As a gooner living in faraway Mumbai (that was Bombay earlier) I couldn't bear it any longer to see every Tom, Dick and Harry starting to predict the end of the road for Arsenal and no one to refute these sentiments to. From now onwards I will unburden myself as often as possible on the team's prospects and the games. And in true Arsenal spirit I expect the current bunch to bounce.
Four games into the season and Arsenal is in an almost inextricable crisis if you believe the media. Paddy is no longer there, Sol is injury prone and Henry will not be available for at least 4 weeks and we are already 9 points behind the Russian Mafia Franchise (RMF). It is not surprising that Gooners everywhere are having an attack of the blues and are moaning about how to navigate this season, which suddenly looks interminable. What is more surprising however is that some of the players are also apparently taken in by the media hype surrounding RMF and doom and gloom scenario painted for Arsenal. Cole's comments about missing Paddy and the other players are a case in point. (Already suspect in my eyes for his open flirting with RMF, he has sunk even further in my books. On the field, his performance is not too inspiring. He seems to be coasting along, in that dreaded comfort zone). Now, the slow recovery of Sol and the injury to Henry are unfortunate. But Paddy has been gone more than a month now and Cole and others have had ample time to come to terms with that loss. Moaning on ad nauseum about that sale is not going to get Arsenal anywhere. Not surprisingly it is the seniors in the team who have kept up this chorus as the youngsters are eager only to grab each and every opportunity that comes their way. Accordingly, even Henry should stop reminiscing about Paddy whenever he teams up with the French team. What impression can it have on guys like Cesc, Senderos, Van Persie and Quincy if your captain keeps pining for the ex-captain? Here I think Arsene has a role to play too. Treating players as grown ups is all well and good but every now and then they probably deserve the good old clout on the ear even if figuratively. ManU players did not moan about Jaap Stam and Beckham when they were sold. Agreed they had enough replacements but even after two seasons without the Premier League trophy, the players have not lost faith in the team, manager or themselves. Which seems to be the case with Cole and co. They have been afflicted by a collective case of yips. While Arsene can't prevent them reading the tabloids or watching TV, he should stamp out this whiff of nostalgia in the team.
Not only is it damaging the team's prospects this year but also because there is no basis for such sepia tinted memories. With Paddy in the team we were no better in the Champions League, for starters. Quarter finals was the best we have achieved and the last ime we were in the quarters, a few seniors including Paddy went missing in the second half against RMF. Paddy was also missing, albeit through injury, on one of our biggest and best nights in the CL when we humbled Inter 5-1 at San Siro in November 2003. The point is Paddy's departure has not lessened Arsenal's chances in CL. (League is another matter altogether and merits a separate discussion) It remains as daunting a prospect as it was last year. But as Liverpool and Porto showed, you need good organisation, a little bit of luck and a big heart to prosper. Feeling sorry for oneself or the team is not a sound basis to compete. Arsene claimed that 'we are not a prisoner of names' after the Middlesborough defeat. It is up to him to drill the same philosophy into the team's collective psyche.
Coming to today's match, it is bemusing to say the least to be playing against a team that seems to be named straight out of Middle Earth. It is not difficult to imagine Thun tracing back their history to the mines of Moria. Flippancy apart, with nothing known about the team, Arsenal would be best advised to focus on their game. I didn't catch the Middlesborough defeat on tv but from match reports and other gooner reports on the net, looks like a familiar case of missed opportunities at the front and some schoolboy errors at the back. Apart from giving a pep talk to the team, Arsene can do everyone a great favour by dropping Cygan. With the defenders already having to adjust to the change from Lehman to Almunia, the sight of Cygan anywhere near Arsenal goal is only guaranteed to cause jitters to both players and the fans. So first change from Saturday's starting eleven would be Cygan out and either Senderos or Campbell in. Not a bad idea to have Senderos since as a Swiss he must be having some idea of Thun's players. In the middle of the park, Fabregas has to come in place of Flamini. Flamini is good if Arsenal are in front and containing the game but to break open the game or to chase the game he is unsuited. Ljungberg for Pires, that is a straight and logical swap. And if I have my way Pires won't even be in the subs bench. He is another senior who has gone missing big time for many games now. May be he needs some time to reflect on his role in the team and his goals. If he is so after an extended contract he has to prove his worth first. Up front I will start with Reyes and Van Persie. In a team crawling with players content to pass and elaborate, Van Persie, a compulsive shooter, is a rare jewel. God knows what more he has to do to command a starting place. I would have Bergkamp on the bench ready to come in the second half if the game needs to be opened up or if Van Persie's temper flares up. With more than 5 subs allowed on the bench, Quincy should also merit a place on the subs list. Along with Flamini, Clichy and Senderos/Campbell in the subs bench this team should be able to put it past Thun with some gas left in the tank. (On the subject of Clichy, Arsene shouldn't hesitate to sub Cole if he continues to coast). A nice 3-0 win would do. And yes it is imperative not to concede goals.
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