Blow that whistle
You do not learn anything conclusively in a single match of football, but there was a lot in Sunday’s Community Shield encounter at Wembley to suggest that Manchester City will be the team to beat in the new season that starts in earnest this afternoon.
Even given that Chelsea played with 10 men for a large chunk of the game, the 3-2 result flattered the Blues. I stand by what I said last week, that the Citizens still need one or two significant signings to compete on all fronts, but they do not look bad as they are and they go into the season balanced and ready to dominate again.
With only Eden Hazard making the team of their recruits, I could not see how Roberto di Matteo’s men would improve from last season and it may be prudent to reserve judgement until later Otherwise, on Sunday’s showing, the gap between Chelsea and the two Manchester sides remains glaringy big.
As things stand, the only genuine challenge to City should come from their neighbours, especially now that they have bolstered their attack with the sensational swoop for striker Robin van Persie. It is, so far, transfer of the summer in England as can be seen from the contrasting moods in the two camps. United fans are so ecstatic you would think they have already won the title while Gunners are not amused.
I must say I am not shocked at all that van Persie has left Arsenal because that was always on the cards once he released his statement last month that because the pressure on him to perform was going to be enormous.
What has baffled me, however, is the fact that Arsene Wenger has actually allowed the striker to join United, of all teams. I do not buy his comments that he tried to sell him to French big spenders Paris Saint Germain and that he had no choice. If he did not want van Persie to join an English club he could have done something about it.
I have always believed that for a side of Arsenal’s size, the target at the beginning of every season has to be winning the league title and you cannot achieve it if you are actively strengthening your rivals. The Gunners contributed towards making Manchester City champions last season and now they want to make another rival strong enough to win it again?
Yes, Wenger says he already signed van Persie’s replacements in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, but that is a massive gamble because these are newcomers to English football and there is no telling how they are going to perform. I am, however, willing to give the Frenchman the benefit of the doubt and hope Arsenal will still be strong enough.
Liverpool? I am quietly optimistic about this season and I would not be surprised if the team does much better than most pundits expect. Blow that kick-off whistle, ref!
—Feedback: gtukula@mwnation.com
