Nornan Wisdom

By Boris Mellor
January 30 2009

A draw at Everton wasn't a bad result, my heart hoped for more, but my head told me this was too much for this squad to handle. Arsenal didn't make more than 5 chances all night, but came home with a point. Most of this team, bar one or two, worked very hard, you don't get a draw at Goodison these days unless you do.

The problem is not work rate it is just the simple fact that many of these players are just not up to it. A midfield of Diaby, Song, Denilson and Nasri is not going to blow anyone away.

 

When Cesc was available we had a chance, but teams are there waiting for us at the other end. The lack of creativity means teams get back early, and we often face eight or nine men. This means that Adebayor and Nasri cannot get round the back of defences, nor can anyone else. Sagna's says that Wenger has told him to be more defensive, which makes sense, but it means we are narrower than ever.

Now this rather depleted squad is being asked to climb a mountain, and they are trying hard to do just that. Arsenal are unbeaten in the last 9 games, and some of the teams concerned are no pushovers. Chelsea were defeated away, and with Arsenal down to ten men Liverpool could only force a draw. So unbeaten in nine sounds quite good, but Man U, Villa and Liverpool are unbeaten in eleven.

The Mountain

However, winning the league is not just about being undefeated, it helps, but it needs far more than that. Over the last eleven games Man U have 29 points, Villa 27 points, and Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal 19 points. That is five wins, four draws, and two losses for both of the London teams. Liverpool are undefeated, but have only won four times.

Now these eleven games covers the best form that Arsenal has had all season, this is as good as it gets. United are now flying, and amazingly it is Villa that are keeping up with them if we count recent form. For Arsenal the 19 points indicates a good run of form, for Liverpool and Chelsea it represents their worse form in a long time. Indeed Liverpool have only won four games, even less than Chelsea and Arsenal. However, Man Utd have won 9 games, and Villa 8. Eleven games is almost a third of the season the stats cannot be taken lightly.

Strangely the harder Arsenal try, and even make ground on the leaders, the further they fall behind Villa. Not so long ago (early December) the Gunners were a point ahead of them, now its five points behind. So Arsenal have dropped behind Villa during their best form of the season. Wenger believes he will close the gap. If he wanted to close the gap he had to win at Everton, but we have discussed that already. The stats above demonstrate that even Arsenal's best form has not been good enough to catch up.

Some fans speculate that Villa will crack, there again so might Arsenal, and they were not that hot under pressure last season. This time last season we had 57 points - 15 more than now, and we know how that finished. Now the team is under pressure without Fabregas, Flamini, and Hleb. To get fourth place will be just as hard, no harder, than winning the league last year, but with a weaker squad.

I am not for throwing in the towel, but it will take more than one dodgy lasagna to see Villa off. I am sure they have far more to them than the bottlers from down the road.

So West Ham is a must win game, but when you have lost five games by the first few months of the season then they are all must win games.

The Hammers are third in the Premier League's "form" table, two places above the Gunners; West Ham have claimed 13 points from a last possible 18, the Arsenal have 12 points from six games. So the Hammers will be no pushover. Zola has even got Cole scoring goals.

Mr Grimsdale! Hey Mr Grimsdale

Zola's team play football, so too, hopefully will Arsenal, so it could be an entertaining game. However Arsenal will need to improve their passing, and shooting, if they are to win. I'll take 3 points however scrappy. One point will be hardly any use at all. The pressure is on just as much as if the Gunners were contesting the title. So it is no time for moaning - get behind the team.

Arsenal possible squad: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Nasri, Denilson, Song, Eboue, Adebayor, van Persie, Fabianski, Djourou, Diaby, Vela, Ramsey, Bendtner, Gibbs, Wilshere.

For a large selection of Arsenal Books, DVDs, PC games AND MORE at Bargain Prices visit the Arsenal Times Store CLICK HERE