Tuesday 23 August 2011

View From Oop North

Ok the seasons only 3 games in and already we are in a must win situation against the Italians of Udinese.



I will leave the pre-match analysis to others as I want to concentrate on the manager Mr Arsene Wenger. We were promised the club were going to be very active this summer. Thus far we have only brought in one player with 1st team experience in any top divisions in Le Forehead.
Jenkinson, Oxtail-Chamberpot and Joel Campbel have zero experience of playing against top teams week in week out.

We were promised experience, yet none at the time of writing has been forthcoming. The rights and wrongs of our transfer dealings have been on cyberspace all summer, with more players linked than I care to list here.

Its not Wengers transfer policy I wish to speak about here either, although most Arsenal Fans are baying for his blood over it.

I happen to believe Wenger is like a washed up former World Champion Boxer who keeps saying "One More Fight" its sad to see. My problem with Wenger is he has become predictable. When was the last time we were surprised to see a Defencive Midfielder coming on even though we are chasing a game?

Frimpong saw the red mist
His substitutions lack imagination, for example v Liverpool everyone could see Arshavin and Theo were having beasts... why not throw Oxocube and Ryo on to trouble Liverpools fullbacks? This should have happened before Frimmers Red card.

I remember a CL game at Wembley when he threw caution to the wind and we had Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu and Suker all playing up front! Henry scored by the way.
Our bench on Saturday was the worst in our PL history.

Why Persist in 4-3-3 when in reality no player is within 25 yards of RVP? We switched to 4-3-3 to get the best out of our former captain. We dont have a player of Fabregas` ability available to us at the moment. Why not give RVP a hand and get someone up there with him?
Wenger plays 4-3-3 which migrates to 4-5-1 when we havent got the ball, this is fine when you have players willing to work within that fabric, we dont. Arshavin and Theo are confidence players and lack the inclination to tuck in and track back and in Arshavins case the fitness also.

Arshavin has been a disgrace over the last season with his utter lack of effort. He has all the talent in the world but no inclination to use it.
Wenger has never played him in his preferred position of playing just off a striker, maybe this explains his lack of enthusiasm?

A once calm and collected man.
Arsenes body language on Saturday was awful to see, a once calm, collected chap who would crack up the media with a witty one liner in response to Fergies verbal jousts reduced to what we see before us. A train wreck of a man who has the worries of the world upon his slender shoulders.

I feel he has lost his mojo, I feel sadness that I think he wont ever get it back. I sit there watching Arsenal labouring against teams we used to put to the sword with ease praying Wenger will change things. He wont, he cant. Like a great boxer his brain has gone, oh yes the body is willing but the eyes have gone. Too many meetings about what colour to paint the gents on club level, what sort of bread to serve with the soup on match days have taken their toll. Instead of doing what he does best coach players.

Arsene was a breath of fresh air through the marble halls and the English game, he is up there alongside Chapman in our history. However just as Chapmans and Grahams time came for different reasons so too has Arsenes come.

I dont deny his record on CL Qualification, but I want titles and cup wins. A club like Arsenal shouldn't be happy to finish 4th every season, Wenger handed Utd the title last season with his refusal to buy in January. Arsenal FC isnt Mr Wengers plaything its mine and yours, our Fathers, our Mothers, our sons and daughters. He is in danger of clouding his achievements with his current state of mind.

We stand at the edge of a cliff we either take a leap of faith with Wenger or step back and build a new side with a manager unafraid to spend money where needed and someone who will keep the opposing manager guessing upto Kick off about how we are going to play and in what system.
I love Arsene Wenger , but I am no longer in love with him and I want a divorce. Its like a stale 15 year marriage, he no longer does the things I once loved him for. He doesnt do it for me anymore.

Au Revior mon Petit Proffessor, Je ne Regret mon ami.

By Andy Wood

Follow him on Twitter - @yorkshiregunner







No comments:

Post a Comment