Birmingham

Gooners

Reading some of the articles being posted on the web made me think maybe someone had died watching Arsenal’s performance against Birmingham. It is incredible that we have set a standard so high any blip and we are at arms. We no longer allow Arsenal a bad day at the office anymore. Matches against Birmingham are considered a banker. I guess they forgot Birmingham have a new manager and a competent one at that. It is those who think matches like these are a banker that gets disappointed the most. Expectations and reality sometimes overlapped. I always believe league table positions are a false indication of how some teams will perform against Arsenal. Instead, I believe in Brian Clough’s assertion that ‘You are only as good as your last game’.

While I was disappointed with the draw, we are still second only by goal difference. You don’t become a bad team overnight, blips do happen. What is important is how the club respond to this draw. Do they go out against Fulham next week screaming for blood or hide in a shell crying over what could have been? I would rather they learn from this and get slapped with a dose of realism now than the Premiership deciding match in May.

The team may be full of internationals but the sum is greater than the parts. Arsenal is a team build on togetherness and familiarity. I think the break given to key players have been more detrimental. It is obvious they lacked fluency. I am sure Wenger will be smarter from this experience. I don’t think he will change his Carling Cup line up of young fringe players (if you can still call Senderos, Gilberto, Eduardo and Bendtner fringe players). But I have a feeling that senior players like Cesc and Hleb will be given extended presence in the substitute bench for Cup games. Not only will they be an asset to come on, but they look like players who needs to be constantly playing.

If there was one peeve I have with the Brums draw is why there was no one charging into the opposition goal in the dying seconds when Hleb was freed on the right by Bendtner knowing full well a cross was imminent? Everyone bar Gallas waited just outside of the six yard box. I know Arsenal do pull their crosses back often but you don’t need so many standing on the six yard line. With time running out, some players could commit themselves in the box with nothing to lose. Maybe we haven’t exorcist the six yard box ghost yet….

Onwards to Fulham, and thereafter, the Spuds.

Gunner6