By Boris Mellor
March 6 2011

The answer may be yes when it’s Leyton Orient, but it’s no when its Birmingham or Sunderland. However, it’s important to stress that Sunderland have a good record in London, they beat Chelsea, and have drawn at Tottenham, Fulham and now Arsenal.

Arsenal Hangover?

Sunderland had a bit of help today from the referee, a perfectly good goal was disallowed, and a nailed on penalty was denied, but that isn’t the full story. Arsenal were poor in the first half, and didn’t really play well until late into the second half, in fact Chesney had to make as many great saves as the Black Cats keeper.

The match is hardly worth reporting, one of the poorest this season, although ironically more fans stayed till the end, which proves the result is everything. If Arsenal were hung-over from the Carling Cup final Birmingham were more so, going down 3-1 at home.

Can Arsenal Win Without Cesc, RvP, Song and Theo?

Most teams missing four big match players such as these would also probably struggle, but Wenger claims this is his strongest squad ever? I am not sure how you can judge that, but if it is by trophies won I sadly suspect his assertion will remain unproven. It is also the case that the team without them has failed to win any important game. Cesc, RvP, and Theo were off the pitch as Brum scored the winning goal.

Arsenal have a good first eleven, but the sad truth is, like a lot of other teams, most of the squad players are mediocre.

Most important week of season

Arsenal’s chance of winning the two of the three remaining trophies of the once trumpeted quadruple will be settled within the next seven days. Away to Barcelona and Man Utd in the space of five days, that was never going to be easy with Cesc, RvP, and Theo, without them it’s a mountain to climb.

To climb it the team will need to roll up its sleeves and fight for each other, like ordinary teams that Wenger appears to look down his nose at. To win the league they needed 3 points today, not one.

The Bench is the Test

As I looked at the bench at Wembley last week I wondered who would turn the game if the team was up against it? Would Nik or Chamakh really make the difference? I thought they wouldn’t and  they didn’t. I looked at the bench today and asked myself the same question. It was even worse, Chamakh and Nik were already playing. Who could Wenger bring on to change the game? Answer Rosicky last week’s flop. Meanwhile Denilson flaunted the art of crab football, whilst Diaby has invented a new game, he has challenged himself to complete a full circuit of the pitch whilst keeping the ball. The challenge doesn’t include incisive passing or shooting. He is yet to complete a full circuit, but he did get close a few times.

Confidence?

I can’t speak for the players, well apart from Bendtner who has a Psychometric score of ten out of ten in that area, but at 5 – 0 up against the Orient I tried to start a chant “of we are the mighty Arsenal and we are off to Wemberlee”. There were no takers. The wisdom of crowds? Well it was one song not sung all night, though quite a few sung “one Arsene Wenger”. We shall know very soon.

Too Much Season at the End of Squad

Whatever Wenger says, every year for the last six years as we enter the finishing straight the squad lacks the strength to be first past the post. it chokes on the problem of too many key games, as CL and FA cups conspire to combine against keeping the first eleven going in the league. Maybe Fabregas could have played, but would Wenger risk him not being at Barca?  Maybe it’s stronger than other seasons but there still seems to be too much season for the squad to cope with.

Win Without Cesc, RvP, Song & Theo? Too Much Season To Go

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 06/03/2011 10:47

Arsenal Times
06/03/2011 10:47

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:03:10:19:36:09 by Padre Pio.

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hippogunner
06/03/2011 11:23

As I've been saying for five years. BUY SOME WORLD CLASS PLAYERS!

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Gooner_Sans
06/03/2011 12:50

I've jsut seen that Wilshere is a doubt too. It worries me that even if SOng/Fabregas/Wilshere do make it they won't be 100% and you have to be 100% to even stand a chance at camp nou.

Still hope, but i'm really not confident now. Nt without our first XI. =(

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Philly the kid
06/03/2011 16:32

Quote:

Gooner_Sans
I've jsut seen that Wilshere is a doubt too. It worries me that even if SOng/Fabregas/Wilshere do make it they won't be 100% and you have to be 100% to even stand a chance at camp nou.
Still hope, but i'm really not confident now. Nt without our first XI. =(

When's the last time we saw a full 1st 11 though? Haven't seen Verminator since October(?) for a start!!

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Padre Pio
06/03/2011 19:51

We have a first elven this season, it includes djorou and koscielny

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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salisbury69
07/03/2011 09:11

Although a majority may not agree, I believe the best thing for us is to go out of the CL and FAC this week. Bear with me. Even if we were to beat Barca, we would only let someone else in to win it. We have a great opportunity in the league, with key players coming back over the next few weeks. If that were the only competition we were in, maybe we could give it 100%. I would love us to compete on all 3 fronts but I feel that we must be realistic. This year is a fantastic opportunity in the PL. Chelsea and City will be much stronger next year so we must make the most of it whilst we are in this position. Can you see us spending much in the close season to strengthen the squad? It is not going to happen, and looking at AW after the final whistle on Saturday, he has got the feeling that he is going to end up with egg on his face yet again.

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hippogunner
07/03/2011 10:03

Agree. And a few others on here agree too. The depth of squad is not sufficient to fight on all three fronts. That's due to one stingy manager and the usual injury list which seems to occur every season at the most vital moment.

If nothing is won yet again I can't see how Wenger can get away without spending heavily. Still if by some miraculous fortune we reach the CL final and FA Cup final and lose both and end up second in the league that'll be enough ammunition for Wenger to claim that changes are minimal.

Must say I'm envious of Pool having Suarez. Looks real quality. Obviously we wouldn't buy anyone that good but it amazes me that Pool can find the courage to go and invest in real talent while we throw everything at potential talent. The only purchase we've made in recent years that's excited me has been Arshavin.

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Bergmars
07/03/2011 10:41

He commented he was disgusted after the game,implying with the officials,but I think it had a little to do with the performance aswell.

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AJ The Gunner
07/03/2011 14:07

i just couldn't see us getting 3 points against sunderland without cesc, theo or rvp..if we had theo we could have won, if we had rvp we could have won and so it goes.. frankly i can't see how we can get past barca at camp nou.. how we can get past the wounded utd without these guys.. cesc will probabaly be unfit for barca game & utd so where then lies the key ingredient that will make the difference..

yes i was @#$%& with that ref.. if arshavin was a crafty player, he would have gone down and won a penalty & gotten that idiot bramble sent off... hope utd will continue to implode will we try hard to crape 3 points starting with the difficult game against barca of the english league managed by redknapp..

i have to say, i agree with the consensus that we should crash out of the fa cup & cl so we can concerntrate only on the league where we really stand a better chance of winning a trophy.. it won't be a cup finale so wenger will not cock up..it will be one game at a time.

Can We Now Trust The Process 🤔🤷🏿‍♀️ or Should We Still Remain Cautious 🙇🏿‍♀️

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hippogunner
08/03/2011 07:47

Only problem is AJ that Wenger has said that every remaining league match is like a cup final. Considering we've lost our last three finals that's a terrible analogy.

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Philly the kid
09/03/2011 19:52

Quote:

hippogunner
Only problem is AJ that Wenger has said that every remaining league match is like a cup final. Considering we've lost our last three finals that's a terrible analogy.

Good point!!
Can't lose them all though!

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Padre Pio
09/03/2011 22:10

Well weve lost all our important cup games so far

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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