Arsenal 0-0 Blackburn – 02/04/11 – (Premier League) 3 April, 2011
Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News.trackback
Well yesterday was a shit day to say the least. Watching West Ham go 2-0 up on United I was suddenly optimistic about the day’s football ahead but the league leaders showed exactly the sort of spirit, desire and fight that we so very rarely show. Arsene always goes on about our ‘spirit’ and our infamous ‘mental strength’ but more times than not I believe he’s saying that in order to make it seem true. I hate it immeasurably but we have one of the worst ‘spirits’ in the league.
It makes me quite sad that we’re in this title fight yet there is no ‘fight’ about us at all. We’re lacking leadership and togetherness and no matter how many times the manager comes out in a post match interview using those words I’m still unconvinced. The West Ham vs. Man United game was similar to our game at the Hawthorns a couple of weeks ago but United did what we should’ve done that day and showed our superior class and quality to win the game comfortably. Arsene praised the lads for coming back from 2-0 down against West brom but frankly we should never have been in that position in the first place and we didn’t do enough to come back and win. I don’t want to sound greedy but if we want to consider ourselves Champions we have to do what United did yesterday. So as you know, they won and we coughed out another draw to fall now seven points behind. My response yesterday was:
Out of the title race for the moment.—
lasagnechef (@the_cannon) April 02, 2011
That might sound a little harsh but it’s true. Until Man United drop points we are out of this title race, seven points is a huge gap when you’re talking about a team of their quality and as you can see there’s only us and Chelsea you can see them dropping points against – and I’m not very confident about May 1st:
We knew the run in favoured them so we knew we needed to make sure we pick up three points on every possible occasion and just be hoping for good results in the other latest football scores. However from being neck and neck we’ve absolutely blown it with three draws in a row against Sunderland, West Brom and Blackburn. I had us nailed on for 9 points there and I think those 6 points dropped are what will lose us the title.
I don’t blame people for not wanting to read the Arsenal news today but those of you that are here I apologise for the negativity today I’m just being honest – I think it’s over. Unless United have some kind of collapse or drop in form it’s looking too hard for us now. I am ever the optimist but I’m also a realist. If we win our game in hand at White Hart Lane and somehow manage to beat Man Utd then we’ll be just a point behind them but who knows if we’ll still even be seven points behind them when it comes to then; one point doesn’t sound like much but that’s assuming we win all of our other games and I just don’t see that happening at all.
I should probably move on to the game yesterday, but hopefully you’ll excuse me today for looking at the big picture. I really thought we were going to win you know, with all those players back returning from injury I thought we’d find what was needed and do the job with relative ease. We started really well but one break in play was enough Blackburn needed to get back in the game. It was a bad tackle on I think Sagna that had two players down for around three minutes and the rush of energy was broken, Blackburn could take it to half time at 0-0 and from there on it always looked like being a draw. It’s like we gave up after that initial first period, it sounds crazy but it looked to me a little like we couldn’t score when we were playing well to begin with so gave up thinking we could do it. This ‘belief’ that Wenger says we have is not translating itself to the pitch.
I spoke before the game about us having to dig deep and play well. And we didn’t. I also spoke about how the crowd needs to get behind the team. And we didn’t. I wasn’t there yesterday but I know what it’s like when the team isn’t performing it’s easy to just sit there and sulk about the performance. A lack of inspiration on the field is quite contagious and can easily transfer to the fans. I just disappointed that, that happened though. We’re in a title fight for God’s sake and if we can’t cheer, sing and get behind the team now then when are we ever going to? It’s sad, it really is.
The same goes for the team though. It’s really exciting and uplifting just being involved in the title race but when you see the players on the pitch not giving everything for the cause it’s depressing. I’m so sad we haven’t shown the desire that say Man United do in this time of importance. I really thought that we had what it takes to do this but after three bad draws I question the ability of this team. I’m sorry for not talking about much of the game itself but hopefully you’ll excuse me for that. I just did watch it but thinking back to the game is still pissing me off.
I’m still hoping but for today I am going to sulk. We’re still in there and I still hope we can turn it around but today I will be like a Mother who’s child has forgot to send that card – not angry, just disappointed.
Thanks for reading, lets hope for a more positive week of blogging.
You said it perfectly Chef. It has been evident for a while that we dont have leaders on this team. Fabregas is a good player but he isnt an Adams or a Vieira. I blame it on Wenger to give him the captaincy when he was just 21. That is far too young for a big club like Arsenal. Wenger should have make Toure the captain when Henry left, he was the solid choice. I’m pretty sure that him not being made captain played a big part in his wanting to leave. He was the most experienced Arsenal player and to give such a young player of Fabregas that burden at such a young age is simply unfair. I have never liked any of Wenger’s decisions since we won that FA Cup back in 2005. He needs to wake up and notice that you have to mix youth with solid, proven experience. And please, can he stop buying these pussy French centre-backs?!?!?
Talking of Wenger’s bad decision making, I think some of his recent captain appointments have been an attempt to keep them at the club.
Good point, but I don’t think that will work with Fabregas much longer.
An honest and frank post that has been a long time coming.
Wenger really has taken the club as far as he can and this season more than any other he has grabbed nothing from the jaws of everything. Draws against Sunderland and blackburn at home without even scoring a goal is nothing short of a disgrace. We cant even use the excuse of injuries. A full team out yesterday and they were shit. In a month we have failed to beat 4 of the poorest teams in the prem. United yesterday showed what passion is all about. We can only aspire to what they are, however hard that is to swallow. Wenger has blown it again and purly because of some warped idea he can tip toe his way to the title. Year in and year out we are spoon fed shit from wenger and the board and it is for that reason he should go and take gazidis with him.
Heard a joke this morning but it actually aint that funny….
Crockery sale at Arsenal tomorrow……. 60000 mugs but no cups!!!
Fact is even though the mancs did produce a good comeback they still allowed themselves to be in a position where they had to fight back in the first place. That suggests to me that they are likely to struggle against more able teams and drop points. I find your blog even-handed and considered which is rare considering the tendency for so-called supporters to vent their spleens and call for Aws head on a platter. I’ve said it before leave the recriminations until the season’s end and get behind the team. They are young – all they need is our support
Yeah true but there aren’t many ‘more able teams’ for them to play. Yet we have Liverpool H, Stoke A, Bolton A and Spurs A.
I’d call us and Chelsea pretty able. Have a bit of faith. We’re a fuckin good team and we can beat anyone
Well yeah I wasn’t including our game but yes they do have Chelsea to play but we have far the tougher run in now.
everetro,
“we’re a fuckin good team and we can beat anyone”
except birmingham,blackburn,sunderland and brom who are all in the bottom half of the table and apart from Sunderland play the worst football in the league.
Another blinkered fan who refuses to see the blatently obvious.
Getting behind the team was for last season and the season before and the one before that.
This isnt one renegade fan speaking, it is you who is now fighting against the tide.
Wenger? collect your coat!!
Fucking hell we’re second in the league, we can still win it and you’re acting as if we’re fuckin Aston Villa or something stewing in mid-table mediocrity. If you can’t recognize that we’re a hair’s breadth from something pretty special than I’m afraid you’re the blinkered one mate.
the atmosphere at the emirates is a joke, fans do nothing to get behind the team, there is no passion from the supporters and half of them think they are at some kind of open air operatta. They need to sing for the boys and not only when we play united or spurs. Worst atmosphere in the prem and thats why we perform generally better away from home.
take them rose tinted goggles off pal,
your deluded if you honestly think we are that close to somthing special.
If we win the title it will be because united have blown it not because of anything we do.
Wenger has cost us the league for the last three seasons and he couldnt even muster up a performance from the team (according to you who can beat anyone) to beat a piss poor Birmingham that have only won once since they won the cup!
Blackburns previous three away games were against wigan fulham and villa and they lost all 3 and let in 11 goals along the way. Please dont insult my intelligence by telling me that Arsenal are a “hairs breadth” away of greatness.
I respect your opinion but it is becoming an ever isolated one.
I think this pointless little spat is going nowhere mate. So what’s the solution in your opinion? I’m no Wenger apologist and I’m certainly never the ‘blinkered’ type who accept everything he does. To my mind he is too set in his ways and doesn’t have the ability to adapt.My point is we can do nothing at this time so why put unnecessary pressure on the team?
fair point about pressure on the players but Wenger has to take the blame, not the players and getting on his back is not somthing that has happened over night.
His blatent pig headedness has cost us for three years and the same will happen next season because wenger will never change his philosophy and I admire the man for that but he has had his day. We will never win the prem again with him in charge.
Not buying a keeper and centre half set the ball rolling this season snapping up chambolikh on a freebie was another piss take especially when you have got them pricks down the seven sisters buying class like van der vaart for a pittance. Now we have got a 41 year old back as goalie cover and even alliadiare is training with us. The man has lost all sense of what it means to be a manager of the arsenal and hes banking on all those one eyed fans who keep spouting “in arsene we trust” to keep him in a job so he can go on with this futile theory of winning the league with kids.
…..your bang on the money, the bloke is too set in his ways
…. and your are bang on the money with you assertion that the man has lost the ability to adapt
wtf!
COME ON MADRID!!!!
listen up yall, i explain for the less clued up. arsene wnger is an intelligent man with no real feel for game of football. his sucess was largley down to his ability to get his players fitter and stronger than the rest of the prem when he first arrived. this advantage ceased 6 years ago when he stopped the players mega dosing on creatine. since then weve won zilch. he is tactically poor,doesnt really understand team ethic[hes pretty much a loner] and is not the great talent spotter he is lauded as[the whole of europe knew how good henry,viera,pires ,anelka would be] with our resources,fan base ,stadium,prestige,the lure of london and the prem,any of the top managers in europe,hiddink,mourinho,ancelloti,van gaal,pep even moyes,coyle would have us as top 3 favourites for champs leauge every season. understand this, HES A MYTH.