DW Thomas
I don’t care If you’re an AKB, an AMG, or somewhere in between. We all must agree: this team just can’t get the job done, again and again. Not against the better teams. And we barely beat the weaker sides. Has the balance of power shifted in North London? I used to think ‘no way, never, would Arsenal be second-best to the Spuds’. But, you can’t argue with the last four results. Three losses, one tie. Unimaginable, even a few years ago. This team has really hit new lows. I try hard to be somewhat positive toward the team, and I will have some good things to say about today’s game, yet – mostly - the state of the club is a shambles right now. I have been saying all year that this season and the team should be judged by the results up to and including the derby today. It is now time.
From the beginning, nothing really clicked and no players showed the heart to make a difference. I am tired of hearing about confidence, and that this team is still a good team. You have to walk the walk if you talk the talk. Both Tottenham goals were from bad defending. Sagna of all people left Van Der Vaart to score, reacting too slowly (definite handball by the way!) and Szczesny made a bad error on Walker’s shot, reminding me of Almunia. The Pole had a great game again, other than the second goal. His point blank save vs. Adebayor showed his consistent class. Yet our lack of defensive effort and of the heart to make a difference, individually and collectively, really is what we should all be upset about as fans. Van Persie is no captain. Neither was Fabregas. Both are great, talented players, but not the type to motivate or stir the spirit to immense effort. No-one on this team has that. Ramsey, the current fill-in for Fabregas with Wilshere out, is simply not good enough. One good Spurs chance came as a result of his failure to track back and stay with his man. Many fans, myself included, wanted him to do well after he broke into the first team before his injury and then after his recovery. Yet his decision-making is slow, he takes too many touches to make a pass, and he lacks creativity. He scored a goal, yes. But his role is to create them. Had Van Der Vaart made any effort to track his man back, there probably would have been no cross coming through for Ramsey’s goal.
Our makeshift defense either miscommunicated or lacked communication the entire game. Set pieces are still a worry. Gibbs did have a better game than usual, but his side was not the one with Gareth Bale. Jenkinson, when he came on, looked like a schoolboy among men. Too slow to keep up with Bale, he was left wanting. Walcott again made no difference and was lost in the shadows. But, is it all his fault? I think not. The man on the ball the most in midfield, Ramsey, does not have the ability or vision to be effective for our upfront or wide men and gives the ball away too often. Coquelin had a great first half, playing like a veteran holding-midfielder and Arteta wasn’t too bad. Yet, the offensive spark is gone. Gervinho missed a golden chance, but we keep seeing the same thing. We do very little in the final third. Missed chances and we lose. Boy, is it depressing. I still find myself watching and looking forward to games, but I don’t really expect us to win anymore. Not against anybody good. At the end, I was hoping we would scrape a draw. Then, I thought about that. Hoping for a draw, against the Spuds. That says it all.
So, where do we go from here? As a fan, I must stay loyal and hope things change. I can’t see any major ones this season, even with January signings. Will Wenger bring in anyone of note? Probably not. He is sitting on millions, yet can’t seem to get it right. His constant bulls**t in press conferences and on the official site is now making me laugh. How can you say your vision is to be the best club in the world after having recently sold your best two players and not replacing them and others? We’re not even close to the best in England. He brought in only stop-gap signings (save Arteta) and we have been beaten by our rivals again and again. That 8-2 score against United sent the message. Today’s result is another loud warning bell. But Wenger really doesn’t get it. Not yet. It’s hard to see that he ever will.
We desperately need our two players with the most heart back: Verm and Jack. Their effort and aggressive natures are sorely missed. From what Gadzidis and Kroenke have said, Wenger will be in charge for seasons to come. Is that really possible? Shouldn’t he be judged on his failures as well as his successes? A great indicator of leadership is admitting your failures and getting help when and where you need it. Great leaders surround themselves with great men, who both push and support them. A sign of failure is saying nothing is wrong and that all is well when Rome burns. These leaders hide what is really happening behind the scenes and don’t change. They don’t see the bright, glowing neon writing on the wall. For us fans, it is unmistakable. Some fans have said we are fighting for our survival. I am starting to agree. And the flames are growing. To rebuild with something worthwhile left, Wenger must put them out soon.
