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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho pats Carl Jenkinson of Arsenal on the back during the Capital One Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on October 29, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
The old Arsenal are back. The Gunners had been riding high after beating the likes of Norwich, Spurs, Sunderland, etc. and topping the table for the first time since 2007-08. But it was too good to be true. Arsenal have lost to Dortmund and a second string Chelsea at home, not exactly the form of champions.
Whats more disappointing is that the Carling Cup was Arsenal’s best chance of silverware this season. Wenger went in with a near first team squad. Ozil, Cazorla, Wilshere, Ramsey, Giroud all making appearances in the game and yet, they were outclassed by the Chelsea B team at their own home ground. In no other competition will they face B teams and hence, one can safely bet on a ninth trophy less season for Arsenal.
This was also the ninth encounter between Wenger and Mourinho and the former has yet to win against the Chelsea manager. Many thought Mourinho was playing mind games when he hinted at fielding U-21s for this match. But one doesnt need mind games against a team which cannot manage basic defending. For all the pretty football instilled by Arsene Wenger into his sides, it seems they are never taught how to defend or tackle. Jenkinson made an error reminiscent of the Koscielny/Szczesny debacle of the 2011 League Cup final. The comical tradition continues.
The hype around Arsenal’s position in the Premier League table has concealed the fact that last season, Arsenal had not dropped a single point against the teams they have faced so far in the Premier League. The tame defeats at home to the only two big teams they have faced have exposed Arsenal’s league position as nothing but a result of freak coincidence providing an easy fixture list.
It may seem harsh, but after 8 years of failure, it is very safe to write off this season for Arsenal. They are out of the League Cup and they have no chance in the UCL or Premier League. The FA cup is a remote possibility in the unlikely event that bigger teams are knocked out by somebody else. Even then we cannot trust Arsenal to win it (remember Birmingham?)
So, as usual, Arsenal will play for fourth place and call it a trophy. Given their efficiency against the bottom 10 teams (and Spurs), fourth place seems easily achievable. But rather than the ‘heroic’ comeback of last season, it will be a spectacular crash towards the middle/end of this one that will take them there.
Liverpool are up next in the league for Arsenal and the Gunners might get something out of the game, given their form against the Merseyside clubs last few seasons. But after that are Manchester United, followed by what could be, a very long and glum international break.
