I’m writing this immediately following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League. Tempers are still running high and the level of frustration and disappointment on social media platforms like Twitter is palpable. It’s not that Arsenal aren’t good enough to make a stab at the Premier League title, it’s that their figurehead won’t give them the resources to do so. With 3-4 decent signings and Wilshere back from injury, Arsenal will have a side capable of beating anybody on its day. As things stand Arsenal are deflated and despondent and just don’t look ready to give any of the big sides a run for their money.
Manchester United next week must be a truly terrifying prospect for Arsenal fans.
I would usually wait to see what Arsene Wenger has to say about the performance, but hearing him spew the same old platitudes has grown extremely frustrating, as has his refusal to act and to make the necessary changes.
More and more, I’m seeing a general ultimatum from the fans when it comes to Arsene Wenger: ‘Buy or Go!’ The fans are desperate for success and realise that this will be impossible unless they stake their claim in the transfer market. Wenger’s refusal to do so (or at least the ponderous speed at which he has done so so far) has held back the club and now that the Gunners have only made one point from a potential six in their opening two League games things must really come to a head.
But let’s put some things in perspective. Arsenal have a very difficult opening to their Premier League campaign. It’s been made all the more difficult by losing Fabregas so late into the summer and the likes of Jack Wilshere and Alex Song to injury and suspension. Wenger won’t have wanted to rely on youngsters like Emmanuel Frimpong and Henri Lansbury, but they’ve acquitted themselves surprisingly well (Frimpong’s sending off accepted) and are sure to mature and grow over the course of the season.
That doesn’t stop me from hoping that we don’t have to rely on them too much over the course of the season, but it’s heartening to know that youth at the club are as strong and capable as ever. Once experienced additions have been made to the squad (and I’m sure that additions will be made, albeit at the close of the transfer window) Arsenal will have a decent backbone of young players to compliment their first-team.
It should also be noted that until Frimpong’s sending off Arsenal matched Liverpool all the way, despite putting out a first team XI severely weakened by injury and suspension. Of course I’m not saying that Arsenal don’t need to spend, I’m just saying that things aren’t as bad as a lot of people are making out.
Thomas Vermaelen is every bit the defender that fans spent hours yearning for last season whilst he was out injured. He was imperious at the back for the Gunners against Liverpool and arguably deserved to be man-of-the-match.
Some may view this as clutching at straws, but it doesn’t feel that way to me. At the moment this is an Arsenal team in transition, but there are still reasons to be excited about the future; a future that can bring with it success if the right moves are made in the transfer market. That positives such as these make themselves apparent, even at the Gunner’s lowest ebb can only be a good sign.
As things stand however, Arsenal have to pick themselves up and prepare for Manchester United next weekend. Good luck to them.
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are you on drugs you idiot wenger needs to be sacked
Fuck you wenger after wasting my laboured money to watch arsenal match best thing for you is to line up crap players on the pitch to play fucking football, i hate you wenger all the arsenal fans in London you are too dull to my likene lets strike and stop paying for their fucking highly inflated match ticket and lets see how much they lose per week
I have ben an Arsenal fan for over 30 years, and so am certainly not a “fair-weather” fan. I have seen many poor Arsenal teams, poor performances, and lived through years of Arsenal not winning trophies. I am not an “In Arsene We Trust” fan, but I do believe in him as the manager of our team. I sit and watch, read and listen to all opinions. This is mine, for what it is worth:
1 – This Arsenal team is the least entertaining since Arsene took over. Why? the pace of our game has gone. How many times did we get into the attacking third with only one or even no players inside the 18. In the “Henry Era” we had Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, Vieirra, et al all storming forward. This is not happening anymore. I do not understand why Arshavin, Walcott & Nasri were not getting into the area to support Van Persie. Surely the reason for playing two holding midfielders is so we can push these attacking players further forward. The pace of the game is too slow, we cannot and will not get in behind any team whether they ‘park the bus’ or play free-flowing if we continue to play square passes, slow passes. Nasri deserves some credit as at least he played with some heart. I am very disappointed that he is leaving as I believe he is the type of player we need, but it would appear greed (his and obviously his agents if you read the recent reports on why the deal to City is being held up) has turned his head. Do not believe for one second it is because he thinks he has more chance of winning with City. This may or may not be true, but that is not his real reason. What is up with Arshavin? He looks like a player who is ready to leave, not Nasri. So, we have two creative players, dribblers with tremendous skill, who are either leaving or disinterested. Entertainment now turns into boring. What to do? Well Hazard has been mentioned and maybe this is the answer if Nasri goes. Gervinho may grow into the role, he looks like he has potential, but will he become another Chamakh? The problem is he is raw, needs to learn the game, and Arsenal right now do not have time. Ryo & Chamberlain are also exciting prospects, but Arsene surely must realize prospects is not what he needs right now.
2-Defensive Midfield – I began to have concerns about Alex Song towards the end of last season, and this was highlighted again against Newcastle and Udinese. His distribution is not consistent enough, and even worse he appears to be stupid. Sorry, Alex, but what went through your head when you stamped on Barton (I know, Joey is no saint, and he was the instigator in the Gervinho sending off, but I do not need to go into that here). Also, he continually makes stupid fouls. Frimpong is young, inexperienced, and may be a good player in a few years. He clearly is not ready now. So, instead of all the talk about strengthening the defense (I’ll talk about that next) I think Arsene needs to get a holding midfielder in first. Swallow your pride Arsene and re-sign Diarra, or go for Mascherano. A player in this mold with EPL experience would strengthen this team, and give Alex Song something to think about.
3-Defensive frailties – much has been said about Arsenal needed to strengthen its defense. Arsene was even quoted as saying this himself. Instead of strengthening, he sold Clichy to City (although some may say Gael was not at his best… And it was interesting to see his error against United in the Charity Shield). I actually believe Vermaelen & Koscielny are a very good partnership. Vermaelen was outstanding today against Liverpool, and anything that Arsene may be able to get out of this season will clearly be dependent on the the Belgians fitness. If these two were to remain injury free (which has already NOT happened) then where would a Cahill, Jagielka, Samba fit in? Thet are starters for their current teams, and may not he happy with life on the bench, or even a rotation-based season. Knowing, however Arsenal’s injury problems, then maybe they would sign (or maybe not, as they may think they’d get injured!!!). I think a left back is far more important – Baines has been mentioned. So was Enrique, and on his performance today, why on earth did we not sign him? He cost about the same as Clichy cost City and so it would be $ for $. Knowing Gibbs and Traore are always injured this is the biggest question I believe Arsene should be asked. Per Mertesaker is available for a reasonable fee apparently, and this would appear to be a good signing. Reasonably priced, good experience, and a different type of defender to Vermaelen and Koscielny, which I believe the team need.
4-Formation – As mentioned earlier, with this formation having two holding midfielders this formation should allow Arsenal to be more attacking. We know that Arsene likes his full-backs to get forward, and with the two center backs and two holding midfielders staying deep, then Arsenal should attack with 6 players. A 4-4-2 formation normally only allows you to attack with 5. But Arsenal do not attack with pace, they do not attack with numbers. The formation does not fit with some of the layers at their disposal. The two “support forwards” are more like wingers, and this is why we do not see them get into the area. We rely on the single striker, and Van Persie for all his outstanding ability, cannot be relied upon to be injury-free, and also needs support. Does Arsene change his formation? I think he is too stubborn to. He sees the success other top teams have with the current formation and believes Arsenal can and should play that y. So, he needs players to be able to fit into this formation. I already mentioned Hazard. What about Ribery? Injury-prone (ideal for Arsenal, then; sorry!), but clearly talented. A striker who is not afraid to get into the area. And most importantly a replacement for Cesc. If Mata is available for 23mill then Arsene really should go and get him.
5- Fan support – for the first time in his time at Arsenal, Wenger must be feeling the pressure from the stands. As I said at the beginning of this piece, I believe in Arsene, and trophies are important but Arsenal need to look as if they can compete in all competitions. Right now Arsenal do not look like a team that can compete with United, City, Chelsea. Wenger must re-establish himself with the fans, and to do this he must make signings, as this is where he will be judged this year, more than actually winning a trophy. If he replaces Cesc, Clichy, and probably Nasri with experienced, quality players, then fans will probably be more lenient if they do not win a trophy this year. But if he remains stubborn, and sticks to what he has now, and says “I have bought Chamberlain, Gervinho, Jenkinson, & Campbell” then I believe the fans will make him and the Board fully aware that they need a change of leadership.
Final thought – I am a professional soccer coach in the USA, but for one second do not pretend I can do Arsene’s job or know as much as him, so my suggestions are purely based on fantasy – Watching lots of games and players, but with no knowledge of the science (fitness, training levels, etc) that clearly goes into the decisions now of signing players. Four players are needed, and I suggest:
Baines, Mata, Hazard, Sow.
Let’s see if Arsene can stand up and admit his team needs a change.
mate i understand you trying to put a positive spin on this game but you cant fool the fans. Realistically arsenal will not finish top four this season. Not with the team we are carrying. I am as excited as the next man about the potential of our young players but they should not be under this kinda pressure at such a young age. walcott should be dropped as well as arshavin. These boys talk a big game about targets of 15 goals or i wanna play centrally but do nothing to prove there worth.. Am i honestly the only person who thinks walcott is one of the shittest players at arsenal. Sure he scored goals last season but if i was put in on goal by fab, wilshere and rvp as good as he was last season then i would score goals too. I think hes got a case of the bendtners and believes hes better than he is..
Here here, walcott has to be one of the worst players today and he hasn’t done to much for me to think he’s gona get any better. Bought with great hype due to being english and fast (I hope chamberlain isn’t another one 15mil? )As for arshavin brutal today. Head down and run into an opposing player but sayin that chamack is another. Bendtner is better than these. Please buy players Arsene Please.
With current team & boring passing, I totally agree they have nothing to aim for this season. Glad to see Arsene & the board go.
This is not the Nasri I know.He must be sold.Most of the players dont deserve the fat wages they command WEEKLY.You are talking of 90,000.00 pounds a week for a 90 min.job?Wenger is being prudential when it comes to spending but I think we need one CB and one creative midfielder.Miguel should take leftback position for good,not injury prone Gibbs.
are you serious a 19 year old is going to make all the difference he should not be playing all the games. he will burn him out like cesc we need two centerbacks ,a left back,a midfielder ,a proper centerforward before vanperise gets injured because he will soon.all this should have been at the start of the summer.Looks like we will go out of the Champions league,so we will not be able to get top players.And you think everything ok.
Kevmacn: “Realistically arsenal will not finish top four this season.”
Brother…. Realistically, after two games into the season you (or anyone) cannot say you (they) know the Arsenal squad and what position the team will finish in MAY. And you cannot say we have a weak defense and push-over team. Liverpool had their share of PURE LUCK today.
I have doubts about some of the people that claim they support Arsenal…. Sometimes……..
Totally agree with your post – people are totally getting carried away with this ‘crisis’. I fully accept we need to sign 3 or 4 players (i thought this at the end of last year) but we have the potential within the current group to do well, that will be realised if we add some further experience to the squad.
People calling for Wenger to go are deluded, if he walked away tomorrow Arsenal would be in deeper trouble than people think we are in now!
I watched today’s game and i tought to myself if this is as good as Liverpool can offer after the money they have spent then we will be fine for the season (if we sign some players this window).
They only just beat a depleated side reduced to 10 men.
wenger has made up his mind not to buy players, even when he did he sttles for young and inexperience ones. Wenger should know that d elastic limit 4 a trophyless season is almost exceeded and d players and fans are on d verge of breaking up. Wenger, whar did we do? U so much believe on boys. Maybe Arsenal fc should get a young coach to manage these boys
Not many Arsenal fans ARE Arsenal fans. You clowns who do nothing but whinge about the club ought to hang your heads in shame. It is only due to the fact that Wenger has brought the club so much success that you idiots have the arrogant attitudes you so readily portray here. He had you so used to winning that you think its a god given right that Arsenal fans deserve a winning side. Firstly,the club IS a business,and if the thousands that get on the net bitching that the club is run as a business shut up,put your money where your mouth is and bought the club out,you could run it into the ground as quickly as you like. Secondly,say what you like,carry on how you like,but this is a GAME,so stop carrying on like the world will end if we must endure the heartbreak and despair of another trophy less season..-oh the pain……
By the way,I gave been an Arsenal supporter since 1977,my 5y.o. boy is a fan,and if the game ever did become as serious as a war,I would rather be in the trenches with him than most of you imposters.