Anfield imposters replaced by real Arsenal at Burnley

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
15 Dec	7:45 PM	P	Burnley (A)	1	1	Draw

I didn't write about the win at Anfield on Sunday. I didn't feel it was worth writing about until after the Burnley game.

Would it be a turning point? Would Wenger finally put some of these players in their place after that half-time rant? Would there be a new found energy and enthusiasm from these players?

I wasn't sure. As I browsed the forums here I saw I wasn't the only one who seemed more nervous about Burnley than about Liverpool. That says a lot about how well we know our team. The truth is, these days there's never a game I KNOW we'll win, but there's always a game that seems a potential banana skin.

Sure, Man Utd and Chelsea aren't perfect, and the grass always seems greener on the other side, but it genuinely feels like you can back them every week. They won't always do it. Indeed I felt like I 'knew' Man Utd would go to Burnley and win, but they did worse than us. Still, it's a shock when that happens, or when Chelsea lose to Wigan. It's not a shock when it happens to us.

The same complacency, lack of cutting edge and defensive frailties we've seen so many times in games we really have to start winning if we're going to challenge for the league.

I considered writing this article at half-time I was so sure we wouldn't win, and all I had was the radio. All I heard were attacks from a Burnley team who simply wanted it more. Why do these players have such issues with motivating themselves? It really does come to the point where you feel you have to ask "what's your problem?".

I'm thinking particularly about Fabregas and Nasri. Two talented players who are so capable, but so prone to laziness, particularly Nasri, who really hasn't contributed enough at all in his time at Arsenal so far.

I can understand bad performances from clueless players like Diaby and Walcott, or from the unfit and unconfident Eduardo, but where was the desire from our midfield players to provide Arshavin with the proper ammunition to finish Burnley off? We got a gift wrapped goal that rocked them and they were there for the taking, but even at 2-0 up I wouldn't be so sure about backing us, just as we've seen at West Ham this season and Villa last season.

For Christmas, I would like some funds raised by selling Walcott. What we do with them, I don't know. Do we need a striker or a goalkeeper more? I'd lean towards goalkeeper, but whatever, PLEASE SANTA take Walcott away from me! The guy cannot control a football! He along with Almunia would not get into the starting XI of any other team in this league!

And if we ever sell him, he will slip down the divisions and be forgotten. Mark my words, here and now - he...won't...make...it. If I'm wrong I cannot wait to see what happens. It doesn't matter if he has a sustained period without injuries and gets regular action in whatever is meant to be his best position, he will not make it. Not here. Not anywhere.

I'm sorry my articles are often so negative. I tend to have more to say after a bad result, because ultimately they are what shapes our season. There will be no use at any point in the future looking back at how we beat Portsmouth, Wigan, Spurs, Stoke or Liverpool this season. They are nice while they last but they rarely mean anything, just like our wins over Man Utd and Chelsea last season. They're not representative. 4-4 with Spurs and 2-1 defeat to Stoke say more about our season than those wins do.

That's the real Arsenal for you. They'll turn over a few of the lesser teams at home, and they'll even pretend they're good enough to win the league by beating a big side once in a while, but they'll always give you games like tonight. That's just a fact, until we buy a goalkeeper.

And maybe a few less players from the French league who will take 2 or 3 years to adapt to the pace of the game here. Song took about 4 years. How long will Nasri take? Is it worth the wait? How about someone who already plays in this league? How many players has Wenger ever signed from other Premiership teams? Answers on a postcard please.

Here's some positivity for you - Cesc's goal was good, and I'm maybe 55% sure we'll beat Hull at the weekend.

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