To be perfectly honest, I didn't fancy our chances before the game at Whitehart Lane before the game. I looked at our team for the day and on paper, compared to Tottenham, I thought, "How did we get here?"
You see, up until a few seasons ago, Tottenham never struck any fear in my heart whenever we faced them. Lately, I get the jitters before any game. Gone are the days when the Arsenal team struct fear in the hearts and boots of opponents before the ball was kicked.
When the game kicked off, I thought we did ok but the longer it went, I couldnt see us getting a point. Our defenders played well, its just the players ahead of them who were not helping. If you have as poor a midifeld and attacking performance display as ours on Sunday, your defence will struggle.
Midfield is our weakness
Aaron Ramsey had an absolute stinker of a match. apart from the goal he scored, he couldnt get anything done right throughout the whole match. I thought he would be substituted at half time. He gave the ball away carelessly, even when he wasnt under pressure. Thus was disrupting our momentum and cohesion. It was also leading to spates of counter-attacks by Tottenham when he gave the ball away.
Mikel Arteta is really worrying me. He is ok. And thats all. We need something more than OK. Abou Diaby, on his day, is a far better midfielder than Arteta. And at his age, is there really any room for improvement? I doubt.
Coquelin played very well, he broke up several attacks, won the ball cleanly and gave it to the players who are supposed to attack. They failed dismally.
Our attacking play is stale
We have become all too predictable. We lack penetration and proper wing play. We lack speed and movement in the final third. Gervinho and Theo didn't do enough for me on the wings. They didnt run and make crosses, they didn't run the channels. Instead we were constricted inwards thus reducing our threat on the wings. Gervinho missed a sitter in the first half. Theo fired a couple of shots wide. when your attacking players are on such poor form at this level, you know you are screwed. Van Persie was absent for long spells, isolated and failing to drop deep to influence the game.
Arshavin seems to be to us what Hleb is to Barcelona. So much promise but nothing really doing.
The manager can't get the best out of the team
The most worrying thing for me is that our squad quality is not that bad. But the fact that the manager is failing to get the best out of the massive potential we have. That we cannot adapt our tactics to conquer our opponents. It was clear Ramsey was having a bad day yesterday. Why didnt Benayoun get a chance earlier? perhaps our midfield might have played a bit better with him and Arteta on the day. Van Persie, Theo and Gervinho should have dropped deeper to help more seeing as our midfield was struggling terribly on the day.
There is a mental frailty in this team
With 20 minutes left to play, a goal down and we didnt pepper their goal with shots nor crosses. Mertesacker went upfield in a attempt to do a Chris Samba in the final minutes of the game, but we still played side-ways tippy-tappy on the centre circle. Nobody taking responsibility by driving the ball forwards, every player taking to easy option of making a 10 yard pass when a more direct route was necessary.
That shows that there is a fundamental mental weakness in this team. That can only be changed by the manager and his coaching staff.
We are still failing to turn that proverbial corner, instead we keep on the same straight. I'm sure when the league resumes in 2 weeks time, we shall once again be told that our season starts "now".
We are fighting relegation
Unfortunately, the season started 7 games ago. We are averaging 1 point per game. Thats relegation standard. Does Arsene still know? He said we played with the handbrake on. Well Arsene, take the fucking handbrake off the team. Only you know what and where that handbrake is. You put it there so take it the fuck off.
We are fighting relegation this season.
I am now counting the months before Robin Van Persie leaves Arsenal.
I really want to believe that Arsene is the man to take the club forward, but I hate that niggly feeling I keep getting telling me that, sadly, he may have taken the club as far as he can go.
Until then, I continue to languish in the love I have for my Arsenal.
Tick... tock... tick... tock... Mr. Arsene Wenger....
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