Our season starts here

Quite a busy day yesterday.

Reyes has shown new levels of stupidity by being photographed in a Real Madrid shirt for Marca. It really does beggar belief. I can't wait to see how Arsenal.com try to explain this one, although the photos were taken last season before our Champions League tie with Real.

More rumours about us bidding for Ribery. Only makes sense if Reyes is truly on his way.

Big Fat Sol is off to Portsmouth or Manchester City, depending on which reports you believe. This is of course the world-class pie eater who claimed he wanted to go abroad for a new challenge, although I don't really care.

William Gallas has been handed the number 3 shirt at Chelsea, underlining even further that he's not coming Ashburton way, and putting added doubt into the Ashley Cole deal. I really just want him to piss off as soon as possible.

In preparation for tonight’s crucial Champions League tie with the not-to-be-underestimated Dinamo Zagreb, I thought I’d take a quick look at the side that’s likely to line up. It's going to be a tough test, but I think we'll come through. Live on ITV1 as well. Can't wait. Our season starts here.

Manuel Almunia
My biggest worry. Jens Lehmann finally lived up to his potential last season, and in my opinion was the best keeper in the Premiership. Manny, on the other hand, has never convinced, always looked flappy, and during the preseason schedule has looked particularly suspect.

Emmanuel Eboue
Had a breakthrough six months at the back end of last season and has looked a consistent threat whenever he’s been on the ball, although he needs to curb his overenthusiastic (read “prone to diving”) approach. However I’m not as convinced as others have been, and think that for now Lauren, if fit, should still be first choice. He is still an able deputy.

Kolo Toure
King Kolo. I love this guy. I love this guy so much. Toure has grown in stature every season he has been at Arsenal, particularly since establishing himself at centre half. He’s rapidly becoming one of the best in the business, his leadership qualities are essential to this youthful back four and it was touch and go whether I got “Toure 5” on the back of my shirt this year. Legend.

Johann Djourou
Wenger has shown a mark of intent by publicly placing so much trust Djourou being able to make a big breakthrough to consistent first team football. He’s impressed me whenever I’ve seen him play, and he did especially well in a Swiss World Cup defence that did not let in a goal from open play.

Justin Hoyte
Two years ago I was claiming that Justin Hoyte would someday play for England, I was that confident in his ability and potential (and the paucity of English talent at right back beyond Gary Neville). Since then he’s played in the Carling Cup, a couple of Premiership games and spent a year at Sunderland (where incidentally he played a lot at let back). Kerrea Gilbert is now looking the firmer bet, but he’s still a good player who has experience in this position.

Alexander Hleb
He’s grown into English football since his arrival last summer and is gradually turning into the wide player that Arsene always thought he could be. His impressive turns in the Champions League, coupled to his growing relationship with Eboue and Cesc on the right hand side, are making Hleb an increasingly important part of this Arsenal side.

Francesc Fabregas Soler
I was so happy when he publicly came out to brush aside media reports linking him to Madrid. Likewise when I saw that he’d been handed the number 4 shirt. I was proud when I saw him playing in the World Cup, grabbing one particular game by the scruff of the neck and pulling Spain through. He’s a talent, everyone knows that by now, and soon he’ll be one of the world’s best, I’m convinced of that. Right now he’s the centre of our team, the central cog that keeps the Arsenal machine ticking. He will soon supplant Thierry as the most important member of our team.

Giberto
Does a job, sticks his foot in, passes sideways, sometimes finds a red and white shirt. A necessity for now but I can’t wait for Diaby to come back and offer some real competition for the defensive midfield berth. Because, let’s face it, Alexandre Song isn’t going to get the job done.

Jose Antonio Reyes
Despite all the recent press attention, and the fact that Jose failing to settle in England and wanting to go to Real Madrid is the worst kept secret in football, after the fact that Jamie Carragher’s brother has slept with John Terry’s mum (no, really), Jose has looked excellent in preseason. He’s looked hungry, energetic and desperate to prove himself. Of course when it gets cold again we could see a different Jose but for now we need this Jose in the side.

Emmanuel Adebayor
When he first arrived, I wondered what Arsene was thinking. After seeing him in a couple of games, I wondered what Arsene was thinking. By then end of the season, I thought Arsene, what the hell were you thinking. However he’s looked good so far in preseason, more mobile, less Kanu-like and has been working well with van Persie. I’m willing to give both him and Arsene the benefit of the doubt, but he’s still got a way to go to justify the £7m price tag.

Robin van Persie
I am the proud owner of a new home shirt with “v. Persie 11” on the back. I rate this guy so highly. He’s shown flashes of what he’s about over the past two years and still has so much potential. What he needs now is a proper run in the side like he got back in November of last year when he won Premiership player of the month. There are rumours that he and Henry don’t gel on the pitch, which would be a big problem, but with such talent there’s got to be room for them to get it together.