Reality check ..?

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
05 May	7:45 PM	CL	Manchester United (H)	1	3	Lost

I promised you coherence today, didn't I? I guess the simple, bald fact last night, the thing to remember if you take one thing away from last night and this blog, is that we were beaten by the better side.

More than that, we were shown the difference between being a very good side with potential and a truly a great side. Twenty one games unbeaten in the league tells one story, especially when that run includes trips to Anfield and Chelsea, the defeats in quick succession to Chelsea and Manchester United tells another one. Yes, we are undoubtedly a team that, on their day, can give anyone a game. But, come the rareified air of the last four of the Champions League, the FA Cup even, we have been found wanting.

When Manchester United made their substitutions last night, they could bring on players like Berbatov and Giggs. Who could we look to, to turn the tide or, (more honestly) stem the flow? Emmanuel Eboue and Nick Bendtner, that's who. Improved and improving players they may be, but the chasm in quality is clear.

I'm not getting into individual mistakes, Kieran Gibbs' slip was something that could, and has, happened to anyone, especially it seems Arsenal left backs. Kieran can be justifiably proud of his part in Arsenal's spring. True, Manuel Almunia was beaten from staggering distance last night but, defended by his old enemy Jens Lehmann last night, he was the only reason this second leg promised anything at all. In the cold light of day, something I meant to say yesterday, and did before I inadvertently deleted half my blog and forgot about the point I was trying to make, was that we needed the team to stand up together last night. The two early goals ensured that we never got out of a crouch.

Arsène Wenger, and I suppose those of us who believed that we could make something of the second leg, have had an almighty reality check. We can look at the players missing last night, and it was a point Ferguson made about having a full strength squad to pick from, and see that Clichy, Gallas, the ineligible Arshavin and the perpetually injured Rosicky and Eduardo might have made a difference. And they might. But when it came to the crunch, the players we did have came up short. They need help. I remember hearing Amy Lawrence talking about players at Arsenal lacking the personality to take a game by the scruff of the neck when the team is in the shit. That was quite some time ago and has it really changed since then? Have we, as Adebayor says we have, actually gone backwards?

I wonder now whether the age old jibes about the boss' lack of tactical ability are true. Is Wenger just a developer and spotter of talent carried to glory off the backs of the players he manages to produce and inspire such loyalty in? Were those title triumphs of yesteryear more about the defensive knowhow of Adams and Keown, the genius of Bergkamp, the muscle of Vieira and the elan of Henry and Píres? I don't hold much truck with that, in all honesty. I don't think a manager would come to be so universally highly regarded if that was the case, but perhaps the boss has tried to do too much. Perhaps the boss could get Tony Adams, or promote Steve Bould in to coach our defenders.

Perhaps, actually, our defenders need improving. What struck me yesterday was how easily the (admittedly well protected) Ferdinand and Vidic repelled the (equally admittedly) half hearted Arsenal attacks. Never in danger, never in doubt. Why don't we defend like that? Even with Gallas and Clichy in the side, we rarely look completely comfortable.

I don't know... this cri de couer is in danger of losing coherence, conciseness went out of the window 400 words ago, the frustration I feel is not that we're rubbish. Because we're not. The frustration is that whilst we're not far from where we need to be, nothing a new centre back, central midfielder and centre forward wouldn't cure. We're far away enough for it to seem like an Atlantic Ocean between us and the Uniteds of this world. Wenger's policy of making do with what he's got must stop. Bob Wilson once said of Arsène that his judgement was based on "Are you the best?" We need to see that Arsène again, he needs to start thinking as if he is the manager of the biggest football club in the biggest city in Europe. Because that's exactly what and who he is. Judging from the tone of his press conference, perhaps he has now realised that.

And if he has, then last night's humiliation won't have been in vain.

User Comments

Neeraj

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 07:43 PM - Reply

Nice article we need 3 experienced players one strong defender one defensive midfielder n a explosive striker...n u can let the kids grow around them. Now i realise they wont come cheap n no one knows the finances available they always he there is money if AW wants it...we nt only want it we need it...sell ade hes no good n milan will want him thank god for that...m sure u can buy a gud striker in that...but 1st we need to add quality in defense hopefully wenger has realised that u dnt win trophies for havin the youngest team!!!

zabulon

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 10:48 AM - Reply

I have read from all Arsenal fans it's good to correct something for the improvement of our team internationally and locally but the drought is always in football, let take Chelsea's exemple they went 50 years without winning the premiership, and now since they have Abranovic how much did he spent so far, normally they should win the Cnampionsleague for him to benefit from what he spent but nothing.

We have to know that, there was some years Manu did not win anything and if look at the history Manu was even releguated,and another thin g we haave key players are always there, that is natural let take the exemple of Manu they dropped form when Rio Ferdinand received a controversial eight month suspension for missing a drugs test.

The 2004–05 season was characterised by a failure to score goals, mainly due to the injury of striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and United finished the season trophyless and in third place in the league.

Zabulon Africa Congo D.R

The Knack

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 07:28 AM - Reply

We need a new manager. AW's lost it.

Look at our team strategy against Chelsea in the FA semis, his (prolonged) continued faith in average players these past few seasons (Diaby, Eboue, Bendtner, Denilson..) and the inability to create a consistent, fighting team..

We can remain positive and mentally strong (how may times have we heard that before ?) and actually get the results we need only when we have players who are of the required strength & calibre. How long more ?

vic gunner

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 07:19 AM - Reply

I think Aw tactically is not in the same league as the other top managers.Enough has been said about this.
Rroblem is the whole Arsenal team attack leaving big gaps. It has happened before and will happen again and again until AW knows you have to have balance between attack and defence.Worst the defenders more often than not go awol.
Ronaldo was majestic because he was not stifled as Ade was.I'm afarid until AW sorts out the defence and stop his beautiful soccer Arsenal will continue to be beaten at the sf stage of cup competitions.
Of course he will he won't compromise his philosophy but at some point in time he will have to or be forced out.

Salil Khandeparkar

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 07:02 AM - Reply

I fully agree with Paul, an aggrieved that someone hung himself for this defeat.

This defeat was on the wall, before kickoff when I saw Cesc on tv who never looked confident, and imagine him sayng we know the grass, we know where to pass....oh cmon!

See its pointless crying over spilt milk now... I am so saddened by the fact that the last time I remember that we played brilliantly was when we were 'invincible' and Henry's goal in the CL against Real Madrid... a moment of PRIDE!

Today it all looks like a lost cause, dont know where we are heading. Everyone I know is a ManU, Liverpool and a Chelsea fan and for the past 4-5 years there has been no event to be proud of...We have produced Henry, Flamini, Anelka, Hleb all of whom have been sold for profits and our attack and the defence feels toothless.

How much ever we praise Theo, Arsha, Cesc, Gibbs, Alumnia, Denilson, Eduardo in our heart of hearts we all know that we cannot match the sheer quality of ManU - Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Andersen, Rio, Vidic or Liverpool - Gerrard, Torres, Carragher, Alonso, or Chelsea - Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Terry, Essien.

All these are 'Giant Killers' and I dont see us matching anyone of them unless we sign up guys like David Villa, Yaya Toure...we have enough teenagers who will do well in the next 5 years but I want to WIN NOW! TODAY!

Mudassir

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 06:37 AM - Reply

Yeah, Great article. hope wenger learns something and fixes his ego in the next season. -HOPE

Mannix,kenya

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 03:05 AM - Reply

What Wenger said yesterday was nothng serious bt usual advert to sell next season ticket. He is the same sturborn man who never accept his mistake bt instead trying to give credit where it doesn't fit. Am damn sure Wenger is not going to bring any world class player under the current board coz he fear to spend alot on wages.And the board are enjoying the profit Mr Wenger bring, tht's why no one is speaking or questioned him abt the team performance.It so unfortunate for the guy who take his life frm kenya bcoz we lose terribly against our arch-rival Man U. We love Arsenal bt no one cares abt us in that team.

Dan

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 02:36 AM - Reply

Look, we all know what the problems at arsenal are, adebayor is awful, horrible touch, no ambition going forward and misses almost every chance. Then there is the lack of strength in the squad, we are very weak compared to the other big 3. Our team is too mismatched in ability, fabregas, nasri and arshavin are way too good to be playing alongside denilson, adebayor and djourou. Wenger as much as i hate to say it is putting way too much faith in very average football players and he is not ambitious enough. We have been patient for 5 years and last year we had a good thing going, to which we sold flamini and hleb, imagine us now with eduardo, v.persie, arshavin, cesc, nasri, hleb and flamini, much better outfit huh? simply, adebayor is a cancer which needs to go and wenger needs to buy players otherwise he can leave. he spent money on arshavin and look how much better we became in a short space of time. i dont want to go into next season with false hope of winning a trophy and then losing it all.......again

Theres_Only_1_Arsene_Wenger

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 01:21 AM - Reply

I wonder if you thought these same thoughts after largely the same Arsenal team beat largely the same United side in the League in November and followed that up with beating Chelsea at the Bridge coming back from behind. Shame our recent defensive troubles and some very bad luck saw us lose in the semi-finals of the Champions league. We have still finished in the final top four clubs in Europe this season. Keep the faith.

Gigi

Posted on 6 May, 2009 at 11:47 PM - Reply

The reason why United can defend better is mainly because of tactics. Apart from the defenders, many of the midfielders are also very focused on defending. When they counter attack, they rely mainly on a few attacking playerss, such as Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez. The other midfielders dont commit themselves forward unnecessarily. They do so when it is a set piece, or when they are facing weak opposition and there is a low chance of being counter-attacked.

Arsenal, on the other hand, like to commit many players forward, sometimes even defenders are involved. This exposes the defence to counter attack. Of course, the problem is not acute when facing weak opposition, such as some in the EPL. But when playing against world class opposition, Arsenal really cant afford to play in such a cavalier manner. Not conceding a goal is as important as scoring one.

This tactical naivity is also the reason why Arsenal has only reached the Champions' League final once during Arsene's reign, despite qualifying for the final stage for more than 10 times and having so many world class players at his disposal at several occasions �inot now though). Arsene's inflexibility and staunch beliefs will continue to stifle Arsenal's Champions' League ambition if he doesn't change. Even Ferguson, after suffering at the hands of European opposition several times at the beginning of this decade, has adapted by playing more cautiously in Europe. Perhaps the defeat in yesterday's Semis will wake Arsene uup. I certainly hope so.

Stair

Posted on 6 May, 2009 at 11:36 PM - Reply

Good article, I especially agree about the calm that the United defence has compared to our back 5. However, if Wenger has realised the need for some more worldly wise players, I just hope he has the bottle to cut bits of dead wood out and replace them. He has had to defend Bendtner all year long and will do again after Tuesday night, but in reality he should have been a little less vociferous so it could make replacing him easier, same with Eboue, Rosicky and Denilson. I hope he can swallow his pride and start a U-turn or we will be a nearly club that sells all its real quality within 10 years. Also I cant believe the news of the Kenyan man who hung himself after the game (soccernet.com) one of the most senseless things i've ever heard sympathy to the family.

jamarl

Posted on 6 May, 2009 at 11:16 PM - Reply

the last night's humiliation,cost us one man life..
kenyan arsenal's fan,hung hiself after the game..

billp79

Posted on 6 May, 2009 at 11:07 PM - Reply

if I want to see nasri do a dance on the 18 yard box...i'll spend my money and go see river dance on broadway
what a buzz killer

Steve Messer

Posted on 6 May, 2009 at 10:10 PM - Reply

Paul, absolutely brilliant article!!!!

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