It was supposed to be the match that kick started Arsenals mid-season push but it turned out to be nothing less than a bitter reality check. Before the match the Black Scarf Movements walk had shown that there was clear unrest among-st the Faithful and this was the match that was supposed to quiet the groans. But by the final whistle, the pressure had only been mounted on the players, the management and the board. The draw away to Villa was now a better result than Saturdays, such was the magnitude of the defeat. I had prophesied before that the game would be one of possession and passing and it turned out to be exactly that.
Sadly though only one team turned up and it was the away team. They simply dominated the first half and both teams went in level at the break thanks to Szczesny who made a pair of double saves, giving Wenger a reason to keep Mannone on the bench. But the start of the second half was one of false hope as Arsenal dominated and pressed Swansea down to their D and looked very likely to break the dead-lock. Shots were taken but were saved with ease by Vorms stand in Tremmel as most of them were from outside the box and straight at him. Swansea saw away the Arsenal pressure and nicked it at the end with Michu pouncing on 2 individual errors(Vermaelen & Jenkinson) and dispatching them with ease.
It’s not that Swansea did the Barcelona and outplayed us completely, it’s not that we couldn’t conjure up a single attacking threat throughout the game, it’s not that we didn’t put in an effort. It’s just that fatigue is taking its course on the midfield and our forwards are being stranded upfront. Podolski was invisible, Walcott was wasteful and Gervinho really didn’t look like he was going to be effective. Giroud and Oxlade came on and with them brought some hope but again, they couldn’t do much with the tiring midfield supposed to feed them from behind.
If I were Wenger, I would’ve rested Arteta and started Coquelin to break Swanseas flow in midfield. That would’ve allowed Wilshere more freedom up-front with Cazorla. That might have prevented the late goals from Michu aswell as we would’ve had an extra man in defense. But the match is history now and we must learn from our mistakes and look to the next game, no matter how crushing that loss was.
Naturally I would complain about the things blatantly wrong with Arsenals performance but strangely I can’t seem to make out any of them. One look at the personnel and they look like one of the best Starting XI’s in world football. But on the pitch they are just not gelling. The past Arsenal sides were known for their chemistry and team-play but this side is not working together at all. We don’t look penetrative in the final third and are missing that spark in midfield.
Complacency and inconsistency are what this side reek off. It’s been 15 games now so the ‘new signings not being accustomed to their new environment excuse’ cannot be waved around anymore. Jack’s back, Santi is happy leading the line, Rosicky is fit and showed it, so what seems to be the problem?
The problem ladies and gentlemen is of our midfield general being Abou Diaby and well we all know about his fitness. Wenger was naive enough to think that Diaby was past his injury problems and chose to take a gamble with his fitness, the same gamble that had worked wonders with RVP last season. Til the game with Chelsea, all was going well, we were undefeated, hadn’t conceded many in the league and seemed to have found a balance in our play. But that game changed everything as Diaby limped off with an injury. The result was that Chelsea out played us through their midfield at our own turf and won the game. Since then the results and performances have gone down the drain(par the away trip to West Ham). I’m glad the January window is only a 4 weeks away and even though there are 7 more matches left before the start of the Transfer Window, I still believe we have enough in this side to see us through this month.
The first thing I want Wenger to do is to find a replacement for Diaby(M’Vila). Diaby simply can’t be relied upon and our Spanish-Duo are looking fatigued and worn out. Before his injury, Diaby handled most of the physical work and shared the defensive burden with Arteta. Simultaneously his technicality and long-legged rampaging ability made him a match made in heaven for Cazorla and Arsenals attacks had a brilliant flow to them. Without him the two Spaniards have too much to do and Jack cannot do Diabys job because he is not that kind of player. In order for a player like Jack to perform to the best of his abilities, a Vieira like player has to anchor the midfield and we don’t have that in Arteta.
Secondly Giroud has way too much to do up alone and the burden on him will increase drastically as Gervinho and Chamakh leave for the African Cup. Adrian and Huntelaar look like potential match winners for Arsenal and we must do whatever it takes to get them both.
Our next match is away to Olympiakos on Tuesday and since we have already qualified and Schalke don’t look like they’d slip up and hand us 1st place in the group, we should be happy with what we have and are expected to play a second string side. There is no need to risk injury and this would bring a welcome rest for the fatigued first teamers. The youngsters will be given a run-out and the likes of Eisfeld and Gnarby(whom Wenger claimed would be given 1st team opportunities this season) have a chance to shine and produce a shock in the Champions League.
Other than that our Chairman Mr.Peter Hill-Wood experienced a heart attack on Friday and I wish him the speediest of recoveries.
Until then, good day and KEEP THE FAITH.
thewengerfanarsenalman 