I didn't put forward 'we almost won' argument. I said that we were unlucky to lose those games, which we were. True that we were on a bad run, but this didn't make it a crisis. If it were it would have taken more than a few tweaks to put it right.
The point is that we were never far off getting it right. I've said it many times before, that the margins in football are fine. What some percieve as a crisis or disaster is not an insurmountable probelm to those with a level head and a pragmatic outlook. Thankfully Wenger falls into the latter of those categories.
The point is that from the start of the season, there haven't been a huge raft of changes, just a team learning to play together and gaining confidence. Most of our new signings were thrown in together right at the start of the season due to injuries, it was no wonder that the struggled initially, but bit by bit, they eventually learned to play together and the results have reflected that. Wenger's approach is the same now as it was at the beginning of the season, it's just that the players have more experience and confidence together now.
Your last sentence ... how ?? Our best players are leaving and we have gone backwards in 7 years. What exactly has Wenger proved ? How is he the right man for the job ? (I am not saying he isn't but I would like you to tell me why he is).
In 2 years nobody will remember that we "almost won games" ! It is neither here or there if we "almost" won. It is about winning and losing, you get no prizes for almost winning. The only way you can look at the term crisis is be relating it to the club you are referring to, their size, expectation etc etc. You can't possibly say that for a club that is circa 125 years old, to have the worst start in over 50 years (was it 58 years ??) is NOT a crisis !!! We were toward the foot of the table and there was no sign of us moving from it.
Based on todays performance AW is going to have to spend big in January to have any hope of finishing in the top 4. What a woeful display. I wouldn't Trust Wenger to manage a pub team at the mo.
We weren't at our best today, I think we were jaded after the midweek game. We played against a well organised Fulham team who deserved a point. Credit to them, on another day RVP and Djourou's goal line clearances would have gone in and we'd have won. But we didn't, so we have to accept 1pt and prepare for the next game. Sitting around moaning and playing the blame game serves no purpose in my book.
Lets face it, the current squad even with Jack W fit is not capable of getting a top 4 finish. Yesterdays game only served to highlight the shortcomings, woeful defending, no creativity in midfield and very poor selection and tactics by AW. We can make excuses about mid week games and bad luck but the reality is unless Wenger buys some quality reinforcements in January it is Europa League at best for us next season and maybe not even that.
I commend your steadfast support of Wenger, but it takes a real man to admit that he got it wrong and while Wenger has half admitted it by a) buying players we have been crying out for ... sort of and b) giving longer contracts to 30 year olds, he has stopped short some way. We need a SQUAD of players capable of competing for the entire season, we haven't had one since 2006, we get the Feb/Mar implosion because players are tired or injured. This is the manager's job and he refuses to do what he needs to do, bolster the squad, get rid of dead wood, get rid of those not fit for purpose. I am the first to knock Man U's workmen like teams but, they are fit for purpose, they last the entire season. If some players are tired considering the number of players we have, why not play others, it was Fulham we were playing after all. The problem is the difference between our first 11 and second 11 is massive, considering our first 11 are not playing that well although getting results, our second 11 cannot come in and do a job.
I don't think we should read to much into one draw. Like I said, on another day RVP and/or Djourou's goal line clearances would have gone in and we wouldn't even be having this conversation. Winning games consistently is mainly about hard work, skill and good organisation. But speak to any manager or player and they'll tell you that luck also plays a big part - ours deserted us today. That said, Fulham set up well against us, so they deserve credit too.
I agree that we needed to show more purpose in this game, I do think fatigue played a part, despite Jayram's 'All in the mind' crap. But that's still not good enough, we need players who can turn up and give 100% in every game.
Well, speaking for Arshavin who replaced Gervinho - I'm not sure his attitude has ever been right at Arsenal. He started his career with us brightly enough, but he's been pretty ineffective for over a year now. Djourou replacing Koscielny, again I'm not sure that Djourou is of the required standard at Arsenal, he's decent enough, but not really an adequate replacement at RB. That said, he is a 3rd choice RB.
What part of that says 'it's all in the mind' ? And as requested - where is your evidence that all ex pro's say that fatigue is 'all in the mind'?
After playing 3 games in 21 days these players are not tired. These players get the best possible preparation for games, they get rub downs and massages to release tight muscles etc. At the level of fitness these players are at and the diets they are put on their muscles repair far quicker than most, ultrasound bombards damaged tissue creating heat inside which speeds up the repair process - I know this for a fact because I've had it ! Fatigue kicks in after a run of games with very little rest in between, the fitter you are the quicker your body recovers. The players have had a 14 day break and come back to play 3 games in 8 days. They shouldn't be tired after that !
It wasn't a 14 day break though as most of the players were playing international games. Any footballer will tell you that 3 games in little over a week is a tough schedule.
We have played Champion's League football for 12 or so years, we have been playing 3 games per week regularly, so have the other top teams, why when a team drops points is the excuse they are tired made, but when they win .. its not ??? I didn't hear Fergie complaining about tired players or AVB or Mancini.
I think it's clear that some of our players were fatigued, anyone who saw Koscielny come of during the Dortmund game could tell you that. That's why he was rested. I'm surprised that Song wasn't in a similar position. He gave everything in that game. You can't just dismiss fatigue because some pundit says it's rubbish. I think the players and manager have a better idea of what's happening at Arsenal, rather than someone who retired 12 years ago. Fatigue can be a problem, that's nothing new. But we do need players to come in who are able to match those that have been replaced.
