The image of an anguished figure, fear etched upon the face, has reached iconic
status alongside the likes of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. These are the words used to describe Edvard Munch`s the scream. If Munch was alive today then he would paint Wenger.
What is lower than rock bottom Arsene? As the dust settles on the shipwreck that is currently Arsenal FC that is the question Wenger will be asking himself. His club has plunged to the darkest depths and surely they cannot sink any lower? To lose 8-2 would be shameful for a conference side but for a one of England’s top clubs to suffer such a fate is unforgivable. Words such as humiliating, despair, disarray, disaster have been banded about, the painful truth is no word in the English dictionary that can satisfactorily convey what Arsenal fans feel at present.
The post mortem from Old Trafford would reveal familiar causes. Suicidal defending, lack of team spirit, no team leader, no logical tactical plan to name but a few. The coroner would also conclude that these failings are the result of years of abuse and neglect and they were utterly preventable. We have badgered Wenger to the point of distraction about strengthening his squad in vital areas and investing in proven talent.
His intransigence has infuriated and amazed in equal measure, but has he now gone so rigid that he has snapped? Yes he had 8 of his starting eleven unavailable, but how could he be so naïve to play such a fatally high line? How has he let an entire transfer window pass, with so little action and allowed his club to become needlessly embroiled in sagas involving his own players? Perhaps the biggest question of all is, how has his club gone from the zenith of 2004 to the nadir of 2011?
Some may call for perspective and point to the fact that they are still in the Champions league, and once they have a fully fit team they will shoot up the table. Which is true, but we must remember this was a club who for so long were primary contenders for the title, a club who despite not winning anything in recent years were always in the hunt for silverware. A club who went to Old Trafford in 2002 and prevailed 1-0 to seal the title. Such thoughts will now feel like hazy drunken memories.
This writer wrote how it was vital to sell Fabregas to prevent the malaise that was threatening the club, it turns out there is a cancer in the club. A cancer which if untreated will prove terminal to the Gunners ambitions of being a major power again. But is Wenger the tumour that needs to be removed? This writers gut feeling is no, but that is said without any degree of certainty.
Wenger has two days to make a few signings, not nearly enough time, but every day is precious now. The Gunners are no title or European contenders, to suggest otherwise would be folly. Wenger must now focus their energies on finishing in the top four for the 15th successive season, which is already a tall order when you consider how the rest of their rivals have begun the campaign. Signing Gary Cahill would be the start of the painful, winding, treacherous road to recovery. It is a journey Wenger embarks on today, only time will tell if he finishes it.
The most tortuous moment of Sunday for the Arsenal faithful was not watching their team being dismembered on the pitch, but watching Fergie`s post match interview. The sight of the man giving his condolences to his old adversary and almost apologising for scoring so many goals would have torn the Gunners faithful apart. Wenger would have preferred a punch in the face; to the pity he was given. What’s lower than rock bottom Arsene? Well if you don’t act now you are about to find out.
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This writer totally miss it. You write myopic ideas. You are so bias that you dont see anything good about wenger despite his achievement for arsenal fc… Let forget loads of players that are absent against man u on sunday because is not good reason to lose at that margin at sametime if all these players are available man u would have find it difficult to win at that goals..on cesc/nasir issues. Do you expect Wenger to keep unhappy players? or do you want manager to spend his own money to buy players?. There is nothing new in football. If man u beat arsenal, i don’t see it as end of the world. Judge Wenger at the end of the season and stop mourning like the end have come for arsenal…