The wingers must be given credit for their assists to the frontman but for a team wishing to challenge at the top they must improve their strike rate, both having fluffed their lines on many occasions this season.
A glint of hope lies in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who ,with his outstanding performance against United, put forward his case to become an Arsenal regular and won the hearts of the Emirates faithful. His development is one many are following with a keen eye in the hopes he could become the next truly world class player developed under Wenger.
To Arsenal fans their villain to Chamberlain’s hero is Andrei Arshavin, who seems to have lost what little faith there was left lingering in him. The fall of a player who once single handedly famously tore Liverpool to shreds is one that surely befuddles ‘The Professor,’ with a player once met with roars, now greeted by a chorus of jeers and boos with even club captain Van Persie joining the voices of the critics. Yet his substitution cannot be soley to blame for the loss at United.
The defence of the current Arsenal side seem to lack the cohesion to function as a unit and have leaked more goals than the likes of West Brom, Sunderland, Everton and Aston Villa.Vermaelen was nowhere to support Arshavin as Valencia breezed past to run unchallenged into the box where he was then able to play a one-two in the box with Welbeck before laying the ball off for the winner. It is simply unacceptable defending but it is a rare mistake from the ‘Verminator’ who is simply crucial to any hopes of Arsenal achieving a top four finish.
Koscielny has proven he has the potential to be a world class centre back with some terrific performances but his partner Mertesacker has struggled. His lack of pace has been ruthlessly exposed by teams who view him as a weak link. However his overall level of performance in his debut premier league season has still been good enough to placate the fans. It is the full-back positions where Arsenal has been left truly exposed. Granted there are injuries to Santos and Gibbs at left back but neither have been especially convincing even when fully fit.
At right back Sagna is arguably one of, if not the, best player in the world with an exemplary injury record. His lengthy spell on the sideline this season seems to have caught Wenger by surprise who sold off his only experienced cover in Eboue. Jenkinson may deliver in future but at the moment he is not up to scratch for the hustle and bustle of the Premier League while the current replacement in Djourou has shown he is more walking train crash than he is defender.
Wenger must surely realise where his problems lie but refuses to spend and deal with them. His youth project was a failure; the likes of Denilson, Bendtner, Eduardo, Nasri and Fabregas were supposed to lead a golden generation of Arsenal players but have all left to pastures new. ‘Next year’ has been the catchword for Arsenal fans these last few years. but it has now changed to ‘maybe never.’ With Van Persie looking more and more likely at leave at the end of the season the future for the Gunners looks bleak. Failure to qualify for the Champions League would be disastrous and with teams like Tottenham, United, City, Chelsea and Liverpool all willing to spend Arsenal are at real risk of being left behind on a downward trajectory which may cripple the club for years to come.
Wenger must act now. Until then Manchester United against Arsenal, will remain a match to remind Arsenal of what they once were, what they have lost, and what they may never have.
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Sadly for Arsene his dream is or has come apart at the seams.It could have been successful if he had brought in quality players to assist the rising stars so that they had time to develop and learn from experienced players but he would not spend the money and we are now seeing the result as we have been for several seasons. He has been unlucky with injuries but even allowing for that we do not have any quality in depth and we are now looking at RVP leaving in the summer as he has no reason to stay. He needs to change and quickly to ensure that we do not end up as a regular 6th or 7th place team. We have been used to success, pay the highest ticket prices in the world but are being asked to watch a struggling side. We have 2 billionaires on the board and although I would hate to go down the Chelski/Man city route we need to spend big money and bring in 3 or 4 top players to cement what is mainly a very talented squad. He also needs to take his blinkers off with regard to certain players, Arshavin and Chamackh are the 2 obvious contenders but there are more as we all know. Lets get back to a side that other teams are afraid of.
Good article but it’s of no use cause we are no longer a top 4 side maybe it’s a good thing if we play the europa we might re-gain our zeal in getting a trophy with the europa next season.
And hopefully, Wenger would get the sack??