What Are Our Expectations Now ?

Monday, 17 November 08, 01:03 PM · Comments(2)

After the weekend's dismal performance it would seem that the general consensus among Arsenal fans is that the most we can hope for is fourth place in the league and having a shot at the FA Cup. To be honest I have thought that from day one and any fan who thinks about the game will have to admit that they never really thought we could win the league. I'm not even mentioning the Champions League as I cannot see how we can win it under any circumstances. We are not as strong as we were last season and while other teams have gone forwards it would appear we are going backwards. I'm not saying that this is a permanent thing but it could become one if not acted upon now. In the past the manager has brought in Vieira, Campbell, Gilberto and players who could play defensively when required. It would appear at the moment that he thinks that his brand of Total Football doesn't require stoppers or ball winners. Unfortunately in the modern game you still have to win the right to play your own way. Teams will not just sit back and let us play our way around them. If we don't play every game at 100% we don't have the strength to force teams into submission. The manager has said that experience is not linked to consistency. If that is not the case can he please tell us what is because he doesn't seem to know and we have to sort out our inconsistency now. It's too late for the league but 4th place is a real must. If we don't need experience what do we need ? I hate to question such a fantastic manager but he doesn't seem to know what makes his team tick(or not) at the moment and that has to be a concern for all Arsenal fans. I am not suggesting for a second that he should go but I am suggesting that he listens to the fans and spends big in January and until then he recognises that some players are not giving their all and he puts in 1 or 2 of the kids who will give everything they have.

With the dreaded international break again this midweek virtually our whole first team squad is away and Arsene won't have any time to work with the players before the City game. As a result who knows what Arsenal team will turn up next Saturday but it is interesting that after the last 2 international breaks, where there was no time to work with the players, we won our next game quite well. Are we over complicating things in training maybe ? It's just a thought but you never know. If the players are coached less before a game will they turn in a better performance with the obvious exception of the United game. My theory will be tested on Saturday afternoon when I will be watching the game in the company of some City fans after playing them in a 5 a side tournament.

In other news there are a lot of rumours linking Vela to a loan move to Hull but I think we would be crazy to do that as he need a run in our team now. Our next match in the Carling Cup, the 1/4 final at Burnley, will be shown live on Sky on my birthday so I'll have to go to the pub for that. The youth team have been drawn away to Aston Villa in the 3rd round of the FA Youth Cup and let's hope they can progress. I know that this is meant to be a blog about Cesc and Arsenal but I don't know what to say about Cesc at the moment as his form is so poor. I hope it is down to Euro 2008, his early season injury and missing Flamini because anything else just doesn't bear thinking about. That's it for today and I'll leave you with the usual clips.

Here's a clip of a recent win against our next opponents.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR3OG8glPKI&NR=1

And to finish some Music from New Model Army (Raw Melody Men).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DARH4qCbYWA

See You Tomorrow.

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