As the title suggest, there have been a few positives in the past weeks that we tend to overlook based on the overall context of our terrible results. We are in the middle of our worst start in the Premier League and we are being lambasted, rightfully so, from all around us. However, there are some things in each match that I have tried to latch on too in order to keep my hopes

As the title suggest, there have been a few positives in the past weeks that we tend to overlook based on the overall context of our terrible results. We are in the middle of our worst start in the Premier League and we are being lambasted, rightfully so, from all around us. However, there are some things in each match that I have tried to latch on too in order to keep my hopes up for the season. We know that we are no longer serious title contenders, but we can still fight for 4^th and hopefully win a domestic trophy. Let’s go through each match so far and pick out the positives, beginning at the start.

Newcastle Away: We started well, with Gervinho impressing even though his final ball let him and us down a few times. Koscielny and Vermaelen were dominant at the back and didn’t let Newcastle have a sniff of goal. This result looks even better now, considering Newcastle are unbeaten and look to have turned a corner from last year. Unfortunately, we didn’t break them down and win the match, but we could and should have had a penalty for the Gervinho incident, which would have given us a very credible 1-0 victory.

Udinese Home: We started quite well again. Walcott’s goal was a welcome relief and settled us down a little, although we did not do much attacking after it. However, the defensive performance was certainly one to acknowledge. Di Natale is a difficult man to keep quiet, but our defense did just that, albeit with some help from Szczesny and the woodwork. We defended strongly and resolutely and could have even made it more comfortable if not for Handanovic’s wonder save from Theo at the end of the match.

Liverpool Home: With a depleted line-up, we held Liverpool quiet, giving them only a couple half-chances. Miquel was forced to come on and impressed, while Frimpong was dogged in the midfield. Van Persie might have scored early in the second half, but the defending on our part was solid right up to the sending off. After that, it was inevitable that the weakened side we had would concede, and we did.

Udinese Away: Probably our best performance of the season, although Di Natale did give us a torrid time in the first half. However, Rosicky came on to replace Frimpong and took over the midfield, playing like the player he was back in 2006. Gervinho was absolutely brilliant, Theo got into great positions and, although he was wasteful at times, finished off the game when he got the opportunity. Van Persie took his goal well, and the increasingly outstanding Szczesny saved a penalty from Di Natale.

Man Utd Away: Well…Umm…It was a weakened squad. I guess that was a positive. Coquelin looked decent too. Ok, I’m stretching here, but we won’t see anything like that squad again this season outside of the Carling Cup.

Swansea Home: What is that phrase that everyone uses when Man Utd win without playing well? Something about that proving why they are champions. Well I, for one, was absolutely delighted that we won on a day when we didn’t play well. For years we have been dominating games and losing. It is nice to be able to not play up to our abilities and still get the three points. We scored a lucky goal, although it was great finish by Arshavin, who is another positive of the season so far. He looks like he is getting back to the form he was in when we bought him. Additionally, it was crucial to get a clean sheet, and we did that. I was pleasantly surprised with how happy I was with the result.

Dortmund Away: Excepting the first 15 minutes, we did very well defensively. Mertesacker and Koscielny played well together and kept an immensely talented line-up away from Szczesny (for the most part). We scored a goal that pundits would still be talking about if it were Barcelona. Van Persie winning the ball back in midfield then spinning off to receive Theo’s perfect through ball and finish confidently with his chocolate leg. Other positives in the match were Szczesny’s poise and composure, as well as Benayoun’s tremendous work ethic off of the ball and Gervinho’s willingness to run at defenders.

Blackburn Away: In the first half, we were immense going forward. Songinho played some tremendous passes, Ramsey was a willing runner in behind, Gervinho was up to his usual trickery and produced a composed finish, Arteta was everywhere and wanted the ball all the time. Arshavin showed some bursts of pace that we had all forgotten about as well. Since this is the positives, I won’t mention any defending, but we looked much better before Sagna went off injured. Sagna is truly magnificent and I know he gets all sorts of praise, but I think he is still underrated. We can see today how much we missed him when he went off. I pray its not a bad injury. Additionally, it was good to see Chamakh get himself a center forward’s goal and, while he missed one, also had a great touch back across goal that was cleared away before RvP could get to it.

Wilshere will come back. Vermaelen will come back. Even Diaby coming back will be a boost for us, because when he plays well, we play well. We have one of the best, if not the best, young goalkeeper in Europe. Arshavin looks in good form. Gervinho looks to be quite an astute signing. Arteta has settled in well in midfield. Van Persie has been scoring goals. All of these things should make Arsenal fans feel better, even if it doesn’t make you feel completely happy.

It’s obvious that I haven’t mentioned a few things in this write-up, but I have chosen not to mention them. I haven’t forgotten our woeful defending against Man Utd, I haven’t forgotten our lack of penetration against Swansea, etc. I am choosing to look just at the positives that we have seen this season, because that is what we have come to so far. We need a pick-me-up, and it won’t come from Shrewsbury on Tuesday because we are supposed to win, so if we do, it won’t be a big deal. This is why I am writing this, to attempt to make myself, and anyone who reads this, feel just a little bit better. We have Bolton at home next weekend and that is when we can start turning this around. I hope that this can hold you over until that time comes though.

TB Gooner

Follow me on Twitter: @TB_Gooner

Mean Lean’s Response

Thank you TB Gooner,

Nice to see that some people are not just swimming in negativity right now, as difficult as that may well be. The thing is there has been plenty of positive signs this season in both attack and defence but unfortunately it has not clicked at the same time and that has been a problem.

When we have had most of players available from injury and suspension, including the new faces, we have looked pretty strong defensively. It wasn’t very long ago where we have been talking about the improvement of our defending. Szczesny has looked commanding, Vermaelen has been a rock and Koscielny had hardly put a foot wrong until Blackburn at Ewood park. It has been going forward that we have not looked ourselves. We have seen bits and pieces against Udinese but apart from that we have not looked anywhere as dangerous as we should until Saturday.

We looked very bright going forward and created more than enough chances to have scored four or five goals but for some reason our improvement going forward had seen a massive drop defensively.

A team that is poor and awful defensively could not put in a showing that we saw in Germany. No way, no how. We were battered for long periods and we defended as a team wonderfully well. The quality of defender is not the problem but we have a spectacular ability to shoot ourselves in the foot at any given time and that needs to be fixed.

For whatever reason we were not able to afford the time to blood Mertesacker and Santos during the pre season and who knows, if that had happened then maybe we would not be in this mess. Whoever’s fault that is isn’t that important right now. What is important is that we are in this position today and these new players, especially at the back have to bed in quickly. Mass changes take time and we have changes all over the pitch. Mertesacker, Santos, Arteta and Gervinho will all have to adapt to either playing for Arsenal and the rest minus Arteta have to adjust to the Premier League.

Wenger has said several times that changing more than two players is a technical risk and we could well be paying for that today. If we can get our defensive game consistently as it was against Dortmund and offensively how we played at Blackburn in the first 45 minutes then I think we really have the makings of a good team, if these teething problems do not go away then we could be in trouble but I cannot see a squad with this quality continuing to lose the way they did at Blackburn at least not every week.