Written by Lindsay Melrose Wednesday, 01 December 2010 22:25

GunnerTalk Blog

By Lindsay Sheehan

Apparently over 59,000 of us braved snow, wind, London transport and feral students to watch the match against Wigan in the Carling Cup quarter final. 59,000 my ARSEnal!  Why they insist on embarrassing us by reading out an attendance based on sales including season tickets rather than the actual gate figures is beyond me. Surely the clue is in the word ‘attendance.’ The announcement was greeted with loud ironic applause from the half empty stadium.

The crowd that had made it to the Emirates were a happy bunch. Not like the usual jaded Gooners and the abundant optimism from around me was actually extremely refreshing. When we scorned chance, after chance, after - yep - chance the standard frustrated mutterings were strangely absent and were replaced by phrases such as 'very slippy out there' and 'there he goes again so very close'. The last comment accompanied Vela's squander of an opening so easy that my dead goldfish could have scored it let alone Twitchy's wife Sandra. That wasn’t fair comment from the Gooner it was charity! 10 minutes before FT saw a fairly competent Mexican Wave spread round the stadium although eventually it was ruined by the moody bastards in the West Stand. (Boooooooooo.) Although, perhaps, like me, they could not feel their legs by this point.

Stronger opposition would have troubled us and our passing went from the ridiculous (mostly) to the sublime (occasionally.) Even the wonder-boy Jack had a few moments but he’d track back, win the ball and off we’d go again. There seemed to be no real urgency, desire or concentration from most of his colleagues but we had enough to overcome Wigan 2-0, one own goal and the second from Nic. Had we taken more of the aforementioned chances we could have won 6 -0 without really breaking a sweat or playing anywhere near capacity. Anyway the result was a fair one and although the game was not the best we are now in the semi finals of the Carling Cup. I’m glad Le Boss urged caution with regards to our “favourites” tag, especially in light of Manure’s humiliation at Upton Park. He is right, that could easily happen to us and the last thing this side needs at the moment is any more complacency.

I, like others, believed that the competition for places this season would be a great thing for Arsenal. Arseblogger pointed out that previously, players were guaranteed their starting line up regardless of form and effort due to the thread bare squad.  We can all understand how this can foster complacency within a side.  Looking at the team selected last night you would think that there were a few of them playing to reboot their Arsenal career. Many have been talking the talk so it was certainly time to walk the walk. Unfortunately there was still a lot of malaise on the pitch. 30 minutes in at 0-0, the break was on for us and Gibbs looked up to see both Vela and Bendtner strolling up-field not even looking in his direction let alone anticipating the quick ball. Sadly it appears that in this modern era of football, instead of fighting for your place, working hard, improving and taking your chance the preferred option is to moan and then agitate for a move.

If Le Boss does not have room in the squad to fit in any new January signings, he could clear a little space by moving on Vela, Bendtner, Eboue and Almunia as a start.  I am sure Vela will be a hit elsewhere. At Arsenal he is just a cake icer. You know the kind of player that if we are 4-0 up and we need another beautiful goal so we can all go “Ahhhhh that was lovely” in a smug self satisfied way – he’s our guy. He isn’t our guy on a rainy cold night in Blackburn at 2-1 down. I think Almunia’s position is untenable and although I worship at the cult of Eboue, if Sagna’s injured, do I really want to watch him face the likes of Maluda or Bale? Nope. I want much stronger cover there.

Nic is a funny one.  A legend certainly in his own mind, he is a bit like Peter Crouch but not as prolific. He can make the tricky look easy peasy lemon squeezy and yet also ensure that the ‘certain goal’ goes wide in a way psychics could not explain. I never forget what Arshavin said of him after his hat trick at home vs Porto last season. Nic had comically missed a billion chances the week before to Burnley and had received wide criticism from the Press. The commentator asked “After a week of scrutiny, followed by a European hat trick what have we learnt about Nicolas Bendtner?” Arsh replied “We’ve leant that even he can’t miss from 2 yards.”  (And just for the record he can because I’ve seen him, many a time.) So if a good offer comes in, I have to say I wouldn’t be too upset to see him replaced. (I said REPLACED Arsene, not just sold.) I’d love to see him just get on with playing football whilst realising he is at The-fucking-as-good-as-it-gets-Arsenal for god’s sake but considering the size of his ego I am thinking this is unfortunately unlikely.

A major plus was that every time RVP touched the ball he looked a class act. Just a little off still but we hardly need to mention his 760 years in the sick bay. I like the fact we are cautiously bringing him back and I think that caution is exactly what’s called for, especially as we have cover in the form of Chamakh. I know it it’s as rare as rocking horse shite but a fit RVP for a sustained period could easily bring home the silverware so coveted. Made of glass he is but a world class player also. I’d still like to know why he runs as if there is something large stuck up his bottom but it’s just one of those questions that goes through your mind when you body is shutting down before death from the cold.

Thank goodness November is finally over and despite our own best efforts miraculously we are still in good shape. Our shocking home slips have been barely punished as Chelsea have struggled for form themselves and we are in the last 4 of a competition we have a realistic chance of winning! Next up Fulham at home Saturday, if I haven’t died of pneumonia first.