Time to take harsh decisions Arsene!!!

And we lost again. Twice in a row in EPL. I think this time January was a bit kind to us? From the time I have been watching Arsenal, I have seen all the ups and then downs and then I have seen us reaching the dumps and then the molten core…  Now I am searching for Centre of the earth!!!! I know times are tough, I know we have many players in injury list and blah blah… But tell me one thing isn’t the same thing happening to Manchester United? Do you see DeGea playing after making horrendous errors? Do you see Tevez playing after being unprofessional? Do you see Balotelli play regularly, because of his attitude? And what about players like Drogba, Torres, Anelka and the list goes on and on!!! Haven't Newcastle lost influential players like Tiote and Ba to African Cup of nations? Well the answer lies in one and only one thing and that is ‘we won’t change, come what may’!!!

 

By change I mean that we won’t substitute players at half time, or before half time. We would do that only when 60 minutes are over. If a particular player is performing badly, then let it be, who cares!!!! By change I also mean that we know what our starting 11 is, and those players won’t be benched or removed even if they are playing poorly or are non committed on pitch!!! By change I also mean that we won’t change our formation at any cost to accommodate a great player who can bring difference to otherwise lack luster team!!! By change I also mean that we won’t buy players who are dearly needed to launch a formidable title challenge or offload players who are surplus to our requirements!!!

I have and always will admire Wenger for what he has done for the club. But he needs to understand people have to change with changing times. He needs to bend a little for the club. He has to make tough decisions. He has to stop blaming referee for poor performances and should blast the non performers.

On the same track of changes, I would like to discuss the complacent/Non performing players:

1.       Per Mertesacker: He is what some 7ish feet tall giant and still is unable to win header in the box. He is not mobile or a good anticipator. Only player he was able to win a header yesterday was Dyer (A mere 5 foot something player). He was at fault when Djourou was Red Carded against Fulham and we lost the match eventually. He was at fault against Norwich when Morrison out muscled him and scored. He was at fault yesterday when he was not able to hit the shot on target from 2 meters and I can go on and on!!! I know he has come from a different league and he is not used to the physical game in EPL, but the mistakes he makes are cardinal and shouldn’t be accepted in a top club like Arsenal.

2.       Andrei Arshavin: He showed what he can do against Liverpool long long time back. Since then nothing I have seen to justify why he is Arsenal’s most expensive player. Agreed he had a good ratio of assists in the league last season. But he lacks basic skills what wingers should, which is to help the full back in defense, run at the oppositions and score goals, and not lose possession at crucial places. Even when he loses possession, there is no drive to get the ball back. Even when he misplaces his pass there is no zeal to rectify the mistakes. These all things have been happening again and again and as a result we lose games.

3.       Theo Walcott: He is a player who is overhyped, overconfident and overzealous. He just wants to run when there is an open field in front of him. otherwise he'll play a back pass. He never make decoy runs to help RVP. He never shoots when required and when he does usually he doesn’t score. I am not saying he a bad player, but a little bit of competition will help him improve his game. Ox should be brought in his place and he should be benched for few games. Also, he shouldn't ask for a raise until he proves something and becomes worthy for wearing Number 14 on his back!!!

4.       Aaron Ramsey: He is a player who is loved by all. Why? I don’t understand. He is actually a mirror image of Messi (Left becomes right kind of way). He plays brilliantly for his country and is unable to replicate the same form at club. I see a spark in him here and there, but he is not what we need in midfield. At the start of season he said he is ready to fill in the shoes of Cesc. But he is far far away from being 10th of a player what Cesc was for Arsenal. He fails to understand the game, he shoots left, right and on top of the Goal, but rarely towards it. I wonder if there was space below the goal, he would have definitely shot there too. He has missed so many golden opportunities to score in recent times that I wonder will he be next Eduardo. Eduardo was loved by all Gooners, but after injury he was not able to replicate the form and was sold eventually. Same story could follow with Ramsey if he doesn’t improve.

5.       Abou Diaby: He was also a victim of reckless challenge, and since then he is an esteemed guest at our medical facility. I think Arsenal got this idea of a new high end medical centre after seeing him. All the Patrick Vieira Part two chants have faded and so has his game. Needs to be sold ASAP.

6.       Sebastien Squillaci: Another player who was brought last year to provide some experience to our inexperienced Defence. He currently finds himself way down the pecking order. No class, no nothing.

7.       Kieran Gibbs: He is another Diaby in making. Spends more time on medical bed than on pitch. A very good talent, but too fragile! Either he should work on his fitness or should be sold, as everybody is not RVP, who after working hard on the fitness proves to the world what they are.

8.       Manuel Almunia: Enough said already.

9.       Thomas Rosicky: He doesn’t have a long term future here and has faded as Arshavin. Hence needs to sort out where he would like to retire and should move there!!!

10.   Marouane Chamakh: He needs to get his confidence back. He is so afraid of Wenger that everytime he scoops the shot, or is not able to keeps possession, or misplaces a pass, or does any mistake, he looks to the bench towards Wenger in a apologetic look!!! This is what has brought his downfall. He was playing freely when RVP was injured. When RVP came back, he has been given very little opportunities, which he has not been able to capitalise upon and hence every mistake of his is scrutinize. He can be a good player for Arsenal, provided he starts to play his natural game again.

11.   Ju-Young Park: Could somebody please tell me why he was bought?

I am not saying all these players should be sacked. But some needs more playing time then others and some need to improve their game to stay in the club. If boss is unable to drill this into them then we won’t be qualifying for Europe in any competition. Boss should also relax upon his stubbornness of playing the same predictable 11 and same predictable formation and same predictable substitution timings and same predictable everything. I want 'The Professor' back!!!

Always remember a person who loves you will criticise you the most when he/she sees something is wrong and needs improvement.

I want my club to succeed and want to see the same passion in the players. Want to see the same passionate players as are the supporters on the pitch.

If you agree with me, then do follow me on https://twitter.com/OnTheGunPoint

Until next time. Hail Gooners!!!

Vintage Henry - A fairytale which should never end!!!

And he is back… Back with a bang… Bang, which will explode your ears… And he is back!!! I have not been blogging for quite sometime now, but this is something which I couldn’t resist. The reason I was off blogging were my day job pressure and Arsenal’s a bit indifferent form. And now when King has returned, I was forced to come out of my self imposed semi retirement…

So the match was going in the same way as Arsenal has been in playing in last couple of weeks. Lots of possession in and around Midfield, no creativity in the final third and no end product either. Ramsey was shooting left, right, top of the goal. I am just wondering, if there was space below the goal he would have drilled a kick there too, but never goal bound!!! I am fed up by players like Ramsey, Walcott, and Gervinho who have good skills, but lack the composure to score or atleast have few on target shots. Ox needs a lot of improvement in his crossing, otherwise he played well. Unlikely live wire was Arshavin, he moved, dribbled beautifully, also had few very good through balls. Miquel played his part and did fine against Leeds, he was like a silent assassin who went about doing his work with publicising it. Szcz made good saves in dying stages of the match to help us win the game. Kos and Squillaci were not tested much. Yennaris came on for Coquelin (who got injured increasing our defensives woes) and he played well without any major mistakes. Song has a very quite game until he provided assist for our goal. He is slowly getting into the habit of providing killer through passes when team is in need of (Ref: game against Aston). Arteta was fouled too many times without getting favours from referee and this rattled his game and was not looking his usual self. Now coming to awful duo of Chamakh and Ramsey; they would have helped the team by not playing at all. They have the brilliance which we see in bits and pieces, but with no zeal to excel upon it!!! Chamakh clearly lacks confidence and Ramsey was trying to be the hero in absence of RVP.

Now onto ‘The King’. The moment he stepped on his home turf, he received an ovation which no other superstar in any sports will get. He started running the channels and was maneuvering his position quite nicely. He was the live wire and intimidating presence which we were missing from a long long time. He came and within 10 Minutes he conquered. (Note to Paul Scholes: This is how you make a comeback!!! ) His position, first touch and finishing were just top notch. I don’t think so anybody would have been able to finish this ball as calmly as Henry did it, not even RVP. The curve on the ball was just amazing. I was just spell bound when the ball entered the goal. And to top it all was the celebration from TH14 (He will always be TH14 for me and I want Walcott to give away the number to someone else and not make a mockery out of it). He was joined by all the team members in that celebration on the team bench, even Szcz ran from his goal to celebrate. He was not buoyed by the occasion and delivered the goods required. He was not over shadowing the team, but helping them achieve like he did in his hay days. I am not expecting anything like this from again, I am not expecting goals from him too. I just want to see him play, to help non performing players like Ramsey, Walcott, Gervinho (if he gets a chance to play with him or have a long chat with him), and Chamakh etc. I also want him to stay here forever. After all this is his home and this is where he belongs, nowhere else. Here are the highlights of the game for you. Also here are bonus video links for you.

Arsene Wenger's Post Match Comments

Henry's Post Match Comments

Arsene Wenger's Post Match Press Conference

On this note I am signing off, hopefully would be writing soon. Pray for me that I am not over burdened by work and I can carry on blogging. By the way you can also follow me on Twitter for updates.

Till next time. Hail Henry….. A fairytale which should never end.