Last season at Old Trafford and Milan showed what kind of level this team can play at. Last week against Hull we played at 20% of that tempo. It is just not good enough

I feel like I have so much to say today that I almost do not know where to start.

First of all I want to point out the reason for our awful inconsistency is not down to lack of summer signings in my opinion. It is down to a few factors.

Those factors are attitude, commitment and desire. All those are linked together and it is something that will need to be sorted out if we are to win trophies.

My biggest issue was the change of formation and personnel and those decisions are down to our manager. Arsene Wenger has always spoken about offensive football, playing with no fear and playing the same way as we do at home.

Blackburn away, Bolton away we played 4-4-2, took the game to them and our quality overpowered them. Arsene is obviously concerned about of defence and dealing with aerial balls so he wanted to counter that with the inclusion of Alex Song which is understandable but what you do not do is move an inform striker (Van Persie) and place him in a position where he cannot perform. Van Persie on the left effects Clichy’s game who is a major part of our attacking game.

Unless Nasri had an injury problem that we do not know about then starting him on the bench is a clear mistake. Samir Nasri is not David Ginola. Nasri tracks his runners, he tackles he hussies. Why leave out one of our most creative players who gives the team balance? Why mess around with a team that wins 4-0 against Porto?

Ok, Arsene chooses this system and after 45 minutes it is clear that we are not creating many chances. we have most of the ball and Sunderland are not really that threatening. Why not make an early tactical change? I do not understand Arsene’s refusal to change things until we go behind.

The tempo was once again too slow, the passing was pedestrian and was all infront of Sunderland. This didn’t change until Sunderland scored the opening goal of the game. Why? Although the team is different, I think back to the first 20 minutes against Barcelona in the final of the Champions League. We started like a team possessed. Barcelona didn’t know what hit them and I was astonished by the aggression in our football, quick, decisive and sharp and I wondered why we didn’t do that more during the season

Last season at Old Trafford and Milan showed what kind of level this team can play at. Last week against Hull we played at 20% of that tempo. It is just not good enough.

I watched the Blackburn vs Manchester United match after the Arsenal game and saw quite clearly what it is that we lack. Man for man we have more than enough in terms of talent on the pitch and even on the bench. The difference is, no matter what the opposition Manchester United close opposition players down in packs, they are hungry to get the ball back and when they attack they attack to score. Waves and waves of sharp forward passing and it feels like it is only a matter of time before Manchester United score. Arsenal play to make combinations. We pass it sideways much more and with less urgency. When it comes off like at Bolton it looks wonderful when it doesn’t it looks unnecessary.

A new central midfielder would not have changed the results. The correct attitude would have seen us unbeaten on top of the league so far.

The league title is not over, there is such a long way to go, Manchester United are still behind us (albeit with a game in hand) so we know there is plenty of football to come but if we do not change our approach to matches, whether it is the players or the manager then we can kiss goodbye to the 2008/2009 season. Talent is not enough to win football matches.

That is it from a rather disgruntled Gooner. Back tomorrow.

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