Premier League Nonsense

Arsene Wenger has put so many defeats behind him in recent years and his team have matured so much that Arsenal fans must be wondering what's left in front for the team. An impotent performance against Barcelona followed a miserable Carling Cup Final against Birmingham City meaning that the four trophies he was so ebullient about a couple of weeks ago are now whittled down to two and in both he faces the hex of Manchester United before even considering where to put some silverware.

Not for the first time in the last six years, and totally appropriately considering the number of Frenchmen at the Arsenal, they croaked when mixing with the big boys. Arsenal are like the UK's foreign policy. They feel they belong with the big boys but in fact they're in over their heads and no amount of spin can change that. Even William Hague considered sending in special forces to help them out of their Nou Camp humiliation

Arrogance in a team is a good thing but only when it is backed by plenty of medals. No-one liked Gary Neville but then all he had to say was 'look at my trophy cabinet, son.' Cesc Fabregas likes to talk the talk but till now, and for all Wenger's claims that the Spaniard is a 'winner' he has won nowt since he was still getting free school milk.

And what a 'winner' our inspirational leader is. A suicidal back heel just in front of the penalty area with the ref getting ready for a half time cuppa deserves being punished. We were, we were knocked out the Champions League without a fight and we can look forward to manager and captain saying they have put this defeat 'behind us.'

Arsenal think they have a divine right to success because of the pretty football they play. But this logic is grating for me and has been for six years. First we have to earn the right to play and that means mixing it. A barrage of red cards doesn't mean we're doing that. Most have been for two stupid, daft yellows that have been repeated time and time again.

Against lower division opposition like Ipswich Town, Leyton Orient, Huddersfield Town and Leeds United we have barely huffed let alone puffed and we have needed more time to finish them off. That is not the sign of a winning mentality running through the veins of the players wearing red and white. That is the sign of arrogant divas not wanting to put the effort in that is needed.

We beat Leyton Orient 5-0 in a replay and Wenger comes out and says that 'we have put the Birmingham defeat behind us.' Leyton Orient in a replay? Forget winners, we are turning into the bully boys of English football.

Opposing teams must allow Arsenal to play their football or Wenger is up like a jack in a box moaning about how only his team wants to play football the right way. Yet we won the FA Cup in 2006 playing negatively and last night was embarrassing. No shots? It's almost like we are beaten before we walk on the field and Wenger has real difficulties when it comes to playing certain teams at certain times. Results seem to vindicate that argument.

No 100% Arsene Wenger team has ever won a trophy for the Arsenal. That record doesn't look like ending any time soon. He inherited George Graham's defence when he took over and apart from Sol Campbell and perhaps a couple of good seasons from Kolo Toure he has done nothing but by dross from a mini mart on special offer. Koscielny and Squillaci are just the latest in a long line of embarrassing centre backs he has signed to bring stability in front of a succession of dodgy keepers.

Thing is, Wenger won't change. He's on easy street. A large section of our support will support him whatever he does. The Arsene Knows mob won't hear a word against him and point to his record until 2005. The board won't even give him a vote of confidence, perhaps the kick up the derriere he needs, because he keeps the money rolling with with truncated Champions League runs and healthy profits on selling players.

Arsenal fans are getting used to being nearly men and things don't look like changing any time soon.

# posted by Me @ 6:20 PM 0 Comments