I don't know if I'm really sad or disapointed at the result of yesterday's game. But I think I am more relieved than anything else. Relieved because I can live with losing 2 nil at home with 10 men for 80 minutes than losing 2 nil at home with 11 men.
I know it's strange, but I didn't fancy our chances in this game even with 11 men. Yes, we played very well (especially Jack Wilshere!) in the second half, but I think it was because we had now pressure on us at this stage of the game. We know we had lost the game by half time so we could just have a go at City and hope for the best. So indeed, losing Koscielny in the 10th Minute for a rugby tackle in the penalty box gave us an excuse.
A lot of fans think the referee was not fair. I disagree. He applied the letter of the law to the situation; if that had happened at the other end of the pitch, we would have all wanted to see a red card brandished. Even Manchester United fans were of the opinion that Arsenal were mistreated by the referee. Please! The only reason why Manchester United fans would sympathise with Arsenal was simply because they wanted Arsenal to help them open up a 10 point lead at the top of the League Table.
Besides the referee's best efforts to even out the match by red- carding Kompany for a tackle which at most should have been a yellow card, we failed to get on the score sheet. We created enough chances to atleast score two goals but we equally survived several attacks on our goal which could have made the result even worse. In as far as that loss goes, we can only look at ourselves. When it comes to the big games, we choke. We choked in the Champions League Final in 2006, we choked in the Carling Cup final in 2010, we always seem to choke up in the big pressure games these days. Our big players are nowhere to be seen when it matters. Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott for me could and should have done better. That a 20 year old Jack Wilshere was the sole combatant in the team says a lot about the courage and application of the so-called star names.
I maintain that our problems are a combination of poor coaching and lack of quality/squad depth. Arsene Wenger said we lacked authority and did not impose ourselves early on in this game. I wonder if the problem could be team psychology and application? Isn't that the sole preserve of the coaching staff?
It's also telling that Arsene Wenger didn't have a go at the referee for the decision, it is an acknowledgement on this part that the decision was correct from the referee. That we could not regroup and tighten up atleast for the first half is again a problem of coaching and organisation. We gave away 2 easy goals which not only killed our spirit but ended the tie as a contest effectively. That we rushed Abou Diaby back from injury after 3 months out also tells it's own story. Why didn't Ramsey start in midfield? under the circumstances, surely he is a better bet than Diaby?
Now, Arsene says it's difficult to find good quality players in January to strengthen the squad. That's exactly the same thing he says in the summer; that he is looking for super super quality, only to buy an average player - if at all he actually spends money.
Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby are good players but with their injury records they would not be getting a sniff at most of the big clubs around Europe. Diaby I would keep as a squad player because he is still relatively young and may just come good one day and play 3- 4 good seasons in his career before he has to either retire or drop to the lower leagues. Rosicky on the other hand....
Andre Arshavin is a waste of squad space. ABG is thankfully away with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. It is very clear that we need signings in midfield and attack. I think that currently we need atleast 5 good players to really kick some life back into this team. We seriously lack a threat in attack and in wide midfield positions. If we do not buy players we shall continue to win in patches but continue to drop into mid-table mediocrity.
There was a time when Arsenal losing was the exception to the rule. these days, winning is the exception and drawing is the norm. Where is our club going? If there is money to spend, why do we not spend it? Isn't there any decent player we can sign from anywhere? Germany? Spain? France? Russia? Belgium? Brazil? Argentina? Egypt? Japan? Uruguay? Portugal....?
I refuse to believe that there are no players out there who we can afford and who can add something to this squad. If our scouting network is failing, then I hereby offer my services.
Come on Arsenal: Spend Some Fucking Money!
I know it's strange, but I didn't fancy our chances in this game even with 11 men. Yes, we played very well (especially Jack Wilshere!) in the second half, but I think it was because we had now pressure on us at this stage of the game. We know we had lost the game by half time so we could just have a go at City and hope for the best. So indeed, losing Koscielny in the 10th Minute for a rugby tackle in the penalty box gave us an excuse.
A lot of fans think the referee was not fair. I disagree. He applied the letter of the law to the situation; if that had happened at the other end of the pitch, we would have all wanted to see a red card brandished. Even Manchester United fans were of the opinion that Arsenal were mistreated by the referee. Please! The only reason why Manchester United fans would sympathise with Arsenal was simply because they wanted Arsenal to help them open up a 10 point lead at the top of the League Table.
Besides the referee's best efforts to even out the match by red- carding Kompany for a tackle which at most should have been a yellow card, we failed to get on the score sheet. We created enough chances to atleast score two goals but we equally survived several attacks on our goal which could have made the result even worse. In as far as that loss goes, we can only look at ourselves. When it comes to the big games, we choke. We choked in the Champions League Final in 2006, we choked in the Carling Cup final in 2010, we always seem to choke up in the big pressure games these days. Our big players are nowhere to be seen when it matters. Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott for me could and should have done better. That a 20 year old Jack Wilshere was the sole combatant in the team says a lot about the courage and application of the so-called star names.
I maintain that our problems are a combination of poor coaching and lack of quality/squad depth. Arsene Wenger said we lacked authority and did not impose ourselves early on in this game. I wonder if the problem could be team psychology and application? Isn't that the sole preserve of the coaching staff?
It's also telling that Arsene Wenger didn't have a go at the referee for the decision, it is an acknowledgement on this part that the decision was correct from the referee. That we could not regroup and tighten up atleast for the first half is again a problem of coaching and organisation. We gave away 2 easy goals which not only killed our spirit but ended the tie as a contest effectively. That we rushed Abou Diaby back from injury after 3 months out also tells it's own story. Why didn't Ramsey start in midfield? under the circumstances, surely he is a better bet than Diaby?
Now, Arsene says it's difficult to find good quality players in January to strengthen the squad. That's exactly the same thing he says in the summer; that he is looking for super super quality, only to buy an average player - if at all he actually spends money.
Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby are good players but with their injury records they would not be getting a sniff at most of the big clubs around Europe. Diaby I would keep as a squad player because he is still relatively young and may just come good one day and play 3- 4 good seasons in his career before he has to either retire or drop to the lower leagues. Rosicky on the other hand....
Andre Arshavin is a waste of squad space. ABG is thankfully away with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. It is very clear that we need signings in midfield and attack. I think that currently we need atleast 5 good players to really kick some life back into this team. We seriously lack a threat in attack and in wide midfield positions. If we do not buy players we shall continue to win in patches but continue to drop into mid-table mediocrity.
There was a time when Arsenal losing was the exception to the rule. these days, winning is the exception and drawing is the norm. Where is our club going? If there is money to spend, why do we not spend it? Isn't there any decent player we can sign from anywhere? Germany? Spain? France? Russia? Belgium? Brazil? Argentina? Egypt? Japan? Uruguay? Portugal....?
I refuse to believe that there are no players out there who we can afford and who can add something to this squad. If our scouting network is failing, then I hereby offer my services.
Come on Arsenal: Spend Some Fucking Money!
No comments:
Post a Comment