Arsenal – The more things change

The temptation is to finish with “the more things stay the same”, but that would be overstating the case. Perhaps a more accurate, albeit lamer, completion would be “some still stay the same”.

Let us start with the most popular sentiment bandied around lately by the pundits – “Arsenal always start to fade in February”. There are two inaccuracies in that statement. The more unflattering one is, that in recent years, we have either started so far back there wasn’t any place to fade (recall the infamous 8-2 season), or we have started to fade well before February. The other inaccuracy is that one point out of top spot wouldn’t be a fade for any club. Besides, any refereeing decisions notwithstanding, the Gunners are still in the FA Cup. Hmmm, Spurs, Liverpool, Everton next – does sound like a conspiracy, doesn’t it?

On the other hand, there are some things that have remained the same.

• The Gunners still like to gift wrap a goal to Robin van Persie in the first minute of every game with Man U. Perhaps they are so used to setting up chances for him, they can’t help themselves. I think Wenger should have each member of team brush up on the Bush-isms of Bush the Younger, particularly the one that goes (paraphrasing) “If he’s not with us, he’s against us”.
• Every time the Gunners defense plays a flat, high line, they get burned. Much of the improvement in our D has come from Mertesacker hanging back to compensate for his foot speed. You will notice that he wisely offloads the ball to Arteta or Koscielny, rather than bring the ball up himself. Every time the line flattened, Liverpool and Man U could curve a long ball past the defense on Mertesacker’s style. Liverpool feasted, while van Persie and then Rooney spared our blushes.
• The absence of a midfield enforcer leaves us vulnerable to being “caught in possession”, which in plain speak means muscled off the ball. Wilshere, Arteta and Cazorla have been “caught in possession” more often than your average street corner pusher. Those familiar with the Bollywood film will recognize Wenger’s refrain – “Mere paas Diaby hai” (I have Diaby). Perhaps that is why he acquired Sanogo – to give Diaby some company on the trainer’s table.
• Szczesny gives up a penalty and gets a card on a 1-on-1 in the box. No one expects Szczesny to win those, but he does seem particularly prone to double indemnity. It has happened at least thrice, against Spurs (yellow), at the Euro and now against Bayern (both red). The first two were almost identical (didn’t see the third) – a juke away from the goal and Scezney catches the foot. Looks like something that a coach could correct. A goal is unfortunate, but a red card is a catastrophe.

On to other matters ailing Arsenal:

Perhaps the next most popular buzz among the cognoscenti is that Ozil is a bust and should be benched. Oh, how soon we have turned? Before he arrived, grown men were sobbing like little girls at the Emirates (I was fortunate my weeping was done in front of the TV set, not on it). Every transfer from Europe hits the wall around this time in their first season, unless they have been out with a knock. Remember saying the same thing about Cazorla last year?

Part of it is Wenger’s fault. In all the Real Madrid games, Ozil was typically withdrawn at about the 70th minute; Wenger has rarely pulled him out at all. Add to that the speed and rough and tumble of the English game. Finally, having the two week Christmas break replaced by the toughest string of the season. Having said all that, benching him for a game or two may be just what the doctor ordered. He looks like his mental fatigue is way worse than his physical.

Big test tomorrow – can we continue to feast on the lower end of the table at least? Not a gimme by any means – just our luck that Sunderland are heading in the wrong direction — up the table.

Hey, who would have thought we’d still be in three competitions and with a chance in two of them? Definitely not same old, same old, eh?