Written by Landry Subira Saturday, 06 August 2011 15:38

GunnerTalk Blog

By Landry Subira (@LandrySubira)

Firstly a big Merci to all the good folks at gunnertalk for allowing level headed people the chance at commenting on our beloved Arsenal. Too many assholes trolling the web, many of them on twitter, making life of a Gooner very miserable.

I titled this short piece from a Wenger lover ironically because,at 23, I know nothing else and only ManUre have had the same coach as long as we have (that I know of). From the moment I could make sense of football in the mid to late nineties, I fell in love with Arsenal and also Monsieur Wenger. His manner of play was and still is the most beautiful, most passionate and indeed the right way to play the game. That Arsenal team which culminated in The Invincibles we're gods of football. Every weekend Pires, Henry, Vieira and my favourite player of all time Dennis Bergkamp played masterful footed symphonies with Arsene as their conductor. Ten years on and I really don't recognize the team.

The last season (2010-2011), confused me so much. In December 2010 having totally destroyed Chelsea 3-1, I thought we really had the league this time. We weren't even playing out of our depth. By the way the season ended, I  thought Arsene had gotten the picture. Not enough steel, not enough penetration, too leaky at the back etc etc. So that he has only bought one "quality player" this late in the transfer window is frustrating or worrying, its fucking insane.

How is it possible? We have the money and the players we need aren't overly costly. If both Jagielka and Mata were bought for e.g, it would cost an estimated £40m. Is that a lot? For 2 quality players? For a club worth over a billion pounds.  That BOTH of our best players are so disenfranchised with the team speaks volumes. And also that an immature South American player didn't come running to sign with us does too. I'm beginning to think Arsene Wenger is our problem.

Where is his bite? The bite that saw people like Flamini and Gilberto Silva controlling his midfeild. His unwillingness to see football, not as normative but as what it is, hurts me. I think he is a genius, but why the continued frustration? I truly believe that if Fabregas had a Fernando Alonso to his left (didn't happen) or Karim Benzema to his right, he'd stay. Messi is only Messi because of XavIniestaPedroVilla. I figured that at the end of last season, he'd have bought 2 big players and 2 squad players to strengthen the team. This idea of balancing the books confuses me as well; Real Madrid bought Xiano for £80million, and he paid them back for it. Apparently they sold over a million of his shirts in one season alone and last season he scored 40 league goals. Big money can pay off. Good players means good football which is GOOD MONEY. I understand by the way that the Emirates needs to be paid for but I doubt very much that Arsene has asked for money and it was not provided for him.

Now we are in a situation where one prick of player, which is normal nowadays, holds all the cards and another is held captive by the love of his mother club. This is the same underlying cause, isn't it? His indecisiveness and stubbornness in the player market is the same as his stubbornness with faith in one or two players for too long and also  his stubbornness with defensive frailties. Do no get me wrong however, I don't want him to fail. I'd love him to win, I just don't believe he can with his path, and players don't  believe it too. Thing is the team isn't all that bad. But if he fails again, he won't have the chance to correct it.

My prediction is 4th for next season but it could be 5th if things stay as they are. And perhaps a cup, perhaps the FA. What's sad is whoever may be the next coach wouldn't have to change much, just "one or two quality signings", such a shame.