No need to panic…

April 3, 2007 | 65 Comments

Ok so the team got battered by Liverpool on the weekend. And it may well happen again before the end of the season. But this doesn’t worry me too much. Why? Because I imagine the players are feeling a bit like me, but probably magnified by about 10.

I love the Arsenal. I go to all home games (yes it is my first season) and I devour anything Arsenal related on blogs, newsnow and other sources. But now I struggle to get enthused. There is nothing to play for. I feel deflated and a little depressed…. Imagine how the players are feeling. There is no way they can have the same drive, competitiveness and desire than they would have had a month earlier when we were still in the cups.

I don’t think for a second that the weekend’s result means Liverpool are a better side than us.

For those calling for an urgent overhaul of the squad, I think you are jumping the gun a bit. Yes the team does need some surgery, but it doesn’t need wholesale changes. The squad is very strong in most departments with an excellent balance of youth and experience. But I think the two main deficiencies are the lack of a proven regular goalscorer other than Henry (I don’t think Van Persie is quite there yet), and the lack of goals from midfield.

I don’t think we need more any defensive players (altho a LB for cover would be handy), despite our recent wobbles. Maybe I am still blinded by our CL defensive record of last season? I think they just need to play and train together more. Perhaps a specialist defensive coach might be required? (Didn’t Keown coach the defence last season – if that is the case then how was he not offered a job after our defensive exploits in the CL last year?!!). The lack of goals this year has really put the defence under more pressure…. It is ok to concede one if you are scoring two, but if you are not scoring anything, it is much harder to keep a clean sheet…

Two players is all we need. But they need to be big players. For once I would love to see Wenger pull out the chequebook. Buy a huge name (Kaka, Eto’o). While it is not Arsene’s way, I wish he would realise the amazing lift signing a big name would give everyone at the club. The fans would turn out in their droves, the players would instantly have more confidence, more merchandise would be sold, and opposing teams would really start to fear us, giving the players a valuable pyschological lift.

Arsene knows, he has proven this time and again. Considering the level of expenditure on the team and the average age of the squad it is quite an achievement to be where we are now.

I guess I just wish that Arsene would consider doing something radical… We can always dream!

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under Mailbag