Less than a month to the start of the new season and Arsenal are just not ready. This does not bode well for the Arsenal faithful. Three barren years on, I seriously do not think any of us can endure another season of sniggering and ridicule from rival fans.

As our hopes disintegrated at the tail end of last season, many of us wondered what might have been if there were fewer injuries to our squad. Or if we had not let Lassana Diarra go. Or if we had signed some reinforcements in the January transfer window. Or this or that. But we all recognised the fact that the squad was too thin to go through a season.

So, are we ready for the coming season? With all the chipping and chopping, transfers and rumours, I don't know. Does Arsene Wenger know? Mathieu Flamini, Jens Lehmann and now Alexander Hleb have left, Emmanuel Adebayor could soon be gone while Aaron Ramsey and Samir Nasri have arrived.

In addition, Carlos Vela is back from his loan and Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky are scheduled to return from injuries a month or two after the season starts. With so many pieces of the puzzle not in place, it takes a brave man to say we are ready.

Last season's major statistics read like this:

  • 83 points – highest ever total for a third-place team
  • 3 losses – Fewer than Manchester United and only twice in last 40 years have we had fewer defeats in a season (1991 & 2004)
  • 11 draws – this cost us the title.
  • 0 lost at home – superb performance to build on for next season.
  • 31 goals conceded – not good compared to the other big three. We need to get our focus together on this.
  • 74 goals scored – firing from a lot of angles.

The thing that cost us was the defence. Kolo Toure was rock solid but William Gallas was unpredictably great or lousy. However, when either one of them is out injured or suspended, we do not have a phenomenal goalkeeper to keep us in the game. Manuel Almunia is good but not sensational. I guess he is really the worst keeper among the top four teams.

The defence has not been reinforced with big signings. I absolutely believe in Gael Clichy or Bacary Sagna whenever they start for us, but where is the back-up? If Toure is injured for a long period of time (touch wood), I would think that would reduce our chance of winning anything by 50 per cent.

A sign of a champion includes stability. When we won our previous championships, the squad was settled and the players were united and focused. When we went on our ''Invincible'' run, the confidence was evident and the camaraderie was unquestionable. What do we have at the moment to mirror those moments? We have Mr Arsene Wenger.

The Professor has all the pieces of the puzzle in his hands. He knows who to let go and who can replace the departed. Maybe there will be another surprise signing (Andrei Arshavin or Gareth Barry) from Wenger that could turn the season in our favour. We have trusted him for so many years and I am going to trust him again. Many have said this is the last chance for Wenger and if he fails, he should be sacked (God forbid).

Come on, you Gunners! Wenger knows! Unite together for the coming season!

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