perhaps you think that staff turnover is healthy for a football club? Share your comments here

Is Theo ready to take over the Number 14 mantle?

Us Gooners may all claim not to care what nationality our players are, but the cheers Theo Walcott gets whenever he plays for Arsenal suggest that, deep down, we all want to see this raw English kid do well.

I for one have always believed in his potential, but some of his early performances left a lot to be desired, especially compared to other young prodigies who seen to step up a lot quicker.

But towards the end of last season, it’s fair to say the boy started to look the part. Recall his magnificent run at Anfield in the Champions League, or even at the San Siro against AC Milan. Even when he didn’t play well, against Sunderland in the last game of the season, he did enough to get himself on the scoresheet.

Speaking on Saturday, Arsene Wenger said: "Theo made a step forward last season — and we expect him to do that again this time around. I expect a lot from him this season and we will wait to see how things go.

"Last season his target was to play 15 or 20 matches, but this season he must try to become a regular. Can he break into the England side? That is what I wish. He is 19 and at that age you have to improve. I don't set any limitations on how much he can improve, I just want him to get better every day."

Apparently, the management at Arsenal tried to talk Walcott out of taking the number 14 shirt – and that’s hardly surprising given the burden of following in the footsteps of Theirry Henry.

I wonder whether Wenger has changed his mind about Walcott’s best position – having previously proclaimed that he was a centre forward in the making – and he started in that position on Saturday against Barnet.

Wenger added: "He looks more of a wide player than a central striker but Saturday was not the day to judge him. Theo is more of a runner than a link player, so we need to find the right combination with him.”

That suggests to me that he may establish himself as a right winger this season, but after those incredible Champions League cameos last season, who would bet against Walcott finally turning into the player every Gooner hopes he can be?

Cesc to be given Arsenal captaincy?

If you believe the newspapers today, it looks as if William Gallas is going to be leaving us.

There are reports that Barcelona and Paris St Germain are preparing £5m bids for Gallas and, given his performances and behaviour in the latter half of last season, perhaps there is some truth in the rumours.

It all started at Birmingham, of course, when Gallas sat on the sidelines when the Blues got  late penalty, meaning that he was out of position had the penalty been saved. Sulking rather than trying to gee his players up is not the behaviour of  leader.

The fact that Arsene Wenger refused to confirm late last season that Gallas would definitely be captain at the start of the forthcoming campaign raised a few eyebrows.

But given how he performed at Euro2008 and Wenger's assessment that we are vulnerable to long balls fired towards the area by opponents, perhaps we can do without him. I really wouldn’t be surprised if a centre-back is on Wenger’s shopping list.

I'd like to think that Alex Hleb has not been as mischievous as some of the papers have made him out to be - that he simply answered a question from the press about his former team-mate Cesc Fabregas, and what he had been told when he asked Cesc what Barcelona was like as a club.

I think I speak for many Gooners when I say that the Arsenal team should be built around Fabregas - and what better way to underline his value to the team than for Wenger to appoint him as the captain of the club.

He may only be 21, but Tony Adams was the same age when he took the armband from Kenny Sansom in the late 1980s.

When thinking of some of the highlights of last season, Cesc’s reaction to late goals against Bolton and AC Milan come to mind.

This is a player whose love for the club is unquestionable, whose performances lead by example and whose importance to the club can never be under-estimated.

So if Gallas is on his way, dont be surprised if our Number Four leads the side out next season.