As Arsene Wenger said, he is looking for a fast start to the season by beating West Ham in the opening game tomorrow lunchtime, and he is aware that Slaven Bilic is notorious for making his teams hard to beat. So Wenger is hoping for some magic from his players again, and he has pinpointed last week’s match-winner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as the youngster preparing to become a star in his own right in this campaign.
Wenger said on the official Arsenal site: “When you look at Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain you think, ‘What has he not got?’ and then you’re a bit speechless,”
“It’s all there but I don’t want to put any special pressure on him because he has it all in the locker.
“What it demands is for him to let it come out. What I want from him is complete concentration, dedication, to bring his qualities to the team. Naturally he’s a guy who likes to do it for the team and he’s not a selfish player, but you want him to play a bit less with the handbrake on and get out what is really in there.”
That bloody handbrake again. You think Wenger would have had it removed from his Rolls-Royce team by now! But I do agree, we are all expcting big things from The Ox this year, and if he can follow up last weeks sublime winner wither another one tomorrow he may just throw away that handbake himself!
As for West Ham, Wenger is impressed with Bilic signing the talented Frenchman Dimitri Payet, who at Marseille last season created more chances than any other midfielder in Europe. Wenger said about him: “I’ve known him well for a long time because he’s played at Lille, at Saint-Etienne, at Marseille – a very difficult club to play for because you are under extra special pressure,”
“He can always deliver the special pass. He’s a highly-gifted player and he will add something on the creative front to the West Ham team, that’s for sure.”
To be frank that sort of makes me wonder why Wenger didnt try to buy him for Arsenal! Well at least we know hat to expect. Wenger is not expecting an easy game. Well very few derbies ever are, but I AM hoping to see a win for the Gunnners, whether it is a classy one or an ugly one. I just want the three points to set us on the right track….