Well, how frustrating has all this been?
Since our 2-0 win against Blackburn back in early February, which even then was hardly a convincing performance, we haven't won in the league. Our 5 point lead has now morphed into an equality of points, with United almost certain to go three points clear on Wednesday night.
We're throwing it away, but in an almost excruciatingly painful manner. No one can beat us in the league, but we have reverted to our 2006 season form of looking absolutely toothless.
Take Cesc, for instance, against both Wigan and Boro he was slid in, one-on-one with the keeper, and hit the ball straight into the keeper's arms. Those two shots cost us four points. Would Ronaldo have been so lax in his finishing?
Hleb seems to have reverted back to his 'I will pass at all costs' form of the early season. Eboue has not scored for us in the league this season, and this is hardly surprising given that he hits the deck every time he's through on goal. If Wenger really thinks players like Eboue are good enough to play for the club then he's kidding us and himself. The occasional cross do not justify the sheer pain that is necessary to watch a performance from him, especially as Theo finally seems to be growing into a decent player.
At the back, why was Senderos dropped? He has been great at the back with Gallas, yet as soon as Toure returns, Sendy is on his way. Harsh, especially considering Toure's failure to cover Tuncay's run which led to the goal yesterday.
So, we have a mis-firing team and an April fixture list which has come from the deepest, darkest reaches of hell:
Chelsea A
Bolton A
Liverpool H
Liverpool H
Liverpool A
Man United A.
These games will decide our season. I'm still irrationally optimistic about the prospect of a trophy this season, but the team is currently showing how difficult it is to compete for the league and CL if you have a ridiculously thin squad that have two first teamers - Rosicky and RvP - who have never managed to play even 2/3rds of the games in a season in their career.
We are currently 1-2 players away from being comfortably top of the league. April will prove whether we have a squad capable of winning trophies; if we don't, construct a decent sized squad in the summer Arsene. Goalscoring wingers would be an obvious place to start.
Overall, if we're using the excuse that we didn't expect to do well this year as justifying not being too upset with throwing the league away, then we've come to accept not winning trophies. That for me is potentially the most painful thing about all of this.
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9 comments:
"Those two shots cost us four points. Would Ronaldo have been so lax in his finishing?"
Did you not see how many chances he fluffed against Derby?
Having said that, Derby fluffed a fair few themselves.
if we're using the excuse that we didn't expect to do well this year as justifying not being too upset with throwing the league away, then we've come to accept not winning trophies. That for me is potentially the most painful thing about all of this.
Could not have said it better myself.
Wenger is to blame nobody else.
WENGER should be held accountable if we do not win the league. simple
Well if we don't win, Wenger should be blamed. He's the manager. But not if he scaled the pre-season targets. He has.
And the blogger is wrong; it's not out of our hands yet. We can beat United and Chelsea. Why not.
Do I think we'll win the league? Hell no.
This is ridiculous, dude, you are comparing cesc with ronaldo. Ronaldo wasted many chances against derby still convert one and thats what matters. Cesc problem is, the guy is tired and it cant be compared to ronaldo who is spare heading manutd. It will be definitely be a big record if you guys win the league with the so called kids.
How can they be tired ?? it is nonsense. look at how much Flamini puts in to a game and he never ever complains about being tired.They play twice a week for nine months but they are in prime physical condition.
"Goalscoring wingers would be an obvious place to start."
I've been banging this particular drum since the summer of 2006.
Rosicky's powerpuff, Hleb will never score more than 5 a season and although Eboue's an excellent right back, he's a rubbish right winger.
Time for Wenger to open the chequebook and bring us a winger that is physically reliable and a genuine goal threat.
I admire Wenger no end for his commitment to developing footballers to the maximum of their potential but this shouldn't be to the detriment of putting trophies in the cabinet.
The previous step in the rebuilding from the Invicibles side was to create a squad CAPABLE of winning both the CL and the Premier League. Wenger's done that.
The next step, in my opinion, will require money. With £69m free cash lying around, maybe Wenger should suspend any notion of balancing the books, if just for one summer.
How is the title destiny out of our hands?
If we win every game then we're champions!
Awfully frustrating game yesterday yet I feel as though we were playing against the refs as well, a few clear-cut penalty miscalls, a poorly ruled off-side goal allowed and our own legal goal called back. Should have been a different score-line. That being said, we destroy teams that play us with open football and I think Man U. and maybe Chelsea will try, and hopefully fail. Also, again lesser teams we need to shoot from far out to draw defenders who essentially create a 10 person wall at the edge of their box. Just some thoughts.
http://anotherarsenalblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/pipped-by-classless-chavs.html
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