Traditionally calling an end to Arsenal's involvement in the title race after a mere seven games would be seen as premature - there has, in the past, been enough quality in the squad to retain the possibility of being crowned champions at the end of season, at least mathematically. There may still be 84 points up for grabs, but the likelihood of the Gunners picking up the 78 odd that they'd need to win this thing seems beyond improbable though. One glance at Sunday's team-sheet will tell you why. Injuries and the loss of 2 of the squad's best players have taken their toll, and now we're confronted by the stark reality of finishing outside the Champion's League places for the first time since 95. Pretty bleak, right?
Right. Bleaker still when one remembers that Jack Wilshere is out till next year and Bakary Sagna is now out for the next three months. Still, it's important to examine the positives:
1. Before Sunday Arsenal had won three straight games in all compeitions.
2. We've now played Spurs, United and Newcastle away and Liverpool at home.
3. It can't possibly get any worse than losing 8-2 at Old Trafford.
4. Spurs were expected to demolish Arsenal on the weekend when in fact it ended up being much more fiercely contested than that.
This bring me neatly on to yesterday's game. There's been a lot of talk of a power shift in North London for years now but the fact remains that Spurs haven't finished above Arsenal since the 94-95 season. That said, the Gunners have lost three of the last four and bragging rights definitely reside in Tottenham right now. Truth be told most Arsenal fans were expecting much worse from this game; Redknapp's current first team, as much as it pains me to admit it, is stronger than Wenger's: Bale, Adebayor and Modric are all Champion's League calibre players, and with a supporting cast like Parker, Van der Vaart and King, it seemed like all we could hope for was avoiding another thrashing.
This was made all the more likely by Wenger's continued defensive woes, reduced as he was to partnering Per Mertersacker with Alex Song at centre back, flanked by Gibbs and Sagna; the youngster Francis Coquelin deputised in defensive midfield, accompanied by Ramsey and Arteta further forward. Gervinho, Van Persie and Walcott completed the outfield. A decent side but hardly one expected to leave White Hart Lane with points. So it proved as first Van der Vaart gave them the lead with five minutes to go in the first half before Kyle Walker nullified Ramsey's equaliser to hand Redknapp a 2-1 win.
While a Spurs third looked likelier than an Arsenal equaliser, prior to the final ten minutes the game had been fairly level. Both sides exploited each others weaknesses: Arsenal used the numerical superiority of a three man midfield to build attacks patiently and dominate possesion while Tottenham looked to break downfield quickly and hit Arsenal on the counter. The problem with the Gunners trying a patient build up is that in the wake of Fabregas' departure, there's much less likelihood that someone in midfield will play that final killer ball to release one of the strikers. Ramsey is a solid passer but lacks incisiveness; Arteta has more cut and thrust about him but seems to lack the confidence to try and play with the amount of creativity expected of him, preferring to pass sideways and backwards over trying to pick holes in the opposition's defence. Subsequently they saw a lot of the ball had little to show for it. Gervinho had the chance of the half but he wastefully sidefooted wide after Van Persie's pull back and Walcott came close with a curling left shot, but Spurs looked more dangerous going forward and probably deserved their lead, even though Van der Vaart did handle whilst controlling the ball, and might have been sent off for his celebrtation.
Arsenal started the second half brightly and levelled the score when the marauding Alex Song whipped a low cross across the six yard box and for a while it looked like we might travel home with a point, until a a speculative drive from 25 odd yards swerved horribly to deceive Szczesny, who probably should have done better. There was to be no equaliser this time, and Arsenal now lie 15th with seven points from seven games.
What's to be done? Well not a whole lot now that the transfer window has shut. Vermaelen is slated to return after the international break and he'll add some much needed strength to the back line, which unfortunately will be cancelled out by the loss of Sagna for 3 months. Hopefully Arteta will grow into his role as de facto number 10 and continue build a relationship with Van Persie, and Gervinho should continue to adjust to the English game. Losing Robin would undoubtedly put paid to any notion we have of finishing in the top four but the Dutchman looks fit and healthy (thus far). Wenger must teach this side to win though - there's still an unshakeable fragility about them and it's up to the manager to instill some confidence into the squad.
Meanwhile Roberto Mancini continues to throw his petro-dollars around like an investment banker at a strip club - that analogy does a dis-service to strippers however, many of whom don't whore themselves out like erstwhile gooners Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy have. Now the Italian manager has been flashing his 'come-hither' stare at Van Persie, Arsenal's only top player left after the Italian spent the summer stripping the club of our other assets. Piss off Mancini. You have strikers coming out the ying yang, so many in fact, that you can release Craig Bellamy on a free - on a free Mancini - and loan Adebayor to a potential rival for Champion's League. Go away and gut the squad of some other once great team, you scarf-wearing disgrace to football.
