Many Arsenal fans have thrown themselves off the cliffs after Saturday’s game.  Be it mostly virtual cliffs on the internet. The world stopped turning, the forces of gravity lost their force, the end of the world was near: Arsenal conceded 5 goals in one match. Was I happy with us conceding 5 goals? No, not at all. But I really do think we are missing a few things when we see some reactions.

Let us start with the opponents: Legia Warsaw. Now when you live in England and you can follow the EPL I can understand you don’t care about other leagues. And with the success from English teams recently in the champions league, all is it over 2 seasons that an English team has won it, some people may think that outside England football is nothing. Well they do play some football in other countries and going away to another country is never easy. No away games are easy.

Legia Warsaw is a bit of a sleeping giant club. It still  is one of the big names in Polish football. And a club that has a very hot blooded supporters clan. They even are one of the teams that is known and feared for their hooligans. They support the team with a lot of passion. I think those who have seen the game could see that for a big part of the stadium this wasn’t a friendly game at all. The fans stood behind their team in an unseen way in friendly games. In friendly games the atmosphere is normally a bit soft and gently but the fans in Warsaw made it look as if it was a Champions League game.

So there we were with our team with some new players, with some players with a little bit of pedigree but also with a few real young players. I think players like Frimpong never have experienced such an atmosphere in their career before. And it is fair to say that Arsenal started their game like they start any friendly. They tried to control the ball and play some nice football. But Legia had other things in mind and they ran around like mad men in a cave. They pressed, they fought, they shoved, they ran, they ran and then they ran some more.

And yes the young lads lost it a bit you can say. You could see that some of them did not really know what to do. And yes they made mistakes. Even some more experienced players made mistakes. I think in the first half hour you can point at all the players for making mistakes. I only could see the first half our live on my computer and I had written down the word  restless to describe our performance. So are we doomed? Are we lost? Is the season over?

No. When 3-0 down after some really bad mistakes, and not only mistakes by the 4 defenders but also by even some of our more experienced players we changed it around. Chamakh proved to be a player who can be used as a big and strong attacker. A good cross to him can cause problems to other teams. He scored our first goal on a beautiful chipped cross from Nasri, who was maybe the best player on the pitch in our preparation.

And what did our so called stubborn manager do at half time? He brought in some young players. Vela, Gibbs and an older player Eboue. He made a few changes and suddenly we were on top of the game. Vela curled in an excellent free kick and Eboue of all people headed it in. I think this is the first goal he scores with his head in his career. And just a few minutes later Eboue was running on his own on goal. A few seasons ago you could have put all your money on : Eboue shooting right at the keeper, Eboue shooting the ball high in the crowd, and you would have won. But the Eboue we see now kept his head, feinted a shot and then shot the ball pass the keeper on the ground. 2 years ago he would have hit the keeper on the ground and the ball would have gone wide. Please don’t think players cannot change or get better. They do get better when Wenger and Arsenal have them at the club.

Then Vela picked up a ball, saw the forward running Gibbs, played an inch perfect pass and Gibbs powered his shot high past the keeper. In some 25 minutes we turned the whole game on its head and had scored 4 times.

And when we failed to clear our line and conceded a 4th goal we just came back out and scored another few goals. Vela headed a ball in the path of JET who turned it in low. And to finish the game Nasri fired in a free kick. In between Vela was very unlucky to see a shot from some 25 meters out with the outside of his left foot going just wide. And oh yes Legia scored another goal to make it 5-6.

So yes there was some complacency at the start of the game, so yes we didn’t defend enough like a team, so yes in the first half some players lost their head a bit. Are we going to throw it all away by a bad 30 minutes?

Why don’t we look at the last hour of the game? The hour we scored 6 goals. How many teams would have done this trick at Legia before? If there is a Legia fan out there could he inform us how many times Legia was forced to let in 6 goals at home, in one hour and after being 3-0 up?

Why don’t we hype the performance of Eboue, from zero two seasons ago untill a player who even keeps his head cool when clear on goal these days. Why don’t we underline the great performance of Vela who gave 3 assists and who was just unlucky not to score on of the best goals ever? Why don’t we talk about the great performance of Nasri, once again this preseason? Why don’t we talk about the strength and power of Chamakh in the opposing penalty area?

Being 3-0 down after 35 minutes, away from home, against a team full of fire, against fans who supported their team as if it was the CL final and still win is something that only great players can achieve. And some may be young, maybe to young at times, but they have something special: they will not give in and they will try to fight back. Even in a friendly game in pre season they don’t want to lose the game. And even if they started with the wrong mentality, which is a capital sin in football, they did something that few teams can do: change this mentality and start to fight for it, even in a friendly game.

So yes we can be disappointed with the 5 goals we got against on Saturday. But we must be filled with joy by the way this team  turned it round. A team that was playing without : Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Diaby, Denilson, Song, Andrei Arschavin, Nicklas Bendtner. 7 (yes seven) players were missing. Some of our best players from last season and some of the best in the world and still we refused to accept defeat and fought back to win a friendly game.

A final note, let us think back just one year on the day. That day we ended our final preparation game at Valencia and lost 2-0. Every doomer and gloomer went crazy and predicted we would finish out the top 4, we would even struggle to qualify for Europe, we would be relegated with this team, we could just stop playing and hand the 3 points to the opponents each week and go to the coca cola league.

Tony from Untold Arsenal was in those days a beacon of light in the darkness and told us to just wait and see. And Tony was right as only one week later we started a great season which was only stopped by the biggest injury crisis since I follow the Arsenal and that is rather a while to be honest.

Maybe those 5 goals turn out to be a blessing in disguise, just like the defeat against Valencia was last year. A nice reminder of the fact that you have to come on the field with the right attitude.

Today, the transfer market was rocked by news that Arsenal defender William Gallas could be trading the red of Arsenal for the white of Tottenham. While rumours of Michael Dawson’s exit remain firmly lodged in cool water, the fitness of Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate remain urgent issues in need of a solution.

Harry Redknapp now has the trump card of almost guaranteed Champions League football, following their pairing with Swiss Premier League runners up BSC Young Boys, and as his future with Arsenal has remained a debatable issue for a while now, Gallas could well be off to their rivals.

There can be no denying that despite his advancing years, Gallas would be a valuable asset to Harry Redknapp’s team as they look to establish themselves among Europe’s elite. These negotiations are not just because of Tottenham’s defensive woes, but paradoxically, Gallas has hit some goals of great industry and importance over the years, despite full-backs being typecast as terrible shots – one memorable strike was a 25 yard curler in his Chelsea days, ironically against Spurs in injury time, to win the derby.

Apart from his offerings all over the pitch, Gallas has the European experience needed to get Tottenham through testing times in the Champions League, where any defensive naiveties are mercilessly punished. This knowledge of European attacking formations combined with an almost unrivaled passion (which sometimes boils over in ugly fashion) could be the making of Tottenham, especially when away goals begin to count for something.

Ultimately, the move for Gallas shows great shrewdness, since Redknapp is able to utilise Arsene Wenger’s alleged weakness of not being willing to play “older” players, seen by some as a reason why they have been without silverware for five years.

If, this time tomorrow, Gallas is holding a Tottenham scarf over his head with Redknapp and chairman Daniel Levy grinning by his side, then his live-on-Sky return to the Emirates Stadium on November 21st could make for one of the juiciest Premier League clash the world has ever seen.

Joel Matthews from Camberley has won the chance to present Cesc Fabregas with his EA SPORTS Player of the Season award.

Joel was one of thousands of registered members of Arsenal.com who voted for Cesc in our online poll at the end of the 2009/10 campaign.

He will attend a home game early in the new season and present Cesc with his prize before watching the match with a friend from complimentary seats.

"Cesc had his best season yet for Arsenal and it was a joy to watch him in action," said Joel.

"Who else would I have preferred to be in our midfield and be our Club captain? No one."

The Arsenal midfielder Thomas Rosicky has been linked with a few clubs this summer, but he is adamant that he is not going anywhere in a hurry!

He said: “Speculation is a normal thing in the football business,”

“I must thank everyone for showing interest because it flatters me, but I must repeat myself – I am satisfied to be with Arsenal.

“And as long as the club want me to stay, I am not interested in moving elsewhere.”

But he doesn’t seem very sure about which is his best position, and he will wait to see where Arsene Wenger will be playing him in this season. “I don’t know, we will see. In pre-season the coach used me on the right, in the centre but also on the left,”

“I simply played everywhere and am curious myself to see where I will be playing.”

Well if he doesn’t know then who does, lol!

He was then asked if he thought that the Gunners could go one better this year and finally win the Premiership. He replied: “I hope we will manage that at last.”

“During my Arsenal spell the last season was the closest we got to the Premier League title.

“But then at the end of it we made errors which Chelsea and Manchester United simply don’t do, and if we want to win the league we have to learn our lessons.”

And did he think that Chelsea and United would be Arsenal’s main competitors again this coming year?:

“The biggest candidates should be, as always, Chelsea and Manchester United. And after their big signings, also Manchester City.” he replied.

Arsenal are sending a witchdoctor and exorcist to Wembley to help the three players picked for Wednesday’s game.  It appears that Arsenal are worried both about the influence over young players of such malign forces as A Cole and Fabuloso Cappuccino and so will be taking preventative measures.

“We shall use the horse’s foot and the ostrich leg, mixed with some herbs,” said Arsene Wenger.  “Put that in the pre-match bottle of scotch that A Cole likes to drink and I think our young players will be protected.”

Arsenal will also also be using a little muti which the boss picked up while working for French TV at the world cup.

Muti however is dangerous as it is used as an aphrodisiac.  Give it to A Cole and he is likely to move after anything that moves.  “Of course we don’t want A Cole to catch anyone, that would be too unpleasant, but a bit of chasing will distract him from anything nasty he might come up with,” said a spokesman.

Many teams around the world now employ their own sangoma—a traditional healer with powers of divination and Arsenal expect this move will help reduce their three year old injury crisis.  Arsenal’s sangoma will smear muti on the walls of the dressing rooms and bury animal parts in the soccer field.

“This is no problem at Wembley,” said a person, “as the pitch is so bumpy no one will notice the odd pig in a trench.”

However there can be problems.  In 2002, Cameroon’s assistant coach was arrested after being accused of using black magic ahead of an important game against Mali.  In neighboring Swaziland a new artificial turf field was damaged when chicken feathers were buried in the center of it before a league match.

In Italy muti is used by managers like Mr Cappuccino as a way of winning games.  “How else do you think I do it?” asked the coffee maker.  “You think I know about football?”

Actually no, but he can dream.

Irvin Khoza who was chairman of the World Cup organizing committee took  muti to Ivory Coast in 1995 to help his team become African champions.  The FA were impressed and a bunch of old bods with their bits of stuff on the side have been looking into the matter ever since.

“It’s a goer,” said Sir Hardly Anyone, when I asked him last week.  “We shall use every methodological methodology for to help the lads begorrah, and if that includes giving them a football to practice with so be it.  We are an experimental nation, and you will never find us sticking ourselves in mud.  Never!

“The recent sacrifice of an ox at Very Old Trafford was a blessing for our great Shrek and included rites designed to help our great and glorious motherland succeed in the next match against McDonalds Restaurants United.  I am a member of the Traditional Healers Organization and my wife fully understands my needs.  This is, after all, north of the A406.”

But Sir Trevor Brooking said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

How well muti works is open to debate.  In February, the chairman of the medical committee at Fick Fufa, called on anti-doping authorities to investigate traditional medicine. But World Anti-Doping Agency Director General David Howman said the matter was better left to local officials such as Sir Hardley.

Winton Hawksworth of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport said stimulants are common in traditional English drinks, and therefore it might be hard to spot who has and who hasn’t.  Asked to elaborate he left the room.

However it is true that before most internationals various players are (as Sir Hardley put it) seen “putting something in their socks or their underpants.”  When asked if it was money received as a bribe to throw the game he replied that he felt England’s players didn’t need bribing.

Lord Hedgehog, chairman of the FA said that foreigners don’t like it up em.

"Samir Nasri, are you in a good shape ?"

SN : I was there for the preparation, all the trainings and i'm not injured. I'm ready to start the new season. I'm settling with my position on the field. I'm ready to play at my highest level.

"Do you have the feeling the match against Norway could help you settling in the team ?"

SN : We have not to go wrong as concerns our aim. We're not here to play for us, but we have to stay collective, to win this match all together. We already know each other, most of us played together when we were younger. So we shouldn't have troubles as regards adaptation. It's a new start today. What is done, is done. Today, there is the 22 of us. It's up to us to seize this opportunity because it might be the last one. We would love to be in part of the team in September for the real start. I'm glad to reunite with my former team mates (87' generation). They're part of my best souvenirs. We told each other we would reunite in Senior squad one day or another. We have to seize this chance we are given.

"When you hear that Zidane and other former internationals will come to give you some advices, how do you feel about it ?"

SN : I think it's great. I didn't have the opportunity to play with him (Zidane). If he's here and if i'm part of the team in September, i'll be happy if he can share his experience. We have to take everything. Considering the situation in which the team is right now, we can't afford to say anything nor to have a critical look at what we want to do with the French Team.

"When we were told the 23 players who took part of the WC were suspended, everyone here in France thought it was obvious (1) you were going to be called. Did you notice it ?"

SN : Obvious ? A lot of factors must be considered. Lots of other players could have been selected. You never can take a cap for granted. I thought i was part of the list for the WC but i wasn't. Then, when another list is made, you don't have illusions, you just wait.

"You hadn't any clue for the WC ?"

SN : No, i watched TF1 and i got the news just like you did.

"It must have been a shock..."

SN : Yep, but then....

"How did you react?"

SN : (he smiles) I don't think i should tell you. (He remains silent for a while). To stay polite, let's say i said something like "Oh, damn..."

"How did you feel when Arsène Wenger defended you ?"

SN : I have a really great relationship with my boss, he has always been good to me. He always defended me. He called me after the list was revealed and told me i could phone him during holidays if i had a problem. He's a little bit psychologist, it helped me a lot.

"You got to know Laurent Blanc's method when he was Bordeaux's coach. Do you like it ?"

SN : Yes, i like Bordeaux. Today's speech was great. To win, we can't always play defensive, we also have to play offensive, to submit an attractive football. You have to put your opponent in troubles to win a match. It's the way i see football. It's the same when i play for Arsenal. He wants us to be unfettered on the pitch.

"Considering your experience, what do you need to play in an unfettered kind of way ?"

SN : Some people need affection, others need to question themselves all the time. I personnally need to touch the ball, i need mouvements around me. I'm dependent on others, it's not an individual sport. Lately, i haven't been worried by physical problems like i was for the last two years. I hope it'll go on.

"Talking about that, how do you think your game has evolved in England ?"

SN : In intensity, spontaneity and in all defensive aspects. When i played for OM i wasn't a good defender, i didn't like to do it. The fact that i played on the wings helped me to improve myself. English football can only make you progress. You have to be strong, otherwise you sink.

"Do you know anything about Norway ?"

SN : i know some players in England. They're very hefty. Plus, they already started the new season there, and they might be more prepared then we are. But it's anglo saxon, it should be like a Premier League game.

"Samir, how is the atmosphere in the French group ?"

SN : It's great because most of us already know each other since we used to play together. Most of us are the same age. So we were excited to play together again. I'm so happy to be back in the French team after a year and a half.

"What changed with Laurent Blanc ?"

SN : First, the team is more open to the medias and supporters. Well, it's a little bit complicated to talk about life in the group and on the pitch, because we just arrived. But he has principles and a line of conduct we have to respect. He's very requiring with his players, his staff and even himself. It can only makes us progress.

"What are those principles you're talking about ?"

SN : This will to see his team playing and dominating its opponent. That's what he told us. Playing upwards, attacking, controling. It's something i like. It's the way i see football.

"What do you think about Laurent Blanc as a coach ?'

SN : He has a lot of credibility. He's a great player with an amazing carreer. He also had success when he was Bordeaux's coach. He knows how to talk to us, everyone listens to him. He kinda reminds me of Arsène Wenger in his way of handling and considering things.

"He's very attached to French team symbols. Did he talk about that ?"

SN : He mentioned Clairefontaine's castle, saying it was a place full of History. He plays for French Team for a long time and won big trophies. He knows how much our jersey represents. Now, we have young players. We're starving. We're all attached to those symbols. We have the same will to go to Norway and to win this match. Maybe we'll reunite in September...

"Without Gourcuff in the team, there is plenty of room for you in midfield..."

SN : Please, stop opposing me to Yoann ! I can play with him as well. I already did. There is room for me because all the 23 players who played the WC aren't here. Spots are hard to get for everyone. We're 22 and we all want to be back in September. But the most important thing is to be collective and not to play for our own interests. We'll try to win in Norway. Then, we'll see how it goes in September...

No matter what the experts and pundits say, no-one (not even a psychic octopus) could even predict the outcome of a Premier League season. Everyone can make educated guesses, but even I was surprised that Tottenham got into the Top 4 last season, and Liverpool collapsed in spectacular fashion.

You can leave your own predictions in the comments section of this post, and we can look back here in 9 months time and see how accurate we were!

Here’s my 2 cents worth anyway:

Premier League Champions: Arsenal

I have to say this don’t I? The question is do I believe it?

Well the biggest news is that Cesc Fabregas is staying for at least one more season, whether he wants to or not. He’s always given 110% whenever he’s worn the Arsenal shirt so I don’t see that changing in this campaign, despite all the talk that “his heart isn’t at Arsenal”. We’ve made 2 signings in Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny and lost 5, in William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and Eduardo da Silva. So on paper at least, the squad is weaker than last year.

And we still haven’t solved our goalkeeping situation, which for me is the biggest obstacle Arsenal need to overcome if we are going to have a successful season. Jens Lehmann was completely nuts but he was a top goalkeeper. Since his departure the simple fact is Almunia or Fabianski are not up for the task. When your own supporters are calling you Basil Fawlty and Flapianski then you know the fans don’t have confidence in their keepers.

But who do we need? Fortunately it’s not my job to scout and chase possible candidates but names like Mark Schwarzer, Joe Hart and Shay Given have been banded around in recently months with no real substance. Citeh would be insane to release one of their quality keepers to us, and besides, I don’t rate Shay Given at all. One of my closest friends is a Citeh supporter and thinks he’s rubbish on set-pieces and crosses because he doesn’t come off his line. A top shot stopper yes, the ideal solution, no.

Then again, anyone would be an improvement on what we’ve got, so I am praying that Wenger pulls out an 11th hour transfer out of the bag.

My heart says Arsenal will overcome the odds, stay lucky with injuries and somehow pull off one of the most surprising title challenges of recent years. Manchester United haven’t really strengthened, and the same goes for Chelsea. Liverpool have added but are still well off and I just see Tottenham struggling in the league with a possible Champions League campaign ahead of them. That leaves Manchester City, who have a great squad of players but is Mancini the man to gel the team and get consistent results and performances? People are comparing them to Chelsea when Mourinho arrived but along with the big name signings they had possibly the most ruthless manager leading them. And I just don’t think Manchester City have that.

So along with my completely unwavering pre-season optimism, I believe that Arsenal have a real opportunity to do something special this season, if they stay injury free for most of the season. But you ask yourself how likely that is looking at our recent track record!

We should have won the league in the 2007/2008 campaign, and last year we looked the real deal until we lost Robin Van Persie for the rest of the season. With Arsenal, you’re playing with fine margins and everything really needs to go for us if we want to get to the top of the table. Is it possible? Of course it is, and the belief from the squad and manager is there, we just need to keep fighting until the end.

My heart says first, but my head says third.

Runners Up: Chelsea

As I see it, the strongest rivals are Chelsea.

They have a squad of born winners. Winning is all they know and that is so valuable in this league, and they have it in abundance, along with Manchester United. I’ve talked about that winning mentality being so vital in the Premier League and Chelsea and United are streets ahead of the rest of the league in that respect.

People comment on Chelsea’s ageing squad, but that isn’t going to be a major factor for me. They have quality all over the pitch and have that ruthlessness instilled by Mourinho. You could argue that the trophy that they covet the most, the European Cup, could distract them but the depth of their squad is impressive. But like Van Persie for us last season, you wonder how they would cope if Drogba was injured for any decent length of time.

Third Place: Manchester United

Last season Wayne Rooney was immense, taking over as the focal point of the team in Ronaldo’s absence. Manchester United have a knack of essentially basing an entire team around their best player. and while it could be argued that makes them a one man team the fact is it is effective an not many teams can stop it. They do it so well and over the last 3/4 seasons they have been fortunate that Ronaldo and Rooney have both played injury-free for the whole season.

Wayne Rooney would be a bigger miss for Manchester United than Didier Drogba or Robin Van Persie for Chelsea and Arsenal.

And after a draining World Cup campaign, it is possible that Rooney might struggle for parts of the season, although in fairness that’s more of a hope than the likelihood it will happen. But if they pick up one or two injuries in key areas they might struggle to keep up. And the form of Berbatov is key - his inability to score even the simplest chances towards the end of last season cost Manchester United dearly and made the difference in United not winning the league - after all they were only a single point away from Chelsea.

Fourth Place: Manchester City

Manchester City are the unknown quantity really, some are tipping them for the Premier League Title, while others think they will sneak fourth. I just don’t think Citeh have the managerial set-up to win the league, although Roberto Mancini has won Serie A before.

For me, it takes someone special to bring all of those superstars together in such a short space of time and make them into a real force and that man isn’t Mancini, it’s Mourinho. The squad is far too good for them not to make the Top 4 but the title is just beyond them I feel.

Like Arsenal, belief is the key for Manchester City. If they get off to a flyer in August, they could surprise everyone and do it, but when the chips are down I think they’ll struggle. Manchester United and Chelsea always believe they will win whatever the situation, but for Arsenal and Citeh they need the momentum and belief to make it all the way, and that’s where I think Manchester City will fall short.

Plus, the sight of Adebayor lifting the Premier League trophy doesn’t bare thinking about…

Relegated: Birmingham, Stoke City & Blackpool

It’s not just because Birmingham and Stoke City tried to ruin the careers of two of our favourite players (okay, it is a little) and you might think I’m insane choosing teams that finished 9th and 11th last season but hear me out.

Birmingham won’t have Joe Hart and Stoke City… yeah f*ck it, I don’t think they get relegated I just hope they do. I’m not going to lie, I still hold a very strong grudge.

I could argue that they exceeded expectations last season and this year teams will be able to figure out how to play against them, and that the expectations for the new season will be unrealistic and they will struggle with that burden. There, some half decent reasons!

And I would love it if Blackpool managed to stay up, I really would. Everyone loves an underdog and Blackpool on paper are ridiculously out of their depth. But Ian Holloway is a great character and it will be entertaining to see them stay in the league. Who knows, a decent start to the league and they have a fighting chance.

Top Scorer: Wayne Rooney

Absolutely everything goes through Shrek and you can bet after huge disappointment in South Africa he will be hell bent on impressing this season.

He has added heading to his repertoire of goals so expect more of the same this season, and he was only 3 goals off Drogba last year as well.