Win Without Cesc, RvP, Song & Theo? Too Much Season To Go

By Boris Mellor
March 6 2011

The answer may be yes when it’s Leyton Orient, but it’s no when its Birmingham or Sunderland. However, it’s important to stress that Sunderland have a good record in London, they beat Chelsea, and have drawn at Tottenham, Fulham and now Arsenal.

Arsenal Hangover?

Sunderland had a bit of help today from the referee, a perfectly good goal was disallowed, and a nailed on penalty was denied, but that isn’t the full story. Arsenal were poor in the first half, and didn’t really play well until late into the second half, in fact Chesney had to make as many great saves as the Black Cats keeper.

The match is hardly worth reporting, one of the poorest this season, although ironically more fans stayed till the end, which proves the result is everything. If Arsenal were hung-over from the Carling Cup final Birmingham were more so, going down 3-1 at home.

Can Arsenal Win Without Cesc, RvP, Song and Theo?

Most teams missing four big match players such as these would also probably struggle, but Wenger claims this is his strongest squad ever? I am not sure how you can judge that, but if it is by trophies won I sadly suspect his assertion will remain unproven. It is also the case that the team without them has failed to win any important game. Cesc, RvP, and Theo were off the pitch as Brum scored the winning goal.

Arsenal have a good first eleven, but the sad truth is, like a lot of other teams, most of the squad players are mediocre.

Most important week of season

Arsenal’s chance of winning the two of the three remaining trophies of the once trumpeted quadruple will be settled within the next seven days. Away to Barcelona and Man Utd in the space of five days, that was never going to be easy with Cesc, RvP, and Theo, without them it’s a mountain to climb.

To climb it the team will need to roll up its sleeves and fight for each other, like ordinary teams that Wenger appears to look down his nose at. To win the league they needed 3 points today, not one.

The Bench is the Test

As I looked at the bench at Wembley last week I wondered who would turn the game if the team was up against it? Would Nik or Chamakh really make the difference? I thought they wouldn’t and they didn’t. I looked at the bench today and asked myself the same question. It was even worse, Chamakh and Nik were already playing. Who could Wenger bring on to change the game? Answer Rosicky last week’s flop. Meanwhile Denilson flaunted the art of crab football, whilst Diaby has invented a new game, he has challenged himself to complete a full circuit of the pitch whilst keeping the ball. The challenge doesn’t include incisive passing or shooting. He is yet to complete a full circuit, but he did get close a few times.

Confidence?

I can’t speak for the players, well apart from Bendtner who has a Psychometric score of ten out of ten in that area, but at 5 – 0 up against the Orient I tried to start a chant “of we are the mighty Arsenal and we are off to Wemberlee”. There were no takers. The wisdom of crowds? Well it was one song not sung all night, though quite a few sung “one Arsene Wenger”. We shall know very soon.

Too Much Season at the End of Squad

Whatever Wenger says, every year for the last six years as we enter the finishing straight the squad lacks the strength to be first past the post. it chokes on the problem of too many key games, as CL and FA cups conspire to combine against keeping the first eleven going in the league. Maybe Fabregas could have played, but would Wenger risk him not being at Barca? Maybe it’s stronger than other seasons but there still seems to be too much season for the squad to cope with.

Win Without Cesc, RvP, Song & Theo? Too Much Season To Go

Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)

Date: 06/03/2011 10:47

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:03:10:19:36:09 by Padre Pio.