The same story. The same cycle. It repeats again and again.
Seriously, for once, I thought, Arsenal will genuinely challenge for the title this season. But, I was sadly mistaken.
After their opening day defeat, they went unbeaten for 12 games in all competition and won eight of their next nine Premier League games.
Five straight Premier League wins in the busy festive period – top of the Premier League in January – were there any Arsenal fans who believed for once the foundation will fall like a pack of cards?
Yet, when pressure of title race was applied, Arsenal went from one low to another. Wenger from being confident of title challenge in December, changed his tone to ‘difficult to catch Chelsea’ in March and like a broken hearted admits after Everton defeat that even ‘top four finish’ is tough.
Arsenal fans simply don’t deserve this.
So many things went wrong. Why Arsenal didn’t sign a striker?
They went for Gonzalo Higuain. They went for Luis Suarez. Failed to land either of them. In the end, they signed Mesut Ozil. Of course, the German star is a top talent and his signing kept the fans buzzing, but the central problem remained unsolved.
Ok, then – why didn’t he buy a striker in January?
No way fans can forgive Arsenal board and manager for the callousness they showed in handling the transfer window.
If any time an investment was indeed it was then. What more frustrating was they had the money to spend yet, they chose to overlook their central problem. Yet again.
Had Arsenal showed the ambition, had Wenger signed another world class player (or a good striker) in January, probably they wouldn’t have faced this situation now.
Giroud, their central striker has scored thrice in their last eight league matches, with Arsenal managing just two wins, in the same period.
Jose Mourinho signed Nemanja Matic, a player who brought a new dimension to their midfield, where as Wenger bought Kim Kallstrom, who was actually injured when signed!
Plus, there is this perennial injury problems of Arsenal. Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Oxlade Chamberlain – all suffered injuries at some point of time this season for a lengthy period.
And, players went missing in big games as well. In three of their crunch matches in the league, Arsenal have conceded six against City, five against Liverpool and six against Chelsea. When they needed to beat Everton, a potential top four challenger, they lost 3-0 at Goodison Park.
Wenger said time and again, his players lacked mental fortitude and now admits his players are bereft of confidence, energy and belief to fight.
But isn’t it Wenger’s job to fix it? Who will take the blame for that?
Why Wenger failed to address his side’s continuos failures in big games? Why Wenger was outwitted tactically not once but thrice?
Why was there no plan B? Liverpool, with their small squad have suffered injury blows as well, but how intelligently Brendan Rodgers has managed to get the best out of his team by altering the systems.
Can’t help, but ask has Wenger failed to motivate his players?
No wonder why fans are slowly losing their patience. The constant susurration of doubt about him for these long years has reached its crescendo, with fans turning their back against the Frenchman with ‘Wenger Out’ message.
They love him so much. They never wanted him to leave. They just wanted him to change. But he won’t.
A feeling of stagnation has hit the club. From ‘Arsene Knows’ may be they’ll say ‘Arsene, you don’t know anything.’
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