By gunners r us
February 19 2006

Since Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Liverpool there has been a massive outpouring on the state of the Gunners. Some have even argued it's time for Wenger's departure. That's not the view of Arsenal Times. However there are issues to be discussed. Here are the views of 13 year old "Gunners R Us".

At the beginning of the season I had high hopes for the Gunners. I thought we could win the league, but I was wrong,

The season started off badly with away defeats to Chelsea and Boro, but the defeat at WBA should have been the final straw. But it wasn’t. No one seemed to know what to do on or off the pitch. The crisis signs reappeared at Bolton, and then Chelsea (at Highbury). We were lacklustre and poor.

So is this season really a transitional period, or is it a crisis? Wenger at first said it was not a transitional period. Now he is saying it is, so what has changed his mind? Is this just excuses, or does he really believe it is a transitional period? I will leave that to the reader to figure out.

Now to my next issue, THE ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB PLAYERS I will analyse each players performances this season:

LEHMANN- great the best player this season. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

COLE- can’t really give an opinion, injured most of the time.

CLICHY- is already a great player, shame about his injury.

SENDEROUS- not bad this season, he has worked hard. With Toure he seems very good, with Djourou he is excellent. But with Campbell, he has been awful. He needs a steady run in the Premiership with a consistent partner

CAMPBELL- he has problems, I don’t want to judge him at present. I even feel sorry for him.

DJOUROU- excellent, stepped up to his tasks really well, reminds me of Senderos last season

LAUREN- quite good, he is ageing a bit, so he is losing a yard or two. Now carrying a serious injury.

GILBERT- the new Winterburn, class.

EBOUE- great, versatile, what we need a the moment

PIRES- plain and simply awful, his contribution to the team has been stop start all season. Time is running out to prove that he can still play for Arsenal.

REYES - He still has a lot to prove for me. He struggles to get past players but he runs all over the place, don’t really know what’s his best position, but his work ethic is the best in the premier league.

 HLEB- not enough games.

FLAMINI - very good, works hard, shows spirit and determination to get into side, whatever position he plays

CESC- I am not going to discuss his talents, just how he has played this season which is great. This is because HE WORKS HARD for the team, while others don’t. He is physical enough, did you see him against Wigan and Everton? He nearly got into two fights. I just feel he is doing too much.

Diaby - Has potential, too soon to judge but he seems a hit.

Gilberto – maybe trying too hard. Just cant pass the ball, when he wins the ball, he loses it again, it’s comical if you’re not an Arsenal fan, but as we are, it’s not funny, it’s just poor football.

FREDDIE - poor, he was hot during Amsterdam tournament and before he got injured, then he seemed to lose 4 yards of pace. But he does try hard.

HENRY- sometimes I feel he is the greatest player ever, then he gives performances like the one against Liverpool, where even Flamini did better. I just feel if he wants to leave, he can, if he wants to stay, it shows he loves Arsenal, end of story.

Bergy- he has lost 6 YARDS OF PACE, but his game helps Ljungberg, so that may be important against Madrid

RvP- the best striker all season, has put Henry to shame, and has earned his place next season.

ADEBAYOR -jury’s out

So with all these great players, what has gone wrong?

Firstly, Pires and Freddie just haven't performed. As Wenger’s senior players they should help the defence, neither have done this. This gives Cesc and Gilberto far too much to do. They have to assist strikers, and help the defence, and keep possession. That is why they get caught out easily.

Another point is that there's no one suitable to partner Henry, when RvP does it we win games, this is because he scores more direct goals, and can be a poacher, when he hasn’t dropped deep. Henry's commitment has not been good, he is not a natural leader, why Mr Wenger gave him captaincy, no one knows, but its obvious that it was because they wanted to keep him here.

Once we get back our first choice defence, the centre two will not have to do as much work, then when we get some on form wingers midfield and defence will improve. But part of me still prefers Cesc and Flamini, as they are young and determined. They will give it their all, and that’s what the club needs, not a big massive Sissoko who will just hog or hoof the ball. Diaby has got a lot of potential, but I still don’t feel we needed him, but hey, with him Cesc and Flamini, It could be a great threesome, even Gilberto can mix it along with them, if he gets his form back.

So to say sack Wenger would be a joke, but to say he has still a lot of to do is near the mark. But how will he overcome all this, all he should do is wait for the defence and injured players to come back, but while waiting, he should give the Diaby Cesc partnership a go, or even the Flamini and Cesc/Gilberto one.

This is how I think the future should look like:

LEHMANN

GILBERT KOLO DJOUROU/SENDEROUS CLICHY

DIABY FLAMINI

WALCOTT/ HELB CESC REYES

RvP

BUT WITH THE 4-4-2, WILL THIS WORK?

LEHMANN

GILBERT KOLO DJOUROU/SENDEROUS CLICHY

WALCOTT? DIABY CESC/FLAMINI REYES

RVP/LUPOLI WALCOTT/ADE

The choice is yours.