Fortress Ashburton is crumbling

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
15 Nov	3:00 PM	P	Aston Villa (H)	0	2	Lost

What do we make of Arsenal then?

A brilliant win last week and as I type, we're 2-0 down at home to Aston Villa. And the toys are coming out of the pram on the Arsenal-Mania forum.

"We're shit", "disgusting", blah blah blah...

I guess it's symptomatic of the season so far that whilst I would have expected us to beat Villa (though as I mentioned previously, they could easily have had two wins at the Grove already) I'm typing this completely unsurprised.

Fortress Ashburton is crumbling, becoming susceptible to smash and grab, ram raids by the week. Not being at the game today, not having watched it on stream and having only listened to the last 15 minutes where Villa have belatedly turned their dominance into goals, I can only offer the following reasons;

1) Arsenal always seem to ship goals when I listen to the radio, (I've turned it off, too late I fear)

2) Jo has yet, in 5 years, to see Arsenal lose a home game (and she's seen a few), obviously we're not there today, so... give us season tickets Arsenal, we'll never lose at home again!

3) and finally, perhaps this is the most important, relevant reason - we have a team full of youngsters.

And they're going to be inconsistent, for every Manchester United game, it looks like there will be a game like today's. It doesn't mean the team is shit, it means they are not yet at a level where they can turn in match-winning performances week in, week out.

Especially in midfield.

Francesc Fabregas can't do it alone, and as I've said before, we've all said before, he shouldn't be expected to. Theo Walcott, after an impressive few weeks, seems to have dried up in terms of his end product, but I don't think the manager would have expected him to play as much as he has this season.

Samir Nasri, for all his intelligence and adaptability should not be expected to perform week in week out in a league he's only been playing in for three months, whilst the jury is still out on Denilson. Perhaps Aaron Ramsey should be given a go ahead of Denilson (who seems to be playing week in week out on the basis that there is nobody to replace him), but then that's a massive demand on the nearly 18 year old.

Apart from the really big BUT of our midfield mess (only the most crucial area on a football pitch), I don't think we're that far away. Really. I think we have a strike force, when all available, to rival any of the rest of the big four. I think, whilst missing a big, nasty defender, we have two of the best full backs in the league. I do think our goalkeeper is not the best, but he obviously isn't the reason we have lost today.

A few weeks ago, Kevin Whticher, editor of the Gooner, posited the theory that this Arsenal team had no bollocks, I answer that maybe they have, they just haven't dropped yet, and this is the problem, the rock and a hard place type situation. For all the youthful brilliance we have pouring out of the club, what we need in the first team now are not players even younger than their first team counterparts, no matter how talented. It is a bit of grit, a bit of steel, a bit of experience, cool heads in hot situations.

Please, Arsène, nobody (well, not me) is asking you to sacrifice your footballing principles on the altar of success, but we fans pay a high price to come and watch your team, we would absolutely love you to spend some of that money we bring in and provide your boys with a bit of backbone. You never know, we might all find the experience mutually rewarding!

User Comments

Steo

Posted on 22 Nov, 2008 at 08:03 PM - Reply

The reason Arsene doesnt buy is bcos he knows that in 2,3 years time we will have the likes of Wilshere, Vela, Simpson exc. that will rip the prem to shreds!!!! We need to be patient

Baller4life

Posted on 18 Nov, 2008 at 08:39 AM - Reply

I belief the Board of Arsenal FC are HAPPY!! with Wenger in that they get a substantial return on their investment in the club, which club gets that kind of return? Good for them they have someone with a masters degree in ECONOMICS as a coach!!! So Wenger cant be sacked.
Our darling team has no BALLS, get Cesc out, replace him with Ransey if hes not up to it.
I think the coach should know who is up to the challenge before kick off.
Wehn WIltord Left, that signaled the downward spin for Arsenal.

NAIJA GUNNER$LIFE

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 09:03 PM - Reply

Wenger is stubborn, he wont hear you...Gunners we shall remain with all this pain...till when God help us out....Wenger is trying to spoil the hard earn name and fame he has grown with arsenal over the years. GOD have mercy on we GUNNERS anyhow anyway with Wenger this days it seems drailing week in week out. I hate his good dramas and english every year....lack of character...consistency....experience..blah..blah...blah..

canuck

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 02:12 PM - Reply

Gallas has got to go!!!!!
I would surely love to see Song and Djourou in central defence. The boss tries to play experience in that position, but maybe they're too old and not fast enough to keep up with the rest of the squad.

ciene

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 09:29 AM - Reply

does Arsene not read or have access to the out cry of the fans? surely his wife, his assistant just someone anyone must at some point inform him of the fans concern. it is very disappointing to see our team playing like that.
PLEASE SO SOMETHING ARSENE!!

santi

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 08:26 AM - Reply

gutless performance, disgraceful. Cesc being robbed off the ball by agblobbonwhore towards the end summed up the evening nicely.

M.I.S

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 07:40 AM - Reply

Nice say from you , i was so sad when they lose , almost kill my self the refere is shiiit what the hell did we do to disurve this ....i have to stop watching football ....

yemmy

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 06:43 AM - Reply

i think wenger should be fired,cos he thinks his position as coach isnt threatened thats why he keeps doin whatever he pleases.he should b given an ultimatum which wud put him under pressure cos @ d moment he's just too relaxed abt d job.he needs 2 bend his principle of not buyin cos it doesnt work 4 him anymore,@ least 4 trophyless seasons shows that.i fear we mite go anoda season trophyles cos @ d moment epl is as good as gone.

fatalfury

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 03:40 AM - Reply

This is by far the worst Arsenal team in Arsene's reign. And this team were all developed and chosen by him. I have ever seen. I don't think we can have any more excuses. We were comprehensively beaten by a far better team.

No more excuses. We had rest. There were no set pieces. There was no overt physicality. They came here to play counterattacking football. They won.

keyooo

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 03:16 AM - Reply

please more creative....more pace....
not denilson...diably at left and midfield can more creative....ebou.....cech....diably....nasri

Donald

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 02:22 AM - Reply

I am sick of seeing arsenal lose at home. We are not the really the team that used to dominant the league anymore. We had Viera, Pires, Henry, Lungberg, Berkamp.. But now Denelson, walcott, Bentdner, Adebeyor...

Denilson should only be considered as a rotation player at this young age.. actually he will be a great sub for cese. Same to Theo, he is not good enough to start in every match. We should get a winger like james miller or ashley young, and a DM who has the strength and technique to partner with cese.
Bentdner is really bad.. he is worst than Ade..Both of them doesn't know how to create chances for themselves or team mate and when they given the chances they miss..
Finally, get rid of GAllas AND GET a proper DC to part with Toure.

tego

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 02:22 AM - Reply

lmao its funny you should say that Arsenal concede a goal every time you turn on the radio, I thought that only happened to me. I thought I was jinxing the team every time I listened to an Arsenal game.

GWelch

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 12:50 AM - Reply

Yep! Im with you all the way there....

But they will not be kidz forever, lets hope this time comes soon as it's so crushing having to listen to people who dont know what the hell their on about saying we are sh!t. How many more mondays will I have to listen to these narrow minded, unfootball educated, glory hunting, jealous fools for eh???? I fully understand our clubs ambitions, I really do, but I so wish we things would click now! I know it will, but looks like we can forget the EPL this year, think with our current consistency we will be much better suited to cup games. Now there a thought..... As we have done extreamly well against all the bigger teams we hove come up against, maybe we will get better and better in the cup games as your opponents get harder and harder. Laugh all you want peeps, but you may very possibily looking at the 2009 Champion League winners (based on our current record against stong teams this year, we have got it made my son!!!!) Now how's that sound?

Brendan Colbert

Posted on 16 Nov, 2008 at 12:14 AM - Reply

Have to say - that is a brilliantly written and really well balanced article.. and i say that through gritted teeth after just suffering match of the day..

I think the key problems are honestly and brilliantly outlined above.. NO problem up front that's for sure..No problem in the wing back department- agreed.

Its the middle of the park that looks lighter than it has ever done for a Wenger team.!!What really worries me is when this team plays badly at the moment - i honestly cant remember seeing a Wenger team in 15 years so devoid of ideas and creativity and thats a major worry.!!!!

yes no doubt the creativity is in the pipeline but totally - 1. Nasri should not be expected to bear such a burden 3 months into this league. 2. Theo (no doubt about the quality) is still too young.. The major major issue for me - much as I want to like him (and I know he's young) i dont know if Denilson is Arsenal quality.. I think Wenger has probably wanted to chance Ramsey in the first 11 already but is possibly worried about his concentration at this level for the time being..

Hanging onto Hleb for another season would have undoubtley have helped.. he may not have scored so may goals but he created that space all over the picth that gave fabregas the opportunities to play his game..

ShifuArsenal

Posted on 15 Nov, 2008 at 11:58 PM - Reply

I realy thought this season that Arsenal would avoid this constant fight for forth place in the EPL.
Arsenal's defeat does not surprise me. I have seen it all before this season. Just like when Arsenal beat Sheffield. We heard all this hype about Arsenal potential only for them to lose against Hull.
I don't agree with this lack of experience stuff, this is almost the same team as last season, Arsenal lost Flmini, Hleb and Gilberto. All the first team players play for their nation.
Where the other 3 top teams made improvements, Arsenal are in stagnation.
The dissapointment is larger this season due to the fact Arsenal were so close to winning the EPL last season and if the team had been strenghened rather than stagnate, Arsenal may be futher up the EPL.
I don't think Wenger manages expectation very well but gets caught up in the hype, which tends to effect our performance for the next game.

Uncleris

Posted on 15 Nov, 2008 at 11:00 PM - Reply

Good piece. Very true. Wenger has made his points. We have all seen that football can be a beauty to watch when its played his way. We now also know that talented youngsters can be groomed and moulded into a fluid and entertaining side. GOOD! (Hope the FA is watching).

But dear Mr.Wenger should remeber that there is a league out there to compete in, for which we need consistency on a weekly basis. High time he comes to terms with the fact that the team, as is, just isn't up to the mark yet...good as they are.

The measure of success for a pro club, still remains the quantity and quality of silver they win..that, needs to feature in Mr. Wenger's plans. That way everybody is happy and he gets to stay on for longer to continue with the academy.

Please tell him to get some grit and more quality into the team. It's agonizing to watch displays such as today's.

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