Just finished watching our nervewracking 2-2 draw with West Brom and am left a little confused as to what exactly I should be feeling. Wouldn’t life be a lot easier if we could all agree that we were definitely just a bit rubbish? Wouldn’t it be nice to at least know where we are with this team, rather than continue this rollercoaster ride journey with this Jekyll and Hyde team?
For about 70 minutes of this game we saw the ugly side of Arsenal: shocking goals conceded, total lack of threat upfront, and no leadership from anyone. Then somehow we hit back with two goals in quick succession to grasp an unlikely draw, and came very close to a win. We didn’t quite pull it off, but for 20 minutes we at least did show some quality and character.
Sadly, we’ve dropped further behind in the title race as Man Utd scraped to a late 1-0 win at home to Bolton. It’s so sad to see such a bad team ahead of us, but the fact is they simply won’t put themselves under the kind of pressure we do by conceding the kind of goals we gifted West Brom today.
Still, I can’t help but feel they will drop points, and their performance today doesn’t do much to change my mind. The question is with us. If we improve, we can do it, but after the performances of Almunia and Squillaci today I just don’t think it’ll be enough. We’re stuck with them for the rest of the season because Wenger gambled stupidly on the fitness of Vermaelen and Djourou, and now we have to hope Jens Lehmann can perform something of a miracle in goal, because Almunia is just an embarassment.
One player that really personifies the frustrating nature of this team is Andrey Arshavin. What a fantastic goal today, but what rubbish for the rest of the game. What is it with him? He’s clearly so talented but these days can only show it in glimpses. Again, what can I say? It’s all a big bunch of ‘ifs’. IF Arshavin decides to hit form and score a few more stunners we have every chance, but if not we’re carrying an unwanted passenger for the rest of the season. Walcott is nowhere near as good as Arshavin, but I’d like him back simply for the threat he poses with his pace and running.
In general, players back from injury would be nice, wouldn’t it? If we have to have Squillaci and Almunia back there, it would be nice at least to have Song and Fabregas in front of them.
At least now it’s a rather long time until our next game, so plenty of chance for rest and regrouping, and hopefully less chance of more injuries happening.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
