When all else fails, hold on to hope. I must be withdrawing from a lack of movies because lately every time I go to write here all I think of are movie analogies. Maybe it is because I am looking for entertainment. Maybe I am looking to escape. Maybe I am waiting for Arsenal to follow through on the damn plot this offseason and sign someone…

Today’s movie? The Shawshank Redemption. The scene? Where Tim Robbins talks to Morgan Freeman after doing time in the “hole” for locking the door to the guard office and playing music over the loud speakers to the general population. Morgan and Timmy have a conversation about hope and how Tim holds on to it but Morgan believes that is dangerous, etc. etc. And you know what, hope is dangerous. It is a weapon to wield when all is lost and right now I am wielding it. We have less than 7 days until our season debut against Aston Villa on August 17… let’s talk hope arseholes.

1. We have an experienced squad that knows how to play together: Last season saw us make an incredible run that crescendoed with us taking our rightful place in Champions League while seeing tater totts to their rightful spot below us. Ramsey got valuable time playing, Theo produced, Santi dazzled, and many a men notched goals when we needed them most (looking at you Rosicky and Kols). We finally get to bring EVERYONE back and that has to count for something (so long as they ALL stay healthy… looking at EVERYONE at this point!).

2. Stability: In Arsene We Trust. The French-Man is still kicking around and is now the longest tenured manager in the BPL. His system is the same, antics the same, players the same. We didn’t have the shakeup, the pressure, or the hype that other clubs have and that has to count for something… right? (Remember, this is about hope and not whether we should have the shakeup, pressure and hype of others… there is certainly an argument to be made for each of those but this ain’t the place! At least, not now…)

3. Youth: Thank the Lord almighty we aren’t an aging squad. Other than Mikel and the ever adapting Rosicky we are fairly youthful and full of piss and vinegar. Outside of that, a lot of our “studs” are young and getting loads of experience (hopefully not a euphemism for run down)… Youth and experience should see us ratcheting up our energy throughout the season as guys look to capitalize on the easy playtime time that rotation SHOULD bring to the squad (and goodness gracious some trophies, eh?!). There shouldn’t be complaints of playing time given he “thinness” of our squad and this season really could be seeing that whole developing youth to starters thing played out.

4. Run of form: We should be able to capitalize on our run into the end last season and the familiarity of the squad. We should be able to take that late season run of form, while others collapsed (looking at you tater), and translate that into a strong start out of the gate. There are a lot of “shoulds” in this paragraph so bear with me because…

5. WE’RE ARSENAL! ARSENAL FC! WE’RE BY FAR THE GREATEST TEAM THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN!!!

’nuff said.

Who doesn’t want a pair of kicks like these!!!

Custom Arsenal F.C. Nike Dunk (Photo credit: dishwab)