The only way for Arsenal now is UP - hopefully!

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
22 Nov	3:00 PM	P	Manchester City (A)	0	3	Lost

I'm an idiot!

Yes. I'm like the girl who decides to take her boyfriend back after he has cheated the 10th time believing that he will change. I often think, "You're an idiot, he's not going to change!". But I guess there is something idiotic about love, if you think about it.

So driven by my love for Arsenal, I cannot help but start to look around for signs - sometimes hopeless signs for how things might get better. Many fan writers and many general commentators have written Arsenal off. Arsenal are being dismissed as a 4th place team that is going to have to fight very hard to even maintain 4th place. I had also written off Arsenal's season but I feel very strongly now that fans should not join the chorus of Arsenal beaters. If your own family is not going to believe in you, then who will? Therefore, I have to try my best to believe in the team because we are the ones that can stand up for them now.

By the time we meet Manchester City, here's where we would be:

We would have lost 4 out of the first 13 games. It is almost foolish to contemplate any chance of the title with such numbers. Evidence of the past few years suggests that two losses is just about all you can get away with. Yet this season is so far like nothing we have seen before.

William Gallas has spoken out about dressing room problems. He's gone public.

Francesc Fabregas is suspended.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Alex Song and Carlos Vela are returning from very long trips and may not be able to start.

Eduardo, Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky are out for a long time.

Bacary Sagna, Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Eboué are injured for shorter periods.

Manuel Almunia's confidence must be rubbish by now

Nicklas Bendtner has been blamed very undeservedly – he is not a lone striker, he was just doing what he was asked to do.

Robin van Persie and Adebayor are suspects in a dressing room row.

Manager Arsène Wenger is under pressure.

The fans are severely pissed off.

That's a long, long list of trouble. I cannot remember a time in Wenger's tenure where there has been such a long list of trouble. Confidence must be really severe bad at the moment.

The big question is, is the only way up right now or are we going to get deeper into trouble?

Saturday will give us the answer.

Everyone wearing an Arsenal shirt against Manchester City on Saturday will be in absolutely no doubt what is at stake. EVERYTHING is at stake. There are players who may want to use this crisis to their advantage. Great people know that you should never let a crisis go to waste. There are people who could gain from this crisis.

Johan Djourou, Song, Aaron Ramsey and Vela have a lot to gain. I hope Lukasz Fabianski gets a chance too. van Persie has a lot to prove and Gallas has put himself under a crazy amount of pressure which might well work for him and the team.

In addition most players have had a chance to be in a winning environment or at least in a friendly non-pressure environment among their countrymen over the week and that might help. It cannot be fun for van Persie to look at Babel thinking that Babel might walk away with the title after only 2 years in the Premiership. It must be motivating in a way.

As an Arsenal fan, next Saturday is crucial. As the feeble girlfriend would say, "I'm going to give him one last chance."

If we fail on Saturday, the damage will be worse than against Villa. It would make a dangerous downward spiral very real. We meet Dynamo Kiev and Chelsea after that. We have to get it right because EVERYTHING is at stake. Wenger says his squad is good enough. Well, prove it!

User Comments

Edgar

Posted on 22 Nov, 2008 at 02:17 AM - Reply

Steve has put it all in perspective. Almunia, Denilson, and especially Song are WEAK LINKS!
From Pires, Flamini to SONG?
I love you Arsenal but you'll be lucky if you take the carling cup this season.

Sam

Posted on 22 Nov, 2008 at 02:06 AM - Reply

THE TEAM IS TOO YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED TO KNOW HOW TO REACT IN THESE SITUATIONS!! LEARN WENGER LEARN. SIGN EXPERIENCE DEFENDER AND MIDFIELDER IN JANUARY PLEASE.

juan luis sanchez(peru)

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 09:08 PM - Reply

yes all of that is true
i am brathing arsenal since my country , mr wenger if want to stay in the premier league you have to SPEND A LOT . i remember you that you are in the best of the best league in the world -
i dont know what are you thinking-
as i wrote in a lot of times the worst is comming-
thank you and forgive my english-

Disillusioned Gooner

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 07:54 PM - Reply

JC I really admire your optimism, hopefully we shall draw with or beat Man C but i still do not see any light at the end of the tunnel with Chelsea coming up next Sunday (make that our 5th defeat of the season) plus we haven't even played LFC. AW seemed proud to make 83 points last season (tells us where his priorities lie), this season looks like we will struggle to make 80 points this time around. What we have got cannot win us the title & that is the truth of the matter, if they could we should have got it last season. I am 200% behind the team however we are already behind by 9 points & i don't see Chelsea losing 3 games while we win 3 games to catch up (fact)& then face the tricky situation of of going & staying ahead of them & everyone else? i just don't see that happening.

Sonny

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 06:37 PM - Reply

The problem with Arsenal's young squad is and also is not lack of experience. It is a problem coz they are inconsistent due to this (no matter what AW says).. and it is not a prob coz they are all highly skilled.. the main problem is in the heads.. when we came out against Wigan(Carling Cup) or Man Utd.. we wanted to give it our all on the field and win.. and we did it.. we won.. but when we played in any of the 4 lost games.. we were thinking before the game was played that we've won.. and we got burned.. and that is something the captain and manager has to make sure of on and off the field.

Hopefully we'll hold onto to our 4th spot and wait for our chances of top 3 dropping some points.. but if I could talk to AW directly now.. I would say to him.. cups are not lost yet Arsene.. please buy some top class players and get the fans the Champions League trophy.. the fans will forget all your sins if you get them 1-2 cups this year..

Personally I'm glad Gallas might be leaving us.. I don't like him after Birmingham last year anyways.. we need a leader not a crybaby.. Cesc can be that.. and we can get Martesacker or some other really good defender.

delboy

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 05:52 PM - Reply

good article joel, The trouble with modern asrnal fans is they have been spoilt over the 12 years of Wengers reign. He has tranformed the club. In teh 80's that girlfriend you talk about would have had a nervous breakdown. I agree 'the only way is up'. I hope yazz was aa gooner!!!

Scott

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 03:07 PM - Reply

Regardless of where we finish I am a GOONER! I think this is a great opportunity to give Djourou, Ramsey and Vela their chance. Vela and Bendtner seem to have a good partnership so give that a chance from the start of a game to flourish. With Walcott out Vela is his natural replacement (good thing Eboue is not available) and he enjoys playing with Bendtner. I say give Djourou and Toure a run in central defense. Toure has more fire and desire than Gallas and Silvestre combined. Come on Wenger, make a few changes, get a set . . .

OKEH kingsley

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 02:59 PM - Reply

Men its obvious that A W has no control over these boys...any person can do what they like in the field of play, A W himself has lost his mind, He does not know who mis in-form or when to make a change... how can Carlos and Ramsey be on bench while the Old folks are messing up,is song not more effective than Denilson... clichy is above the law, he can make any mistake and get out of it...I mean this french connection is killing us... No wonder refs can officiate any how they like.... Wenger go back to the days we have English and foriegn players mix up.... Mr Wenger stop being stingy...start making plans for Jan transfer, thamk God u confessed that Flamini departure is affecting us but u could have kept him...instead u prefer penny wise pound foolish... then who is the fool now..u MR WENGER

Johnny

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 02:16 PM - Reply

ineffective*

also, and no offence to any fan, but I think wengers ability to judge if a player is good enough, combined with the fact that he sees them at training and speaks to them personally, surpasses the ability of any fan, pundit, and probably 99% of professional football managers.

what arsenal is suffering at the moment is called a form slump, loads of people seem to think that buying a few players will solve all our woes. rubbish. maybe arsenal is short one quality defensive midfielder, but how many of those were for sale last summer anyway, and if he had of bought a second rate defensive midfielder we would be in the same situation and copping even more flak.

the fans of arsenal need to open their eyes and realise that the squad we have will be a dominant force in europe if it stays together, and we are maybe one player and a rise in form away from being top, top quality.

Andrew

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 01:34 PM - Reply

Strangely enough, on this site, only 2 weeks back I compared my current relationship with arsenal to that of my girlfriend and I. hmmm...

We are still together, and I’m still a gooner win or lose. Like all relationships obstacles will manifest into a variety of challenges and Arsene/Arsenal is no stranger to theory.

However if I, heaven forbid, were to make an error in judgement it would be natural for my partner to inform me and explain how I can improve or understand my mistake. Do you follow -

Arsene does not listen; Arsene does not have a partner. The recent mumblings from Old Trafford regarding Carlos Quieroz influence on Fergie's selection is a pertinent point. I believe if a certain Pat Rice were to oppose a decision he may fear the chop... I may be wrong. But this is a strong argument.

Intelligence, Beauty and Talent will get you so far but a stern ticking off sure hits home faster. Arsene should have been spanked for Reyes, lashed for flamini/diarra/gilberto and rightly questioned with our defensive frailties.

Still - the season is over and we look for next year... remember arsenal fans

'To err is human, but to forgive is divine'... A.Pope

Tony

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 01:11 PM - Reply

When dogs are backing do you blame them?no,you blame their master!Wenger is carried way by the young short boys that he cannot sign quality like Appiah!Gunners may not qualify for the champions next year.

Krisso

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 12:38 PM - Reply

Thats better from you. Let us all be behind our team. It is our team! They need us to lift them up. They don't like losing. They are not doing it on purpose. They are going through a very bad period. And we need to show our support. We are the 12th man. Let us lift them up. I'm not saying we shower undeserved praise. I'm saying lets not insult them. Lets not call them names. Lets not drag them through the mad that they are already in. But instead let us back them up. Remind them of their talent. And help them return their confidence. Let us do our best for them.

alia

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 11:47 AM - Reply

ThInGs WiLL ChAnGe .. .. .. the team YES is letting us down (at the moment), BUT i'm not going to do the same to them.

LoVe uR ArTiClE Joël ;)

Dan

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 11:43 AM - Reply

We have the worst back 4 and keeper in my 25 years of supporting Arsenal.

Until that area improves we're going to struggle.

jean Themmy

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 11:26 AM - Reply

Guys Arsenal will win nothing this season and things are at stake as you say. men! What Arsene Wenger is going to prove? Dessing room has its own issues that are affecting a winning spirit. Unless players will be bought by January you will see the worst. It is painful and majority of my friends are beginning to support other teams. Even what you call entertaining games is no longer interesting some people without winning anything! I think Arsenal will need to think twice before things get too far. My suggesting to my Friend and Manager Wenger is to compromise and get six mature guys and then line up Five young ones.
Oh! What a shame! Mr Wenger you trusted thes talented youths but they didn't see how much you helped them. In my view they would have worked harder to win every game or draw a few of them. Loosing means a lot and thus I see these youths going to loose their opportunity. Look If Wenger buys mature players it means some of young ones are not going to play. Why can't you guys change youre attitude and prove that Wenger trusts you with a reason. Any way, I think its time to get more serious otherwise things are going against players, manager and we the fans. We are truly suffering and it's hard to explain how we are feeling at the moment but the reality is that we have lost chances to win triphies in the past when teams were still a sleep now that they are awake, Mr Wenger should be more aggressive and competent to win something. Look at Liverpool!and more teams... Were can you go with a non balanced team any way? Please revive our hopes

Bertrum John

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 10:41 AM - Reply

Good article.I agree, we must not desert our team now that all is not well. It was a sad sight last Saturday with all those empty seats and the game wasn't finished. Come on you Arsenal.

Matt

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 10:27 AM - Reply

There is no guarantee we are going to improve suddenly, it could take however long it takes now to get back to winning ways because i think Wenger is starting to lose his edge! I'm starting to think taking a Russian Billionaire's money is way forward and looking to bring Guus Hiddink in is the right idea!

lakmert

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 10:04 AM - Reply

It's hard to see a supposed life long fan so cynical towards a team he spent life time supporting. No matter what i will always be behind my team. The ups and downs are the beauty of football. The fact that you can count your team out of a game and they come back and show you what they're made of. I will keep faith we can do it because we are not the type of team that can be counted all and out. If you know anything about arsenal you should know that.
It will be interesting to see the comments when were on top of the league come march.

Bloke from the future.

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 09:29 AM - Reply

Trust me - Babel DOES NOT win the prem in his second season. Arsenal's luck changes. Good article.

kenny

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 09:27 AM - Reply

i think damages have been done already, firstly arsenal is not doing very well right now and at this same period Gallas decides to spill the beanz. if we don't get players(arshavin,albiol,yaya) in January that can boost our confidence, we might only walk out of the season with the Carling cup won by an average team of 19.

Steve

Posted on 21 Nov, 2008 at 09:11 AM - Reply

The squad is good enough? Erm, no it's not I am afraid. I am a life long gunners fan and at 34 have seen the team go through it, good and bad.
I think that the only person who thought we had a good enough squad was Wenger. The majority of the fans were not convinced and the pundits (who cares about them though) were certainly not.

I think we are in real trouble this year, even when our so called 1st eleven is fit I don't see a title winning side. we just don't have the players. Ade is nowhere near last year, Fab is off colour aswell. Add this to Theo (I can't cross) and Denilson and you have 4 players that have been unafective this season.
Then there's the defence (oh god help us) probably the worst Arsenal defence I can remenber, Almunia will never be world class. So that's 4 under par players with a terrible back 5, should we be surprised that we won't win anything let alone the title.
For all those gunners fans that will now say get behind the team they will come good!! Wake up it was obvious from the start of the season our squad won't win anything.

Today's latest news from Arsenal involving Gallas (if true) is just another dent to the confidence, tomorrow will tell us more, loose to Man City and it will really hit home!!

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