Arsenal have switched off
Sunday, 01 April 07, 05:46 PM · Comments(1)
Liverpool trounced Arsenal 4 - 1 at Anfield.
It would seem Arsene Wenger has lost his dressing room.
It would seem Arsenal's players no longer care.
More disturbingly, it would seem Wenger can't turn it around.
The only Arsenal players who seemed to be up for it were William Gallas and Kolo Toure. And even they were horrendously sloppy and casual in their positioning. Arsenal seemed like jello right from the start and looked like crumbling anytime a decent ball was played in. That they did concede off Liverpool's first attack only lent more credence to the notion that Arsenal had turned up merely in body but not in mind. Few tried, fewer cared to try. Wenger and Rice were clueless and static on the sidelines
Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch were turned into world beaters. Wenger once again started Julio Baptista which makes one wonder if he watches the same games the rest of us do. I doubt having Henry or Van Persie available would have made much fo a difference. The midfield was absent, the attacking fulcrum invisible.
It would seem Arsene Wenger has lost his dressing room.
It would seem Arsenal's players no longer care.
More disturbingly, it would seem Wenger can't turn it around.
The only Arsenal players who seemed to be up for it were William Gallas and Kolo Toure. And even they were horrendously sloppy and casual in their positioning. Arsenal seemed like jello right from the start and looked like crumbling anytime a decent ball was played in. That they did concede off Liverpool's first attack only lent more credence to the notion that Arsenal had turned up merely in body but not in mind. Few tried, fewer cared to try. Wenger and Rice were clueless and static on the sidelines
Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch were turned into world beaters. Wenger once again started Julio Baptista which makes one wonder if he watches the same games the rest of us do. I doubt having Henry or Van Persie available would have made much fo a difference. The midfield was absent, the attacking fulcrum invisible.
Once a team that could effortlessly create chances and score, Arsenal have now become a geriatric team of sideways passers and cul-de-sac runners. Not once did you think that Arsenal were going to
score. It seemed the players had given up as well.
We need a new system, a new engine and a complete overhaul of the attitude. And Baptista needs to go. Players need to stop worrying about losing possession off a forward pass. Attacking intent allied with positive moves reap rewards in the end. Possession is good only if you do something with it - otherwise it's just a lot of running and passing the ball square.
Direct. Liverpool were direct. Chelsea and United have been direct. Arsenal are not. Arsenal have stopped being direct. Adebayor's headers were the only time it looked as if Arsenal would score a goal they meant.
We need a new system, a new engine and a complete overhaul of the attitude. And Baptista needs to go. Players need to stop worrying about losing possession off a forward pass. Attacking intent allied with positive moves reap rewards in the end. Possession is good only if you do something with it - otherwise it's just a lot of running and passing the ball square.
Direct. Liverpool were direct. Chelsea and United have been direct. Arsenal are not. Arsenal have stopped being direct. Adebayor's headers were the only time it looked as if Arsenal would score a goal they meant.
Chelsea have to visit Ashgrove. Will Arsenal lose their unbeaten home record then ? Someone needs to stem the rot. Can Wenger do it ? More importantly, do any of the players care ? Or have they all
gone on vacation ?
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1 Comments · Add yours
i disagree on the first bit, i would said that ade probably gave it more than anyone else. don't forget that left-footed effort off the inside of the post.
we can't just keep waiting for next season, otherwise that will keep happening forever and we'll end up like spurs.