The future is still bright

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

The newspapers have rounded on us again today we are again a club in crisis. This I believe is far from the truth. We have a fantastically talented squad that seems to have been over awed by the occasion but this is something that I don't believe will happen again with them.

Our lads looked to be lacking in confidence last night and no one wanted the ball or the responsibility. This was disappointing but understandable because of their age.

I felt sorry for Gibbs who has often been one of the best players in an Arsenal shirt recently but the slip made him lose his confidence and he was desperate to get out of there.

Although I believe we are far from being in trouble as our players will only get better, I do believe we need to bring a little bit of experience into the team. Arshavin's experience was missed but we need someone in defence and preferably also in the centre of the midfield to just calm and reassure the young lads around them and let them play.

There is a clear gulf at the moment between Arsenal and Man Utd, Man Utd have a team of superstars and we don't. I am not saying that our guys are not more talented as for many of them I would say they are but no wonder some of the players were over awed, being in a Champions League Semi-final is enough but then looking even just at the substitutes bench for Man Utd and seeing Tevez, and Berbatov (who has been very disappointing for them but still a £30 million player) no wonder they were nervous.

The future is bright for us and we have the outline of a fantastic team but I believe that last night showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that we finally need to bring experience in to help our current players progress.

User Comments

GoonerToday

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 07:34 PM - Reply

Great post
i would like to add however.. Man Utd do not have a team FULL of experience.
They have the right blend. Anderson, Rafael and his brother, Rooney, Macheda, Nani are not much older than the likes of Song, Fabregas, Diaby

Difference is, they have right experience alongside them. Defence is the core, and their central position is experienced, their midfield have real winners to play with the youth, same with the forwards.

What they have is a right blend. Arshavin has taken us up a gear since he joined. Thats what adding just one player does. We still need two more. Once we do we will have a great squad. Rosikcy and Eduardo are both experienced and will be back next year to compliment the youth..

1st Lady

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 07:15 PM - Reply

good article indeed. even though we have a number of talented young players, we undoubtably need experienced players too. it was beyond sad watchin the gunners go under like that on Tuesday but I believe Wenger & the boys learnt alot from, not just the manchester game, but the whole season. we hope to see changes next season, i have not lost faith in arsenal.

marx2279

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 06:48 PM - Reply

Bottom line: Our biggest rival (some would suggest- sworn enemy) just came into OUR staduim and dominated us in every aspect in the biggest match of the season. Clichy (who is no Evra) and Gallas(who is just a prick--but I guess kind of right in the end) would not have made a difference. For you so-called 'real' fans to suggest that is insulting. Just beacuse people like me are more critical and demand more from the manager, the players, and the borad, does not mean we don't 'understand' football, does not mean we are all plastic, and to suggest that we are 'fickle' insults me. When something like tues. night occurs, a new direction must at the very least be discussed and considered. At every other 'big' club in the world a result, and more importantly- a performance, like that would result in some 'headrolling'. This does not necessarily equate to sackings or suspensions-- but the the important thing that is discussed and hopefully concluded, is that the team needs to consider taking a new direction. Forgive me, but having watched every Arsenal game for the last 16 years on the tele @ 4 in the morning here in Vancouver, Canada...I can say without any hesitation that this team simply is NOT good enough (though if our collective ambition is to finish 4th every year then yes at the moment we are good enough but even that is starting to be threatened). The point is---I feel the club needs a change at all levels- and so-called 'real' supporters who claim that we're 'close' are as blind and naieve as our manager and board appear to be at this juncture. You tell me to go support Chelsea! I tell you to go support Fulham.

Ross

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 05:14 PM - Reply

Mr Watson you are stating the obvious. Of course we need experience and defensive players but our problem (as Arsenal fans) is that we have all known this for two years now.
I certainly do not think we should let Wenger go as we could never attract a better manager but he has not moved to rectify the glaring problem of lack of experience and depth of squad (particuarly in defense). Okay we had injuries but the players coming in are simply not at the top level. We are miles off the top European teams and this gap is going to widen unless addressed. This costs money. We all know that.

randy

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 01:15 PM - Reply

nasri didnt shun any responsibilty he was brilliant! made cesc look lost

Aisha

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 01:14 PM - Reply

Totally agreed. I think Wenger needs to sort out the defence as well. Have been saying this since last season.

Russ

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 12:28 PM - Reply

good article. I can't belive some of the utter $hite I've seen on the net after that game. As much as I detest Man Utd (and believe me, I do) they are European and Premiership champions and are likely to retain both crowns too. We are talking real quality opposition here, not Roma and Villareal. It was no disgrace losing to Utd and this young side did well to get to the semis. I'm sure Wenger has finally realised he needs to sign some experience players to guide the youngsters next season. What annoys me is that the media round on Arsenal again yet it's very likely Liverpool will win nothing again, lost at 3-1 at home to chelsea in the champs league and have spent a fortune on players. Not many articles about Torres, Gerrard etc leaving them though!

Richard

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 12:21 PM - Reply

You're spot on! Looking at our squad, everyone including some of our ignorant fans think our players are inferior. But that's not the case, we lacked our top two midfielders in Gallas and Clichy. They have experience and that what we lacked. How many times have Gallas scored a winner?? How many crosses have Clichy put in when we were loosing a game, clearances of goal, etc. We do not need more than two players but in tha caliber of Arshavin to play along Fab, Song, Denilson, Nasri, Arshavin and Walcott - these players can win titles with the addition of more experience especially at the back - we do not to believe anymore how bad our team is - keep the belief!

Bill

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 11:15 AM - Reply

well done mate I agree. its nice to see a true fans realistic opinion as opposed to the plastic fickle early leavers who want Wengers blood. We are talented and the future definately is bright but yes we do need a big character player who can pick the lads up when the chips are down.

Tall Paul Auckland NZ

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 10:41 AM - Reply

We'll have to wait and see how bad the exodus is after yet another trophy-less season before deciding whether we're in crisis. Cesc, Ade, V.Persie, Toure have all made past mutterings, and all could ply their trade elsewhere quite easily.

Wenger needs to show he is serious about the new campaign by signing some experienced Arsharvin-like players in the break, or we could find ourselves once again without the depth and quality to see off Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea for the title.

I just can't face another season of knowing that when the chips are down in the second half, we only have Eboue and Bendtner stretching their legs on the sidelines.

Tom

Posted on 7 May, 2009 at 10:21 AM - Reply

Thus, the verdict is - keep on practicing current trend of buying youth????

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