Just when we hoped that a corner had been turned...
Please, people, put this game into context and look at the bigger picture. Whilst there was justifiable euphoria at the previous two results, perhaps this shouldn't be too much of a surprise. But for Arsenal, there is a big jigsaw to finsh; and it has barely been started.
I was of course extremely disappointed at the performance. As I am sure we all were. But that's the beauty of football; if you're not fully 'on it', then this sort of thing can happen - no matter who are the opposition. It's difficult to equate victory over Liverpool and (heroically) Manchester City with meek surrender to Aston Villa, but perhaps with hindsight it was no surprise, factoring in the levels of fatigue and number of team changes.
Strangely, I feel worse for Watford and their fans (but not their owners, obviously) than I do for us. Whilst they've got themselves in to this position by not being very good, the past few sets of results have been devastating for them. Fortunately for them, they're got a game against Arsenal to finish their season, and based on this performance they've got to think that they've got every chance of staying up!
And I'd suggest that once again what he witnessed last night will further crystallise in Arteta's mind how he needs to change squad personnel. What's perfectly clear is that there is little squad depth, and that - even if they were willing to stay (and apparently they are not) - both Kolasinac and Torreira are not of the required quality for the rebuild. And Cedric was a thorough disappointment; I am unconvinced by the 4-year contract he received.
Clearly, it's difficult to be too dogmatic when the entire team were off their game (with the exclusion of the goalkeeper). The first half performance was dreadful, and although the substitutes made a difference it was not to be. The most damning statistic - leaving aside the 69% possession - was the zero shots on target stat. So in the same way that our previous two opponents struggled against our 'low block', so Arsenal struggled against Villa's. Whilst there were 6 changes to Saturday's side, the team that Arteta put out ought to have put up a much better show than they did. Questions may be asked about creativity - could Mesut Ozil have made a difference? - but this was opposition in relegation trouble, after all. And by the way, I'll take Jack Grealish should he become available. There's a player who can carry the ball through midfield as well as pass.
Unquestionably, the mentality of the players as a group must be questioned. There should be no excuse for not being 'up for it'. There was still plenty to play for - not least the opportunity to give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for Europe via League position.
Now that is gone, Arsenal find themselves languishing in 10th place - behind Burnley (!) - on just 53 points, and are going to finish in their lowest position, and with their lowest points total, since 1995. That was the year that George Graham was sacked, and the squad included such luminaries as Chris Kiwomya, Jimmy Carter and Glenn Helder.
To think that fans were moaning when Arsenal used to finish in a lowly 4th spot! Some advised that we be careful what we wish for, and now here we are. But whilst the decline started to set in after 2007/8 and has accelerated over the past two seasons, we can only look forward with hope with Mikel Arteta 'at the wheel'. For all that we can see that he has a lot to learn yet.
To an FA Cup Final, for starters; and for all that St Totteringham's Day has had to be cancelled once more, that's something that them lot haven't got. The ultimate Schadenfreude of them finishing 7th and us winning the Cup, thus knocking them out of a European spot, would make a Cup win all the sweeter.
Which makes this banner...
...both irritating and unnecessary. I'm absolutely sure that this wasn't the message that Arteta was trying ot convey in recent interviews. And as I pointed out in my last post, it's not fair to say that money hasn't been spent on players; £300m+, plus wages, is not chicken feed.
Anyway, we should probably gloss over the Villa game, look to come through the Watford game unscathed, and then look for a considerably better attitude and performance on August 1st against The Blue Enemy.
Stay safe. Back Monday.
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