Sunday, December 22, 2024

Arsenal really have hit rock bottom now

I have to admit I have never seen an Arsenal team concede eight goals.

In fact you have to go back to the 1880’s for a record of the Gunners conceding eight goals in a top flight game.

So to say their 8-2 defeat Manchester United yesterday was a surprise would be an understatement.

Weak

The Arsenal team that took to the pitch against Manchester United was undeniably weaker than the usual eleven put out by the Gunners. However no matter what team Arsene Wenger puts out in a Gunners shirt you couldn’t have imagined a result like yesterdays.

Far smaller clubs will go to Old Trafford and come away with less harsh results. They will go to Old Trafford to defend for their lives and I doubt that United will score eight again in the Premier League this season.

I’m not taking anything away from Manchester United, they were absolutely outstanding. However Arsenal gave them far too much space to knock the ball around for fun.

Leadership

The Gunners looked like they badly lacked leadership. This is nothing new but somebody usually tries to galvanise the team on the pitch. Yesterday there was nobody on the field trying to rally the side when things were going badly.

Nobody wanted to take responsibility for the ball and even the experienced players on the pitch just looked like they were lying down and accepting a bad beating.

Sympathy

I have to admit I started feel sympathy for young keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Carl Jenkinson. Young keeper Szczesny couldn’t really do much about any of the goals and it’s odd to say but he didn’t have a terrible game.

Young defender Jenkinson only started playing league football in January and all of a sudden he is playing in the Arsenal first team appearing at Old Trafford. The youngster currently looks out of his depth.

He tried his hardest and even created a goal. He was however, badly let down by the more experienced defenders around him, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou. Jenkinson picked up his second yellow because he was trying to tidying up his centre-backs mess.

Djourou and Koscielny quite frankly didn’t even look like they were Premier League defenders yesterday. Unfortunately Arsenal are that short of players that the Gunners are forced to play the pair.

Confidence

Confidence is low amongst even the few experienced players still left at the club. They really do need to find a way to regain that shattered confidence. However there is no magic formula to restore that confidence.

One of the only ways to restore confidence is if results improve. Arsenal’s results won’t improve while the confidence is so low at the club though. The Gunners are stuck in a catch 22 at the moment.

Boss

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger seems to be being criticised by every section of the media. The cracks are starting to show in a man who has previously not shown the pressure telling on him. Wenger is now paying for his stubbornness.

Wenger has failed to strengthen his squad this summer and has lost key players as well. This has left his squad paper thin and means youngsters have to be thrown in when they are not really ready.

Signings

Even with the injured and suspended players coming back Arsenal’s squad simply isn’t good enough for the top four of the Premier League. Arsenal definitely need to strengthen their squad but have left it late.

This is down to Wenger wanting to get value for money. That simply doesn’t exist in today’s transfer market. Wenger has to bite the bullet and spend over the odds to buy the players needed to improve the squad.

The worrying thing for Arsenal fans is that Wenger is unlikely to change his ways now. That could mean the Gunners drop out of the top four and struggle in the Premier League.

Time

One good thing for Arsenal is that there is now an international break. The break will mean some rest bite from the spotlight for Wenger and his under pressure players. This time will be crucial for Wenger and his players to regroup. Arsenal will recover from this blow. However without key additions Arsenal fans may be in for a hard time in the coming months.

Is it time that Arsene Wenger left Arsenal?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Nugent


David is a freelance football writer with nearly a decade of experience writing about the beautiful game. The experienced writer has written for over a dozen websites and also an international soccer magazine offline.
Arguably his best work has come as an editorial writer for Soccernews, sharing his good, bad and ugly opinions on the world’s favourite sport. During David’s writing career he has written editorials, betting previews, match previews, banter, news and opinion pieces.

SHARE OR COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE

WE RECOMMEND

  • Torres4Life

    0 0

    Is this just like the story of Liverpool 2 years ago? If I’m not mistaken before 2009-10 LFC fans loved & praised Benitez especially after coming from 3 – 0 down to beat AC Milan.will arsenal’s future change by sacking Wenger, as LFC sacked Rafa?

  • Mr JULIUS

    0 0

    I have to admit I started feel sympathy for young keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Carl Jenkinson. Young keeper Szczesny couldn’t really do much about any of the goals and it’s odd to say but he didn’t have a terrible game.

  • Brad

    0 0

    right Roy, and as for my Red Devils, we got beat by Chelsea 5-0 over 10 years ago, and just 2 years ago we got smashed at home by liverpool 4-1. things like this happen.

  • Roy Smith

    0 0

    I wouldn’t call consecutive losses to the two premier league clubs with the most lucrative history rock bottom. They’re still going to finish in the top seven, and they have plenty of future stars. Almost all teams will get thrashed once in a while. Even my beloved Chelsea Football Club lost 3-0 against Man U. I think the youngsters in the Arsenal camp have learned a lot, and will flourish as time passes.

  • Brad

    0 0

    really, Asif? spare us the insults and ranting. You sound like I did when I first joined this website. . . in fact, maybe even worse.

  • ORANJE*14

    0 0

    @Asif.
    really? spare me the name calling.
    anyways, where was i comparing?
    I only said ‘reminded’ me of Barca.

    Also, I’m really curious for you to attempt to answer any of the questions – I wanted to hear what you thought..
    here another:
    why do YOU think Barca are so good? Im really curious

  • Asif

    0 0

    O sorry David i may b not comletely accurate on that, which author wrote Arsene as iconic boss for gunners, but my intention was water clear as in upgrading Arsenal, and though wenger might have done good thing for the club but remember past is gone and future is unseen but what about the present, the most important factor is i dont wanna see a big club ruined by an old monk who doesnt even know about the word ‘Creativity’.. i m sorry if u might’ve been hurt in any ways..
    but Orange14 is just gone outta mind u cannot compare present wid past or vice versa.. U know nothing about football its ‘SHAME ON U”.., as if i talk like you compare the present crop of players@ camp nou wid any time’s side of any club and their squads in any area whether its thier STATS, SKILLS, TITLES, NAMES, POPULARITY,, idiot u must know Barca have not only rocked footballing world but have erected the new race which will lead to miracles and u will have to be alive to see that… so ‘SHUT UP’!!

  • cloud

    0 0

    an 8-2 thrashing is just too much for arsenal fans. i don’t follow arsenal much but this is humiliating enough that the board should do something about this, it’s clear that Arsene Wenger can no longer command respect with his players. If he has some dignity left in him or if he loves Arsenal too much then he should leave. Yes, he has given Arsenal those fruitful years but now, Arsenal is a has-been, only good at the start of the campaign but implodes during crunch time, especially after Match Day 25 and upwards, their performance goes down. ARSENE is the problem, he is stubborn in buying new players, he still relies on his YOUNG PLAYER REVOLUTION, but it doesnt do any good as of the moment. it’s just my opinion though

  • Angel936

    0 0

    Okay we all know Arsenal just needs new talented players before the transfer window closes on Wednesday!! If they really want to compete in the EUFA champions league they should worry about signing new players ASAP.. Cause I can’t stand to see that time to loose like that again. I couldn’t watch it anymore I had to change the channel cause it was disappointing.:( don’t be blaming Arsene wenger cause it’s not his fault his top players left. All they need is a little hope and watch how they’ll come back!!

  • ORANJE*14

    0 0

    haha @ Asif – what a load of crap, shame on YOU. I usually dont bother with your ridiculous rants.. one of the reasons I appreciate Arsenal is because Arsene does not buy big. Do you think Sir Alex is successful because he buys because fans want him too?
    Who is #2 to him for you?
    Also, are trophies the only mark of success for you?

    Anyways, thanks David, well put.
    I definitely do not think its time for Arsene to go.
    For me, more-or-less a neutral, the ‘Wenger must go’ people are insane if you look at all that Arsenal has accomplished and to be set up the way they are.

    The leadership missing in the Arsenal team is from Vermaelen, I think he should be captian. They missed it almost all last year as well.
    I think it is coming in young Wilshere as well but he is so young yet.
    But, RvP is class and one of the older players on Arsenal – so you understand the choice. Though his attitude can be or has been questionable, seeing him drag his embarrased players over to cheer the away fans (some singing almost the entire match – THOSE are FANS) at Old Trafford was a great show of leadership actually.
    Asif – you think he was happy to scuff his penalty shot? Did you see his face?

    Sundays match was more like Arsenal’s C team and United were incredibly ruthless as well (as they should be).

    Actually Arsenal’s current team reminds me of Barca 5-10 years ago. and someone tell me, what did Barca win between 1999-2005?
    Im not so worried.

    Also, hard times only make good times that much better.

  • isaac

    0 0

    surely his services are no longer needed at arsenal, he has finally succeded in tarnishin d image of arsenal.

  • Hany Fekry

    0 0

    This miser merchant should be kicked out of London, we don’t need some one to gain money we need some one to win a cup and get us out of this mud.
    i think we should make a page on facebook or something to ask arsenal fans all over the world to ask arsenal administration to kick him out.

  • David Nugent

    0 0

    Asif, I am one of the authors of this site and I have never called Wenger ICONIC. However you have to accept that Wenger has been a great manager. And I am definately not a Manchester United fan.

    Do you not remember when your side was winning trophies? It may be time for Wenger to leave the club but you have accept that he has done great things for the club

  • Asif

    0 0

    “UcheNigeria is nutts”..! go on and cook dream dishes that u never will eat,, how dare u talk bout Barca,, so soon to forget the recent assault by mighty Barca to your so called Sir Alex and his KIDDOS, and still united fan.. Ha Ha HA shame on u…
    It was this Wenger Clown who needs to be kicked out of Emirated, and also those french kids recruited by french frenchise Wenger.
    That was Arsenal B v/s Man utd. and whats the surprise if reds win!! U so soon forgot Wmbley where Sir Alex even joined reds in running on the pich and passing his balls near D to get goals,, hmmm!
    Shame on Van Persie kicking wid cheap qualities for De Gea to earn respect at old Trafford. Shame on this sites authors to address Wenger as iconic manager, i suspect they were also Man utd supporters. UcheNigeria forgot miserable messi, Xavi, Initial iniesta, Wild Villa, and ofcourse now amazing alexis sanchez and fabulous Fabregas. O sorry i scared a shit outta you…! And i knew atlast they’d say “what a performa nce by Sir Alex and his so called red devils”…. Shame, Shame Shame on u all…

  • Asif

    0 0

    I’ve been criticising Wenger from many a years,, and yet people hear this if u wanna save the reputation of gunners and save the club just kick this Wenger Clown out of London not the club coz this red nose cartoon is simply worthy of this..
    He has just ruined the club from last five years if u concentrate on success graph of gunners u can simply write a book wid title ‘fall of Arsenal’,,this simply hurts but is truth..
    Success of this club lies in kick out story of wenger as he is partial to recruit french young boyz who no body knows and is surely commision agent wid their money..!
    He knows nothing about football and simply let so many stars leave the club like cards and i’ll say shame on those arsenal fans who were callping on the ugly performances of Van persie and Clown wenger’s pathetic presentation,, do they want this foreverr i’ll ask them.. Plan rallies against board and Wenger to get serious on this and this would’vereally happend if i would\ve been there and such emotional heartbreaking crimes sould be strictly restricted, as playing wid fans i would say..
    Van persie shoul be ashamed of missing such penalties and being failure as captain he should leave the arm band immediately voluntarily and focus on future performances..

  • UcheNigeria

    0 0

    I think we have shown them superiority. I told them we’ll beat them by 6goals to nothing but they wldnt listen. They were buzy asking me what unite in United. Now they have seen and believed that there’s something that unite in United. A child cannot beat his father on the face. Else, he have his Hands broken. Wen we beat Barca in d pre-season, they said it was their feeders. We beat Man City, they said they were not in their best form. We trashed Spurs and another excuse was given. Now Arsenal of all people. And they still have excuses 2 give. What a shame. But Chelsea will be next. At least 5 – 0 will be a good result. Up Manchester United. Write2giftuchenna@yahoo.com

  • wankerwengermustgo

    0 0

    You say there is no magic formula to restore confidence – hogwash! Its simple – buy the right players. If the squad have the likes of Tevez and kaka and Mertesacker playing alongside thme – the confidence level goes up instantly! Thats one of the main reasons you get recognized quality players in. The fans have been telling Wenger this for the last 3 seasons – but NOOOOOO! Wenger knows best! I said in March – that Arsenal will be wallowing in relegation zone this season if Wenger is not replaced – …. well, …..

  • Mark

    0 0

    Boycott Arsenal = Save Arsenal
    You can help save our team by doing one of the following: Boycott future games until we spend 70 Million on new players or Bring a red card with you to the games! Lets show the red card to Wenger and the Board

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Arsenal-Save-Arsenal/266192366741705?notif_t=page_name_change

  • Mark

    0 0

    Boycott Arsenal = Save Arsenal
    You can help save our team by doing one of the following: Boycott future games until we spend 70 Million on new players or Bring a red card with you to the games! Lets show the red card to Wenger and the Board

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Arsenal-Save-Arsenal/266192366741705?notif_t=page_name_change

  • wankerwengermustgo

    0 0

    You say there is no magic formula to restore confidence – hogwash! Its simple – buy the right players. If the squad have the likes of Tevez and kaka and Mertesacker playing alongside thme – the confidence level goes up instantly! Thats one of the main reasons you get recognized quality players in. The fans have been telling Wenger this for the last 3 seasons – but NOOOOOO! Wenger knows best! I said in March – that Arsenal will be wallowing in relegation zone this season if Wenger is not replaced – …. well, …..

  • UcheNigeria

    0 0

    I think we have shown them superiority. I told them we’ll beat them by 6goals to nothing but they wldnt listen. They were buzy asking me what unite in United. Now they have seen and believed that there’s something that unite in United. A child cannot beat his father on the face. Else, he have his Hands broken. Wen we beat Barca in d pre-season, they said it was their feeders. We beat Man City, they said they were not in their best form. We trashed Spurs and another excuse was given. Now Arsenal of all people. And they still have excuses 2 give. What a shame. But Chelsea will be next. At least 5 – 0 will be a good result. Up Manchester United. Write2giftuchenna@yahoo.com

  • Asif

    0 0

    I’ve been criticising Wenger from many a years,, and yet people hear this if u wanna save the reputation of gunners and save the club just kick this Wenger Clown out of London not the club coz this red nose cartoon is simply worthy of this..
    He has just ruined the club from last five years if u concentrate on success graph of gunners u can simply write a book wid title ‘fall of Arsenal’,,this simply hurts but is truth..
    Success of this club lies in kick out story of wenger as he is partial to recruit french young boyz who no body knows and is surely commision agent wid their money..!
    He knows nothing about football and simply let so many stars leave the club like cards and i’ll say shame on those arsenal fans who were callping on the ugly performances of Van persie and Clown wenger’s pathetic presentation,, do they want this foreverr i’ll ask them.. Plan rallies against board and Wenger to get serious on this and this would’vereally happend if i would\ve been there and such emotional heartbreaking crimes sould be strictly restricted, as playing wid fans i would say..
    Van persie shoul be ashamed of missing such penalties and being failure as captain he should leave the arm band immediately voluntarily and focus on future performances..

  • Asif

    0 0

    “UcheNigeria is nutts”..! go on and cook dream dishes that u never will eat,, how dare u talk bout Barca,, so soon to forget the recent assault by mighty Barca to your so called Sir Alex and his KIDDOS, and still united fan.. Ha Ha HA shame on u…
    It was this Wenger Clown who needs to be kicked out of Emirated, and also those french kids recruited by french frenchise Wenger.
    That was Arsenal B v/s Man utd. and whats the surprise if reds win!! U so soon forgot Wmbley where Sir Alex even joined reds in running on the pich and passing his balls near D to get goals,, hmmm!
    Shame on Van Persie kicking wid cheap qualities for De Gea to earn respect at old Trafford. Shame on this sites authors to address Wenger as iconic manager, i suspect they were also Man utd supporters. UcheNigeria forgot miserable messi, Xavi, Initial iniesta, Wild Villa, and ofcourse now amazing alexis sanchez and fabulous Fabregas. O sorry i scared a shit outta you…! And i knew atlast they’d say “what a performa nce by Sir Alex and his so called red devils”…. Shame, Shame Shame on u all…

  • David Nugent

    0 0

    Asif, I am one of the authors of this site and I have never called Wenger ICONIC. However you have to accept that Wenger has been a great manager. And I am definately not a Manchester United fan.

    Do you not remember when your side was winning trophies? It may be time for Wenger to leave the club but you have accept that he has done great things for the club

  • Hany Fekry

    0 0

    This miser merchant should be kicked out of London, we don’t need some one to gain money we need some one to win a cup and get us out of this mud.
    i think we should make a page on facebook or something to ask arsenal fans all over the world to ask arsenal administration to kick him out.

  • isaac

    0 0

    surely his services are no longer needed at arsenal, he has finally succeded in tarnishin d image of arsenal.

  • ORANJE*14

    0 0

    haha @ Asif – what a load of crap, shame on YOU. I usually dont bother with your ridiculous rants.. one of the reasons I appreciate Arsenal is because Arsene does not buy big. Do you think Sir Alex is successful because he buys because fans want him too?
    Who is #2 to him for you?
    Also, are trophies the only mark of success for you?

    Anyways, thanks David, well put.
    I definitely do not think its time for Arsene to go.
    For me, more-or-less a neutral, the ‘Wenger must go’ people are insane if you look at all that Arsenal has accomplished and to be set up the way they are.

    The leadership missing in the Arsenal team is from Vermaelen, I think he should be captian. They missed it almost all last year as well.
    I think it is coming in young Wilshere as well but he is so young yet.
    But, RvP is class and one of the older players on Arsenal – so you understand the choice. Though his attitude can be or has been questionable, seeing him drag his embarrased players over to cheer the away fans (some singing almost the entire match – THOSE are FANS) at Old Trafford was a great show of leadership actually.
    Asif – you think he was happy to scuff his penalty shot? Did you see his face?

    Sundays match was more like Arsenal’s C team and United were incredibly ruthless as well (as they should be).

    Actually Arsenal’s current team reminds me of Barca 5-10 years ago. and someone tell me, what did Barca win between 1999-2005?
    Im not so worried.

    Also, hard times only make good times that much better.

  • Angel936

    0 0

    Okay we all know Arsenal just needs new talented players before the transfer window closes on Wednesday!! If they really want to compete in the EUFA champions league they should worry about signing new players ASAP.. Cause I can’t stand to see that time to loose like that again. I couldn’t watch it anymore I had to change the channel cause it was disappointing.:( don’t be blaming Arsene wenger cause it’s not his fault his top players left. All they need is a little hope and watch how they’ll come back!!

  • cloud

    0 0

    an 8-2 thrashing is just too much for arsenal fans. i don’t follow arsenal much but this is humiliating enough that the board should do something about this, it’s clear that Arsene Wenger can no longer command respect with his players. If he has some dignity left in him or if he loves Arsenal too much then he should leave. Yes, he has given Arsenal those fruitful years but now, Arsenal is a has-been, only good at the start of the campaign but implodes during crunch time, especially after Match Day 25 and upwards, their performance goes down. ARSENE is the problem, he is stubborn in buying new players, he still relies on his YOUNG PLAYER REVOLUTION, but it doesnt do any good as of the moment. it’s just my opinion though

  • Asif

    0 0

    O sorry David i may b not comletely accurate on that, which author wrote Arsene as iconic boss for gunners, but my intention was water clear as in upgrading Arsenal, and though wenger might have done good thing for the club but remember past is gone and future is unseen but what about the present, the most important factor is i dont wanna see a big club ruined by an old monk who doesnt even know about the word ‘Creativity’.. i m sorry if u might’ve been hurt in any ways..
    but Orange14 is just gone outta mind u cannot compare present wid past or vice versa.. U know nothing about football its ‘SHAME ON U”.., as if i talk like you compare the present crop of players@ camp nou wid any time’s side of any club and their squads in any area whether its thier STATS, SKILLS, TITLES, NAMES, POPULARITY,, idiot u must know Barca have not only rocked footballing world but have erected the new race which will lead to miracles and u will have to be alive to see that… so ‘SHUT UP’!!

  • ORANJE*14

    0 0

    @Asif.
    really? spare me the name calling.
    anyways, where was i comparing?
    I only said ‘reminded’ me of Barca.

    Also, I’m really curious for you to attempt to answer any of the questions – I wanted to hear what you thought..
    here another:
    why do YOU think Barca are so good? Im really curious

  • Brad

    0 0

    really, Asif? spare us the insults and ranting. You sound like I did when I first joined this website. . . in fact, maybe even worse.

  • Roy Smith

    0 0

    I wouldn’t call consecutive losses to the two premier league clubs with the most lucrative history rock bottom. They’re still going to finish in the top seven, and they have plenty of future stars. Almost all teams will get thrashed once in a while. Even my beloved Chelsea Football Club lost 3-0 against Man U. I think the youngsters in the Arsenal camp have learned a lot, and will flourish as time passes.

  • Brad

    0 0

    right Roy, and as for my Red Devils, we got beat by Chelsea 5-0 over 10 years ago, and just 2 years ago we got smashed at home by liverpool 4-1. things like this happen.

  • Mr JULIUS

    0 0

    I have to admit I started feel sympathy for young keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Carl Jenkinson. Young keeper Szczesny couldn’t really do much about any of the goals and it’s odd to say but he didn’t have a terrible game.

  • Torres4Life

    0 0

    Is this just like the story of Liverpool 2 years ago? If I’m not mistaken before 2009-10 LFC fans loved & praised Benitez especially after coming from 3 – 0 down to beat AC Milan.will arsenal’s future change by sacking Wenger, as LFC sacked Rafa?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This field is required *

Join the conversation!

or Register

Live Scores

advertisement

Betting Guide Advertisement

advertisement

Become a Writer
More More
Top