2 toothless 2 slow 2 predictable 2 pathetic, 2 familiar 2-0
It seems an too familiar place. We were in this spot last season. Dangling on a thread and wondering what to do. Last time it was January and we discussed right here on these pages whether or not this was a club, a manager and a fan base at a crossroads. The club went on an impressive run and managed to turn things over and you wonder if it only served to paper over cracks that continue to fissure.
For the second game in a row, Arsenal took to the pitch and lacked any resemblance to authoritative, decisive side that was being widely praised at the start of the season. In this latest installment as in Saturday’ edition there is plenty of blame to go around. You might pick on Andre Santos who had a lot of us wondering last December if he was a better number 1 left back opton than Kieran Gibbs. Well, in all his performances this season and in this one especially he has put that bed. But Santos isn’t the only to be blamed. Schalke mounted attack after attack down the left and for whatever reason Lukas Podolski offered no support to the Brazillian, often times leaving him alone to cover 2-3 players by his lonesome.
And it seems that Arsenal may not have to worry about selling their Captain next summer, especially if Thomas Vermaelen keeps putting in performances like the ones he has recently. To say that he has been horrid wouldn’t be too far from the truth. He just hasn’t been the stalwart we need at back and while Santos didn’t move quickly enough to play Huntelaar offside for the first goal, Vermaelen’s play made it all too easy for him. That the biggest, slowest defender we have is our best defender says something. What is going on with Vermaelen is unknown but his lacksidadasial approach to defending since gaining the captaincy is a worrisome trend.
Arsenal have been toothless these last two games and it shouldn’t be any wonder that they correspond to both the absence of Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs. Never thought you’d hear that or see it in print did you? Additionally, players just aren’t stepping up when needed. Steve Bould’s assertions that Gervinho could become the next Henry seem way off the mark. As ESPN argues, it has to be time to give Giroud a complete run of games as the starter. He’s a traditional centre-forward and if we play to his strengths it might improve things up front. That does mean working more crosses into the box and getting the ball into his feet so he can hold play and bring others in.
It also means that Aaron Ramsey has to be given time – on the bench. While he has shown signs of improvement, he has been more of than on. Serge Gnabry has made two short apperances and by all indiciations seems a better option than the Welshman right now.
All of this is sytemic to larger issues. We’ve discuss them all before. Every blog, news outlet and person with a twitter account has cried over the fact that Arsenal continue to sell their best players without suitable replacements and while credit is deserved for bringing in the players they have this sumer, there are still gaps – namely up front. Gervinho is not the up front answer even though that has worked at times his inability to do anything with the ball once he’s in the box hurts. Giroud I still think will come good but two things have to to happen – 1. still needs time to devleop and 2. we actually have to play to his strengths and right now we’re not doing that. We desperately need another upfront option.
These two horrid performances couldn’t come at a worse time for the club either. Today is the Annual General Meeting and with these two performances, it looks to be a feisty affair. The Arsenal Supporters Trust has insisted that the club accept questions from the floor rather than the just the usual pre-submitted variety. That hopefully means that we will hear questions we want answered rather than just ones the club feel like answering. The management have questions to answer and avoiding the questions is only going to make where we are right all the worse for it.
As for this team, this collection of players also need to decide what the intend to do with themselves. For the two fill games they simply have shown a lack of heart or desire. Sure, there are parts to each of those matches that are beyond their control. The one thing that is in their control is their approach to the match itself. In both of these performances it was a boring stroll through the park. In fairness though at least for the first half last night, the Gunners looked like they were trying but they were still lucky that they were not behind early. I am surprised though. The squad had to know what was at stake and not coming out with an urgency or purpose falls on their shoulders as much as it does the manager’s.
True, there are players that are simply not good enough on this squad. As we mentioned Andre Santos. It was clear that Schalke thought he was the weak link and all night long they attacked him. They were right. He was the weak link. Arsenal were lucky not to be down earlier because of some of his mistakes.
Slip ups against QPR and Manchester United will only further cement in the minds of many that the time for changes is upon us. That it isn’t just the board that need a new direction, that wholesle changes have to be made in order to carry the club further. On this point, I agree with Arseblog – it is neither the time to jump off a cliff nor sit around with rose tinted glasses. In the scheme of a 9 month season this is still early. In the league Arsenal have only lost two games and the Norwich games was the poorest result. In the Champion’s League another win and draw will secure movement into the round of 16. But there are issues and to deny them and say things will be fine are just ignoring that.
It’s a time for rationale reflection. It’s time to be real and the club needs to be open to the possibility that it still isn’t getting it right. The fans also have to be real and understand that there is still time over the course of a season for things to change and as has been shown over and over – it usually does.
Still two pathetic performances are two pathetic performances and things need to change. The players, the manager, and the board need to be held accountable. Or two pathetic performances are only the start of it.
