Is Arsene guilty? No miracle in Portugal
Another Blank
By Boris Mellor
December 11 2008
Arsene Wenger stated on Arsenal.com that he would feel "guilty" if Arsenal did not win Champions League Group G and ended up with a tough draw in the Knockout Round. He went on to state: "It is difficult to say [if it will be important] but would we not feel guilty if we had a massive draw in the last 16? - We would have not done something when we know it can punish us."
So should he and the team be judged guilty for failing to win the top position?
I am not surprised by the result Porto have defeated stronger elevens at home than this shadow Arsenal team. Nor do I blame Arsene for keeping his powder dry for Saturday's match, it is far more important than finishing first in the group table. Last year 50% of the teams that came second went on to win the first knockout round. Arsenal was one of them.
Personally I don't know why Wenger bothered to make the above statement, it was a hostage to fortune. Perhaps it was meant to inspire the team; well that's another failure of cod psychology.
I really don't mind the result, at first sight it is quite respectable, a 2-0 defeat of a second eleven by a reasonably good team. However I do mind the performance, Gallas is right - too many pampered and overpaid youngsters doing too little. Arsenal were never in this game, that's worth restating, Arsenal were never in the game and that was the captain's view. If Arsene thinks it was ok until Porto scored he is deluding himself, at no time did this team threaten in the final third. If Porto had scored earlier it would have been a massacre. This performance was a big fat zero, I should have watched the Devil's Whore, at least both sides put up a fight.
Yes it was a difficult formation for Bendtner and Vela, but does that really excuse them being pants for the whole time they were on the pitch? Only a few players acquitted themselves, in particular Eboue, Djourou, Ramsey and Wilshire.
Gallas and Silvestre were a good advertisement for Wenger's no coffin dodgers' policy. I predicted 3-1 to Porto as I was expecting nothing from this mediocre bunch. Once again I was over optimistic, they would not have scored if the match had gone on until midnight, but Porto should have scored a hatful.
This doesn't tell us much about the first eleven, who on their day can beat anyone, but to my mind it shows the squad is threadbare. I don't see transition here, only regression.
So is Wenger guilty? Well not guilty of doing anything wrong by failing to win the group, he had no real option, and it probably won't matter that much. But he is guilty of talking pre-match nonsense, and collecting two or three mediocrities too many. If he really did think that this team could win then he is guilty of grand delusion.
This was not the real test, that comes on Saturday against Boro.
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And I was tempted to predict 4-0 or 5-0 win for Porto.
A win was never in my mind, only defeat and not even a drawn match.
We are blind and had been conned by Wenger for the past 3 or 4 seasons as he had never coem to grip with the loss of Vieira, Petit, Edu, Bergy, Pires, Henry and last of the lot, Gilberto.
Wenger had turned ignoramus, blinded by hsi sheer stubbornness, nay, ego and arrogance, as if he can turned pig's ears into silk purse.
Wenegr did not admit hsi erros of 2007/08 season in trusting his youngsters to deliver during Jan/Feb 2008 when the signs of the rots had beenthere for al to see in October/November 2007 when key players are injured and he fiialed to strengthen the squad in Jan 2008.
Lack of motivation, alck of commitment where the likes of Hleba nd FLamini playing with the minds not at Arsenal, but seeking lucrative cotnracts elsewhere.
ANd ye tin ssumer 2008, he failed to rejuvenate the squad by 1 or 2 strategic buys, repeating the same error of Jan 2008.
Will Wenger compelte a hat-trick byr efusing to strengthen in Janaury 2009, claiming his youngsters are good enough than any replacement as they need time and their confidence wil be destroyed (like EBoue) if he buys an expereinced palyers to replace those youngsters?
Going by Burnley and Porto match, we can see the rot in there:
1 - Gallas is beign professional, playing his best but will nto go that extra inch to "die" for Arsenal. It is crass stupidity to retain him if Kolo is fit. ANyboidy but Gallas from now onwards if players are fit to play. He must be sold immediately to Juve or MIlan to boost team morale.
2 - SIlvestre is squad member only, certainly not starter, Start G. Hoyte as there is no difference between them except Hoyte will literaly "die" fro Arsenal.
3 - Bye bye EBoue. His confidence is shot to hell and will nto recover this season. Hsi mind is elsewhere as seemed in Proot match where4as previously he ahd RObinho in his pocket. His motivation to paly for Arsenal is gone.
4 - Bendtner. Bye bye. All potential only, but can never be fulfiled in this new team set-up.betetr to give SImpson a chance in his place as we need a direct forward like SImpson, not a clumsy ballerina as deep-lyign striker.
5 - Diaby. Bye bye. WHat the hel is he doing in a mdifield - no vision, no passing skill, no defensive skill, no trakcing back - and we call him a box-to-box midfielder?
6 - SOng? Wenegr si correct, He is a CB and certainly no a DCM.
People, we don't have a team.
Just a collection of youngsters with vast potential and needs another 3 years to pove they can't make it?
In 3 weeks time, we need urgently:
1 - A 24 to 27 year old midfielder - Denilson-Fabregas-Midfielder to compete in midfield, and to release Fabregas to join in attack. Ramsey as a substitute is way way better than DIaby or Song.
2 - ANother striker to psuh Van Persie and Adebayor as Eduardo may or may not be ready by Febraruay 2009.
3 - Walcott msut be fit by Fenbruary 2009 or we need to buy a winger.
4 - Rosicky fit in MArch 2009 is essential during Easter Weekend - if we are stil in CL CUp and still TOp-4.
5 - Kolo is deteriorating. What ails him this season? Personal crisis? Then we better buy a premeirship defender as a stop-gap measure as galas is certain to leave next month.
Just retain TOp-4 pot, we better pray these key palyers remain healthy for teh whole season:
.....................ALmunia
...Sagna (Jan).....Kolo.......Djourou....Clichy
...Walcott (Feb)....Fabregas...Denilson...Rosicky (March)
..........Van Persie.. Aderbayor
Vela and Eduardo shoudl be ready by Feb 2009.
Ramsey and Rosicky should be ready by March 2009.
Therefore, come Janaury 2009, we need:
1 no. CB
1 no. DCM
1 no. winger or wide midfielder
1 no. striker.
Otherwise, we wil be out of every competition by Feb 2009 and left fighting for 4th spot as the only incentive.
know who to get rid of first.
Wenger will only wake up when we are playing in
the UEFA Cup next year. (If we're lucky).
I feel so angry and frustrated that we are in this
position. How any intelligent manager cannot see
the obvious lack of quality and poor depth of squad
beggars belief.
Poor Cesc having to deal with this lot of no-hopers.
If I was him I'd be knocking on Real's door asap.
win major competitions especially as injuries are
inevitable.
Now it's not about winning the league, it's about
getting some distance between us and Villa.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:11:18:06:45 by Chapman's Ghost.
Let's concentrate on Top-4 and forget about silverware.
To maintain Top-4 status is an achievement in itself this season.

