Did Wenger Pay For CL and Carling Cup Wins? Out of Balance

Arsenal fans entered the ground in a cheerful mood, they had just watched Chelsea on the stadium TV screens lose 1-0 at Oil Lands, surely the Gunners would now make up ground on the leaders. Sadly it was not to be, and the warning signs were there after only five minutes. In the first five minutes Arsenal spluttered yet Albion created two fine chances.

Arsenal did not stop spluttering until they were 3-0 down. All thoughts of catching the leaders had long deserted the crowd, indeed some of the crowd deserted. It is doubtful that the Gunners’ spirited attempt to score consolation goals gave them any cause to regret their early departure.

Arsenal were not the only team to lose unexpectedly, so did Tottenham and Chelsea, and they all had played four games in ten days including the Carling Cup and CL. Arsenal fans were pleasantly surprised at the strength of the team put out against Spurs and loved the end result.

However, the problem with that was that players like Wilshere had played three games in a week. If Wilshere had started against WBA that would have been his fourth game in 10 days, that’s not on for an 18 year old.

Wenger has to take responsibility

WBA were well worth their victory and there can be no complaints, but this was a disjointed and out of sorts Arsenal team, one of the poorest performances I have seen in a very long time. Arsenal did not start to play until 15 minutes from time.

For over 70 minutes the team was poor and lacking mobility, no doubt many will want to blame the defence and the keeper, and they are not without blame. However, football is a team game and defence starts at the front. Chamakh made no impact at all – why? Because no one linked up with him. Song, Diaby and Eboue were the wrong mix of midfielders, ponderous and predictable they made no impact. They constantly lost the ball putting pressure on the defence. In the first half Albion made the best chances.

Nasri had a good game and scored two goals, but he rarely managed to bring other players into the game, Arshavin’s corners failed again and again to beat the first man. There was no width, no pressing, no movement no guile, no playmakers. It was static and turgid, and it didn’t change until Wilshere and Rosicky came on.

Wenger’s vision gets worse

Arsene said he didn’t recognise the team; well he should have as he picked it, and it was completely disorganised. With another CL game on Tuesday he may have had little choice, if that is the case I am afraid it proves that his squad is not strong enough.

Without Fabregas, with Wilshere resting, and Diaby rusty, the mid field was laughable. With the engine room out of action Arsenal drifted out of control an accident waiting to happen. WBA were far more organised, efficient and ruthless in front of goal, they deserved to win.

Meanwhile two of Arsene’s “world class keepers” have had a very unhappy week, but never mind just check that balance sheet and smile.