Pradeep Kachhala
Trips to the Reebok throughout Premier League history have always been tough affairs. Perhaps the most disappointing result was in 2003, when we let slip a two-goal lead and went on a downward spiral from which we never quite recovered that season. The draw was our first of 2012 and indicates the relative decline of the squad since our heady days in the early noughties. Twelve points behind the Spuds and five behind Chelsea, with Newcastle back up there and Liverpool showing some form; it is actually beginning to feel like the mid '90s again...
The Manager has stated that every game should now be treated as a cup game, which, judging by Sunday, means we give the opposition a two-goal lead before we wake up. It was probably the first time I can remember where, after coming back from a two-goal deficit, I wasn't wildly celebrating. I have quite simply lost faith in the management and training staff and, as stated in my previous article, we will learn nothing about the team at the end of the season that we don’t know already. Regardless of whether we finish fourth or not, changes must take place in the summer.
At least some of our full-backs are returning to fitness, Sagna has been missed, while Gibbs needs to play the remaining 15 games of the season without getting injured before I can make a judgment on him. However, I do feel that a change of tactics was required when all of our full–backs were injured. Consider the benefits of playing a 3-5-2 formation. It would have allowed Vermalen, Mertersacker and Koscielny to occupy the defence (with Djourou and Miguel as the back-ups), while, on the left and right flanks, Walcott and Chamberlain could have used their pace and adapted their game slightly. However this would require defensive coaching and a tactical nous which is not evident at the moment.
Jack Wilshire played 50 games last season, while Wenger at the same time stated that we "kill" our younger players and they suffer from burn-out if overplayed...is it any wonder he has missed the entire season? Aaron Ramsey is another example of a player the boss described as being in the "red zone", yet he has already played 31 games this season and, in all likelihood, will reach 50...please don't be surprised when:
a) Wenger complains of him playing at the Olympics
b) He is injured for the rest of next season
c) Wenger points to a) next season as to the reason why he is absent.
It made my mind boggle when he sent Frimpong out on loan now...why not rest Ramsey and play Song alongside Frimpong and give Arteta the licence to roam forward? Yet more evidence to support the belief that ANLKB (see my previous article for explanation of acronym).
Apparently there will be squad rotation on Saturday versus Blackburn, which means that RVP and Ramsey will be rested and we will have the pleasure of watching Arshavin trawling around the pitch.
Seriously - and this is point two of ANLKB - how did we sign the best player of the 2008 Euros, and make him look like Gus Ceaser? I would like him to leave, not because I don't admire him, but just so he can go to a club where he would be able to play in his best position (through the middle) and make an impact in the latter stages of his career.
Anyway, as negative as I have been in the past few weeks, with AC Milan, Spurs and Liverpool to come, the club needs our fans - so black bin bags are a funny idea but at this stage let’s unite behind the team, regardless of its flaws, and see how far it takes us
