Artlee Mhlanga
A season that had, until now, presented the possibility of silverware on four fronts has, in two weeks, been reduced to one fading shot at the Premier League. Arsenal FC is in crisis. With an ever growing list of first choice players on the treatment table, the probability of the season ending trophy-less, again, is all too real. Add to this a squad that is devoid of confidence and in desperate need of a Herculean morale boost from their manager and you have a club in crisis.
The picture across the road at White Hart Lane is one that will halt the blood flow of any Arsenal supporter looking on. Tottenham’s Champions league run is no longer an ‘adventure’ but has now materialised to a credible European challenge. Spirits are high for Spurs and the rivalry that has been dominated by Arsenal looks to be slowly shifting in power. Disgruntled fans have endured enough disappointments over the years and the reality of Tottenham becoming the dominating team in North London would be too disheartening for even the most loyal of fans. Tottenham are in the ascendancy and Arsenal are, well, same old Arsenal.
During the time that Arsenal have endured their silverware drought, both teams have reached the final of the Carling Cup twice. The difference is, Spurs have won it once, a feat Arsenal failed to achieve. After years and years of loitering around the top four teams in England, Tottenham is the team that has shown real progression and development. Wenger’s Arsenal side have on occasion threatened to dominate the Premier League but faltered at every opportunity.
So what has Wenger done wrong? As a manager the Frenchman’s steadfast belief in his philosophy is a signal of his commitment to developing young talent. Development is a process and this process is one that has taken six years and counting to come to fruition. In modern football big spending does get you results. Manchester City has spent an unprecedented amount on players which in turn has catapulted them to within seven points of the Premier League leaders. Wenger’s refusal of buying any big name players has left his team consistently underperforming on the big stage. Add a fragile, injury prone squad with no outstanding leaders then you have a talented squad that threatens but never performs.
The Premiership is now the only real means of achieving any kind of glory this season. After a horrific last minute mistake in a cup final. A disappointing performance against ‘the best club side in the world’ and an equally disappointing performance against a depleted Manchester United side. Arsenal will have their fair share of doubters about their ability to win anything at all.
(Ed’s note – We get no enjoyment here at The Gooner by running articles that are not positive, but we run what is submitted to us, and we also will not bury our heads in the sand. I think it should be remembered by those that still believe in Arsene Wenger as the best man to take the club forward that those who point out areas where they think he has got it wrong do so because they want the best for the club. I think the vast majority of those who have criticised the manager and the players hope that they prove us wrong by winning the title. However, it is not only Arsenal fans that can see the faults. There have been excellent pieces since Saturday by The Telegraph’s Jim White and The Guardian’s Kevin McCarra that are well worth reading.)
