Hmm... Arsenal. where to begin? Well, obviously I'm going to have to be careful what I say, lest
XIII duff me up when he comes up here next month.
As the baker's dozen-monikered one mentions, defensive mistakes have once again proved costly for the Gunners. I know I've said this before, so I apologise in advance for sounding like a stuck record, but defensively Arsenal look very naive at times and this, combined with a set of less than impressive 'keepers who are clearly lacking in confidence, means that you just can't see them keeping a clean sheet in games against the likes of Chelsea or Manchester United. The full backs in particular seem to be struggling (Clichy especially was appalling against Chelsea), perhaps they're getting a bit too far forward a bit too often and are leaving gaps at the back that the likes of Drogba are all too able to exploit. I don't know.
Much has been said and written about the lack of a proven and potent striker as I've said before though, I don't think that it's so much the goalscoring that's the problem (Arsenal have 60 goals in 25 league games, a fine return), but if they can get a capable forward in then that's so much the better. But Wenger has failed to do that this January, he's failed to strengthen defensively too beyond the addition of Sol Campbell.
Now, we all know he's not keen on throwing money around quite the opposite, he's often mentioned the need to be prudent and sensible when it comes to transfers, and in all fairness he makes a good point. Spending huge sums of money is no guarantee of success as teams such as Liverpool prove, and although Arsenal are in debt their owings do at least seem to be manageable. But I'm not saying that he has to make a
lot of big signings a few sensibly acquired players to add ability and experience to the side are what's needed, and could have made all the difference.
Arsenal have the scouting network, the contacts, the reputation and the finances to attract quality players and given that the team's shortcomings have been evident for a long period of time there's no real excuse for not addressing them. Look at the striker situation as an example. Robin van Persie was injured in mid-November and wranglings with Dutch doctors not withstanding it was clear that he was going to be out for a reasonable period of time. That gave Arsenal two-and-a-half months to identify, scout and acquire a replacement but no signing was made. Yes, Marouane Chamakh is apparently interested in moving to the Emirates on a free transfer when his deal at Bordeaux expires in the summer, but that's not really addressing the current issue is it?
If buying is a problem for whatever reason, we're in a World Cup year there are players across Europe who aren't playing as often as they'd like but who want matches under their belt to stake a claim for a place in their national teams. Couldn't one or two of them be brought in on loan at least as a short term measure?
Just a short time ago, everything was looking very rosy for the Gunners. But now they're out of the FA Cup (a competition that with Manchester United and Liverpool out you'd say they'd have been well placed to win) and have fallen off the pace in the Premier League. Yes, they're still in the Champions League but if Manchester United and Chelsea can dissect them so efficiently then Europe's elite clubs will be fancying their chances against them too.
Wenger has indicated in recent days that he feels
a third-placed finish is a grander achievement than winning most trophies. If that's honestly what he thinks, then that's his opinion and he's perfectly entitled to it of course. But if I were an Arsenal fan I think I might be feeling a little frustrated that a season that seemed so full of promise looks like it may end with a whimper, especially if it's due to clearly identifiable problems that there's apparently been little effort to address.
Anyway, those are my thoughts from a neutral's standpoint. Naturally, I don't know the team or players as well as some here, but it just seems to me that the same old problems keep coming back to cost Arsenal dearly. Whatever we all think, one thing's for certain with both teams needing a good result, tomorrow's match against Liverpool could be very interesting indeed...
