Kevin Whitcher
It’s all about points at this stage of the season, as Arsenal fans know all too well, having experienced a dearth of them when spring is in the air over recent seasons. And yet in spite of the calamitous performances in the cups, Arsene Wenger’s team are racking up the points in the league, as Chelsea and Liverpool are dropping them. Maximum points from the last four matches against Blackburn, Sunderland, Spurs and now Liverpool have changed a lot of minds about the prospect of Champions League football being seen next season at the Grove. Most specifically, Chelsea’s continued slump has been the phenomenon that this viewer simply could not foresee, and if Arsenal continue in this vein of form, there is no reason they cannot overhaul Spurs.
It won’t get the lack of a trophy monkey off the manager’s back, but he will feel vindicated if he can deliver a top four place. Ultimately, a club’s total wage bill tends to correlate with their finishing position in the Premier League, and with three clubs paying more every season than Arsenal, fourth is their ‘natural’ position. Chelsea should be above them and Spurs below. And it is perhaps significant that when Arsenal were winning titles – until 2004 at any rate, the wages they were paying were not far off those of Manchester United, with other clubs laying out less. So going forward, logic suggests the club has to increase revenue (and up wages) to increase their chances of challenging for the title. Then again there is an argument that for the wages being paid, Arsenal should actually have a stronger squad than they do.
Whether what he can earn elsewhere will be the decisive factor in Robin Van Persie’s decision over his future this summer is difficult to say. Footballing ambition would – you imagine – also play its part. There is no doubt the club have a huge dilemma on their hands should the captain decide not to agree a fresh deal. There are noises that they would keep him for the final year, perhaps timed with the club’s sending out of renewal forms for the expensive middle tier seats, along with the idea that they will spend £100 million on transfers this summer. And yet, would Arsenal, going by recent actions, pass up somewhere around £25 million that would dwindle to nothing 12 months later? It would take a sea change in ethos, but one that would probably be welcomed by the fans, whose concern for the balance books is secondary to the hunger to see some success. And that is more likely in 2012-13 with RVP than without him.
There is a lot of talk in the media that Podolski to Arsenal is a done deal, and it would not take a huge leap of imagination to see the club let Van Persie go and bring the Cologne player in. However, given the number 10's form over the last year and a bit, such a move would probably weaken the team unless some serious business was done to address other areas. What the game at Anfield showed was the value of top quality players who are at the peak of their game. Moments that they can produce as a matter of habit will win points in contests where they are not always expected. Arsenal enjoyed an element of fortune for some of Liverpool’s missed opportunities yesterday, but there is no doubt that Szczesny had a blinder, and that without Van Persie the visitors would not have scored two goals.
Liverpool’s relative dominance in the first half was acknowledged by all, and the game should have been wrapped up before the interval. Arsenal were simply not physically strong enough and not tight enough, the defensive side of the team’s game very poor, symbolized by the build-up and er… finish for Liverpool’s goal. But let off the hook, they took advantage in a more even second half. Abou Diaby made his entrance, looked the business for five minutes, then disappeared for 20 before his removal from the play. I can’t blame the player for his injury record, but questions do need to be asked about the barking mad decision to award him a contract renewal at the end of 2009. Someone’s medical diagnosis has cost the club something in the region of £12 million.
It has been a crazy season. Crazy enough for some optimists to actually believe the 4-0 deficit against Milan can be overturned on Tuesday evening. I hope they are right, even if I think they are as mad as the Diaby doctor.
The win against Liverpool was a very different one to the victory over Spurs. It’s unquestionably pleasurable, but cannot give the re-assurance that the performance in the derby did. It was the same starting line-up, but a very different game. The team struggled to cope with Suarez and in fairness, nine times out of ten, the home side would have won this type of match, going by the chances. Let us be thankful and grateful the dice fell Arsenal’s way and move on. Van Persie’s injury time finish might prove a very significant piece of magic come the season’s end.
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