We've been on a great run these past few months but this season as a whole appears to be transpiring as most have recently for us. We always have an excellent run at some stage of the season and flirt with wining the league or potentially a cup only to have are short comings horribly exposed and fall at the final hurdle with a very poor run (end of last season/beginning of this season). Put aside the argument about is finishing top 4 for this many season + the financial clout of others around us for one second and focus on the key mistakes that are made year after year and causes this vicious cycle we are in. Put most simply we've lost marquee or key players at the wrong time almost every summer (when no suitable replacements were ready) and lacked critical quality in our squad. Last season we needed a Center Back with Vermalen out and Kos not ready but Wenger passed on adding someone in January...it cost us For 2 months we've been on an amazing run (bar QPR and Wigan) but blatantly need back up for RVP but yet again Wenger passed...possibly because Podolski is coming this summer? Wenger isn't as brave in the transfer market as he once was and his scouting network seems to have been less productive in uncovering ready made talents (i.e. Henry took 6 months to adapt, Pires under a season, Petit and Veira were instant hits, etc) Now it's taken 5+ years for RVP to develop, Theo still isn't the finished article (if he ever will do). Key this summer (as every other) is finally keep our star players and add some significant quality to the squad. To think our current bench includes Chamakh and Park is embarrassing. You have to have more than a good 11 you have to have 'quality' back up in every position. Finishing top 4 is still a decent achievement but how frustrating is it that we come so close and fail for 7 staright seasons just for that little extra quality. RVP is dead on his feet with carrying this team all season, Gervinho has been disappointing, Theo is inconsistent, and we don't have a real Cesc replacement. Let's break the cycle and keep RVP and our other quality players and make some bold moves in the transfer market as well as be ruthless with the under performing squad players (Ramsey!)
What are you talking about, we have quality players, world class, players are not under performing, they are showing heart, you have only been supporting Arsenal since 2001, its not Wenger's fault, we don't have any money, we have been in the top 4 for 15 years, we won't do a Leeds, I remember when we used to finish mid table, the ref cost us, the pitch was shocking, it was a penalty that wasn't given, you must be a plastic, mods can you close this please. I microcosm of what you should expect .. imminently
Ignoring HotHeads 'wit' for a moment, this is a good summary. We are close, but need to add 2 or 3 quality players. Podolski looks a cert, so a creative midfielder and a defensive player would be nice. Totally agree that RVP looks knackered, but would also say that Ramsey also looks like he has been over-played this season. I'd persevere with him because he certainly has shown signs of class earlier in the season.
