http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10186205/ray-parlour-says-arsenal-have-no-leaders Ray Parlour says Arsenal have no leaders Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour believes a lack of on-field leaders was to blame for the Gunners' loss at Manchester United. The weekend loss was a costly one and drew some fierce criticism from Graeme Souness, who described Arsenal's performance at Old Trafford as "totally unacceptable" and said they "bordered on being a joke" in the 3-2 defeat. "I didn't see anyone on that pitch demanding more from the players," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "The big players didn't turn up and at the back they were all over the place. "The most important thing is the leaders. When the going gets tough you need people like that; when I played we had Tony Adams and guys like that demand more from you when you're up against it. "Swansea on Wednesday is now a massive game for them and then they play the north London derby, and at the moment, Spurs are looking a much more complete team than Arsenal." "It's undoubtedly a big blow to Arsenal because with the players United had out it was a real opportunity for them to set their stall out," he said. "They're going for the title and I didn't see the desire and the grit in their performance. I didn't see the togetherness that you've got to have at this stage of the season. "They've got some massive away games coming up and this was a chance to make a massive statement at Manchester United. "Now they've got to beat Swansea and Spurs and they are really up against it. If they play like they did against Manchester United there is no way they'll win the league." Same old same old.....
And yet Wenger came out praising the team's spirit and desire, that was the biggest ****ing joke of all, ok, I get the point of not wanting to slate the players in public, but to brazenly lie? He could have just said it's best not speak his mind publicly on the team and he'd keep that between himself and them. But instead, he ****ing praises them, once again taking the pressure off them and showing why they always underachieve, who the **** wouldnt underachieve when you play like that, and get praise from your manager? Souness was wrong on one thing, he said this bordered on being a joke, no, this is a complete ****ing joke, not bordering on it. Wenger (again) made us a laughing stock and the butt of jokes on Sunday. No other big club has suffered as many humiliations-embarresments as Arsenal in the last decade, only Wenger from the top clubs manages to make his team look like utter clowns. The sooner Wenger goes, the better for everybody, I will celebrate like we've won the Champions League when he leaves.
Yeah but... Be careful what you wish for... Cos... Like... Wenger is keeping us afloat here remember and he's one of the world's best coaches. That's what I'm told anyway so it must be true. So just be non-specifically careful what you wish for. Be fearful of change. Embrace standing still. DO NOTHING!!!!!!!!
He's right, but as I've repeatedly stated on here, our issues run deeper than merely a lack of leaders. People may think I'm crazy or deluded, but I genuinely believe almost every problem we have faced in the last decade has stemmed from Wenger's arrogance and self-righteousness. Things may get a lot worse for us before they get better, but for that to even happen, the manager has to leave at the end of the season. I don't give a damn about him 'honouring his contract', he needs to put his pride to one side and accept he has taken the team as far as he possibly can, hand the reigns over to someone more competent and retire. Sadly, all this is a pipe dream. Because even if we finished mid table this season, he still wouldn't be sacked and he still wouldn't accept his faults and leave. As long as he gets us 4th place, nothing else seems to matter. Until that way of thinking changes, we will continue to stagnate.
Swansea's interim coach / manager, Alan Curtis commented that had another of you chances been put away at 1 - 0 Arsenal would have won comfortably and there would be no talk of lack of leaders today. Was he being naive, honest or nice?
He would be talking ****. Arsenal fans have been complaining of a lack of leaders on the pitch for months. This very thread was made after the United game, before the Swansea game had even kicked off, so not sure how Arsenal scoring in a game that was played after this thread was posted would have effected the creation of this thread. What is he talking about?
He can't have been unaware it has been discussed on Match of the Day, Football Focus, Soccer Saturday. The very article in the OP and the quote by Parlour was written 2 days before the Swansea game kicked off.
