FIVE League defeats before November is even over does not make pleasant reading for any Arsenal fan, that these five defeats came against Fulham, Hull, Stoke, Aston Villa, and Manchester City makes the reading all the worst.
No disrespect to any of the above teams but this is the kind of competition that Arsenal have become accustomed to defeating over the last decade plus some.
Things are not all that bad though: Fifth in the league and still in all three of the knockout competitions. Hopefully this will be as bad at it gets for the Gunners. Thinking negative makes events doomed to failure.
The game against Manchester City must surely be one of the low lights of Arsenal under the management of Arsene Wenger.
All credit to City for their win, they deserved it and I am not disputing that or being a bad loser, but this game was pretty awful. Manchester City did not play great which goes to show how bad Arsenal were.
The North London side were bereft of ideas, creating few chances, never looked liked having a cutting edge and were poor at the back. Wenger's team selection and formation once again left a lot to be desired.
Why the manager persists with Alex Song is beyond most Arsenal fans and indeed most people in football. The Cameroon international had a decent start to the campaign but his recent performances suggest he should be on the bench for Carling Cup games never mind be in the first team.
The partnership between Denilson and Song on Saturday is one of the weakest I can ever remember in an Arsenal side that I have followed for fourteen years.
Yes, the manager's hand was forced by injuries and the outburst of William Gallas but surely playing Aaron Ramsey over Alex Song would have suited Arsenal better.
The Arsenal defence were at fault for all three City goals. A blunder from Clichy saw the ball come off Silvestre into the path of Stephen Ireland to knock home. It can be argued that captain for the day Manuel Almunia should of come off his line quicker for Robinho's well taken second while a clumsy challenge from Djourou left Sturridge make it three from the penalty spot.
From an Arsenal's fan point of view the vast majority of the team seemed as if they couldn't be bothered, there was a huge lack of effort on their behalf.
As I said before, hopefully this is the lowest Arsenal can go, that this is rock bottom.
B/R Ticket Guide Arsenal FC v Dynamo Kyiv
on Tue, Nov 25 at 7:45PM
No TicketsPowered by FanSnap.comHere is what can and must be done to prevent an Arsenal freefall:
Wenger must regain control over the dressing room. More and more it seems that some of these youngsters think they are the business without having proved anything on the pitch. If they are not putting in the effort, drop them. Players like Vela, Ramsey and Wilshere are putting in the effort in the Carling Cup games and look like they could step-up for the odd Premier League match if needed.
Wenger must prevent the cliques in the Arsenal room from getting any stronger. Arsenal are a team unit, not a bunch of mini-units made up of African players, European players and French players. Send them up a mountain for a weekend without any food if that is what it takes.
In the January window, a proven player must be brought in. I am not calling for a big name or a £30 million signing, I am calling for someone who is a winner and who commands respect. Someone who the other players will shut-up and listen to. William Gallas is clearly not that person and never was, losing Gilberto was a big mistake.
Wenger must play the team in a formation that suits the players he has at any given time. Bendtner can not cut it up front on his own so don't play him in a 4-5-1. Tried it, didn't work!
If Wenger has the money he must spend it. The Youth Policy has not worked out. It does not mean he has to completely disregard it, it merely means bringing in two or three hardened professional players who know how to close out a game if winning and know how to battle back into a game if losing.
If Wenger doesn't have the money, heavens above would the board give him some please and thanks. The Highbury development is near complete and fans have been told this is transfer/squad money. You have your shiny new stadium now a shiny team to go with it would be most appreciated Ladies and Gentlemen of the Arsenal board.
Please, please, please replace David Dein. Either swallow your pride and bring him back or else get someone with experience in. It is too much to expect Wenger to do two jobs and it is quite clear that the team need his full attention now.
Finally one that may not go down well with Arsenal fans but if William Gallas is man enough to apologise to his manager, his team-mates, the board and his fans then give him another chance. My point is, I was disgusted with Gallas and his comments to the media, however what he said held a lot of truth.
If Gallas is man enough to apologise and his teammates (Van Persie, Bendtner and Nasri) are men enough to accept it then this will speak volumes of them wanting to play for Arsenal FC. At the moment, Gallas is the best central defender we have and Wenger is already considering him for the game on Tuesday against Kyiv. Let bygones be bygones and lets get the club back on track.
As someone who reads every article she can get her hand on regarding Arsenal, I feel these can make huge differences to the club and change things around.
None of the above are huge changes—if a player is playing bad, bench him, if he sulks put him in reserves, if that doesn't solve the problems pack him off on loan or sell him. There are plenty of players who want to play for Arsenal FC, some of those at the moment don't look too bothered.
As Arsenal manager it is up to Arsene Wenger to stop this freefall in results and performances. It is up to him to make sure that when he does leave Arsenal that he is remembered as the wonderful manager he is, not for someone who went from hero to villain for Arsenal fans.
If he has money, strengthen the squad, it is not short too many players. In my opinion Sagna, Clichy, Gallas (Yes!), Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, Adebayor, Van Persie, Eduardo, Rosicky, Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere, and Fabianski are the bones of a great, great team. Just buy a goalkeeper that doesn't flap, a commanding centre back, and a full blooded defensive midfielder and you have one hell of a team on your hands Mr. Wenger.
As Arsenal manager, Wenger owes this to the loyal Arsenal fans, to those who fork out each year for season tickets even though they may need loans to pay for it. To those Arsenal fans who buy each new Arsenal jersey even though it may be little different to the last.
To those Arsenal fans who get Sky and Setanta packages just to watch their team play. To those Arsenal fans who will still tune in to the next game and cheer on the Gooners no matter how dejected they feel.
Wenger owes nothing to the boo-boys, to those that think the best course of action is to hide behind the internet and set up petitions, no he owes it to the ones that'll stay through thick and thin.
Hell, he owes it to himself!
