Manchester United and Chelsea are NOT head and shoulders above us. They have found a way of playing us that suits them and has caused us problems. They have taken all the points off us this season and we need to address that
I am very much in a Gooner positive mood this afternoon. I have been thinking about our squad and the stage that they are currently at. We are in very good shape right now and it is lovely to see.
For the last few years I keep hearing that this Gunners squad cannot win anything without experience, they are too young and immature. We need to be more like Chelsea and buy ‘big players’ big players meaning expensive players I assume.
Now I am not saying that those qualities are not necessary (the experience, not the expensive signings) I just think we have plenty of experience players in our ranks. So what happens if we do not win the league this year?
We are likely to have all the usual suspects jumping on the radio and television saying ‘I told you so’ Arsenal do not have the backbone, lack English grit, are not up for the fight etc without looking a little deeper into our position.
With nine games to go we are joint with Chelsea albeit playing a game more. Does that look like a side that cannot win the league? We are better placed and have traditionally finished higher than all the teams we have to face in the remaining fixtures so I do not want to hear any argument that Arsenal are not good enough because the facts and figures will tell you otherwise.
Already we are hearing backpedaling journalists and frothing ex player pundits rehearsing their excuses already. I have read how if Arsenal win the league, it will be because Manchester United and Chelsea have been inconsistent rather than Arsenal being a good side. Wow, can you imagine that being the case if Manchester United sneak it this year? Not on your flipping nelly mate.
When we finished four points off Manchester United in 2007/2008 it was a case of the league table doesn’t lie, United are the best in the country and now it will be won by default. Shove that crap as far up your Arsenal as you can possibly push it, I do not want to be insulted like that.
This is my take on the title race so far.
Manchester United and Chelsea are NOT head and shoulders above us. They have found a way of playing us that suits them and has caused us problems. They have taken all the points off us this season and we need to address that. At Old Trafford we were the better team without a shadow of a doubt, Manchester United fans will tell you that. At the Emirates they produced a masterclass of counter attacking football and we were playing players who had just returned from injury. Not an excuse, just fact.
Chelsea defended superbly at the Emirates, one of the best defensive displays I have seen at our ground and they caught us cold with two defensive mistakes. At Stamford Bridge, we once again dominated the ball and pushed and probed but our defensive shortcomings slapped us in the face again.
We deserved most of those defeats because of our actions not because we were a) out played b) out battled or anything of the sort.
The fact that we are joint with Chelsea and two points behind Manchester United is because WE have been the most consistent side in the rest of the league games. It is that simple. The standard of the Premier League has improved, so more teams can take on the big boys and we happen to be doing better than our rivals against those teams.
I didn’t hear any crying that Manchester United shouldn’t be title winners last year when they were beaten 4-1 at home to their rivals Liverpool and had the worst record against the ‘top four’ compared to the others that year. So why should that apply now?
As you may tell from the tone of my blog today, I am getting a little defensive. All I wish is that we get the same credit for doing the exact same as the other teams.
Back to my original point. We are going toe to toe with Chelsea right now and they have all those ingredients that everyone said we needed, experienced players in their peaks along with big money players. Don’t you think it is utterly fantastic that our players are nowhere near their peaks? With the few exceptions of course. I can list a whole list of players in their very early twenties who have a long road of improving whilst the likes of Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Deco, Nicolas Anelka are looking for the next turn off to park up their run down cars.
Our squad have a long way to go and even if we lose a big player we have plenty of cash reserves and quality players in reserve who are just waiting patiently for a chance just like the collection of first teamers who have risen to the top this season.
I am speaking about the likes of Diaby, Eboue, Song etc.
Four young Englishmen scored for Arsenal over the weekend, a fact that I heard on a few blogs. The Arsenal foreigners line will have to be knocked on its head as behind the eyes of ignorant people we have some of the best British talent in the country.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is one of those players who made an impression over the weekend. He made his debut for Doncaster Rovers and scored a brace and assisting with another. Pretty impressive stuff on his debut and still so young.
Another Jay, Jay Simpson scored for QPR, while the talented Wilshere volleyed in his first for Bolton. We all know about Theo Walcott’s curler into the corner of Burnley’s net. So I would say the future as well as the present looks brighter than bright.
I liked Theo’s comments about his display against Burnley and more in particular Chris Waddle.
Walcott said:
“I heard what has been going on and what he [Waddle] said, but I don’t listen to people on the outside of football. I listen to people around me – the boss [Arsene Wenger], Mr Capello, my family and the people around me. I have got fantastic people who look after me. I am very level headed and keep my feet on the ground.
“The best thing is I do know what’s going on , on the outside, but I don’t listen to it, I only listen to people around me. It’s doesn’t bother me whatsoever – maybe if I keep performing like that it will shut people up.”
Chris Waddle you are irrelevant, you are no longer a player, you mean nothing to our players. His manager and his family are the ones who really matter. There is a reason why pundits and fans are not managers.
Arsene made some interesting observations about Nicklas Bendtner’s performance over the weekend.
Wenger said:
“I was pleased with two things, His overall game was quite good. Of course I’m not pleased he missed his chances. The second thing was the crowd was at a certain point wobbling a bit but then they turned for him and that’s good. If they turned against him, for a striker that causes a problem.
“Maybe what turned it around was that he had that shot on the keeper [after showing great persistence to keep the ball]. It’s true when you are 194 [pounds] like he is you cannot be short and sharp like a smaller player. But he will be a good player.”
We have all heard the question, ‘Why has Arsene reverted from big powerful players from previous years well his answer could well be in that quote.
Having said that, I wouldn’t call Song, Diaby, Bendtner, Van Persie et al small, would you?
I have just read that Cesc Fabregas has missed training ahead of the Porto clash. Like I said yesterday, I think we shouldn’t risk him. A midfield trio of Song, Diaby and Rosicky/Nasri is more than capable of dominating at home against anyone.
If need be, then stick Cesc on the bench hopefully without needing to use him.
Before I go, I would like to offer my apologies to all those who have contacted me or sent in Your Vision articles
Due to the amount of spam that is sent via the site, my email account has now diverted everything into the junk folder, which I avoid looking in because it is erm.. junk. So I have just assumed that no one is giving any love.
I shall be reading through the articles, responding and putting them up in the next few days.
Right, I have to make a move, will have a read at the comments later on and hopefully respond this afternoon.
Back tomorrow.
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