Yank to Arsenal BooBirds: Show More Class!

Yeah, Emanuel Eboue was crap today. But the Arsenal fans at the Emirates who gave him stick at the end of the game and loudly applauded his substitution should go trade their tickets for seats at White Hart Lane. That lack of class doesn't belong on the Arsenal side. Even from my side of the ocean, watching the match on cable, I was embarrassed. Y'all sounded like a bunch of Americans. Really. Pathetic stuff.

I'm not Eboue's biggest fan, and if I'd been at the game, I'd have been muttering to myself about his disastrous play - and yes, I think Wenger was right to sub him off as he was liable to cost us 2 points - but still, he's a Gunner. Show him support not derision. Give him a reason to come back in the next game and kick some ass. Otherwise, as I said before, go cheer for the Tots. Wankers.

Rant off.

There was also a game today, which Arsenal won 1-0, grabbing a desperately needed 3 points. It wasn't a bad game at all, but the Gunners continued to have difficulty scoring. Ade's goal was equal parts blind fortune and graft and we hit the freakin' woodwork twice! Wigan played a very good game, particularly that pesky, hardworking Lee Cattermole. Arsenal had little time to settle and posess in the first half. The game opened up for both sides in the 2nd half and the final ten minutes were nervy, nervy moments for Arsenal fans as Wigan pressed and Arsenal was rocking on their heels.

Over at SoccerNet, the assessment of Arsenal continues to be severe. I can't say I like it. Can't say I disagree, either:

ARSENAL VERDICT: Soccernet's Insider may not be popular with
Arsenal fans again as this was the sort of display that confirms all
the doubts stated in my previous article are justified. Nervous under
set-plays, ready to crack as they clung onto a lead late on and guilty
of missing chances galore, Wenger must know he has major problems on
his hands.

Nonetheless, all's well that end's well. Next up is Port in the CL. Go Gunners!

Gunners Break Chelsea's Will (and Heart)!

The soap opera that is Arsenal 2008 took yet another twist at Stamford Bridge where the injury-plagued Gunners scored 3 goals in the once-intimidating Chelsea home pitch. Fortunately, for the Arsenal faithful, 2 of the goals Arsenal scored were against Chelsea. The 2-1 victory leaves Arsenal still in 4th place, but revives their title hopes and blows a sufficient amount of air back into deflated hopes of Gunners fans.

Manuel Almunia showed why he is not the Arsenal's long-term keeper with an unwise and poorly executed throw that resulted in the ball being shoved back down the defense's throat. Johan Djorou was the unfortunate owner of the own goal that resulted, but really, the goal was on Almunia's shoulders. Arsenal's keeper needs to be much sharper than that.

Down 1-0, though, the boys kept at it and made a game of it for the remainder of the half. When the 2nd half restarted, Arsenal found themselves getting kicked around the pitch, with the Chelsea midfield doing their imitation of Napoleon's march across Europe. Just as I was saying to myself that the 2nd goal was coming, RVP - looking to be merely a yard offside - blasted a shot to the upper right of the net, notching an improbably equalizer. I had just finished my celebratory run around the living room when RVN bagged his 2nd on a very impressive turn and left-footed shot that just kissed Peter Cech's outstretched left hand as it rolled into the goal.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is looking ever more mortal. Liverpool must've been absolutely soaking this up. If there were a season for Benitez's boys to lay legitimate claim to the EPL beer stein, ths is it. Not only have Chelsea lost at home, they've done it twice. And surrendered 12 points there in 8 games.

Great win for The Arsenal!

Crisis? What Crisis?

So, the question has to be asked, is Arsenal a Crisis Club? The evidence sure doesn't look good.

The team has dropped 5 games so far (with 24 games to play) this season. One more than they lost all last season.

They're on a skid right now. During that skid, we've seen losses to Aston Villa in which they weren't even in the game, a blow-out by Man City (Man Freakin' City!) in which they weren't even in the stadium, apparently. Players losing their cool on the field (Paging RVN. Paging RVN).

And the Player formerly known as Captain Bill spilling his guts and venting spleen to the media, thusly being relinquished of the burden of being captain (which he had spent the last 2 seasons demonstrating that he couldn't shoulder) and relegated to the practice team.

The team has not had any silverware since the 2004 FA Cup. They're still in contention in the Champs League, but they're also dealing with a raft of injuries to key players.

All the while, Arsene Wenger's policy of develop the kids and don't buy big players has been studiously observed, despite the fact that everyone else in the EPL knew that Arsenal needed a big time center back (and that Un-Captain BIll was not that). On top of that, Wenger has never replaced Patrick Vieira. I'm sorry Flamster, but you were a hard-working, over-achieving little bugger (who always had his heart set on a nice patch of pine in the Serie A). Gilberto. Denilson. Diaby. Imitations, baby. But not the real thing. Hence, this team has no spine. No football spine and no constitutional spine.

I love Arsenal, but face facts, they're missing some key parts if you want to challenge for the league and European title.

But how they respond from here on out will tell us if this squad is a crisis or a contender. Wenger has rightly named Cesc Fabregas the Captain. He's put the most talented player in the leadership role and probably short-circuited the doings of some mega-clubs that'd like to snatch him away to Spain, Italy or wherever. If Cesc can rally the troops, this is still one of the most talented sides in Europe. On their day they can move the ball at will against any team in the world.

They still have a hole in the center of the field, but heart and passion can make up for talent. If they can put together a string of victories and build some momentum and belief, the Gunners can still challenge for the EPL title, as well as the European Championship. The race isn't over yet.

Can You Say Freefall?

The Gunners can...

Gallass Gone

Bollocks my earlier post. Gallass is gone.

Gallass Goner?

No, says former Arsenal great Nigel Winterburn. It's neither the time nor the place...nor the Wenger way to sack the un-gallant Captain. Meanwhile, football fans have a go at the question.

My vote: you can't shoot the horse in the middle of the
race, especially without a replacement center back. But come transfer season, I'd get out the Arsenal bank account and see what I could buy. If not then, after this disaster of a season is over. As quickly as possible.

The Pot Called the Kettle What?!

Well, well, well.  Cap'n Bill says some Gunners just aren't strong enough, and that's why the Good Ship Arsenal is floundering...I agree, but suggest the good Captain look at his defensive performance as a start. If I'd been run over by Gabby Agbonlahor on the way to the goal, I probably wouldn't have got up and called out the rest of the team, as a starting point.

Read the story further and it sounds like friction is building internally. Not a good sign for a team that is struggling.

In even worse news, the human lightning bolt, Theo Walcott, is out for several months, after surgery on his shoulder. He received the injury while training for the incredibly underperforming English team. Go 3 Lions!