Couldn't agree more. We're two points off the lead, and people are calling for heads. Don't think they understand that the Premier League does not consist of only four teams anymore.

Great read ML,

Your absolutely right. I am one of Wenger's biggest fans and have faced abuse for it but the relationship Arsene has with his players will not be replicated with anyone else, it's just not possible. Not to mention the players who have a loyalty to Wenger, they would all be more willing to leave if we continued with no silverware under new managment - Fabregas would have joined Barca in the summer if Wenger was not our manager.

Talk of replacing our manager when we are 2 points off the top of the table with a great chance to challenge for the title, almost qualified for the knock-out stage of the CL for the 300th year in a row (maybe slightly exaggerated) and doing well in our first domestic cup competition is just pure ludacy.

As for those people who are saying they're going to throw their season ticket away, throw it this way you ungrateful arse, plenty of real fans would sell a limb to have it.

Saturday was a vile day but it is just one day, bring on Braga.

The only way too look at is. Were still only two points behind Chelsea,there is still time to correct these issues.it's never good to peak to early.ps for gooners who wish to call for sir wenger head now is good time to fuck off and support the yids.now one will notice u have left.

Great article and really well put!
I too have been trying to get myself out of the duldrums regarding Saturday.
I still don't believe that Wenger should go and due to the Chavs losing think we still have a chance, albeit a very small chance, of winning something this year.
Seeing the comment s from the Chavs and Mancs fans has bouyed me no-end.
If nothing else it's turning out to be a very interesting season.

all we need to do is learn to defend..... as a team...... if we d not have the coaching staff for this then go and getone in... simples.

we dropped djorou to the bench and he was opur best defender over the last two games, know what it is like to play in a derby, yet we "blood" 3 newbees and what do they know about derbies, well guess what they fecking do now........

get a rugged defender dunne-cahil-samba-nelson-

stick kosser on front of back 4 and playe cesc-nasri-JW in front of him and then any 2 you like up front, jod done, can i go to franc for a dirty week---end now haha

I tend to agree with most of your points. but i'de like to make a couple of my own if you don't mind.

Wenger has FAILED to build a defence without any valid reasons. we are now lumbered with second rate french defenders that don't even make it to the national team. what are his exuses? i can't be bothered anymore.

the trouble most gooners have with wenger is that he is not a passionate manager who man manages. only throws tantrums when things go wrong, surely that is not a sign of a leader...sort things out in the dressing room...prepare the team well...BUY well, train well and then whatever happens happens. How many gooners can safely say that we will win a game at Old trafford, the bridge or even the lane? We're just hoping rather than expecting...wenger's teams just do not fill me with confidence and his stubborness to address REDICULOUSLY OBVIOUS problems is surely waring thin with most supporters i think.

I think Wenger will either win the league and stay on, or collapse spectacularly and leave...now, my money is on the latter and godd riddance i'd say.

2 moments of poor football cost us 3 points on saturday.

(i) Koscielny has to bury that header. (Imagine what Vermaelen would've thrown behind that ball to make sure it beat Gomez)

(ii) Cesc gave away a needless penalty & gave Spurs the momentum


Removing all emotion from the fact that it was spurs, losing any second half 3-0 at home is pathetic. With the players we have available, it really in inexcusable. Wenger's tactics have nothing to do with it.

If we can't win with these players, we never will

Most Gooners will be glad to hear that they will not have to wait until May to find out what is going to happen to Arsene Wenger. For the life of me I just do not know how he will be able to stay in the job beyond May if he does not get a result at MANU and beat Chelsea on our own patch. However, even better is the knowledge that his mind could be made up regarding his future if his team does not deliver against Braga & Villa

Simple-this team must now prove that it can win and win consistently and win against the big teams and in the big games. Something it has failed consistently to do for 5 years now. it is a huge task to ask a team to suddenly start delivering when it has not for 1/2 a decade- a huge ask.

Like any other Gooner I want them to deliver-but really take out emotion and look through galsses that are not red & white tinted and do you really believe they can. I will, only if I see the results between now and Jan 1st!

IN ARSENE &OUR PLAYERS WE TRUST

good on u man,keep it up!!!

John Cross is Tweeting AA,Clichy and RVP are not travelling. RVP? Is RVP injured again?

Well played. As much as Sat hurts, the table still looks quite good.

Ask the moaners where they would hope to be at this stage if you'd asked them in mid August. They'd have bitten your hand off at the elbow if you'd offered them two points behind Chelsea.

There's still the thought that we only needed to reverse one of our home losses to top the table, but the worlds not quite ended for me just yet cos of that.

great post......BUT,the biggest problem i have is the players don`t care. there used to be a time when our side had many english players some who had grown up in north london or nearby and they played derby games like they were supposed to be played. LIKE A CUP FINAL!!!!!!
you leave it all on the pitch. just like spurs did. fair play to them, and as much as i hate to say it we should look at the way gallas played as our example. its taken 2 days but i can finally bring myself to watch the match again. any other week i would have already watched it 3 times regardless of result. but that really hurt. 17 yrs of bragging rights destroyed in 45-50 mins. these players need to have the likes of keown,adams,parlour, and co, come in and tell them how much derby matches mean to the fans. COME ON LADS,NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!

Great article. the more reactionary elements amongst arsenal's fan base gets a bit tiresome.

I do think that it is long overdue for Wenger to instill some tactical disciple into this team, particularly in central midfield. If song / denilison aren't capable of defensive disciple then the personnel have to change.

nothing wrong in closing out a 2-0 lead like Chelsea / Liverpool under Benitez.

Talk about jinxing it. Anyone hear about RVP not travelling tomorrow? He better not be injured.

At the moment Arsenal are two points off the top. Is there any guarantee after the matches against MU and Chelsea will it still be two points?If after those games against the red face and Chelsea, the gap stay s at two well and good. What if the gap stretches two six points?
Then it will show the present lot of guys aint good enough.No amount of training and tactical adjustment can make up for the difference in talents.
If it's more of the same by Arsene ie more kids for the future and top quality from Rumania/Bosnia/Austria Denmark/Faroe Islands/Scotland the I'm afraid Arsene is deluding himself.Btw I have no intention of belittling the soccer in these countries. It's comparing merchandise in Harrows with the flea market.

How much longer do we have to put up with the morons who want to see Wenger go? Quite apart from the fact that Gooners watch a quality of football that is second to none in this country at least, and second only to Barca in Europe, and ignoring the fabulous stadium and the prospering finances - all of which is Wenger's doing - who on Earth is fit to replace him? Let me think..........hmmm, no one springs to mind. I note the bookies mention O'Neill, Mourinho, Owen Coyle and Guus Hiddink, among others. Is any one of these men any more certain to win trophies? I think not.

The non-stop callers for silverware ought to get real - it's hard to win anything and it always has been. You won't remember this sort of immature clamour from fans of yesteryear because they understood that there isn't a quick fix, there is no guarantee of success. The main pleasure of watching football is to see the game played well - and to get excited at the POSSIBILITY of winning something big. To go away after every setback wringing your hands and cursing the manager is childish. Grow up, you morons, and enjoy a lovely footballing side while you can.

We played better football than Spurs on Saturday but caved in to relatively simple direct football. We get caught out by the long ball aimed over the top or into that central zone 25-30 yards into our own half. It's a fault that needs addressing - but it's not in itself a symptom of a failing football team. We are only two points off the top after all!

every team loses from time to time.shit happens.we are genuinely a good team.the cream will rise.come on the gunners

Chris, you've been stealing notes off of my desk again haven't you?

Pretty much exactly my thinking.

is, i would have thought - that football fans are by and large, total fucking morons.

This is the most sensible and realistic blog I have read all week. Every blog has been saying 'Sack Wenger'. What the hell is that going to achieve? Im positive that many of our players are at arsenal because of Wenger, so losing him will create an out roar amongst our players.

In regards to the game, who is to blame? Wenger or the players? We were bombing forward after half time and caught massively on the break. Was this the players not getting back, or Wenger not telling them to calm down at half time?

Fabregas without doubt is our best player. When he plays well, the whole team play well and vice versa. his head is not in at the moment. Hopefully Wenger can change this

i ahve had twodays to think bout it and i am starting to think that wenger has gone mad how change a def so much jd was playin well the u bring in kos ok he has done ok but not consistantly in and out the team with sending offs and so on i dont blam him souly but for me he has 2 big part and i do agree with fab not bing there and needs to b droped

RVP fucking rested.Do me a favour.Welcome to Arsenal's holiday camp.Good teams do not lose 3 out of their last 5 games

I am fed up with some gooners saying they wouldnt swap beautiful football for trophies.What Muppets.United play attacking football and win trophies why cant we? Wenger picks skillful tiny players but where is the steel in the side.Wenger teams of the past had it with Keown Adams Vieira and Petit.We crumbled on saturday.Song and Denilshit were as strong as a chocolate teapot.Something has happened to Wenger over the last 5 years he thinks we can win titles with no steel in the side.We cant.As the last 5 seasons have proved.And dont anyone try and deny it you have just got your head stuck up Wenger's arse.

Fabregas didnt leave because Barcelona didnt have the money to buy him.Dont talk crap that he wanted to stay.And saturday wasnt one day what about WBA and Newcastle slipped your mind eh

Do you REALLY think that Denilson will look in the mirror and say to himself that I could have run a little bit faster when they scored their first?

Three hours after the game he doesn´t give a shit if we lose or win.

That´s the mentality some of our players have.

Would love to see Ferguson address a lazy b-d like Denilson after the game.....

Ffs Arsene.....

ML its shamefull that on this your site we are having to trawl through so much shit!
Where are you going? gooner4life, Likewise RedandDead? Who R U with?

But oh my its worth it when you find a diamond in the rough.
Chris we salut you! ...................................................................... ..............
I was looking to put pen to paper (o'k finger to key) to articulate what you have so elegantly done for me.
I raise my ruby red glass of wine to a long term proper Gooner.
ML claimed you stole his notes? I go further are you sure it was you and not me that wrote that blog?

Please please please lets have more feet on the ground progresive intelligent constructive artiles from our real supporters.
Carry on Chris.

Richie,

I know what you mean. Over the last few days I haven't been able to see properly through the crowds of anger on Arsenal Vision. Nice to see some calm heads around the anger and frustration

The anger and frustration is understandable!
We all felt it, especially immediately after. It was a roller coaster ride that didn't end up where we wanted or expected it to end.
The vitriol and spite is what gets me, not to mention the pure sense of ungratefulness. With our "Own" it often times reminds me of a dog chewing on his own hind leg. Then Chris posts his blog and I'm reminded that we really do have great supporters amoungst our crazy's.

I would say a great way to make us feel better would be to batter Braga somewhat silly later on this evening, wouldn't you say?

Followed by a spanking of Villa at Villa park.

How do you know what goes on behind the scene and so on...
I bet the manc and kgb fans are also hoping rather than expecting to beat us on our ground

I've been to my fair share of Arsenal games this season home and away, here is my brief analysis of our downfalls

1) Arshavin has the be the laziest cunt i've ever watched play football. Clichy is constantly over-run because of this. Arshavin seldomly does something brilliant, but that is not good enough for Arsenal.

2) Wenger is tactically inept. Bringing on Van Persie against Newcastle and Spurs is a joke. Everyone knows except Wenger that RVP takes about 10 games to any sort of sharpness! I didnt need hindsight for this, when he came on against Newcastle I knew immediately that we'd just thrown the game away.

Also against spurs bringing on Walcott when it's 2-2 is pathetic, you bring on a player like this when the opposition is chasing the game so we can expose their defensive fragilities, no brainer surely?

3) Denilson, unlike some of the other players that have got their fair share of stick over the years such as song, eboue even fabianski, these players unlike Denilson are showing signs of progress. Denilson is simply not good enough, we can't wait another 2 years for more sideways passing and no tracking back, I would have thought he wouldn't have made the same mistake twice (rooney).

Not learning from your mistakes is unforgivable!

Making a point here, Wenger mentioned that the intl break took a told on most of our players. Then also when asked on why he didnt get VdV when he had the chance, he mentioned he's got nasri to cover for it. Now thinking of which, imo, the team doesnt have the decent backup/cover when any of the first eleven is out. Looking at the other top 4, each of them have a decent backup in line. Now assuming fab and nasri is out of action, who is going to be the main, decent playmaker of the team? denilson?

good perspective.

So you have found some snippets of angry fans from Chelsea and since they are moaning it's all ok because they aren't feeling any different to the gooners.

Wrong, their trophy cabinet has been opened lately! They have been winning trophies the last six years, as has the great UTD.

Stop kidding yourselves, face reality and get back in the pack you are more matched with. You take the P out of spurs about them always thinking they are going to win something after a couple of decent performances, but you are boring now. You won't win the Prem, maybe a cup you ridicule every time someone else wins it, except you'll be singing from the rooftops as you normally do.

be playing American football at the Emirates any time soon like Man USA

Seriously mate, what are you on?

You make a very logical case, but in reality things aren't that easy.

You claim "Wenger has FAILED to build a defence without any valid reasons."

What do you suggest -- he pluck some genius defenders out of their air?

All the good defenders cost shitloads of money and are out of our budget.

Apparently recently finances are looking up. Let's see how we do in January. Vermaelen is injured. If he's still injured let's see if Wenger buys.

Errrr ... yeah because our English players like Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira, Lljungberg, Edu, Toure, Lehmann, Lauren and Pires really knew what it as like to grow up in North London.

Typical, brainless knee-jerk comment by a quasi-racist Englishman.

I agree withe the Post, we can't always have it our way, the doom mongers are out in herds, I won't lose sleep over the defeat, we are two points behind Chelsea and the real work starts now.

Maybe you can go to the official site and ask of a bloke called Rosicky. Or diaby. Or a kid who goes by the name of Jack Wilshere. So tell me, how much creative flair do manure or KGB possess? Fucking yid. Get out!! We need people with perspective here, not rabid dogs.

I get what everyone is saying, we are definitely still in this race, but there is know way in hell you can tell me that things are all rosy.

We just lost a 2 goal lead, at home, with the chance to go top of the league.

Don't peak too early!? I wish that was the reason they lost, but the sad fact is we always seem to choke when our moment comes along and that does not sit well with me.

We need to shut up and buck up! Because this isn't a one-off thing anymore, it is a continuing trend that needs to end, and end soon!

We've got the talent but something is wrong with our squad and it has been wrong since 2006.

stop all this nonsense about winning trophies, stop all this nonsense about rosy football, where have the days gone when we queued up at our respective clubs in the rain and bunged the turnstile some cash and went in and made a noise, Gerry Armstrong and Sammy Nelson on respective sides and 2 clubs with genuine supporters..
Now you lot are accused of no noise whilst all of your loyal fans cant get in and we are closely following you down the same road..
Lets not kid ourselves lads the champions league has killed football and to be honest I aint that fussed If we dont get in it next year..as I just want the old days back when our rivalry was a real one built on Housing estates and family traditions , £100 a seat to watch defending like that and we are not far behind to watch some Gallas Bastard who has no morals and no sense of pride and loyalty in his body..
stuff the lot up the fa's arse and walk away..now who wants a bagel with a yid and reminisce about when football was football...because I was there when we done a minutes silence for David Rocastle and we observed it out of respect for a man who was Loyal to his club ..a real rarity these days...

Greed, Sky Television and the need for instant success has put a stop to how football used to be, certainly from a supporter point of view. What I am happy about is many of our values have remained the same.

We have to roll with the punches, we are football fans after all.

The thing is every supporter has an opinion on what is right and wrong with the team. Some of them are right. This is my opinion:

Personally, I feel that there are some key areas that wenger has failed to address and these elements have lead to a big team like Arsenal winning nothing for 5 years, which is completely unacceptable.

1. When Wenger came he had a back 5 built and drilled by Graham. Apart from the odd player he has comprehensively failed to build a defensive unit capable of keeping consistent clean sheets since the one he inherited.

2. Goalkeeper situation seems to be excarcebated by the fact that they are always included in the 5-a-side sessions thus giving them little or no experience of general goalkeeping skills (with the exception of shot-stopping) e.g. coming for crosses, command of their area, defending at corners, free-kicks etc. By Bob Wilson's own admission, he and Wenger have clashed over his opinion that the 'keepers should be taken aside at times for one-on-one coaching with the GK coach.

3. Our full-backs are involved in alot of our attacking play but are unable to cross which only results in poor crosses into the box and a lack of variety in our attacking play.

4. Its a well known fact that alot of matches are lost and won in midfield. Yet wenger has failed to find a defensive/attacking balance for the team as a whole thus leaving us vulnerable to attacks/counter attacks when we lose the ball. We dont have a midfield general, certainly not since the days of Petit/Vieira. IMO Song can do a job but he must have someone like Ramsey or an Essien type to share the responsibility. denilson is never going to be good enough. Wenger has had a long time to address these weaknesses.

I obviously dont have a problem with the creative side of our game or the football we play, which is the envy of Europe. However, as with everything in life there must be a balance and we dont possess that. I've been a gooner for 20-odd years and i just dont feel Wenger can build a team capable of delivering trophies.

Errrr.....they were drilled by the likes of keown,palour and adams,and dare i say it cambell on how important derby matches are and performed as such. unlike our current crop of overpaid imports and children.
by the way i`m austarlian and from a mixed race family you twit. i have followed arsenal since the late 80`s and travel yearly to watch the last month. where i attend games with an indian, and polish gentleman. nothing knee-jerk about it. just the facts. i assure you jack wilshere would of played appropriately if the boss had called for him.

Wenger needs to get a grip and start dipping into the transfer funds. I’m sick and tired of hearing the same old bull…. We got money (If you say so Wenger!!) but we need to give the youth a chance. From my view the youth setup is exactly what’s wrong with the club.
We have so many youth players and none of them get a chance, if you look at the age of the youth in the reserves at the moment you will notice that some are closing on the age of 20, some even older than that and the only youths over the years which have been given a chance are freak players like Wilshire and Fabregas who we 15 when they started playing for the first team. It goes to show if your good enough straightaway you will get into the first team and no one graduates at Arsenal. Sooner or later Wenger will have to have a player fire sale otherwise they will be leaving on frees losing out on any potential sell on value. Meridia last year was a perfect example of this cause he left on a free and Wenger had a chance to sell him to Athletico Madrid for 8 million just a few months earlier. Quality youth players will stop coming to Arsenal because their agents will tell them they will never get a chance at playing for the first team stunting their growth and development with lack of first team football. Incase your wondering why there is a lack of quality youth players about that’s because big clubs now buy them all stunt their growth by not loaning them out and letting them train with the first team then by the time they hit 21 playing for some 2nd rate side they are a shadow of the self they could have been if they were playing regular football at a smaller club who has to play them week in week out. My advice is simply to have a limit on the number of youth players aloud at clubs and in Arsenals case have a fire sale in January and sell a load on with a 30% sell on fee. Look how much money we made when Bentley and Diarra were sold on from the clubs we sold them to. Also we all know Arsenal have been hit by this recession but don’t give me we aint got transfer and wages money for some top players because we got plenty of money sat on our benches who can finance that.

This is what I would do to get transfer money in and wages down:

First team players to leave

Almunia – 2 million
Fabianski – 5 million plus 30% sell on fee ( I know ive over priced him but I bet some eastern European team would pay it)
Vito mannone – 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Sagna – 10 million
Djourou – 5 million
Clichy – 12 million
Traore – 2 millon plus 30% sell on fee
Abou diaby – 5 million
Thomas rosicky – 5 million
Denilson – 6 million
Alex song – 10 million
Cesc Fabregas – 55 million minimum
Bendtner – 10 million
Carlos vela – 5 million plus 30% sell on fee
Sean mcdermott – 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Reice charles-cook - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Yennaris - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Cruise - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Bartley - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Eastmond - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Brislen-hall - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Steven smith - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Daniel boating - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Glasgow - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Hoyte - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Monteiro - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Campbell - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Lansbury - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Ozyakup - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Randall - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Henderson - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Meade - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Winter - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Callum - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Rees - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Edge - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Monakan - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Barazite - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Freeman - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee
Roberts - 1 million plus 30% sell on fee

This should bring in around £150 million before sell on fees and wage savings.

I don’t want to disrespect any player but im a strong believer this will for the benefit of their development and arsenals out of control youth situation. If you look at the money above and the potential future sell on fee gains wenger could have money coming in from everywhere every transfer window which he could re-invest in the team or some more flats lol. Also I would use some of that money to expand the stadium before spurs build their 80k+ stadium, we cant be the smallest club in north London.

The players I would keep are:

Szczesny (2nd choice)
Vermaelen
Koscielny
Squillaci
Nasri
Ramsey
Wilshere
Eboue (as first choice right back)
Arshavin
RVP
Theo
Chamakh
Wellington (the future of arsenal)
James shea
Nordveit
Evina
Botelho
Hajrovic
Miquel
Bihmoutine
Angha
Watt
JET (the future of Arsenal)
Frimpong (the future of Arsenal)
Aneke
Coquelin
Monakana
Ebecilio
Galindo
Bunjaku
Miyaichi
Deacon
Sunu
Afobe
Netta
Ansah

There is 36 players in the above team then I would bring in:

First choice keeper
First choice defensive midfielder
First choice centre back
First choice floating midfielder but use Wilshire or ramsey to replace fabregas.

Come on Wenger were a football club not Darlows….

SIO or SIOW if you prefer?
You make an interesting case for a wholesale clear out.
I don't think many supporters of our current crop would go for it because it takes a while to build a team. Everyone wants to win now included me, but I have a long term view and I'm prepared to wait unlike many.
Just one question?
I'm a Londoner from Highbury, what the hell is Darlows?

Got to learn to work hard defensively for the point. It was all we needed so playing "our" way is nonsensical when asked to play for a result away from home. Should of had pen no doubt but our heads went down once denied it. Bendtner cannot do the target man job, his touch is too heavy, Denilson not strong enough and midfield with or without Jesus the midfield is not working back. Injuries are really unfortunate but think Villa will be a win, as we are so unpredictable. Get the feeling Fabs is being flogged b4 his inevitable sale? Djourou again steadily improving.

no not for trophies, for you lot to make it through against that mighty tough group you find yourself in..ha ha..

IN WENGER WE TRUST !

I started reading your post R7 and stopped dead!
Wenger inherited a back 5 drilled by Judas Graham and he ain't built a successful defense since the one he inherited? Errr excuse me did you miss "The Invicibles"! remember them? That little team built by Arsene that emulated (preston north ends achievement from back in the mist of time) and didn't lose for the whole season.

Back 5 was Lehmann - Toure - Campbell - Lauren - Cole..... I can't remember Graham getting anywhere near them never mind drilling them.
True it was Keowns last season he made 8 apps as a sub if I recall rightly?

Now thats out of the way I might resume reading.

Either you missed something or I have Rocky7 Gooner?
You don't think Arsene is capable of building a trophe winning side?
Well best you tell us someone who's won more trophies for us than Arsene! That statement of yours beggers belief.

I have heard that so many times now and so many people skip the best team probably in Arsenal history. That back four was built by Wenger and Wenger only. Zilch to do with Graham.

I am pretty sure we conceded the least that year also

even i know alex james may have disagreed with that comment

As this was such a well written blog something just belatedly accured to me.
Chris? This wouldn't be Chris B from GH blog would it? Just a thought.