Freddie Ljungberg was asked at his unveiling at West Ham  if  the Hammers could overhaul Arsenal. His answer was  “definitely”. From press reports, it appears that Ljungberg spent most of his time answering questions about Arsenal rather than his new employers.

The Swede made much play of being one of the last of the “invincibles”. If one looks at those who have left from this side, almost all were old or past their best. Players like Sylvain Wiltord, Martin Keown, Sol Campbell, Lauren, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. Freddie should be worried that he, too, has joined a group of players past their peak.

Undoubtedly this is a make-or-break season for Arsenal as much because of off-field happenings as the future of Arsene Wenger. But, save for William Gallas, there are no egos left at the club. Some of the “invincibles” (Jans Lehmann, Kolo Toure and Gilberto) remain and the young players make up a very good side.

'In the past two seasons, Ljungberg has managed just one league goal'


This could be a watershed season for Arsenal in the same way the 1995-6 season was for Manchester United. They had sold Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelskis and Mark Hughes in the preceding weeks, and no-one could see how they could succeed. Yet the kids, including the Neville brothers, David Beckham and Paul Scholes, came in and won the Double.

Players such as Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy and Theo Walcott could surprise the football world in the coming season. Then, it was only Alan Hansen left with egg on his face (“you’ll never win anything with kids”). Now it seems everyone is writing Arsenal off.

Henry was missing for much of last season and Arsenal comfortably finished fourth and could easily have been third. If anything, Van Persie was missed more than the moody Frenchman for large parts of the season. This Arsenal side have had a year playing together and as Wenger pointed out: “All of these players are on their way up. They are not over the hill. Their level is still rising and they are getting better and better.”

Which brings us back to Freddie - a player undoubtedly over the hill. As the excellent Gunnerblog points out: "In the past two seasons, he’s managed just one league goal. In 18 appearances last term, there were no goals and no assists. In the light of those facts, the £3m fee doesn’t look too bad at all.”

The latest transfer gossip suggests Kieron Dyer may be joining his old mate Lee Bowyer at the Boleyn. Add Craig Bellamy into the mix and West Ham are turning in to the most repulsive team in the Premiership. They have lost important players this season in Yossi Benayoun and Nigel Reo-Coker, and Carlos Tevez is destined to leave, too. Furthermore, Alan Curbishley has proved before that taking teams into the upper echelons of the Premiership is beyond him.

Michael Owen moved to Real Madrid in order to win the Champions League and promptly saw his old team-mates win “big ears”. Vieira left Arsenal for the same reason and a Fabregas-inspired side knocked them out in 2006 on the way to the Final. Like all sports, football understands irony. Don’t be surprised if Freddie looks back in anger at his latest career move.

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