A lot of excitment but no changes at the top

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
17 Jan	4:00 PM	P	Bolton Wanderers (A)	2	0	Win

It looks like Arsenal have league winning luck on their side. Let's face it, it is only a few teams we can think of over the past 15 years that have won the league without the aid of a luck or because of their opponents suffering rotten luck.

In life, we are told "you make your own luck". This is designed to make sure people work hard and not blame supernatural elements for their fate. And that is true to a degree. But if you believe that success is never dependent on luck, think again. In fact a good place to start will be to read Malcolm Gladwell's book called Outliers.

Anyway, right now, even when Arsenal lose two points, they got their one point by huge slices of luck – obviously driven by the fact that they did not give up. It is bad luck for Sunderland that they had a defensive crisis when they were about to meet Chelsea. It would be lucky if they were meeting Portsmouth instead who have half their team in Africa. It was lucky for Chelsea.

Arsenal are gaining confidence from coping with their various repetitive injuries. And they are lucky that Ramsey and Fabregas are not injured at the same; that Rosicky and Nasri are not out at the same time, that Diaby is fit while Song is away. We have seen much worse luck only as recently as last season.

What is also clearer now is what the team needs to exploit their luck.

Arsenal have a nasty group of games coming up. Alex Song has left a big hole. Everton play through midfield so they showed us how big the hole was although Wenger tried to deny it. Bolton doesn't play through midfield so we got away with it. Chelsea, Man United and Aston Villa play through midfield. They will be much more to handle than Everton. I admit it is almost not worth buying a player to cover Alex Song now because he will never have time to adjust and deliver before Alex Song is back. We will need good tactical management to decide how to play those games without Song. Never thought you would miss Alex Song right?

Then we have been lucky to have Gallas and Vermaelen fit all the time. We desperately needed cover. Wenger has re-signed Sol Campbell in what people think is a major departure from Wenger's policy. It seems to me that it was not as big as people think. Sol Campbell basically re-signed himself. He asked for a favour to train with the team. He knows the methods and has basically shown Wenger that he is better than Senderos and that he can still play at 35. In order words, Sol gave himself a 3 months trial for Wenger to look at him. Wenger would never have signed him if he had not been been seeing Sol for 3 months in training. I am still doubtful about our defence if Gallas or Vermaelen are missing while Song is away. With Song it would be ok but without him we have to pray that the current pair stay fit.

Then to our forward line. Cesc was interviewed after the Bolton game and commented about his goal scoring by saying it is partly due to fact he's stronger and it makes a difference in the last few yards. Eduardo is the head of the strike force now – it was wise to have there instead of Arshavin. Eduardo is looking like his old self but what he has lost is power. In the last few yards, unlike Cesc, Eduardo cannot make the ground. He looked tiny beside Zat Knight and gave up jumping after a while. Arsenal has not won an aerial ball since Bendtner and RvP got injured – that is a hell of a waste.

So we need a striker because Cesc cannot single handedly carry the goal burden. Rosicky does not take enough responsibility (I am very disappointed in Rosicky so far – step up dude!). Diaby is not going to be scoring while Song is away. Arshavin is slowly losing confidence. It feels like Arshavin has decided that without a new signing we are dead and he seems to be waiting for one instead of getting on with it like Cesc is doing.

I understand a defensive midfielder (unless it is Flamini) would never adapt on time but a striker can and possibly a long-term defensive cover. We need a good defender back-up and a striker till the end of the season, not just till February. The Champions league is returning soon.

It is also worth seeing that things are actually going rather well. It is kind of difficult to sit back and enjoy it because it is all hard-fought – it is not a stroll. Wenger is far more active with substitutions than at any other time in his career. And it looks like he has finally learned how it works too. Some young players are really growing.

Vela may seem very far from what we expected given his Carling Cup performances but he is a team player and that means he is still productive even when he is not scoring cheeky chips. Traore had a tough time against Bolton but he has had a few convincing games. Merida is much much stronger than Cesc was at 19. He has an eye for goal and he can rough it up too. Craig Eastmond did not do fantastic against Bolton but that is a hell of a difficult position to play in. Just remember how long it took Alex Song to master it. Diaby is not screwing up. When he is not spectacular, he delivers an acceptable performance. That is called Consistency. These days, it doesn't look like a weakened side when you see his name on the team sheet. There has actually been some real progress in the squad this season.

I expected the Christmas period to be decisive. In the end, it was only relevant in terms of the fact that Arsenal did not drop out of the race. A lot happened, points were dropped by Chelsea and Man Utd but nothing changed at the top. Now, I think there are six teams that are still very much in it. Arsenal face the best of them in January. January now becomes the decisive time.

User Comments

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea