Shame On You
|The article I’m currently writing in this very moment was originally spawned a few minutes before the final whistle had gone at that poor, to say the least, away game at Fulham last Saturday, just before one of the worst Arsenal performances I’ve ever been unlucky enough to witness became an ugly fact. I got exactly the reaction I expected, not the one I’d hoped for, from the fans; we’re in big trouble, we’ve never had a squad this weak before and if we don’t buy some experienced, quality players we will be looking at a team in crisis that, at best, can hope for a spot in the top4.
Now, I could’ve written this article back then, but, just in case, I wanted to wait. I didn’t want to look like a complete moron in case we came out with yet another crappy performance against Twente. It may sound like I had my doubts, but the the 2nd Champions League qualifier leg turned out to be exactly what I expected; Arsenal, reinforced by our unpenetrable fort (except for West Ham), Emirates Stadium, utterly picking poor little Twente to pieces in a high-scoring spectacle.
I could’ve written this article back then too, but, still just in case, I wanted to wait. Now, after one of the most enjoyable games in modern times (exaggerations are tricky things) I can, after an entire week of patiently waiting, finally say: Shame on you! Shame on you for doubting Arsene – he always knows what he’s doing. Shame on you for doubting our squad and shame on you for not seeing through the “Arsenal in crisis”-opinions for what they are. Rubbish, is what they are.
After that game away to Fulham I was devastated, frustrated and pissed off. But I took a while to just sit quietly, not really doing anything, and think. It worked. My conclusion? I came to the conclusion that we still, despite how poorly I just witnessed them play, have the best squad in the Premier League. Not the biggest, not with the most depth – but the best. I really do believe that our first choice starting XI is the best in the world. The evidence is right in front of you; no other team could’ve played like we just played. Newcastle wasn’t bad, not bad at all. Still 7-0 would not be an unfair scoreline. I mean, we can all agree that there is no better guarantee of quality in football than hand-picking by Wenger. There have been some misses over the years, that is true, but even the sun has its’ spots. Up untill the start of this season, not counting the pre-season, with the horrible displays of the previous season still burned into my retina, I thought Eboue was one of those mistakes. He was actually good today. Really good. Practically every player in the squad either is a world class player (and I really mean world class, like top 5 in their position) or they probably will be. Song, Diaby, Denilson, Walcott, Vela, Bendtner, Ramsey, Wilshere, Merida – need I say more? I really could double that list. They all have bad games now and then, but who didn’t have a few bad games in the beginning of their careers? Compare that pool of talent to our rivals and you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.
I wish we wouldn’t get carried away now though and then unmercifully come crashing down on Wenger and the team as soon as we don’t perform as expected. I even understand the angriest of the angry Arsenal fans after the Fulham game. It’s not acceptable for a team of our standard to play like that and the criticism was definitely justified – well, some of it atleast. Every bad thing said about that particular performance was probably 100% true, but the inference’s and the conclusions made about our future were not.
I, for one, expect us to continue playing like this throughout the season and I can’t see why that is not a reasonable expectation considering the squad we have, assuming the vital players remain healthy. Of course I don’t expect us to dissect Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and win by a significant margin the way we did today, but you get my point. I hope. We could do with another addition to the squad, but who needs a defensive midfielder when we play like we did today?
We have the players needed to win the Premier League and to conquer Europe, but our biggest opponents aren’t the other teams, it’s ourselves and our bad habbit of having not scoring when we should. 3-0 today might seem like a satisfactory result. Point-wise it certainly was and the performance in itself was brilliant, but imagine if we would’ve scored as many goals as you’d expect to score when you have like 25 shots on goal. 3-0 is nothing. Bolton can beat people 3-0. A good old mega thrashing รก la Prague in the Champions League last season would’ve been absolutely perfect. Increase our efficiency and we’ll be the best.
Straight up.
Literally the worst I've ever seen Arsenal play was against Fulham. But as Arsenal fans frothed at the mouth about our performance I had to say “If you think you're mad. Imagine how Arsene feels”. You need to see everything from Arsene's perspective as an Arsenal fan. We're still not at our best. I still think we need one or two extra players, but we're in as good a position as anybody as things stand.
Your point about our effecience is spot on.
FACT no1: in our first 2 prem games we had- 38shots 1goal. Add yesterdays stats to that and it doesn't look to nice. Compare our shots-to-goals ratio to other teams and im guessing we arn't near the top.
FACT no2: while playing in croatias' Euro qualifiers Eduardo had 10shots 10goals.
All we need is a team of Eduardos'. Easy as pie, Right?
Just read on soccervoice that we were linked with a loan swoop for Madrids Metzelder. German international known for his hard tackling. Anyone know if there is any truth in this?
First things first.Fulham was disgrace from Arsenal even if that performance was given by Derby their fans would've been dissappointed too.We and i include myself also that we do tend to get frustrated and angry after such performance and come out saying we're pathetic our team is disgrace we need to sign a 30 Million player and bla bla bla.But that does not surely mean that we think so..it is just frustration and anger it is because we love our team so much and have so high hopes of them that we tend to think they are super natural human-beings.I mean look at what Wenger is doing ?? Same was the situation which Killed Leeds United..where are they now ?? We spend less then 15 teams in premierleague and look at where we are every season ?? Challenging for title ๐ This is fantastic job being done at Arsenal and this is our club.We love it regarless of everything we say.And yessss I never doubted Wenger.he is a Legend
.It was a good performance-with some real penetration against a good team. But we are still too lightweight in midfield and at centrebackand to challenge. RVP is now injured again. Will Eboue get the credit his performance deserved? Reservations about the strength of the squad are still there- but Wenger has proved the team has more potential than many thought.
Fear not (yet). RvP got the all clear but who's to say he won't get injured playing for Holland.
Metzelder looks more dodgy and less confident than Senderos, if he comes, he comes, but he would need to improve a hell of a lot. Great results today, Chelski and the Tittenham Hotspuds drew, perfect result. OAP Milan lost, at home, to Bologna. Matt even tried to score to get the equaliser, that's the spirit. Lol. I won't wish bad on teams, just in case Karma sees Arsenal suffer, but I can't help but enjoy their little splutters a bit. Aston Villa for the win today.
We are still in need of at least one new signing, BUT the performance yesterday was just what was needed.
I knowm its early days, but Nasri looks effin class and loved his trip on the scum bag scouse thug.
Vela too looks like he can handle himself not to mention full of skill!
I wouldve liked Djhourou to play again instead of Kolo, as he could well be the perfect partner given time.
Thank fook RvP is OK!
Lets be real – our home form can hold up – as long as we have Cesc. We played Fulham without him away. We always have problems away at Bolton , Blackburn and lets see what happens in the next few games. This will be key, because if we perform away again like Fulham – our away trips will be miserable. One decent home game does not make everything alright.
We still need experience in the middle when we have those tough away games and currently I do not see that in the team.
I might be proved wrong – but Fulham was not encouraging.
You do over rate some of the players. Nasri's not proven yet, Gallas still has lapses of concentration, Ade misses to many. Walcott still improving.
Sometimes fans need a reality check – maybe Fulham was it. We are in for a hard season, hopefully by christmas we are still in the hunt and our injured players will be ready for the second half of the season.
Understand what you're saying but raving about how we can win this and that after yesterdays performance is as 'wrong' if not more so, than saying we are doomed after the Fulham game.
We were superb yesterday, against a very understrength and poor side, as it was on Wednesday – you can only beat who is fron of you mind you, and we did it very well!
The main point is, we had virtually our first team out yesterday, with the exception probably of Rosicky, who I would expect to play on the right, and possibly Diaby in the middle. At this point in time, we remain very much dependant on the likes of Fab, RvP and Ade. I do expect us to sign someone on Monday, it just remains to see how 'good' they are. Our whole season at this moment in time lays in the hands on the Injury god……….we'd better hope he's on our side!
Two home wins don't change the fact we have serious problems in central midfield. Problems in the sense that we do not have the strength there to challenge for major trophies. I think our defence is also suspect, but lets see if Silvestre changes that (I doubt it somehow). When Fab plays we are a different team. He carries the team and we score a hatful of goals, whereas without him at Fulham we couldn't score if we were playing all week. Denilson did ok in the home games but his passing is still way off. How many times does he have to give the ball away? He is doing some good work off the ball and tackling back, which Song needs to do more of, but I do believe Song is the better player and would like to see more of him. Alonso would be a great signing if we could get him. We really could do with his experience and those long range goals.
At the back, Kolo's form is alarming. The game passes him by, he's lost it completely and has done ever since he returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. He did get one or two good interceptions in but generally he appears to be strolling. Gallas is defending on his own out there with some help from Sagna (Clichy is almost always way out of position). The ratings on here are dead wrong. They're based on what Clichy and Toure do going forward and not on their absence from defence where they're needed.
I think there are positive signs up front though. With Fab prompting, Nasri and Walcott can cause defences problems and VP and Adebayor are both class strikers. Eboue good? Please. He played better than usual and accidentally got an assist but then in a threatening position the numbskull thought he could backheel an assist again and just passed to the opposition.
I couldn't agree more with you.
In fact, I was virtually the only one in other blogs I posted who defend OUR TEAM.
It's so right that our biggest opponents are ourselves.
Last year we lost the league because ourselves, we just blew it away like a feather. It's not that Man U and Chelsea were BETTER than us, it's kinda like the 2002-2003 season when Wenger denied Man U were better than us.
And this year's squad is virtually the same, plus the youngsters are more experienced. Losing that greedy French midfielder was not due to Wenger, what can you do when he wants to leave so much. Hleb? Nasri has shown already that he can do better than Hleb at giving us goals. Gilberto and Senderos? Please, people are complaining why Wenger let them go while these SAME people complained about their performances when they played for us in the last couple of years.
IN WENGER I TRUST, he won't dissapoint us too much that we can't be patient.
Great post BTW.
PS: Gunners who said we won't be in the top 4 need to go back and look at themselves, maybe you ought ta watch season reviews for the past 12 years under Wenger.