Arsenal may have returned to winning ways at the weekend, but they continue to look like a side who are struggling to score goals. Their lacklustre defeat against FC Porto last week was reminiscent of similar occasions where they have been found wanting this season; most notably the games against Manchester United and Chelsea. Although the loss of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City in the summer was inevitable given their endless funds, it seems Wenger underestimated the damage his departure would do to his previously well balanced side.
The loss to injury of Robin Van Persie was a massive blow, since the talented Dutchman was really beginning to grow into the role of lone striker. Arsenal have no one capable of leading the line in his absence. Andrei Arshavin is no target man, and in any case, despite his immense talent is often extremely frustrating to watch, with his insistence on trying to do it all himself every time he receives the ball. Nicklas Bendtner is not a Premiership standard striker, Eduardo has yet to find form following that horrific leg break and Carlos Vela, although promising, has a lot of developing still to do.
You know there are problems with scoring when you wilting 35 year old centre back gets your only goal of the game in the Champions League knockout stage. Sol Campbell’s return to the top flight has been judged rather harshly by many in the media. Granted, he is a little off the pace at this stage of his career, but I actually thought he was one of Arsenal’s better players against Porto. Some will blame him for his part in Lukasz Fabianski’s hideously amateurish pick up of Campbell’s pass back. True, he could have cleared the ball out for a throw in, but he should also have been able to rely on his goalkeeper to punt the ball safely up field.
Wenger appears to have blind faith in the players currently at his disposal. In one respect, this is a commendable approach given the now fickle world of football, where another saviour is born every day, over-hyped and out of context, until falling into the abyss for nonentities yet again. Yet Wenger’s faith is only valid if it is being repaid, and Arsenal’s stop-start season cannot thus far be deemed a great success. This time next season, with Liverpool surely back on track, and Manchester City probably having bought themselves a higher finish, surely a Champions League spot cannot be considered certain.
No Premiership manager would consider himself indispensible, yet over the last couple of years, sections of the media have said Wenger “knows he will never be sacked by Arsenal” – a foolish sentiment, and certainly incorrect. If they suddenly endured a long lasting reversal of fortune, he would at the very least be asked to resign, if only to enable him to save face given what he has done for them in the past. Minus his ally and friend, David Dein, who left the club last season, his position at the club may not be as long lasting as many assume. Success is Wenger’s main drive, and a lack of it, particularly over the next couple of seasons when the pressure to win a trophy once again will really mount, and I wouldn’t be too surprised to see him walk away.
Mike Dicker
TweetLike this article? Please like The Football Blog on Facebook:
Good stuff.
The thing is, Wenger is already going on 5 years without a trophy now. That is an incredible showing of patience from the board in this day and age, based on the bank credit Wenger built up prior to that. Can you imagine if Man United went 5 years without a single trophy? I remember when they were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage & every single paper was about ‘the empire crumbling’ etc etc ad infinitum.
Historically Wenger has done well but there are glaring gaps in his squad that highlight real examples of poor management in my opinion – goalkeeper being one, previously midfield was a real issue and without Van Persie strikers are also a problem.