A win is a win is a win, as they say, but it’s a shame that, despite winning, our games seem so often to exist merely to provoke further discussion about our flaws. Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy about winning, I just think it would be nice to sit down after a win and spend our time enjoying the performance and not just infinitely analysing our seemingly incurable ailments

Good tidings to ye, fair fans of the Arse. Hope you iz all gud, innit.

As I commented on Twitter yesterday, Mondays just feel a whole lot better with an Arsenal win still fresh in the memory. Although I have no doubt that if/when Arsenal begin winning with more regularity the positive buzz on a Monday will diminish and the typical depression will recommence.

Still it’s a sacrifice very much worth making, as I am sure you will all agree.

So then to Sunday. A win, three points and some much needed confidence. You cannot really ask for more. You can, however, beg and pray, and if I were so inclined I would clasp my little handsies together, close my eyes and say:

“Dear anonymous, omnipotent entity,

I have been a good boy all week. I ate all my greens without being asked and I even gave that tramp outside my office a worn Weetabix token that I found in my old jacket so that he could save for the Rudyard Kipling box-set, educate himself in the ways of the English language and escape from the harsh world of homelessness and alcohol abuse that he has fallen into. 

In return all I ask is that you do a spell – or whatever it is that you do – to help my beloved Arsenal refrain from instilling stupid levels of confidence in morally weakened opposition and ensure that they don’t threaten to crumble every time they mis-control a throw-in or discover that their shoelaces aren’t the right colour. 

Thanks,

Wenger Boy”

A win is a win is a win, as they say, but it’s a shame that, despite winning, our games seem so often to exist merely to provoke further discussion about our flaws. Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy about winning, I just think it would be nice to sit down after a win and spend our time enjoying the performance and not just infinitely analysing our seemingly incurable ailments.

One ailment, if you can call it that, stems from our biggest positive of all: Robin van Persie. RvP is so good that at the moment he dramatically eclipses every other player in our attack. 

Gervinho shows glimpses, Walcott shows his man too much of the ball, Arteta shows us his shiny hair and Rosicky will no doubt show us the way to the treatment room once you pat him a little too hard on the back for his good performance. Ramsey has already shown that this might be just a little too early for him and Arshavin, well, you just never know what you’re going to get with him. 

Robin ‘God mk. II’ van Persie shows us the lot on a very consistent basis. Passing, shooting, dribbling and, most notably, scoring. And though his form is an undoubted blessing, our over-reliance on him is undoubtedly not, and this means, sadly, that our biggest plus is also our biggest worry right now.

And not just now but for the foreseeable as well. If we don’t improve the team around him the chances of him leaving increase and the chances of us doing well diminish. That’s a scientific fact (as opposed to those other kinds of facts…er…naval and…um…culinary) and something needs to be done to address this issue pretty sharpish.

If we want Robin’s success to come with Arsenal – and note that Arsenal’s immediate future has little chance of success without Robin – then the key lies in giving him in return exactly what he already gives to us: we need to ensure reliable Robin feels he has others around him he can rely on.

The problem is that this essentially requires something that cannot be guaranteed – better performances from other players. Form is that intangible, mystical quality that can come and go in the blink of an eye, seemingly without rhyme or reason. It usually finds its roots within confidence but even the most consistently confident players can lose form without warning. 

Better players of course are less prone to losing form – or at the very least produce better performances when off-form than others do even with it – but since we cannot just magic up better players we have to rely on those we already have to improve, at least until January. 

We are lucky in some respects as we do have a fair few with the potential to step it up, but also pretty damn unlucky that basically all of them are playing below their capabilities at the same time. Walcott, Arshavin, Gervinho, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Benayoun – all we really need is for two players from this list to pick up some real form and the burden on our captain will become significantly less. Diaby can also make a difference, and Jackie Boy of course, but we can’t really rely on either at this moment in time.

Unfortunately most of the above, even at their peak, are nowhere near Robin’s level – with the exception of perhaps Arshavin – but that’s really no sleight on their abilities whatsoever. RvP is the best striker in the Premiership at the moment and if this form brings him success he could be remembered as one of the best this league has seen. Matching that is always going to be difficult, no matter who you put on the pitch.

But we desperately need players who are consistent and on form to battle alongside our captain. Others who can be trusted to make the necessary step up when Robin himself can’t do it. And if those at the club can’t guarantee that between now and the end of December then I see no other option but to buy, and buy well.

In reality we should really be looking to buy even if others find form because Robin is just too special a talent to waste. His excellent form will mean nothing if the team around him is failing and yet with better players around him we may even find his peak is yet to come.  

But until such time as our team improves the biggest danger will always remain. If we don’t reduce our reliance on Robin we may soon end up with no-one we can rely on at all.

WB

@WengerBoy1