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I asked the same question last week and got loads of abuse.
My point was that we travelled to Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and now Everton – all massive games in our season, and all season-defining games – yet we failed every single one spectacularly.
Against City, United, Liverpool and Chelsea we were “fighting” to cement our title challenge but failed, and today against Everton we were “fighting” to cement 4th place and yet again, failed.
Failed is in quotation marks because there was, ironically, none in those games.
So why the hell do we fail each test we’ve been given?
Those are exactly the games the players should be thriving to play in, the games big time players live for. Unfortunately apart from Ramsey, we have no big time players.
You can point to injuries to Mesut Özil, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Laurent Koscielny during different times of the season, but there is still no excuse for getting thrashed time and time again.
Arsene Wenger is responsible for choosing the formation, setting the game plan and picking the eleven players that step onto the pitch and wear the Arsenal shirt. So if we are light in certain departments, in certain areas of the pitch, then he is the one responsible for setting the team up to get the best possible result.
Surely if we have some injuries then we don’t play a completely open game and play conservatively? The approach we’ve had in the big away games has been completely idiotic. The ironic thing is that if we drew all of these games (and didn’t get absolutely humiliated) then we’d still be right in the title race now.
A major complaint from Arsenal fans is that in those big games, the players haven’t turned up. So surely that comes from the manager? If we get thrashed once, then you can put it down to a bad day – but if it happens time and time again, and in exactly the same manner then it’s obvious that Arsene Wenger can’t get the players motivated and that comes from the dressing room before the game.
Has Arsene Wenger lost the dressing room? Well it doesn’t seem as if the players are playing for him does it?
Arsenal have been in free fall ever since the hiding at Anfield in February and as I’ve mentioned numerous times on this blog, the form between Liverpool and Arsenal since then has been polar opposites. Before the Anfield debacle, we were 7 points ahead of them and before this weekend even kicked off, we were 8 behind – in the space of under 2 months we’ve conceded a 15 point swing.
That’s why a few weeks ago I look at the odds for Everton to finish 4th. They were a good few points behind us at that stage (I can’t remember exactly how many it was) and they were 10/1 to finish 4th. Yesterday, before the game the odds were 3/1 and now after the decisive defeat to Everton, they would have surely become even smaller.
And even yesterday, I even predicted that Everton would demolish Arsenal. I got some abuse for writing that, with people calling me a negative twat (amongst other things). I’m not negative, I’m realistic. I watch Arsenal all the time and can see how the players are performing on the pitch.
The problem is (and I’ve received criticism for even suggesting it) is that we no longer have any belief. We don’t have any fight, there’s no desire and we have lost the plot. I suggested that Arsene Wenger had lost the dressing room and is there any evidence to dispute that? The players walk onto the pitch and walk around as if they don’t care.
And again today, as I predicted, we were a shambles. I highly rate Roberto Martinez and his side are hungry, determined and simply wanted it more. At Arsenal, failure is accepted and even rewarded it seems, with new deal after new deal given to players who consistently fail to win any honours.
As it stands, Everton are a single point behind us with a game in hand. With Arsenal unable to turn up to any away game then Everton who are the far more hungrier team, are favourites to get that final Champions League spot.
And I for one won’t be disappointed and will be ready to collect my winnings come the end of the season.
So here we are, another massive game for Arsenal.
As it stands, Arsenal are in 4th position in the Premier League after having played 32 games with 64 points. Everton sit in 5th after 31 games, and have 60 points.
So the situation is clear.
If Arsenal win, they are well on the way to finishing in a Champions League spot come the end of the season. A draw gives us a theoretical 1 point buffer over Everton (if they win their game in hand) and a defeat… Well that’s not worth thinking about.
The problem is that we’ve been in this exact same situation 3 times before this season and every time, spectacularly failed.
Regular readers will know that I have repeatedly made the same old point over and over again. When Arsenal are ahead of a team in the league, and only need a point to keep a nice distance between them, they collapse is unbelievable fashion.
Against Manchester City, we were several points clear and should have kept it tight and played for a draw. What happened? We played an extremely naive and open game and lost 6-3.
Against Manchester United, we were well ahead of them but somehow managed to lose against the worst Manchester United side in the last 20 years. And a Manchester United side with the worst home record over the last 2 decades.
Against Liverpool, we were 7 points ahead of them and what happened? We lost 5-1. Before Anfield we were 7 points ahead and now we are 8 points behind. That is a massive 15 point swing in the matter of less than two months.
And then we have Chelsea. You would think Arsene would have learned his lesson but no. Once again we play a ridiculous system and end up losing 6-0. In a game where a draw would have kept us in the race, we spectacularly lose.
So why is there any hope against Everton?
Every time we’ve faced a top opponent, and every time that has been away, we’ve lost the plot. We’ve collapsed, we’ve capitulated, call it whatever you want. For whatever reason, we haven’t turned up and had a hiding.
Is it because Arsene Wenger has lost the dressing room? Is it because we need Ramsey and Walcott?
Whatever the reason is, Arsene needs to sort it out because once again we face a top Premier League side in their own back yard. And in the 4 times that’s happened already this season, we’ve completely collapsed and given that side a massive boost in the process.
As Liverpool destroyed Tottenham Hotspur and end the weekend top of the Premier League, you can’t help but think back to Saturday 8th February – the day Arsenal collapsed in dramatic fashion and lost 5-1 at Anfield.
Before that game, Arsenal were top of the league on 55 points. In fact, the top 5 looked like this after 24 games:
1. Arsenal – 55 points
2. Manchester City – 53 points
3. Chelsea – 53 points
4. Liverpool – 47 points
5. Everton – 45 points
So we were 2 points clear of Chelsea and Manchester City, and 8 ahead of Liverpool.
But now look at the Premier League table, only 8 games on:
1. Liverpool – 71 points
2. Chelsea – 69 points
3. Manchester City – 67 points
4. Arsenal – 64 points
5. Everton – 60 points
So before the the 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool, Arsenal have managed to get a pathetic 9 points from 8 games, while Liverpool have won 8 games from 8.
An 8 point lead over Liverpool has turned into a 7 point deficit. Let that sink in for a minute.
And why have Liverpool done so well over the last 8 games? Their form is that of Champions – they are determined, full of fight and give every since game everything they have. Arsenal on the other hand have been limp, lethargic and devoid of any motivation which ultimately comes from the manager. The 15 point swing from Arsenal to Liverpool is frankly unbelievable.
While Liverpool have been sensational, the catalyst was the shambolic performance at Anfield. Liverpool were 8 points behind Arsenal before the game kicked off and their aspirations were to finish in the Top 4 ahead of Everton.
So if you wanted to give a chasing team the belief they can win the league, then losing 5-1 in dramatic fashion is the perfect way to do it.
If Arsenal weren’t so naive and even managed to get a draw at Anfield that day, do you think Liverpool would be top today? No chance. That game gave them the belief they could do something special. After all, how often do you smash a top side 5-1?
And Arsenal have gone in the exact opposite direction. We have collapsed. There are no other words for it. As you watch Liverpool celebrate after beating Tottenham 4-0, you can’t help but think that should be us. We were 8 points clear of Liverpool in February and look where the red side of Merseyside are now.
Credit to Liverpool, they have done phenomenally well to be where they are now. They have what we don’t in abundance – belief, fight, passion and the will to win.
If a single game could dramatically change the fortunes of two top sides, then it was the 5-1 at Anfield.