Arsenal & the Arsenal Way

Here we stand today after surrendering another 2 goal lead, this time at home against Fulham, going from 2-0 up to 2-3 down to finally drawing it 3-3 having missed a penalty in the last kick of the game. The voices calling for the head of Arsene Wenger have gathered a louder noise. The voices shout that, gone are the days of Wenger, and a radical aggressive spending policy for transfers and employee wages is the only way to ensure success (read trophies).

I would like to calm down the fears, yes these are dire times, but the reason is not tactical. Let me try and break it down to you.

Our team at this moment is:

GK:  Vito Mannone – deputizing for an injured Wojciech Szczesny

RB:   Bacary Sagna – returning from long term injury (fractured the same foot twice)

CB:   Per Mertesacker – consistent this season, curse of the 1^st season seems over

         Laurent Koscielny – returning from injury

LB:    Thomas Vermaelen – playing out of position because of injury to Kieran Gibbs

Mid:   Mikel Arteta – consistent and reliable performer, showing signs of tiredness & burnout

          Jack Wilshere – returing from long term injury (17 months!!)

          Santi Cazorla – playing his first season in EPL

Fwds:  Lukas Podolski – playing his first season in EPL

           Olivier Giroud – playing his first season is EPL

          Theo Walcott- (umm…yeah) has developed his game, but embroiled in contract issues

The Invicibles (under Arsene Wenger)

Class on the medical bench:

Abou Diaby – showed earlier in the season his talent and capabilities, unfortunately also showed he is still injury prone

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – the prodigy and (one of the many) future of England

Gervinho – played hot & cold again before getting injured

Tomas Rosicky – nicknamed lil Mozart for a reason, showed glimpses of earlier talent last season before getting injured again

Aaron Ramsey – gets some stick for his performances, but in my opinion is still coming back from his broken foot, a former captain of the wales team shows talent exists

I think you get where I’m getting at. As to how we manage to have the longest list of injured player in the league, I don’t know. But it is the same squad that one month ago had the maximum clean sheets and was thrashing opponents in classic arsenal manner. And the voices then murmured the hopes of winning everything this year. Nearly a month later, in all competitions the stats stand, P 7 W2 D2 L3. And the crucifiers are out again.

A squad that could conquer all, now seems thin and pressure is being put to spend money a.k.a. Manchester City, PSG, Chelsea, ummm… Malaga, Celtic??

There is a need to strengthen the position of LB with a quality backup, but the need to sign midfielders and forwards in already competitive positions seems more like a cry of panic.

There is a reason why Arsene Wenger is le professeur, he is Arsenal and he is the Arsenal Way - the obsession to do things right at all costs. In the modern game where financial obscenity has become the name of the game, the financial fair play rules seem like an age away. Even in such times we have a club in Arsenal wherein the focus is on development of the youth, the players and of the game.

Crying out to go obscene with money and buying trophies (like some of our ex-players), if this is your solution to all problems, then you are better off supporting Manchester City and the likes. We are not doing that, we are not even emulating Liverpool. This is Arsenal, and this is The Arsenal Way.

All said and done, top talent leaving the club every year is a grave concern. I find myself wondering of a team with Fabregas and Na$ri with a fit and firing RVP and what could be. (sigh!)

At the end of the day, the bare minimum I expect from Arsenal this season is

1. Finishing above the spurs (like always)
2. Competing for the EPL title (champions league football next season)
3. Minimum one trophy this season

I believe this is shared among all gooners. All you need to do is believe.

Arsene Knows. In Arsene we trust.

 Feel free to tell me how you feel in the comments