The warning signs are there for Arsene – what is the cost of inaction?

by & filed under Uncategorized.

3 days after Wenger telling the world that the quality levels in his squad are the best he’s ever had, we once again trot out against weaker opposition (53 league places weaker) and struggle like hell to turn them over.

Huddersfield not only gave us a run for our money, they probably deserved to win based on how many chances they had. In the second half they battered us for large sections of the game. Once again, we had to turn to the creative powers of the one and only Cesc Fabregas to save the day.

We were flat and pedestrian. We lacked zip in our passing and the quality in the final third was truly woeful. In fact, the lack of quality displayed in many areas of our squad was shown up and this was against a team our Carling Cup kids team would normally have dispatched with.

The pre-match wasn’t exactly inspiring. I sat on the tube on the way up wondering if I’d got the times wrong for the game due to how empty it was at 1140. There were many empty seats at inside the ground. Clearly, many people had decided to take the day off. Is that down to over kill on the football front of late, or is that down to knowing that you’re likely to shell out £65 to see a half assed second string struggle to break down whoever is in front of them? The latter I expect.

Anyway, the usual suspects were in the side. Denilson, Squillaci, Eboue, Arshavin, Bendtner…. dare I say Chamakh?

We started off brightly, most of the creative stuff was going through Arshavin and Samir Nasri. Arshavin powered a shot over the bar and Nik B couldn’t bundle a loose ball into the net.

Arshavin went close but fluffed his lines into the side netting. Huddersfield went up the other end and nearly turned in a low cross which was pretty worrying.

After 21minutes our break through came, Nik B picked the ball up outwide, powered into the box and smashed it hard at the far post, the ball took a deflection and made its way past the keeper. The score board at Arsenal said it was an own goal, from where I was sitting that looked like an unfair call.

Arsenal’s complacency started to rear its ugly head, passes weren’t finding the feet of red shirted player and this was typified when Denilson slipped in Lee who fed Pilkington in with a great chance that he thankfully couldn’t convert. Denilson held his hands up, but it was once again a shocking show of ineptitude at tier 2 level football from the Brazilian.

Just before half time, Sebastian Squillaci had a chance to show the world why he was such a fantastic signing when he chopped down Jack Hunt mid way through a run that had taken him past two players. It wasn’t a surprise the outcome was a red card. It wasn’t  surprise it was the Frenchman picking it up. If he’s struggling to pick up the runs of average players, what’s he going to be like when he’s inevitably paired with Song at centre back for the Barcelona game in a few weeks?

We also lost Samir Nasri after he chased down a long ball and pinged his hamstring. What a gutter. That’ll teach us for playing route one. I’m not subscribing to the ‘he shouldn’t have been playing’ brigade either. The only way he could have been omitted from the squad was if Wenger had assembled a second string capable of motivating itself to beat inferior teams. Sadly, we don’t have that. The FA Cup and the Carling Cup are not our number priorities but let’s be honest, they’re our number 1 hopes of Silverware. Rosicky joined the party hoping to inject some life into our game.

The second half began, Alex Song had dropped into defence for the anonymous Chamakh. I honestly can’t remember the Moroccan making a contribution in the first half?

Arshavin made a last ditch effort to stop Gudjonsson pulling the trigger. A timely intervention that certainly would have led to a goal.

Huddersfield were battering us, Almunia had to pull off a top class save to prevent us losing our lead. Then the moment came, a corner was fed into the box, our tallest player Abou Diaby was out powered and out jumped, Alan Lee powered a header home.

Typical.

We were shamefully poor. Denilson had been truly garbage and just to sum up how people felt about him, when he looked like he’d pinged a hamstring, quite a number of people cheered sarcastically. Of course, Denilson is the only player who could recover from a 3 week injury after 15.4 seconds which just goes to show you how little the second string fancy it. Very pathetic.

We had to call on Cesc to save our ailing day, the last thing we wanted was another replay. He came on and changed things up perfectly. His ability to find space and motivate the rest of the team cannot be underestimated. It was his cut back and teasing ball that lead to Nik being shoved over in the box. Cesc stepped up for the penalty, nearly stopped twice in the run up, but he was cool enough to bury the kick anyway. He picked up the ball, headed over to the corner flag, paid tribute to the odd jobs man, ran back to the half way line and dropped the ball so the Hudderfield players had to run back and pick it up.

At this point the ground started to empty, the crowd actually jeered the announcement of 58,000 fans.

The game played out, Cesc managed to pick up a booking for being pushed over. Well play Twattenburg. The result was called in, we’d picked up the result and the prize of playing Orient at home in the next round. Thank the lord, they’re about the level of our second string. Looks like a semi final could be coming our way, 3 games away from an FA Cup win, 4 games away from cup double.

So what did we learn today? Well, for me we learnt that Arshavin still hasn’t found his form but he’s getting there slowly but surely. He’s always a creative hub it’s just a shame he doesn’t try and keep it simple when he’s not on fire. Nik Bendtner, despite the goal is still a long way from  being a top class striker. His control isn’t instant and his instincts for  scoring were summed up when he was played into the box by Arshavin but took too many touches to shoot. Eboue is an embarrassment to the shirt, it’s amazing how many times a kick to the leg ends up as a facial injury.

Denilson was shocking in the middle of the park. I just can’t believe how many opportunities he is given to show how bad he is. Why not call back Lansbury and give him a go? At least we know he cares about playing for the club. Surely Aaron Ramsey would have benefitted more from a game like yesterday?

Abou Diaby once again finds himself straight back in the first team squad. I appreciate he’s been out for a while but there is no excuse for some of the lack lustre passes he was making and the simple rudimentary mistakes he was making all over the park, not least being beaten in the air when you’re the tallest player on the park.

Almunia? Well, what a waste of a place in the team. The guy might be nice as a pie, but he’s not fit to wear that green jersey. His indecisive line based keeping really wont be missed when his contract expires. We’ve got a gem in Chesney, I don’t even need to tell people that, he really is a class above anything we’ve got at the club and he should be given the number 1 permanently.

Chamakh put in another forgettable performance. I’m not sure where his confidence has gone, but all that time out he needed for a rest has clearly rotted his game because he was nowhere to be seen yesterday. Someone needs to have a word.

Finally, someone needs to fly a stern e-mail over to Wenger. He’s taking us into the final half of the season with 2 able defenders. Squillaci is a liability, Song is no centre back as there is no one who can do 50% of what he can do. Yet the coach thinks it’s acceptable t sit on his hands.

Suspensions and injuries will happen and the players that will slip in have shown against Wigan, Ipswich, Leeds and Huddersfield why they are not good enough to be reliable replacements against top class opposition. How many times have we been in situations like this?

Wenger needs to sign a centre back, inaction could be the undoing of our best chance at league title glory in a long time.

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1,789 Responses to “The warning signs are there for Arsene – what is the cost of inaction?”

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  3. OPG

    Bartley had no recall clause apparently but with the January window we came to mutual agreement? We probably have a recall clause if needed for the remainder of the season.

  4. SUGA3

    Marko,

    yes, he CAN, but it is not ideal, is it? he certainly feels much better in the same position TV is playing…

    square pegs, round holes again?

  8. patthegooner

    A, given that we had scouts at their game last week, you would have thought that the wankier websites would have at least rumoured it.

    Very strange.

  10. Zak

    Wengers always been quoted as saying when a player has been out for a long time then niggling little injuries are common on his return.

    Vermy won’t be back to his best if at all till next season. Wenger knows this and just wants to prove a point by winning a trophy without buying and proving he was right to buy Sqillaci

  11. Marko

    I dunno SUGA you could be right but he could also be playing on that side of the defense so Djourou can play on the right who knows but early in the season Koscielny looked decent alongside Vermy. Hard to tell the other thing is that Djourou and Kozzer have been so good together that Vermaelen might have to wait to get back into the team

  14. patthegooner

    Spuds in for Charlie Adam in the last few minutes.

    Only according to SSN, but I think they are making this shit up now

  16. SUGA3

    I guess Binippers will need to adapt the Manure chant now?

    He’s half a girl, he’s half a boy,
    Torres, Torres.
    He looks just like a transvestite,
    Torres, Torres.
    He wears a frock, he loves the cock,
    He sells his arse on Albert Dock,
    Fer-nan-do Torres, Carraghers bit on the side

  21. ritesh

    Not easy to find though Suga.

    If Vela had gone to WBA, we might have got Cahill. We should recall him and bench him for the rest of his contract, the bastard

  24. patthegooner

    Think the Adam thing is just SSN adding a bit of excitement for the last few mins. Fish lips left the training ground earlier.

    You never know though

  27. Rohan

    Honestly, Spurs just look at the papers transfer section at what other clubs are doing and bid for players.

    Fucking joke really.

  28. TOMTOM

    We constantly talk about how shit Denilson is on here but we all know he will start against Barca. Fucking disgusting

  31. SUGA3

    ritesh,

    sure, it’s not easy if you can’t be arsed to look!

    who is supposed to make the deals happen again?

    FAIL. You’re fired, now fuck off!

  32. Marko

    Seriously spurs can barely give a game to Crouch or Pavluchenko or Defoe and Keane and then they try to sign Rossi or Aguero and now they move for Charlie Adam while they couldn’t give a game to Bentley or Krancjar and have Pienaar and Modric and Lennon and Bale. Fucking joke club

  33. patthegooner

    Its Shut and Almunia is still an Arsenal player and given that Fabianski is undergoing surgery, he will sadly be our number one by the end of the month

  40. Zorr0

    TT, he will not start against Barca, hardly a replacement for Nasri. If anyone does it will be AA or at worst Diaby!

  45. OPG

    Chelsea did some great business tonight they got the players they really needed last summer, unlike Liverpool who got mugged.

  49. TOMTOM

    The champions of last season spend 75 million and the team with no trophies in 5 years spend nothing,nice ambition Wenger

  50. patthegooner

    Alex

    What a fucking joke that is. Why do Arsenal try and mug us off with shit like that just as the deadline passes.

    Wankers

  52. E12 gunner

    FUCK OFF WENGER YOU TWAT

    BENZEMA
    CAHILL
    OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
    MERTESACKER
    SAKHO
    HAZARD

    MY ARSE

    PFFTT

    GOOD NIGHT GROVERS

  55. Marko

    I’d seriously start Rosicky if fit and firing against Barca his work rate and everything is very Nasri like but of course he’s just missing the form. I get slightly fearful when I see Arshavin playing in the big games now he’s work rate or lack of and his total loss of desire and fight is worrying.

  56. A

    Miyaichi has just been announced because he’s just signed on loan for Feyenoord, that’s the reason….

    Come on Bougherra, sign on!

  58. SUGA3

    ptg,

    they have the same arrogant, cuntish sense of humour PHW has, they think we’re mugs…

    now, let’s sit back and watch the house of cards fall apart…

  66. Zak

    We are in need of a CB

    Bartley recalled from a loan

    Then loaned out again.

    WHY ???

    Surely he would have been in Wengers plans now as an emergency back up.

  71. Marko

    Pat there was a few who were embarressed in the neu camp I was just making a point that he might be better suited to the game as opposed to Arshavin but if their someone else that I overlooked then please tell me. And no Bendtner playing on the left isn’t the answer

  75. incesc

    andy carrol

    worst transfer fee ever???

    :)

    but are liverpool fans just happy to have a striker to replace torres?

    wenger would never of replaced him…

    cant work or which is worse

  77. Pedro

    Spurs fail with Charlie Adam bid?

    Rohan, instead of focusing on the ambition of others, shouldn’t we be focusing on how there is a clear need for a centre back at Arsenal and we’ve scoured the world and not identified anyone better than Squillaci?

    Does it not worry you that Song, our best defensive midfielder could very well end up deputising?

  79. patthegooner

    Keyser,

    In a game where we needed our experienced players to turn up, Rosicky was terrible in the Nou Camp. I was a big Rosicky fan but his effort and performance that night was embarrasing.

  80. SUGA3

    why are we even discussing this? we will get dicked by Barca anyway, we should just play the second string and save the first XI for the league!

  83. Lou

    If it is true that the club have failed to strengthen when they had both the opportunity and the finances then I think it is absolutely staggering. Always, always improve the squad from a position of strength. We are second with a hard second half of the season before us. The first team is good but we are an injury or two away from slipping away. Just like last year, the year before and the year before that. If you don’t learn from your previous mistakes then there is something wrong, deeply wrong.

  88. SUGA3

    Marko,

    we are telling you now: it is going to happen, simple as that, we have been running the first choice CB pairing into the ground for a few seasons now, no?

  89. A

    Suarez to be the second coming of Kezman, Carrol the second coming of Jeffers, and Torres to continue his Owen-like progression into being fit for about 5 games a season.

    Oh and Bougherra to be announced tomorrow morning despite paperwork being filed tonight….

  90. Keyser

    PattheGooner – Nah, we were playing possibly one of the best teams ever and if we’re relying on Rosicky to be the game changer, then you’re expecting far too much.

    It’s like the centre-back thing, I’d have been happy only with a top top class signing, because if we’re left with Squillaci or any other choice at centre-back then we havent got much of a chance anyway.

  91. patthegooner

    I am not wishing it at all Marko. Fuck it would be absolutely disasterous

    But it is something that seems to happen to us year after year and usually just after the window shuts.

    And its not about I told you so either. The whole fucking world knows that we needed another CB. Who would we be telling so?

  93. Rohan

    “focussing on the ambition of others”

    Isn’t that people have been doing all day?

    I agree though, I’m dissappointed we didn’t get anyone, but it’s not the end of the world is it now. :D

    As I said earlier, let’s hope Wenger knows something re Vermaelen we don’t.

  94. Zorr0

    Right, enough of the jollity of Le Grove, time to go pull the legs off some trapped spiders!

    Well, we know who we have now for the rest of the season, so we have to get on with it, get behind all of them, even twats like Denilshite I guess, because like it or not, they wear the shirt and that is what I support.

    Laters

  95. SUGA3

    A,

    I was once called the doomer Goebbels on ACLF, you must be the AKB equivalent :lol:

    Suarez scored 49 goals last season, he is good for about 20 in the Prem, Carroll is a good battering ram and Torres is fucking class!

    and keep deluding yourself on the Bougherra issue…

  96. Marko

    I know but sometimes it’s like some people want us to fail SUGA and I’m not signaling you out but it’s over it’s done let’s just hope now that Djourou can stay fit and healthy and that Koscielny can keep showing that he’s made of strong stuff.

  97. BillikenGooner

    We’ve been “in it to win it” the last few seasons and seen Gallas and Verm break down just in time for late stages of CL and the League.

    Now we get to try it with DJ and Kozzer.

    Fantastic.

  98. arsenal4ever

    A are u really sure Bougherra can be an arsenal player by tomorrow? this would be the most quiet transfer ever!!!

  100. patthegooner

    Didnt expect him to be a game changer, just expected him to turn up and do his job instead of being a lazy arse.

    And it has been a similar story ever since. Jesus even at the weekend he spent most of the game crying and holding his arms in the air.

    If Arsenal players put in effort but play shit it is one thing, when they play shit and put fuck all effort in it really pisses me off.

  103. Keyser

    Liverpool have definetly got a stronger squad than us now, seriously.

    An attacking triumvirate of Kuyt – Carroll – Suarez.

    World Class that.

  106. A

    How many goals did Kezman score before he came to the prem SUGA, or Alves?!

    It’s far from guaranteed Suarez will be good in the prem, although he could well be.

    Carrol yeah is a good battering ram, although not sure how he’ll fit with Liverpool, and how he’ll develop. The price they paid is silly.

    And yeah Torres is class, when he’s not injured – same with VP. Apart from the problem with Torres is his hammies, and once they start to go they can be very problematic, just ask the likes of Michael Owen and Kieron Dyer.

  107. Hussain

    Kuyt- Carroll – Suaraz beats Walcott- VanP – Nasri (Arshavin in form)

    Hahah Im having a laugh to that! Honestly We never needed any re inforcements, maybe a CB but i would rather wish Tommy V a speedy recovery than sign someone who fucks up in the first few games and then does fuck all sitting on the bench!

  108. Keyser

    PattheGooner – Nah he played ok on Saturday, fed in Arshavin a couple of times for good chances, worked hard, dunno what you’re on about.

    He’s just not the player he was about 12 years ago.

  111. Stu

    I know the amount being exchanged is laughable but im still jealous of other teams activity during the transfer window.

    I wish we had signed at least 1 player. A centre back ready to start would have been nice. Or faling that, selling Denilson would have been a start/

  112. A

    No sorry – don’t wanna get anyone’s hopes up on Bougherra, just thought it made sense but no real rumours whatsoever!

  113. SUGA3

    Keyser,

    since when are Bindippers the benchmark for us?

    and laughing at signing Carroll for that kind of money does not cover up OGL’s idiotic stubbornness, which WILL prove costly!

  114. Marko

    Keyser says:
    January 31, 2011 at 23:25
    Liverpool have definetly got a stronger squad than us now, seriously.

    An attacking triumvirate of Kuyt – Carroll – Suarez.

    World Class that.

    I better sense some sarcasm there mate.

    And Big Dave is Iniesta really out? Blow for them for sure he’s been super this season and while good his possible replacement Keita isn’t close to him.

  115. patthegooner

    I thought he was awful Keyser. just my opinion though.

    The injury killed him and he is no longer anywhere close to being PL quality.

    I think he will be off in the summer.

  116. A

    Andy Carrol, someone who’s 22 and has had half a decent season in the premier league, now the 7th most expensive player of all time – just incredible

  119. Keyser

    Suga3 – What are you on about, who’s laughing ?!

    Wwhat will it cost, who should we have bought, and what are you/ were you expecting had we signed/ not signed a centre-back.

  121. Keyser

    PattheGooner – Think you’re being a bit ridiculous here, with about 33 first teamers missing for the second leg, I wasn’t expecting Rosicky to turn it around.

    The players worked hard, it just didn’t come off for them.

  122. SUGA3

    Keyser,

    who am I, an Arsenal scout? sort me out with that gold plated job and I will tell you!

    nice job if you can get it, you get paid to tell AW that no one is better than Denilshite, it would take some effort to do that with a straight face, but hey :lol:

  124. patthegooner

    I could see Newcastle being sucked into the relegation battle now. They could not get anyone in (inc Bendtner)

    They will really struggle without Carroll. Not worth anywhere near what he went for but he was so important for them.

  126. A

    Will Chelsea change their style of play now then, and system, or will they stick Torres out wide until Drogba leaves in the summer?

  130. Big Dave

    Yes Marko. am hearing he is.

    Tell you one thing now all this has gone on, no way we will sit at the table with Barca untill they start with £1oo mill for Cesc.

    Nite all

  132. A

    Yeah pat, they’ve taken a big risk, but probably made the right decision. Provided they manage to stay up they’ve got a massive amount of money to strengthen the squad, and in the summer they can use it well and take their time, rather than having to pay double the price for half the player

  133. patthegooner

    Like I said Keyser, I can accept players not performing if they put the effort in,

    But watch it back, he was shit that night, and when we are missing so many 1st teamers, it is the experienced players like Rosicky that need to step up.

  134. Wenger the liar

    Well several managers made their beds today. The funny thing is that all of them bar Wenger will have to lie in them if their decisions prove to be wrong.

  139. patthegooner

    A

    It is a massive risk, and maybe they regret holding out for so long today.

    Thing is if they do go down, that 35m is straight down the pan in lost revenue next season.

  140. Marko

    Some good news then Big Dave we miss Nasri they miss Iniesta even though given how well Nasri’s been this season it would of been fairer if Messi was missing. And honestly how can you put a price on Fabregas now when Carroll goes for 35 million and Milner goes for 24 million?!?

  141. patthegooner

    WTL

    And that is what fucks me off,

    Regardless of our finishing position or what we win, Wenger is untouchable.

    Obviously I hope his gamble pays off, but I just cant see us being that lucky in trying to keep everyone fit.

  142. Keyser

    PattheGooner – I watched the game, Rosicky before the injury had the physical edge to do the sort of chasing around Clichy did.

    We’re playing one of the best team ever, and if you’re honestly expecting Rosicky’s experience to be the thing that shined through, then you’ve lost it.

    They worked hard, they just weren’t good enough. Our chances probably rested on a Diaby throughball for Walcott after that we had little to no chance.

  143. gambon

    So no signings, more players loaned out, Wengers bonus must be enormous this year.

    French African 15 year olds are looking forward to the next transfer window.

    Just to reiterate…

    Chelsea – Torres & Luiz
    Man City – Dzeko
    Liverpool – Carroll & Suarez
    Spuds – Pienaar
    Arsenal – Miyachi & Wellington

    You couldn’t make that shit up.

  144. A

    Yeah very true pat. If they got relegated Ashley would probably pocket the money and run too!

    To be fair Carrol has been good for them but not THAT good. He was their top scorer but only scored one goal more than Nolan.

    They’re gonna be relying massively on their midfield for goals now though, needing Ben Arfa to return and be straight into form, and Ireland to slot in well. It’s a pretty decent midfield, Ireland, Barton and Nolan along with Ben Arfa to come back, and Tiote and Gutierrez are pretty powerful and determined.

    Nothing whatsoever in attack though.

  146. Keyser

    Suga3 – I’m not, half of you lot are hysterical, you need to get a hold of yourselves.

    If our chances of Silverware rest solely on the backs of a stop gap defender, fuck knows what people wanted, you don’t see to know either, then we really are fucked.

  148. patthegooner

    if you’re honestly expecting Rosicky’s experience to be the thing that shined through, then you’ve lost it.

    Ive lost it!!!!!

    If that is the case Keyser, then what the fuck is the point of having him in the squad??

    I didnt expect him to single handedly win the game, but he played with such a lazy attitude, at a time he should be setting an example to a young team.

    We could lose 10-0 and you would find a way of blindly defending them.

  150. arsenal4ever

    exactly gambon. nothing against talent but we needed a fukking CB and imo real striker to cover RVP and a dm but nothing fukking happened!!

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