Arsenal - Are They The Most Frustrating Side In The Premiership?

This blog was first published on February 8th at http://happydude88.livejournal.com/

 

It’s an interesting question which Arsenal fans probably have difficulty answering themselves, but I would have to say ‘yes,’ if I was asked this.

The Gunners have gone five seasons without silverware, since the 2005 FA Cup Final and yesterday’s 2-0 Premiership loss at title rivals and bitter adversaries, Chelsea have left Arsene Wenger’s men nine points off the top and with little hope of winning the major domestic prize. Three weeks ago, Arsenal topped the table, but why have they fallen off the pace so soon afterwards.

The simplest answer is the style of football that the North London side play. Although it is electrifying, stunning to watch, almost undoubtedly the best in the league, this style does not win you trophies. Holland’s total football approach in Euro 2008 deserved more than a quarter-final berth, but when up against it, they couldn’t produce the goods and Arsenal is the domestic example of the Dutch.

Fluent going forward is a joy to watch, but it’s no good smashing teams like Blackburn, Bolton and Hull to the cleaners, if you can’t grind out results against the ultimate title rivals. Arsenal’s record against the leading lights this season is appalling. Two defeats against Chelsea, two losses against Manchester United, a 4-2 reverse at Manchester City and dropped points at home to Everton. All very costly results and apart from a gritty second half display at Anfield, which saw them overcome an inconsistent Liverpool pre-xmas, the results against the current top six have been terrible. It seems like they can only play one style of football, so when they meet Chelsea and Manchester United, those teams will cut Arsenal to the sword with devilish counter-attacking, which Arsenal can’t do.

The lack of firepower in these games also can’t be overlooked. The devastating injury to Robin Van Persie on international duty in the autumn has been a massive loss to the striker frontline. Nikolas Bendtner has also had his injury issues this season and Eduardo does not look the same player he was before his horror leg-breaking injury at Birmingham two years ago. It leaves Wenger with limited options up top and it was very surprising he didn’t bring someone in during the recent January transfer window – even if they were cup-tied from participation in the Champions League.

What was even more curious is Wenger’s decision yesterday to play Theo Walcott, who looks a pale shadow of the star who stunned Croatia with a sublime hat-trick in Zagreb 18 months ago. Walcott has had a catalyst of injuries since then, and every time I’ve seen him, he looks like he is getting worse, not better. He is still very young, but naivety has surely cost him the chance of going to South Africa this summer. A loan move might be best to restart his career. Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia continued to look unsteady and insecure yesterday. The Spaniard is by far, the worst goalkeeper in the Premiership, and that’s something that needs to be re-addressed as soon as possible. Even if this means, giving Almunia a break to regain his shattered confidence. The form of Belgian Thomas Vermaelen and Cesc Fabregas have been key to Arsenal’s global brand of attractive football, but more underachieving begs the question to whether Fabregas would stay at the Emirates much longer. He is the new golden boy of Spanish football and Barcelona + Real Madrid would surely be interested in his services should Arsenal fail to deliver the success he desperately craves.

Finally, why did Wenger put out an under-strength side in the FA Cup tie at Stoke two weeks ago? The FA Cup was a great chance to win silverware, with Manchester United and Liverpool already eliminated. Instead, he gambled on a young side that flopped under Stoke’s physical prowess and the demanding fixture schedule of tough games. One point from three matches and a steadily improving Liverpool to come on Wednesday suggest this gamble has backfired badly.

Wednesday night is now a crunch game for Arsenal at home to Liverpool, as is the Champions League test against FC Porto in ten days time. Arsene Wenger is under no danger regarding his job, but things need to change and a reduction in excuses is required for this side of young starlets to end up with any silverware at all. Arsenal FC is a frustrating side to watch, because you don’t what you are going to get. The question is, can they change to win trophies?