Arsenal Story: Road to Glory

Hi there! I have decided to do a football manager story on Arsenal. I have chosen Arsenal as they have great young stars and they are building from a crisis. I am looking to qualify for the Champions league and win a cup.

I have decided to allow a transfer budget in the first Transfer window as I want to sign a few youngsters. I will post every match, injury updates and transfers for the club and from around the world. Also I will post about transfer targets. Hopefully I will have a good pre-season as I'm looking at my youngsters to see who will feature in the first team. I havent decided what formations or tactics im going to use yet. Will decide soon.

Let the season start!

Arsenal vs Cagliari Pre-season Match

4-2-3-1: Szczensy,Djourou,Koscielny,Miguel,Gibbs,Coquelin,Frimpong,Ramsey,Gervinho,Miyachi,Afobe

Cagliari got a early goal through Conti. They then also got a goal from Cossu. Conti then got another to make it 3-0. Van Persie came on as a sub and got one back. Nainggolan then got himself sent off on a bad challenge on Ramsey. Walcott then made the score 3-2. The game ended 3-2, dissapointing result but trying youngsters who are unexperinced in pre-season friendlies.

Lille vs Arsenal Pre-season match

4-2-3-1: Szczesny,Sagna,Koscielny,Vermealen,Santos,Song,Ramsey,Benayoun,Walcott,Gervinho,Van Persie

Went for a stronger team after the last game and also playing the french champions it would be a tough game. Van Persie gave us the lead with a free kick after three minutes. Gervinho then doubled our lead and then Van Persie got his second of the game to make it 3-0. Van Persie went to make it 4-0 and got his hat-trick.

Great game by us considering we just lost. Great victory over the french champions and it will give the players a boost heading into the season.

Having made any signings yet but looking at young defenders as I feel that is the position that we need to strengthen with youngsters. Jenkinson and Miguel are the only promising defenders at the club.

AJ Auxerre vs Arsenal Pre-season match

4-2-3-1: Szczesny,Djourou,Koscielny,Vermealen,Santos,Arteta,Frimpong,Rosicky,Miyachi,Arshavin,Chamakh.

Went for a strong team again but picking Miyachi as he will be the second left winger choice this season as so far looking good and quick!

Chafni got Auxerre the lead which was surprising with the defence we played. After Chamakh got the equaliser but missed a few good chances. Arshavin made it 2-1 to give us the lead and we held it out uintil the end.

Good strong performance as I am building for the season. Disappointing news that Djourou will be out for 3 to 4 months considering that he would be the second choice right-back. Now training Koscielny as a right back as I do not think Jenkinson can step up to the first team yet.

Injury Update:
Wilshere 7-8 months
Djourou 3-4 months
Diaby 2-3 months
Mertesacker 6-12 days
Squillaci 7 weeks-3 months

No transfer news yet apart from made a bid for Mbaye Niang for £2 million. Don't really want to change the squad in the window. If midfield isn't performing up until January i'm keeping tabs on Marvin Martin.

Transfer Update:
I have signed Mbyae Niang for £13.5 million who has the potential to be 4 stars().
I have also rejected two bids; £16.5 million for Bacary Sagna, £3.2 million for Miyachi.
I was never going to accept these bids as Sagna is a important first team player and Miyachi has great potential and is going to take part in the first team this season.

At the moment I have decided that Miyachi, Chamberlain, Frimpong and Coquelin. They all will also be playing in the reserves and if one of them is in form they will be starting games.

Colardo Rapids vs Arsenal Pre-season match

4-2-3-1: Mannone,Jenkinson,Koscielny,Vermealen,Gibbs,Frimpong,Coquelin,Arshavin,Miyachi,Gervinho,Park

A different team sheet in this game compared to recent times as I picked a unexperienced side. Need to develop players as I want a big young squad.

Koscielny gave us the lead just before half time but a bad perfomance in the first half. Bad went to worse as Colardo Rapids got an equaliser and we did't score after that. Disappointing game but players have to gel with each other as there are new players and youngsters in the squad. Coquelin is a definite as he is dominating the midfield at the moment and will always be considered to start against the big,strong teams like Stoke.

Coquelin injured for 3 to 4 weeks which is a massive blow as he was going to start the first game of the season against wolves. He will now have to be careful when he comes back and he doesn't become injured again.

Arsenal vs Ac Milan Pre-season match

4-2-3-1: Szczsesny,Sagna,Koscielny,Vermealen,Santos,Frimpong,Arteta,Rosicky,Gervinho,Walcott,Van Persie

Went for a strong line-up as we were playing Ac Milan. Van Persie gave us the lead after 20 minutes. Then things went bad to worse for Ac Milan as Nesta picked up his second yellow card of the match. Miyachi then made it 2-0 after great run by Gervinho and put an inviting cross for Miyachi to score. This will improve Miyachi as he is having a great pre-season. Some disappointing news that Frimpong now is also injured for 3 to 4 weeks just the same as Coquelin. Both players are looking good in pre-season.

Arsenal vs Wolves League Match

Line Up 4-2-3-1:Szczensy,Sagna,Mertesacker,Vermealen,Santos,Arteta,Song,Benayoun,Gervinho,Miyachi,Walcott

A lot of injuries including Van Persie so a few players had thier debuts in this match. Miyachi was given a startas he is the second left-winger choice as Gervinho played on the right.

So we went into the match feeling confident after a good pre-season and we were made favourites. In the first 15 minutes Benayoun gave us the lead with a great goal from outside the box. Ten minutes later Doyle got an equaliser for Wolves. The result ended in a 1-1 draw which was really disappoint because it was the first match of the season and we were playing against a week team.

No transfer news but Man City still want Sagna. Please can you recommend any signings I should sign for Arsenal.

Unlucky by the sounds of it mate. Maybe a goalkeeper as Arsenal's are young.

#36844 CarlH94 : Unlucky by the sounds of it mate. Maybe a goalkeeper as Arsenal's are young.

Maybe but I have got Szczesny who will be my number 1 keeper for a few years so maybe buy a young keeper to make Szczesny compete with other players for the number 1 shirt.

Udinese vs Arsenal Champions League Best play off

4-2-3-1: Szczesny,Sagna,Koscielny,Vermealen,Santos,Song,Ramsey,Park,Gervinho,Walcott,Van Persie

Got off with a good start with Arteta scoring a penalty. Vermealen doubled the lead and then Park made it 3-0. Looking like we were going back home with a 3 goal advantage but Udinese got a late goal. Great match as it was my first competitive match win. Hopefully now we can start a winning run.

Transfer Update:
Real Madrid are now intrested in Sagna but i'm not letting him go for at least 25 million. Also approached to sign Blackburn's Cotton who has a great potential. The compensation fee is 1.18 million which is a good price. He is just 16 and hopefully will have a great career here at Arsenal Football Club.

Does anyone think I should sign Sow from Lille. He wants to leave the club and has a preferance to play for Arsenal. Don't think the other back up Strikers have been that good and it would be a good opportunity to sign someone at his quality.

Swansea City vs Arsenal League Match

4-2-3-1: Szczesny,Sagna,Koscielny,Vermealen,Gibbs,Arteta,Ramsey,Rosicky,Gervinho,Miyaichi,Van Persie
Subs Used:Santos

Quite a strong line up and we were looking for our first premier league win. Arteta got injured in the first 20 minutes so brought Santos on and put Gibbs on the left,moved Miyaichi,to right wing, dropped Rosicky into the center midfield and Gervinho attacking midfielder. Gibbs gave us the lead in the second half but then Swansea got an equaliser. The score finished 1-1 and we are still without a premier league win. Got Udinese in the week and going into the match with a 3-1 aggerate and playing at home.

Transfer Update:
We managed to sign Cotton from Blackburn and had an enquiry rejected by Lille for Sow.
Also Jose Mourinho was at the match to watch Sagna.

Your season looks good so far, so keep up the good work with Arsenal its always good to use young players in your first team to give them the confidence and match practice for when your really need them,.

Lets hope you can do like what Sir Alex did and really open up his young talent and just feed more through within the years.