Having been left frustrated in the transfer window so far this summer, Arsene Wenger will be hoping for some cheer on the pitch as Arsenal begin their English Premier League season with a tricky game against Aston Villa at the Emirates Saturday.
The Gunners fans had been promised big-money signings at the beginning of the summer, but have seen only youngster Yaya Sanogo come through the gates at the Emirates.
While Wenger has insisted he is very active in the market, it is seeming like the same old story yet again for another season, with Arsenal again in serious danger of missing out on silverware for another year purely because of their reluctance to spend some money.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, have brought in some considerable new faces and with Christian Benteke in their lineup will pose a threat to the Gunners.
"For me they (Villa) have bought well this summer and they had some strength at the end of the season anyway that gave them some consistent results," Wenger said. "They needed to be tough to stay up and they did it. That certainly strengthened their resolve plus, in Benteke, they have a player who can score at any moment.
"They are a team that is very dangerous on the counter-attack with (Andreas) Weimann and (Gabriel) Agbonlahor and they bought (Aleksandar) Tonev who looks quite creative. So we need a solid performance to win this game as it's important we start well."
Arsenal will be without skipper and vice-captain Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta as well as left-back Nacho Monreal.
That means Per Mertesacker is likely to be given the captain's armband and the experienced German cannot wait to lead Arsenal out.
"It is very unusual that the captain and vice-captain are out for the first game of the season but for me it is a big honor and a big surprise," he told Arsenal Player.
"I am not used to it but during preseason I captained the team for a few games so it is nothing new. It is very special for me to be captain for the first Premier League game."
Villa will have to do without Yacouba Sylla and Chris Herd, while midfielder Charles N'Zogbia is also missing.
To watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa Live Stream for U.S. viewers, click here.
Expected lineups: Arsenal: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Cazorla, Wilshere, Walcott; Giroud.
Aston Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Baker, Vlaar, Luna; Westwood, El Ahmady, Delph; Weimann, Benteke, Agbonlahor.
Prediction: 2-0 to Arsenal
