This piece is the second of two which form an end-of-season review, (part 1 posted yesterday) in which I seek to consider articles which I have posted in the last year, rather than to relive the highs and all too frequent lows. As previously explained, the focus is partly to formulate closure and partly to consider the likelihood of yet another repeat in the coming months – highlighting, in doing so, apparent portents at time of writing and hoping that positive change will negate my fears. The review has to date comprised extracts and comment on successive pieces and, for simplicity, I shall retain the format .

So, Monsieur, do you still have the prettiest wife at home? (9 November 2010)
The title referenced a famous jibe aimed at Alex Ferguson, following his appraisal of our Double success in 1998. Unfortunately, it could also have been used to address more than a handful of home performances last term. As it happens, it was also at a time when allegations were being made about Arsène Wenger’s personal life.

For the avoidance of doubt, I must reiterate my contempt for a particular song regularly featuring at Old Trafford and somewhat nearer to home. That said, whilst I have no intention of surmising upon the veracity of rumours carried in the national press, I feel certain that they did extensive damage. Having traded upon a diminishing reputation for integrity, I question whether the manager lost the respect of his players during that episode – and perhaps beyond the dressing room.

At a time when morale was low, Arsène Wenger appeared to concede his self- proclaimed mandate of morality. Coupled with a track record of unfulfilled assurances and increasingly irascible behaviour, whether the stories were true or not, it would be human to expect that they would have had a considerable impact on the manager’s focus. Whether this translated to the team, it is hard to say – but the performance at Wembley was typical of a lack of drive that was all too apparent last season.

With that in mind, I am forced to stand by what I said at the time:

“Arsène Wenger is not going to win trophies without spending money, whatever his ideologies. I do not mean bringing the Club to the brink of financial meltdown, rather sensible investment. I have said this before and I am not alone in thinking it. He also needs to share the burden of coaching – which means relinquishing some control. Herein lies the problem – and this will not be solved until he admits that, defensively at least, we are not good enough.”

Inacceptable - une fois de plus: literally translated, “Unacceptable – one time too many” (22 November 2010)
“Following the debacle against Spurs, we have now lost three of our last five home games. Going into the game as the recent form side in the country, at two-nil up, we confirmed what was already obvious: this team cannot learn from its mistakes.

Arsenal purport to be among the elite of Europe. Our neighbours aspire to join the party on a regular basis. Truly, both are missing the point. At the business end of the Champions League, the North London contingency will surely be routinely dismissed.

We should heed the warnings that Spurs have given – both on Saturday and also in showing us how a team in continual flux can drift into obscurity. It has taken two decades for them to reverse that trend to any degree at all. We must be careful and not complacent enough to allow the barren period to extend into normality. To do that, lessons must be learned and deficiencies admitted and addressed.”

“… There seems to be an individual and collective reluctance to accept responsibility and prevent repeated basic errors. Performances like this belie the notion that this team has the consistency to win major honours. There are flaws which Arsène Wenger refuses to address.”

'Tis the season to be jolly (25 December 2010)
“…Perhaps unsurprisingly, Arsène Wenger waited until we topped the table before pronouncing that no money would be spent in January… unless anyone leaves. Given the wage bill, commensurate with other top sides, but dissimilar in every other respect, this seems entirely possible. I have previously proven, were proof needed, that there is usually a surplus of sales over purchases…”

“Adding some perspective, Arsène Wenger and the Board have achieved minor miracles in pioneering the move to the new stadium and raising the bar at Arsenal. However, there is no point in reaching for the stars if you are not prepared to fly. Having made the transition, the Club now needs to move forward, or risk falling behind. I do believe that it is possible, but not without a surrender of stubbornly-held doctrine and sensible investment.”

Yorkshire Puddings? (11 January 2011)
“The negatives will give the Tractor Boys hope, even if West Ham could reasonably expect to face a far stronger Arsenal selection. I thought that we defended far too high a line to accommodate Squillaci's lack of pace and looked in danger from the breakaway. What Leeds offered was the extent of their capability – two banks of four and a committed work ethic. That is not to say that they did not have chances to win the game, but if they ultimately replace Wigan Athletic in the Premier League, I would imagine that Roberto Martinez might have some advice for Simon Grayson before facing Arsenal.”

To summarise, I suggested that Arsenal were dreadful against Leeds United in the FA Cup and should have dismissed them at the first time of asking. This provoked a number of responses from the West Yorkshire contingent – many pointing out, quite rightly, that I had badly misread the tactical formation. Hands up, the detractors were right to that extent – although suggestions that Leeds United would be promoted and beat Arsenal next season were proven equally misled.

There were a number of replays last season, which I maintain could have been avoided and which added games to a busy period. I am not suggesting that we deserved to win the drawn games – in some cases, we were lucky to survive. Whilst there are occasions when I agree that youngsters should be able to cut their teeth, I still think that playing the strongest available starting XI and securing the game, rather than occasioning a frantic last 10 minutes, is highly preferable.

Yorkshire Puddings? – A Second Helping (24 January 2011)
“The last few games have mapped the highs and lows where such accusations have been levelled. We now head towards the business end of the season with the team still personifying the very essence of Jekyll and Hyde. Here’s hoping the incentives of winners’ medals at Wembley and Champions League football are sufficient to engender focus for the remainder. Should Arsène Wenger be prepared to add some proven quality to the squad prior to the end of January, so much the better.”

Dancing to the officials’ Toon (7 February 2011)
“The Manchester United “Invincibles” faltered in the late kick-off. Whilst I still think that they will win the title, I had no doubt that they would lose at least once in doing so. Moreover, there was a suspicion that it would be against a team less fancied to shatter the dreams of The Cockney Reds and large sections of the media. Although the defeat serves to underline the enormity of the achievement in 2004, I wonder how Ferguson’s men will react to this setback. Wenger allowed his charges to sulk for an age; whatever the arguments following Mr. Riley’s officiating during that 2–0 reverse at Old Trafford. I do not anticipate a similar reaction by United and therein lies possibly the most telling difference between the mentalities of the two camps.” “Football can be cruel: Newcastle United helped to reaffirm that. It can also be horribly ironic. Obafemi Martins went through a period when he was constantly linked with Arsenal. Now, he has the chance to show us what we might have missed.”

United won the title because they wanted it the most and in so doing deserved to succeed. Obafemi Martins’ winner at Wembley was gift-wrapped to the extent that Mrs TFG might have netted given a similar opportunity – it revealed far more about our ability to fail than it might have about his marksmanship. If Danny Baker was at a loose end, he could have compiled a DVD featuring defensive howlers taken from our end-of-season offering.

Where do we go from here? (28 February 2011)
“On this performance, Manchester United and Barcelona will be quietly concerning themselves with whom they might face in the latter stages of the respective competitions. In a two-week period during which crucial games require favourable outcomes, not all of which are in our control, this was the worst possible start.”

“If it transpires that he needs to make significant changes, then I hope that Arsène Wenger is realistic enough and shows sufficient humility to do so. Somewhere between the positions of the so called AKBs and AMGs resides the reality of this situation. We need to reward our best players and backroom staff, including the likes of Steve Rowley, without extending the same benefits to those who may be less deserving. There are sufficient challenges looming to separate the chaff from the wheat and for those involved to work themselves into the future of this Club.”