Arsenal Opinion

As I sat, mouth open, face aghast, I was trying to piece together what exactly had just happened before my eyes. The same feeling you get when nursing a hangover and trying to remember what exactly it was you did last night and who you have to apologise to today swept over me.

2-2! 2 – Bloody 2! This cannot be happening! Put aside the fact the referee gift wrapped those two goals for West Ham; we should have been out of sight. The ref’s incompetence (especially with that penalty) shouldn’t have mattered.

I had spent the best part of my four hour shift at work arguing with a colleague about Arsenal’s credentials for the title this year. Spouting names like Arshavin, Fabregas, van Persie and Vermaelen as our heroes. Yet my dreams and arguments exploded in my face come the final whistle at Upton Park.

Sure, we take a comfort from moving above the dreaded Spuds with a game-in-hand, but really?!

That was most certainly two points lost today, atrocious defending in places and something that has been said about our team time and again – no killer instinct.

We should have banged another goal in, in the first half and then at least a couple in the second. Five nil lads, back to your luxury houses for a long soak in the bath and bed, all geed up for a weekend meet with Spurs.

Instead we take a point away from this game, our moral as been severely beaten and old-man Redknapp will be licking his deformed lips with delight at the prospect of getting ‘up us’ in his words.

Simply, boys and girls, we don’t have a player who lives to score goals and today more than most, I really think we should have swapped Arshavin and Van Persie over. The little Russian delights in turning to goal and going for a strike. Eduardo was brought on way to late in my opinion, as was big Nick.

We crave a player like Torres to sit up front, waiting for deliveries from Arshavin, Fabregas, Rosicky, Walcott, Van Persie, Nasri, the list of creative players to feed this goal machine (whoever he may be) is endless.

Van Persie is NOT a striker. He is an affluent, creative player with an absolute rocket for a shot. He belongs outside, as he does with Holland.

Next point (breathe, breathe), I don’t want to bash the young keeper too much, but was at fault for the first goal. His parry did more harm than good in that situation and frequently today his decision making showed all the impetuous signs of youthfulness all too common in our squad.

Yes, the penalty was not a penalty. Song barely breathed on the guy ad he went over, an absolute disgrace in my opinion. But then as we all know, these things happen in the beautiful game.

Carlton Cole flaunted himself for Wenger today who was rumoured to be interested in the big striker during the summer and gave a good account of himself. He seemed to enjoy buzzing around Clichy and making a complete nuisance of himself.

Today’s game puts our title chances under a microscope. We took our foot off the gas ‘big time’ today and against AZ in the week.

Play to the final whistle as my coach always taught me. We shouldn’t however, see this as the end of all things and should brace ourselves for the media storm tomorrow regarding ‘crisis at arsenal’ and ‘Cesc ready to walk away’ as we’ve become accustomed to.

There are several areas that were highlighted today and that need to be addressed in January by Le Boss.

The goalkeeper:

I truly believe we need to invest here; these guys just are not cutting it. Almunia is trustworthy on a brilliant day. Fabianski is extremely accident prone and Mannone is just too young and too inexperienced.

A GK I’ve always admired is CSKA’s Igor Akinfeev, a real bullish player who commands his box and would work well with an equally bullish player in the Verminator. £10-15 Million Pounds should see his move to the Emirates.

Defence:

Clichy, oh Gael, Gael Gael! Tut, tut! What has happened to you this year? In my opinion outshone thus far by Sagna. His speed is the only thing that makes up for his mistakes that are creeping in far too often. Wenger is reportedly interested in Van Der Wiel from Ajax, who is supposedly of a very similar style to Vermaelen and regarded as one of the fastest defenders in Europe.

I still maintain the belief we need another player to kick Denilson and Diaby onto the bench. A Daniele De Rossi would be welcome (although I can’t see Wenger forking out). The pair would cost about £23 Million Pounds, Van Der Wiel for 8 Mil and De Rossi for between 15-20 Mil.

Striker:

An out and out goal scorer is a must. We can forget the Torres’ and Villa’s of this world straight away as Wenger will not look at a £30 Million investment as reasonable. Even seeing how pivotal Torres is to our rivals Liverpool.

A player like Edin Dzeko (who impresses me greatly) is more like it. He’d fetch around £15-17 Mil. The 6ft 3inch striker and his partner Grafite scored seventy goals between them in the Bundesliga last year. Incredible!

There are also other interests like Neven Subotic, Inler, and Matuidi etc.

But, here’s how I scored it: (Please, no angry reprimands this week, this is just my opinion, you’re free to believe whatever you wish, this is how a feel)

Mannone – 6 – Not a good game at all in my opinion. Was at fault for the first goal and never really got to grips with commanding his box today.

Sagna – 7.5 – Played well today. Fantastic cross to set up Van Persie’s tap in, some good running and overall a good work rate.

Gallas and Vermaelen – 8 – This is the first time I score the pair together but I thought they played brilliantly as a unit today. Went to sleep on occasion but on the whole were the strong spine we need.

Clichy – 6 – Not great today. Some good speed, end product left a lot to be desired and just isn’t as defence minded anymore. Maybe he looks at Eboue’s new role with envious eyes?

Song – 8 – Was strong and even knocked Carlton Cole over a few times today. Was not at fault for the penalty as it wasn’t a foul.

Diaby – 6 – Again with this guy! Some good stuff and then some reckless rubbish. Gave away the free kick that led to the first goal and seems to heap unnecessary pressure on the defence with risky football.

Eboue – 7.5 – Good effort again, good running. Just not strong enough to be a starter ahead of Rosicky, Walcott and Nasri when fit.

Fabregas – 8 – some great play today. Not his best but still some excellent balls and maintained the tempo for large portions.

Arshavin – 7 – Some moments of greatness again. But never had that ‘spark’ today.

Van Persie – 7 – Absolute tap in for a goal and some good moments. Just not a ST in my opinion, looks uncomfortable sometimes.

Right, Wenger’s men need to dust themselves off because I always fear a spiral of depression, battered moral and poor results with AFC after a shock.

Article written by Super Cesc.