We’re pretty much at the halfway point of the season, so let’s take a look at where Arsenal stand:
Premiership
The Gunners sit in first place and therefore control their own destiny. After starting the season looking like they might not lose, they’ve fallen to earth a bit. Still, there is every reason to believe they can repeat as champs.
Champions League
Won our first group stage, and sit in first in the second group stage. Most importantly, we’ve picked up victories on the road, a bugaboo for the team in recent years. Barring a serious breakdown, advancing to the next stage seems probable. Once the knock-out stages begin anything can happen, but if we’re playing up to our potential, we have just as good a chance as anybody.
FA Cup
Hasn’t started yet, but we’ve got to be considered a favorite to retain the Cup.
A fairly rosy picture, but does a dark cloud lie beneath the surface? We’ve been exposed a couple of times this season and I fear that we might be due for a fall if we’re not careful. We’re pretty much at the halfway point of the season, so let’s take a look at where Arsenal stand:
Premiership
The Gunners sit in first place and therefore control their own destiny. After starting the season looking like they might not lose, they’ve fallen to earth a bit. Still, there is every reason to believe they can repeat as champs.
Champions League
Won our first group stage, and sit in first in the second group stage. Most importantly, we’ve picked up victories on the road, a bugaboo for the team in recent years. Barring a serious breakdown, advancing to the next stage seems probable. Once the knock-out stages begin anything can happen, but if we’re playing up to our potential, we have just as good a chance as anybody.
FA Cup
Hasn’t started yet, but we’ve got to be considered a favorite to retain the Cup.
A fairly rosy picture, but does a dark cloud lie beneath the surface? We’ve been exposed a couple of times this season and I fear that we might be due for a fall if we’re not careful.
Let’s take a look at our player and see who’s contributed this season and give them a grade (A-F):
Thierry Henry & Started out hot, but like the team has cooled a bit. Still has to be considered among the top handful of strikers in Europe. B+
DB10 & Injuries and age are catching up again, but when healthy can be absolutely vital. B-
Sylvain Wiltord & White hot start, but recently can’t find the net. You get the feeling that he’s got some big goals left in him though. B
Kanu & Put in a very credible stretch but his limited playing time hurts him. B-
Francis Jeffers & I was a big fan when he got here, but just hasn’t delivered the goods. Incomplete
Freddie Ljungberg & Injuries have kept him from being the Freddie we know and love. We need a big effort from him come springtime. C
Gilberto Silva & All things considered, he’s done pretty well, including two Champs League goals. B
Edu & Squeezed out by his Brazilian pal. C-
Patrick Vieira & He’s run hot and cold, but we need more from our captain. B-
Robert Pires & Still hasn’t regained full match fitness, but you get the feeling he’ll deliver the goods. C+
Kolo Toure & Has seen his playing time diminish, but provided some quality and energy to the side early in the season. B
Ashley Cole & I’ve heard some criticism of him, and the defense has looked shaky at times. B-
Sol Campbell & Needs to be more commanding. The old Arsenal would hold an opponent to one or even zero goals if that’s what it took. I don’t get the sense we can do that anymore. B
Pascal Cygan & Hasn’t blown anybody away, but has been decent enough. B-
Martin Keown & Injury has cost him, and when he is in he looks slow and commits some pretty ugly fouls. C
Lauren & Injury and mediocre play have hurt his stock. C-
Oleg Luzhny & Once a whipping boy, has looked pretty good this year. B
David Seaman & He looks old and slow. He hasn’t cost us yet, but you can just see it coming. B-
Shabaan/Taylor & Will either one of these guys replace Seaman before the season ends? Probably not, but either probably could. Incomplete
Arsene Wenger & Winning is easy compared to repeating. He’s going to have to do a great job in the second half as a handful of teams bare down on us in England and the stakes get high in Europe. Must find a way to get the team gelling again. But then again, look where we are right now. A-
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