Arsenal - crisis or not?

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

I've been a keen Arsenal supporter for about 11 years and I've never thought I'd see them lose so many games this season. What gives? I mean we have potentially the one of the best and most talented strikers in the world and a superb manager with a certain habit of picking up young gifted players yet this season we seem to be struggling. Does anyone have any concerns about this or am I the only Gooner stressing a worry. BTW we have managed to turn seasons around before but it does seem that at present we are leaving it a bit too late!

[Shoden]

It's because your ways out are blocked by rich fags like Chelsea, they've managed to put a block to teams makin a comeback.

[Cz]

I've been a keen Arsenal supporter for about 11 years and I've never thought I'd see them lose so many games this season. What gives? I mean we have potentially the one of the best and most talented strikers in the world and a superb manager with a certain habit of picking up young gifted players yet this season we seem to be struggling. Does anyone have any concerns about this or am I the only Gooner stressing a worry. BTW we have managed to turn seasons around before but it does seem that at present we are leaving it a bit too late!

I love supporting a team that considers fifth place in February to be a crisis. Everyone knew we weren't going to win the title this season, so essentially a Champions' League place is all we need to consider the season a success. We're three points behind Spurs with a game in hand and superior goal difference, so I don't see what the problem is.

Sure, we've been nowhere near as dominant as we used to be, but there are very good reasons for that. After selling Vieira, it's going to take time to find the right replacement (and Diaby looks as though he could fill the role once he settles in). We've also had horrendous luck with injuries in recent months. Ashley Cole has played eight games all season, and he's one of nine defenders who are out right now. For a team playing Mathieu Flamini at right-back, we're not playing all that badly, and when key players like Campbell and Toure return, our results will improve and we'll overtake Spurs.

That's not to say there isn't a problem. Our morale has been low since we lost our undefeated streak, and the performances on the pitch have reflected that. The fans know that the team is capable of better, and I imagine the players are as frustrated as they are. We just have to keep our faith in them, because sooner or later they're going to get their confidence back and make their way back into contention. This sort of bad spell doesn't last forever.

[Rocket Edge]

i think arsenals problem is that they lack a leader on the pitch. Veira was that, and i think that ye miss him badly. Theyres nothing wrong with your strikers, or pretty much the rest of your team for that matter. Lots of new players have come in, and its still a young and unfamilliar team. Players are struggling to gel together and find there place. Id imagine if you keep all your squad for next season, or it may take slightly longer, i think ye can be back to youre best, having said that, its not because arsenal are getting much worse, its that teams are getting better. Man united are finding there stride now, so is Liverpool, so its ups to arsenal now to keep the pace.
Potentially, i think Arsenal and United have the best team on paper, but Chelsea and Liverpool have more team disipline and motivation. Saying that, nothings going to deny the simple fact that chelsea are a circus! god they annoy me...

[NM]

I think Arsenal's main problem stems from Arsene Wengers moves in the transfer market. Experienced players leave the club when thier contracts expire or are sold, and Wenger brings in young players, who will be good players in a few years to replace them.

I'm not an Arsenal fan so I don't know the entire squad, but I can't think of many Arsenal players who are between 23 - 26 years old. There either 21 or under or 28 plus. I think they could do with a few high profile established players with proven quality. It's good to have talented youngsters for the future but if thats all you buy then your 1st team is going to struggle if there are injuries. Which is what's happened this season. Imo there's no strength in depth after Wengers first choice eleven.

Look at what Rafa Benitez is doing at Anfield. He's bought in established, experienced players like Alonso, Garcia, Morientes and Zenden, but he's also bought in younger players for the future.

Arsenal are in a transitional period, but I also think Arsene Wenger needs to be abit more adventureus in the transfer market, other wise Arsenal may end up Like Liverpool in the 90's.

[Burtsplurt]

I don't think there's any real crisis as such, but I think Wenger needs to strengthen the squad in the summer. He needs a couple of players in midfield who can dish it out. Whenever Arsenal come up against physical teams, the likes of Reyes, Hleb, Fabregas etc. don't really convince. Viera was a physical player and they definitely miss the balance that he gave them.

Other than that, I think it's just a matter of getting over the injuries. And Flamini is a bit pants.

[Psydekick]

After Vieria left they have struggled and when Henry is out they look woeful, i think a new good Central Midfielder would solve thier problems

[HowlingMonkey]

The reasons Arsenal are sucking:

1. They sold Patrick Vieria. He was a huge player for the club, and they were always going to struggle. More so when they decided the best replacement was Mathieu Flamini.

2. Ashburton Grove. Meant less money for transfers, meant they couldn't compete for the big names. All he could get was youngsters, and his judgment on them has never been that hot. I can't think of a single youngster to show true quality for them since Ashley Cole

3. Reliance on Henry. Arsenal's game plan focuses on Henry's ability to get around the pitch as well. He plays badly, or is adequately defended against, then the team suffers.

4. Age. Bergkamp's ancient. Pires is getting old. Same for Ljungberg and Campbell. The stars are aging, and the kids aren't good enough to take their place.

5. Injuries. The back four has been totally screwed up from those. You can't expect his youth team to fill in well.

6. Chelsea. Nuff' said. *loves her Chelsea*

[Psychotic]

Arsenal are really a one-man show, and it all comes down to Mr. Thierry Henry.

But the thing is, these days with all the rumours of him leaving, he seems to be looking to the other players to convince him that Arsenal have the quality to make him stay, without putting in the effort himself. I don't know why Wenger made him captain, he's just not a leader. Well, actually, yes I do: To stop him leaving. If I were an Arsenal fan, I'd be happier seeing the likes of Toure, Campbell or Lehmann made captain instead.

Henry isn't the only veteran whose performances have been lacklustre. The likes of Pires, Campbell and Ljungberg have all seemed bored and unfocused. They simply can't do this. They have to set an example to the younger players in the team.

I genuinely do not believe that Henry, Cole or Pires will be playing at Ashburton Grove next season, and we already know that Dennis Bergkamp won't be. This isn't as bad as it would seem, however. Remember how many people predicted doom and gloom for Arsenal when they sold the likes of Overmars, Anelka, Petit, and people like Adams retired? Sure, they fell behind Man Utd again, but then their younger, less-established players like Henry, Vieira, etc. improved and they became an incredible force, and I expect the likes of Fabregas, Van Persie and Reyes to do the same.

However, for this season and next season their ambitions will be limited to Champion's League qualification. They can overtake Spurs and qualify this season, provided the likes of Henry pull their fingers out of their arses.

And now, because I like correcting Czanthor:

Ashley Cole has played eight games all season, and he's one of nine defenders who are out right now

ERK! Wrong. At the worst point of Arsenal's defensive crisis, only 8 defenders were out (Campbell, Toure, Eboue, Clichy, Gilbert, Cole, Cygan and Lauren) and seeing as how both Toure and Eboue played against the mighty Liverpool last week, Gilbert has been selected for the England U-19 game vs Slovakia, and apparently Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy are due to return from injury this week, this leaves only three injured. (and is Pascal Cygan being injured a bad thing?)

PS: One more thing that Arsenal need to do is to get rid of the vastly overrated and extremely ineffective Gilberto Silva. I don't care if he won the World Cup. The likes of Djimi Traore, Antonio Nunez and Josemi all have Champion's League Winners medals!

[Heath]

I love supporting a team that considers fifth place in February to be a crisis.

I know I certainly wouldn't be complaining if Everton were in that situation.

I certainly wouldn't consider Arsenal being in a crisis, having lived through Everton's disasterous first half of the season, which I would consider a crisis. Though I really think that Spurs are bound to drop the points and you'll finish in that last Champion's League spot. If you fancy loaning us a goalkeeper, well be more than happy to beat Spurs for you!

[Cz]

Arsenal are really a one-man show, and it all comes down to Mr. Thierry Henry.

But the thing is, these days with all the rumours of him leaving, he seems to be looking to the other players to convince him that Arsenal have the quality to make him stay, without putting in the effort himself. I don't know why Wenger made him captain, he's just not a leader. Well, actually, yes I do: To stop him leaving. If I were an Arsenal fan, I'd be happier seeing the likes of Toure, Campbell or Lehmann made captain instead.

The sad thing is that you're right. The whole club is in a total panic about Henry leaving, and so we're doing crazy stuff like giving him the captain's armband to keep him at the club. While I don't think that the club is doomed, I do believe that if Thierry leaves at the end of the season we'll have a tough 06-07. Our youngsters won't be quite ready to take over from the established squad, and we won't have Henry's flashes of genius to bail us out.

Henry isn't the only veteran whose performances have been lacklustre. The likes of Pires, Campbell and Ljungberg have all seemed bored and unfocused. They simply can't do this. They have to set an example to the younger players in the team.

I wouldn't say that Henry has been lacklustre, since any striker who's scored fifteen times at this stage in the season must be doing their job pretty damn well. But I do agree that the other mainstays like Pires and Ljungberg (despite having injury problems of their own) haven't been themselves as of late. We used to score from midfield all the time, but it just hasn't worked for us this season. Freddie's scored once in nineteen Premiership games, which by his standards is quite frankly terrible.

I genuinely do not believe that Henry, Cole or Pires will be playing at Ashburton Grove next season, and we already know that Dennis Bergkamp won't be. This isn't as bad as it would seem, however. Remember how many people predicted doom and gloom for Arsenal when they sold the likes of Overmars, Anelka, Petit, and people like Adams retired? Sure, they fell behind Man Utd again, but then their younger, less-established players like Henry, Vieira, etc. improved and they became an incredible force, and I expect the likes of Fabregas, Van Persie and Reyes to do the same.

However, for this season and next season their ambitions will be limited to Champion's League qualification. They can overtake Spurs and qualify this season, provided the likes of Henry pull their fingers out of their arses.

This is all pretty much true, although I think it's rather pessimistic to say that all of our stars are going to leave after one bad season, particularly if we still make the Champions' League. Still, I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that we're going to lose at least one of our key players over the summer, so it's up to Arsene to rediscover his once-keen sense for finding young talent (insert paedophilia joke here) and give us a reliable replacement for Cole/whoever.

And now, because I like correcting Czanthor:ERK! Wrong. At the worst point of Arsenal's defensive crisis, only 8 defenders were out (Campbell, Toure, Eboue, Clichy, Gilbert, Cole, Cygan and Lauren) and seeing as how both Toure and Eboue played against the mighty Liverpool last week, Gilbert has been selected for the England U-19 game vs Slovakia, and apparently Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy are due to return from injury this week, this leaves only three injured. (and is Pascal Cygan being injured a bad thing?)

Holy smurf, you mean that we've only lost eight of our first team defenders!? And yet we still haven't managed to cope!? Why, you've opened my eyes! What a shambles our squad must be, not to overcome such a trifling loss! Why, my fury at this pathetic display is so great that I shall henceforth break all ties with the club and start supporting Chelsea, whose record with injuries is remarkably good for a club with five czillion pounds, and have enough cash to buy Shaun Wright-Phillips and then wreck his career, just so we can't get our hands on him. You'd think that with all that money, karma would come into effect and John Terry would suffer an unfortunate skydiving accident (e.g. discovering that his parachute is actually full of rotting whale meat). It almost makes you wonder if there's any justice at all! (Can we at least agree on this bit?)

Besides, I was actually including Justin Hoyte, who is on loan to Sunderland and is therefore unavailable. To be fair, they weren't all unavailable at the time of writing, but I don't think this changes the fact that losing nine sodding defenders is a bit of a bit. I'd also like to point out that Pascal Cygan has scored twice as many goals this season as Harry Kewell and also does not have the worst haircut in the world. This statistic doesn't have much relevance, but it's still fun to note nevertheless. Frankly, you wouldn't have won the Champions' League if Kewell hadn't had the good sense to go and get injured, so don't go around thinking we're the only team with a complete and utter joke in our squad.

PS: One more thing that Arsenal need to do is to get rid of the vastly overrated and extremely ineffective Gilberto Silva. I don't care if he won the World Cup. The likes of Djimi Traore, Antonio Nunez and Josemi all have Champion's League Winners medals!

I think you're being a little unfair on Gilberto. He's overrated, sure, but still a dependable player in the middle of the park, who has the experience needed to counterbalance the youth of Fabregas or Diaby. He gets forward when needed, and can put in a strong tackle if needed too. I'm not saying he's essential, just that there's no need to be getting rid of him either.

And this thread was going so well, too...

[Psychotic]

I wouldn't say that Henry has been lacklustre, since any striker who's scored fifteen times at this stage in the season must be doing their job pretty damn well.

He was doing fine until around January, but in the last couple of Arsenal matches I have seen, all he seemed to do was throw his hands up in the air in exasperation, or stand with his hands on his hips.

This is all pretty much true, although I think it's rather pessimistic to say that all of our stars are going to leave after one bad season, particularly if we still make the Champions' League. Still, I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that we're going to lose at least one of our key players over the summer, so it's up to Arsene to rediscover his once-keen sense for finding young talent (insert paedophilia joke here) and give us a reliable replacement for Cole/whoever.

It's not really because of a bad season, it's because they need a new challenge. What more is there for Henry, Pires or Cole to achieve at Arsenal that they haven't already achieved? Well, success in Europe for one, and let's face it: Arsenal do not have a good European record. Henry and Pires aren't getting any younger, and I think they'd like to experience something new in a different league while they still have the ability to do so. For the record, I don't want any of them to leave...well...maybe Pires, diving bastard...maybe Cole too, actually, he's no better. Okay, I don't want Henry to leave, because he is an exciting player to watch on top form

Holy smurf, you mean that we've only lost eight of our first team defenders!? And yet we still haven't managed to cope!? Why, you've opened my eyes! What a shambles our squad must be, not to overcome such a trifling loss! Why, my fury at this pathetic display is so great that I shall henceforth break all ties with the club and start supporting Chelsea, whose record with injuries is remarkably good for a club with five czillion pounds, and have enough cash to buy Shaun Wright-Phillips and then wreck his career, just so we can't get our hands on him. You'd think that with all that money, karma would come into effect and John Terry would suffer an unfortunate skydiving accident (e.g. discovering that his parachute is actually full of rotting whale meat). It almost makes you wonder if there's any justice at all! (Can we at least agree on this bit?)Besides, I was actually including Justin Hoyte, who is on loan to Sunderland and is therefore unavailable. To be fair, they weren't all unavailable at the time of writing, but I don't think this changes the fact that losing nine sodding defenders is a bit of a bit. I'd also like to point out that Pascal Cygan has scored twice as many goals this season as Harry Kewell and also does not have the worst haircut in the world. This statistic doesn't have much relevance, but it's still fun to note nevertheless. Frankly, you wouldn't have won the Champions' League if Kewell hadn't had the good sense to go and get injured, so don't go around thinking we're the only team with a complete and utter joke in our squad.

You distinctly said at the present moment in time! You could've recalled Mr. Hoyte from his Sunderland loan, especially as there was a transfer window, so I didn't count him. I didn't say it wasn't a blow, either, I was just stating the facts.

As for Harry Kewell, he has had an outstanding season, and has performed better than every single Arsenal midfielder. Now, I know this is for one reason: The World Cup. However, it still doesn't change the fact that he's been our best player in about 8 matches since his return from "Injury". As for the Champion's League, well, even though he scored, it's not like Vladimir Smicer was a threat other than then to the likes of Cafu, Stam, Nesta and Maldini.

(I agree fully on the Chelski thing!)

I think you're being a little unfair on Gilberto. He's overrated, sure, but still a dependable player in the middle of the park, who has the experience needed to counterbalance the youth of Fabregas or Diaby. He gets forward when needed, and can put in a strong tackle if needed too. I'm not saying he's essential, just that there's no need to be getting rid of him either.

Get rid of him and buy Owen bloody Hargreaves, as even he'd be a better player. Gilberto, Fabregas, Diaby. That's the midfield I'd expect at someone like West Brom. (I think Fabregas just might level up to the awesome Zoltan Gera)

Just compare:
Makalele - Hamann - Gilberto (veteran defensive midfielder)
Essien - Sissoko - Diaby (young French-African defensive midfielder)
Maniche - Alonso - Fabregas (Silky passing star from south-west Europe)
Lampard - Gerrard - Ljungberg (Two of the best midfielders in the world, and Freddie Ljungberg)
Joe Cole - Luis Garcia - Hleb (Trickster who pops up with a goal from time-to-time...wait, does Hleb even score?)
Robben - Kewell - Pires. (Whiny winger who everyone hates)

(Who would I compare Duff and Riise - guy who makes penetrating runs from the left, and has a powerful shot - to, anyway? Flamini? Help me out here!)

It's all very well to blame the defensive injuries, but when you look at this comparison, that much more of a problem, and it is why you aren't going to finish in the top two. Arsenal have the worst player in all 6 comparisons. I'd be happier with Lennon, Davids, Carrick, Tainio, Jenas and Murphy than I would be with Arsenal's midfield, truth be told, but I can't really fit their players into the categories.

If you get a better midfield, you will no longer need to be a one-man show. (And don't you give me guff about Liverpool being a one-man Gerrard show, because frankly, I'd be more concerned if Xabi Alonso was injured than if Stevie G was. Heck, his injury last season is probably why we finished 5th.)

[Cz]

He was doing fine until around January, but in the last couple of Arsenal matches I have seen, all he seemed to do was throw his hands up in the air in exasperation, or stand with his hands on his hips.It's not really because of a bad season, it's because they need a new challenge. What more is there for Henry, Pires or Cole to achieve at Arsenal that they haven't already achieved? Well, success in Europe for one, and let's face it: Arsenal do not have a good European record. Henry and Pires aren't getting any younger, and I think they'd like to experience something new in a different league while they still have the ability to do so. For the record, I don't want any of them to leave...well...maybe Pires, diving bastard...maybe Cole too, actually, he's no better. Okay, I don't want Henry to leave, because he is an exciting player to watch on top form

You have a point there, but I think that there is more to the decision than mere trophy-hunting. If players were motivated entirely by silverware, Cole would've moved to Madrid ages ago, and Steven Gerrard would currently be wearing an ugly blue shirt.

You distinctly said at the present moment in time! You could've recalled Mr. Hoyte from his Sunderland loan, especially as there was a transfer window, so I didn't count him. I didn't say it wasn't a blow, either, I was just stating the facts.

We could've recalled Hoyte, but that would mean he'd be unable to return to Sunderland, and once the crisis was over he'd have spent the rest of the season warming our subs' bench instead of gaining first-team experience.

As for Harry Kewell, he has had an outstanding season, and has performed better than every single Arsenal midfielder. Now, I know this is for one reason: The World Cup. However, it still doesn't change the fact that he's been our best player in about 8 matches since his return from "Injury". As for the Champion's League, well, even though he scored, it's not like Vladimir Smicer was a threat other than then to the likes of Cafu, Stam, Nesta and Maldini.

How can you possibly say that Kewell has outperformed every single one of our midfielders? He's simply lucky to be surrounded by good players on a good run of form. In the matches I've seen, he's hardly been impressive, and certainly not good enough to make up for his history of abject failure at the club. And I still stand by the hair comment.

(I agree fully on the Chelski thing!)

We should form a club!

Get rid of him and buy Owen bloody Hargreaves, as even he'd be a better player. Gilberto, Fabregas, Diaby. That's the midfield I'd expect at someone like West Brom. (I think Fabregas just might level up to the awesome Zoltan Gera)

That's the kind of comment I'd expect from the football fan equivalent of West Brom. I still haven't gathered what exactly is so bad about Gilberto, and to criticise Cesc Fabregas after the kind of perfomances he's been putting in at age 18 is just plain foolish. As for Diaby, he's played six games, and has shown every sign of being the tough-tackling midfielder we need. Just because he isn't a big name doesn't mean he isn't any good. After all, who had heard of Patrick Vieira when he first joined the club?

Just compare:
Makalele - Hamann - Gilberto (veteran defensive midfielder)
Essien - Sissoko - Diaby (young French-African defensive midfielder)
Maniche - Alonso - Fabregas (Silky passing star from south-west Europe)
Lampard - Gerrard - Ljungberg (Two of the best midfielders in the world, and Freddie Ljungberg)
Joe Cole - Luis Garcia - Hleb (Trickster who pops up with a goal from time-to-time...wait, does Hleb even score?)
Robben - Kewell - Pires. (Whiny winger who everyone hates)

I absolutely love this. You're equating players because of their nationality? Ignoring the falsely-implied inferiority of the Arsenal players for a moment, it would have made far more sense to put Diaby in with Makelele and Hamann, as his role in the team is nothing like Essien's.
And putting Ljungberg, a creative right winger, in the same category as two offensive midfielders who compensate for their respective teams' lack of proper goalscoring talent? Don't get me wrong, I'm not for a moment questioning the talent of Gerrard or Lampard, but just because Arsenal don't field that sort of midfielder doesn't mean you can throw in anyone you like just for the sake of a comparison.

(Who would I compare Duff and Riise - guy who makes penetrating runs from the left, and has a powerful shot - to, anyway? Flamini? Help me out here!)

Well, Robert Pires plays on the left, is a great dribbler and has scored more goals than those two put together this season, as well as a dozen in each of the two seasons prior.

It's difficult to refute that Chelsea are stronger than Arsenal in each of those categories (although that's hardly surprising, for obvious reasons), but your misguided loyalty to the unemployed car-thieves really shows here. To suggest that Harry Kewell is a better player than Robert Pires is laughable, and I wouldn't say Hamann is better than Gilberto either. You can't possibly judge Abou Diaby after such a short time at the club, but I'd say he's already the equal of Sissoko.

The fact is that this is all a matter of form. Liverpool are on a roll right now, and each of their players is performing to the very best of their ability. Conversely, Arsenal are stuck in a rut and the individual players are suffering as a result. But these are just ongoing trends. Liverpool were poor at the start of the season, even after a lengthy Champions' League qualification campgain to help their new players settle in. When their current hot streak wears off, then players like Sissoko or Kewell will begin to flag. Similarly, when Arsenal find their form again, the indiviuals in their side will start to flourish. The fact that there was only a single goal between the sides last week shows that an under-strength Arsenal side can still compete, and had that been a full Gunners' side, we would have been a match for Liverpool, bad form or not.

It's all very well to blame the defensive injuries, but when you look at this comparison, that much more of a problem, and it is why you aren't going to finish in the top two. Arsenal have the worst player in all 6 comparisons. I'd be happier with Lennon, Davids, Carrick, Tainio, Jenas and Murphy than I would be with Arsenal's midfield, truth be told, but I can't really fit their players into the categories.

I'm sorry to have ever doubted you, PsyPsy. You really are funny. :laugh:

If you get a better midfield, you will no longer need to be a one-man show. (And don't you give me guff about Liverpool being a one-man Gerrard show, because frankly, I'd be more concerned if Xabi Alonso was injured than if Stevie G was. Heck, his injury last season is probably why we finished 5th.)

Nah, the time when Liverpool lived and died by Steven Gerrard is long gone. However, your inconsistency and lack of attacking options last season was why you finished fifth. Nobody finishes behind Everton on bad luck alone.

[Psychotic]

You have a point there, but I think that there is more to the decision than mere trophy-hunting. If players were motivated entirely by silverware, Cole would've moved to Madrid ages ago, and Steven Gerrard would currently be wearing an ugly blue shirt.

When did Madrid win anything recently?

We could've recalled Hoyte, but that would mean he'd be unable to return to Sunderland, and once the crisis was over he'd have spent the rest of the season warming our subs' bench instead of gaining first-team experience.

I think you can still loan players out to lower division teams outside of the transfer window. I know we loaned Zak Whitbread out to Millwall outside of it.

How can you possibly say that Kewell has outperformed every single one of our midfielders? He' simply lucky to be surrounded by good players on a good run of form. In the matches I've seen, he's hardly been impressive, and certainly not good enough to make up for his history of abject failure at the club. And I still stand by the hair comment.

If you're saying Liverpool's success has come from other players besides Kewell, then look at this. Fun for all! And that's just recent games. He's been top in many other previous games. All of this is voted for Liverpool fans, and you're not going to claim we're biased in favour of that guy (especially above Kop heroes like Gerrard or Carragher) after the abuse we gave him after the Champion's League. And as Liverpool's midfield has been performing at a much higher level than Arsenal's, I think that we may assume that the most in-form midfielder for Liverpool has been performing better than the most in-form midfielder for Arsenal. As for the hair, it's the third-worst in football, yeah. Only Claudio Caniggia and Carlos Puyol can beat Mr. Kewell.

We should form a club!

A Chelski dislike club? I think that's pretty much every football fan.

That's the kind of comment I'd expect from the football fan equivalent of West Brom. I still haven't gathered what exactly is so bad about Gilberto, and to criticise Cesc Fabregas after the kind of perfomances he's been putting in at age 18 is just plain foolish. As for Diaby, he's played six games, and has shown every sign of being the tough-tackling midfielder we need. Just because he isn't a big name doesn't mean he isn't any good. After all, who had heard of Patrick Vieira when he first joined the club?

Oh now, no need to get personal. Gilberto can't tackle, can't pass, and looks lost. Look at him playing against Liverpool, if you want an example. I didn't criticise Fabregas, as I genuinely believe Zoltan Gera is a good player, and easily WBA's best.

I absolutely love this. You're equating players because of their nationality? Ignoring the falsely-implied inferiority of the Arsenal players for a moment, it would have made far more sense to put Diaby in with Makelele and Hamann, as his role in the team is nothing like Essien's.
And putting Ljungberg, a creative right winger, in the same category as two offensive midfielders who compensate for their respective teams' lack of proper goalscoring talent? Don't get me wrong, I'm not for a moment questioning the talent of Gerrard or Lampard, but just because Arsenal don't field that sort of midfielder doesn't mean you can throw in anyone you like just for the sake of a comparison.

Oh okay, it's very wrong and naughty to use nationalities to show how three Premiership sides have similar teams to each other. I'm sorry, Internet Police, please let me off with a caution this time. :rolleyes2

If you want to put Diaby in with Maka and the Kaiser, the point still stands: He's worse than both of them. But as it happens, he looks like he's going to be a nasty piece of work, just like Vieria was, and just like Essien and Sissoko are.

What do you think Steven Gerrard has been playing as this season if not a creative right winger? Perhaps a goalkeeper? Well, he'd probably be better at it than Ljungberg. And isn't he Arsenal's top midfield scorer, just like Gerrard and Lampard are for their respective clubs? I was going for that angle.

Well, Robert Pires plays on the left, is a great dribbler and has scored more goals than those two put together this season, as well as a dozen in each of the two seasons prior.

Robert Pires....great dribbler? I think you meant to type "diver" there. Also, might I add that there is more to being a footballer than scoring goals, incredible as it may seem.

It's difficult to refute that Chelsea are stronger than Arsenal in each of those categories (although that's hardly surprising, for obvious reasons), but your misguided loyalty to the unemployed car-thieves really shows here. To suggest that Harry Kewell is a better player than Robert Pires is laughable, and I wouldn't say Hamann is better than Gilberto either. You can't possibly judge Abou Diaby after such a short time at the club, but I'd say he's already the equal of Sissoko.

Oh, another personal taunt about Liverpool. Wow, I'll bet your post will prove to be an objective and completely unbiased analysis! Pires better than Kewell? Dream on. Cast your mind back a few days ago to the Valentine's Day encounter. Who was the one pulling the opposition's defence apart, and who was the one standing around looking like he couldn't be arsed? Kewell has clearly had a much better season than Pires this season. As for Hamann vs Gilberto...now who is misguided? Honestly, that has to be a joke. Watch the second half of Liverpool v AC Milan. Watch him take one of the world's best, if not the world's best, playmakers, Kaka, to the cleaners. And what makes this even more incredible is that he was doing it with a broken bone in his foot (and he still took and scored a penalty with said foot in the shootout) Then come back and tell me Gilberto "Huh? What's going on?" Silva is superior. So...let me get this straight...you can't judge Diaby when he's only been there for a short time at the club, but already he's as good as Sissoko? Uh...you're judging him right there. :rolleyes2 As it happens, I'd be extremely surprised if he plays anywhere near as well as Sissoko has this season, as his performances have been immense.

The fact is that this is all a matter of form. Liverpool are on a roll right now, and each of their players is performing to the very best of their ability. Conversely, Arsenal are stuck in a rut and the individual players are suffering as a result. But these are just ongoing trends. Liverpool were poor at the start of the season, even after a lengthy Champions' League qualification campgain to help their new players settle in. When their current hot streak wears off, then players like Sissoko or Kewell will begin to flag. Similarly, when Arsenal find their form again, the indiviuals in their side will start to flourish. The fact that there was only a single goal between the sides last week shows that an under-strength Arsenal side can still compete, and had that been a full Gunners' side, we would have been a match for Liverpool, bad form or not.

No, all our players are not performing well. Look at the strikeforce! But still we manage to score from midfield. And Liverpool are currently fatigued, if it had escaped your notice, thanks largely to the Super Cup, WCC and FA Cup, not that I'd expect an Arsenal fan to know about the first two. Didn't you notice that Xabi Alonso was "flagging" (useful verb, thanks man) and had to be substituted? The fact that there was a single goal between two sides last week shows that a fatigued Liverpool with misfiring strikers can still completely dominate Arsenal, and that Jens Lehmann is a very good keeper, and is the only reason you're not further behind Spurs.

I'm sorry to have ever doubted you, PsyPsy. You really are funny. :laugh:

Thank you, thank you. For my next joke: The Arsenal Midfield!

Nah, the time when Liverpool lived and died by Steven Gerrard is long gone. However, your inconsistency and lack of attacking options last season was why you finished fifth. Nobody finishes behind Everton on bad luck alone.

For Everton, read Spurs. (The under-achieving inferior blue and white rivals...from ENGLAND no less, if I'm still allowed to compare nationalities) What will your excuse be?

[HowlingMonkey]

Ok, having seen the last few posts degenerate into Liverpool bashing, I would like to interject:

On Arsenal: Cygan is dreadful, Flamini and Fabregas are too young, inexperienced and crap, their defence situation is partly to blame, Henry should leave before the ship sinks completely. Pires has been good in the past, but has struggled this season. They don't deserve to be in the Champions League next season, even though they probably will be.

On Liverpool: Harry Kewell is a nancy boy who has played well about 3 times in the last 2 years. He's scored a couple of reasonable goals, but is nowhere near as good as you're claiming. Your strikers suck, but I think you knew that already. Your defence and Stevie "16?17? goals" Gerrard are the reasons you've done so well this season.

On Chelsea: You're all just bitter cause we have players of far better talent than any of you. Especially Robben.