So here is my third post so far and my first non-LFC related post. I've always said from the beginning this blog would not be just all LFC posts, but include some more football related posts, and with Liverpool only managing a boring nil nil draw in the europa and not being involved in the FA Cup over the weekend, anything I post would of been either boring or more possibly a lie. So the one team that springs to mind who I feel are worthy of a post, are the team who let a four nil lead slip at half time to newcastle and then eleven days later go on to comeback and beat the catalan giants barcelona 2-1 in the champions league first leg... It can only be Arsenal FC.
So Arsenal FC, what phrases come to mind when you think of 'The Mighty Gunners'? "The team is to young to win a trophy" "Next year they'll be one hell of a team" "They just don't have the quality in depth to compete in all competitions." After the era of The invincibles only one player still plays in the Arsenal team today, Gael Clichy. And the Arsenal team he plays in today are only a shadow of the invincibles of 03-04. Players like Viera, Pires and Henry have been replaced with the likes of Fabergas, Nasri and Arshavin, all of which are high quality players but all of which have only had a glimpse of true success at Arsenal. Cesc Fabergas now captain of Arsenal was only in the academy the last time Arsenal won a league title. With the statue of the team, the players they have, the manager in charge how have they managed to go five years without winning a trophy? Most argue that Arsene Wenger has been building a team from youth with the likes of wilshere and fabergas being a few of the success stories under Arsene. But it has come to the point where no longer can people truly say that Arsenal is still full of youngsters. Players like Nasri, Van Persie and Fabergas are all now in there peak, and this has been evident this year no question. But still they sit second behind Man United and drawing against the likes of newcastle in the way they did, would have done themselves no favours, so the premier league looks out of reach once again this season with Man Utd taking the league by storm. However it is a different story in the Champions league, finishing second in there group they were drawn against 3 times champions FC Barcelona. But after falling behind in the 26th Minute from a David Villa goal, Arsenal played there typical counter attacking football and went on to win 2-1 putting themselves in a very good position going into the second leg.
So with the carling cup final on the weekend, a Fa-Cup replay against Leyton Orient and a trip to Barcelona things are still looking very good for the Gunners.
My personal opinion from an outsider looking in is, if Arsenal can get themselves a decent keeper like Shay Given, David De Gea, Hugo Lloris etc.., aswell as strengthen there centre back pairing because I feel after the likes of Campbell, Toure and Gallas left they have struggled to find adequate replacement. If they do manage to do fix these problems in the summer then maybe they can become a dominant european force.
However only time will tell if these young Gunners have matured enough to go on and collect Silverware this season.
Croft xD
*Hope you enjoyed this weeks post, I am aware that some of my grammar mistakes are amateurish but hopefully you can see past this and see a Liverpool fan trying his best to talk about Arsenal. All the best and i'll see you in a few weeks.