Arsenal 1-1 Wigan [4-2 on penalties]: Worrying performance, wonderful result

I know that many Arsenal supporters are in paradise at the moment. I know that with Hull coming up in the finals, they'll be relishing their chances. I know that Fabianski's heroics kept us in firm control of a penalty shootout which everyone expected to be nervy.

However, I was downright alarmed by the reactions of this game. I went into it hoping, almost knowing that we'll trash the living shit out of Wigan, irrespective of how uncertain the Arsenal fanbase was. Yesterday I saw why.

Spoiler alert: If you want to know the real truth of what happened yesterday, carry on. I didn't post this article yesterday because I was sure that the joy of reaching the final would taint my analysis of the game. In addition, I also did not want to dent the happiness of Gooners by posting a hugely negative review in the immediate aftermath of our penalty shootout victory.

However, now that the dust has settled, here I go.

Our performance...
Clearly, we had learnt nothing from previous games. Upon slight pressing by a better Wigan, Arsenal became completely pedestrian. Let's not forget that we were playing a Championship side with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Podolski and Cazorla in our ranks.

It's worrying when teams like Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool press you into submission. However, it really is beyond alarming when Wigan Athletic manages to outplay Wenger tactically. Based on this performance, if Wenger learns nothing I seriously doubt his capability of snatching fourth from Everton.

A fellow Gooner argued that Wigan had defeated Manchester City, which meant that the game would always be difficult. Sorry, it doesn't rub with me. An in-crisis United trashed Wigan 4-0 in the very same stadium. Moreover, equating Wigan with City really is beyond ridiculous. Bradford defeated Arsenal and Arsenal defeated Bayern in the same season - does that mean Bradford would put up a fight against Bayern?

I'm surprised at everyone's relaxed attitude on the prospect of losing out on Champions League. I honestly reckon Everton will defeat Manchester United as well as Southampton. The only genuine banana skin, for them, remains Manchester City. In order for us to gain fourth, we HAVE to win all games starting tomorrow. Based on our performance against Wigan, I'm almost certain we won't.

I think we'll finish the season in fifth.

Podolski's substitution...
Was well deserved, in my opinion. Lukas looked far off the pace and was barely in the game.

But then again, the same could be said of Yaya Sanogo. While the Frenchman did look lively and had his chances, I didn't for one second think that he was going to get on the scoresheet. At least Podolski has the knack of scoring goals and providing assists regardless of his performance, kind of like Theo Walcott. Sanogo doesn't.

Wenger did what I wanted; employ a 4-4-2. However, he did it with the wrong personnel. Why put two target men up front in a 4-4-2? Wouldn't Giroud and Podolski as the two strikers make more sense?

I could deduce two conclusions from this. One, that Wenger's French favouritism enabled him to substitute Podolski rather than Sanogo. Two, that his change to a 4-4-2 formation was more out of desperation than tactical genius.

Nine out of ten managers would tell you that playing two similar strikers up front in a 4-4-2 is stupidity, and the tenth would be Arsene Wenger.

Mertesacker...
Could have been the villain, but instead became the saviour. His tackle in the box, let's face it, was reckless and deserving of a pen.

However, kudos to him for getting the equalizer at the death. At a time when I was genuinely wondering where the goals were going to come from, it was a centre back that gave me the answer.

I hope that the manager learns from this. Arsenal seem unable to get a goal from anywhere at the moment. While we used to be a one-man team with RVP, we now look like a zero man team. There needs to be a short-term change in the system - he needs to employ formations conducive to attackers like Podolski, Cazorla or Chamberlain. That's one of the reasons he's paid 6.5 million every season.

As it stands, we really look toothless in front of goal.

Fabianski should be our first-choice keeper...
I like Szczesny, but he's too cocky and arrogant for my liking. While in terms of ability I think the both of them are similar, Szczesny is known to take unnecessary risks and mess up in important games.

Fabianski doesn't. He's matured, composed and delivers, especially at times when it really matters. He saved us against Liverpool, and did the same against Wigan. While Fabianski was earlier used as a tool to threaten Szczesny's position in the starting lineup, I think it's time we promote him to our regular keeper.

If I were Wenger, Fabianski would have been on a bumper contract with a promise of regular first-team football.

In conclusion...
I agree with the supporters, celebrating at the end was completely justifiable. It wasn't because we had barely scrapped past Wigan, it was because we managed to get into the final when it really seemed like we wouldn't.

However, that's the trouble. Barely scrapping past Wigan is not a sign of a progressive team. In all honesty, we really were lucky to have gotten into the final. If we want to fulfill our objective of finishing fourth and winning the FA Cup, big short-term changes are needed.

Knowing Wenger, I don't think we'll see any changes. If we do get fourth, it would be down to scrappy victories against mediocre opposition. At a time when we were supposed to be challenging for the title, we're looking uncertain over fourth. What a mess.

It's times like these, irrespective of FA Cup joy, that makes me pray Wenger leaves in June.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Arsenal vs Wigan: Match Preview

I'm not nervous.

A fellow Gooner WhatsApped me today, "If Arsenal don't win the FA Cup, I'll dedicate my Facebook page to Phil Collins and become a John Terry fan for a week."

Poor guy. Imagine dedicating your Facebook page to Phil Collins. Actually, don't, our mind's our corrupted enough already.

It's symbolic of how desperate Arsenal supporters have gone for a trophy that they wouldn't want anything to go wrong today. And judging our 'performance' at Goodison Park, there's plenty that could go wrong. The supporters, the players, the manager, the backroom staff, heck, even that ridiculous dinosaur mascot of ours - everyone related to Arsenal has gone (pardon my language) fucking paranoid today.

Not me, though. Surprisingly, on the cusp of our most important game of the season, I feel no heartbeat in my ribs. I feel no sweaty palms, no mood swings and no shaky hands, even though I've run out of my supply of Tic Tacs.

It's odd, isn't it? I go completely berserk while watching Arsenal trying to defend a narrow 1-0 lead at the Westfalenstadion, yet my mind's the most colourless I could ever imagine going into a make-or-break game for Arsenal and for Wenger. And while my mentality is downright peculiar for even myself, I know that there is a perfectly logical explanation for it.

Deep down I know that irrespective of what happens, I'll leave the game with a positive mentality. There is no way, absolutely no way that I'll feel like shite after the match. The moment Wigan defeated Manchester City I knew that the FA Cup would decide Wenger's future at Arsenal. Today, it seems, is judgement day.

If you think rationally, the FA Cup does much more for Arsenal than just provide something tangible for this season:


CASE 1: We win the FA Cup, get the trophyless run off our backs and provide consolation to a season that admittedly should have provided much more. We finish in the top four, and the manager stays on.

CASE 2: We lose today, yet make the top four. Wenger leaves regardless.

CASE 3: We win today but lose the final. However, we still make the top four. In this case, I reckon the manager will stay.

CASE 4: We win today but lose the final. To add to that, we miss out on the Champions League. Heartbreak, but Wenger definitely leaves.

CASE 5: We lose today and screw up top four. Let's not think about that.

--

I'm betting most Arsenal fans, if not all, would go for Case 1 here. At this point, there's seems to be simply no other option but to cut our losses and win a Champions League spot along with the FA Cup. Plus, it would offer Wenger a chance to make amends for a terrible campaign.

While I too would be happy with Case 1, I'm making Case 2 my preference. Believe me when I say that losing the FA Cup is better for us in the long-term, because well, it is. We'd finally get rid of Wenger, we'd have a top four foundation for the next manager and we'd have genuine hope instead of this "fourth place is a trophy" nonsense. I know as a fact that Wenger will leave if we don't win today, and I don't need to emphasize how good it would be if Wenger does go.

What fears me the most is Case 3. No trophies (please don't say fourth place) and more of Wenger for two years? I think I'd do drugs.

However, I actually am okay with the other four cases. In the end, all I want (all we want) is for Arsenal Football Club to do better. Yes, I have a strange method for wanting that, but there you go. If wanting Wenger out of the club has gotten me to the level of wanting us to lose today, then so be it.

The team news, as you'd expect, is disastrous. To add to the already expanding list of Koscielny, Wilshere, Ozil and Walcott, we're potentially deprived of Chamberlain, Rosicky and Gibbs as well, forcing Ramsey a start. I'd suggest Arsene to field a starting line up of Fabianski - Jenkinson - Mertesacker - Sagna - Monreal - Kallstrom/Vermaelen - Arteta - Ramsey - Cazorla - Podolski - Sanogo, but I guess Wenger will instead choose to overplay Rosicky and Chamberlain regardless of injuries or overplaying. That's one of the million reasons of why I want him out, by the way.

I won't exactly be rooting for Arsenal to fail, just to clarify. I wouldn't go all crazy if Wigan take the lead, nor would I be depressed if Arsenal go to the final. I'm just saying that regardless of what happens, there always will be a silver lining.

This really isn't an "all or nothing" situation, as the mainstream media have wrongly made it out to be. In reality, regardless of what happens it'll definitely be a bittersweet moment, for me at least. My head - which wants Wenger out - and my heart, which badly wants Arsenal to win a trophy; either one of them will be satisfied at the end of the match.

Which will it be? Well, that's down to Arsenal now, isn't it?


P.S. Don't know if anyone noticed, but this was blog no. 100. How fitting was it that it came today, on undoubtedly Arsenal's most important game of the season so far.

Oh, and spare a thought for the guy who is on the verge of supporting Phil Collins and John Terry. Bad times indeed.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

As the days go by, Klopp seems more and more perfect for Arsenal

What a performance by Dortmund; with their backs to the wall and marred by injuries, they nearly pulled off the impossible and shocked Real 2-0. Even as an Arsenal supporter, it's difficult not to feel for them.

Have Arsenal ever done something like that? The last time they did so, I recall, was when they defeated AC Milan 3-0 at the Emirates, a game where Chamberlain had a screamer in central attacking midfield. Today, under the excuse of injuries, Wenger's Arsenal seem dubious of beating even Wigan Athletic.

Could you ever imagine Klopp getting hammered 6-0 at Stamford Bridge and insisting that Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott and Wilshere were the reasons? Let's not forget that he had Subotic, Schmelzer, Gundogan, Bender and Sahin out for this match, yet managed to scare the coconuts out of one of the best teams in the world. And had Mkhitaryan not played like Nicky B, they could well have pulled off the impossible.

I know that many people worry that Dortmund's present injury crisis might be passed on to Arsenal once Klopp arrives. However, under Wenger, isn't there a guarantee that we WILL suffer injury crises and we WILL collapse? At least under Jurgen we know for a fact that the team will give its all regardless of injury hamperings.

And it's not like Dortmund's injury crisis was Klopp's fault. Upon close insight of Dortmund's squad, it's obvious that less funds are the root cause of their injury woes. Due to less money there's less players, due to less players there's overplaying, and due to overplaying there are injuries. Sounds similar to Arsenal of six years ago?

Actually, it's not. In Dortmund's case, Klopp is forced to overplay his key players due to lack of options. He's forced to keep a small squad. However, at Arsenal, Wenger chooses to overplay his key men regardless of other options. Did you know that Ozil, Chamberlain, Koscielny and Wilshere started the match against Coventry? Lest we forget, options like Zelalem, Vermaelen and Frimpong were available. Why play your key players against the worst team we've faced this season? No wonder they're injured now.

Klopp's present Dortmund are similar to Arsene's Arsenal of 2007ish. Klopp has less funds, and is forced to keep his side in the top-flight. However, upon comparison, Klopp's present Dortmund are doing miles better than Wenger's Arsenal should have been doing 7 years ago, during their financial difficulties. While Arsenal used to scrap fourth place on the last day (and still do), Klopp challenges Bayern year after year and takes his team far into the Champions League.

What's the notable difference that separates Klopp's present Dortmund to Wenger's past Arsenal, you'd ask. The answer lies in the wage budgets.

To see the astonishing cash wastage of Arsenal under Wenger, enlighten yourself by looking at the money spent on some sample deadwoods:

Sr. No.	Name	Transfer fee	Weekly Wage	Annual Wage
1.	Fabianski	£2m	£50,000	£2,600,000
2.	Mannone	£350,000	£30,000	£1,560,000
3.	Squillaci	£4m	£50,000	£2,600,000
4.	Djourou	FREE	£50,000	£2,600,000
5.	Santos	£6.2m	£60,000	£3,120,000
6.	Diaby	£2m	£60,000	£3,120,000
7.	Frimpong	FREE	£30,000	£1,560,000
8.	Denilson	£3.4m	£60,000	£3,120,000
9.	Rosicky	£6.8m	£80,000	£4,160,000
10.	Arshavin	£15m	£78,000	£4,056,000
11.	Chamakh	FREE	£60,000	£3,120,000
12.	Gervinho	£10.6m	£60,000	£3,120,000
13.	Bendtner	£200,000	£50,000	£2,600,000
14.	Park	£3m	£50,000	£2,600,000

Money wasted on transfer fees:  £53,500,000

Wage budget wasted (annual): £39,936,000

Total money wasted (annual):   £93,436,000

All these duds have stayed in the club for at least two years.

Wage budget wasted (2 years): £79,872,000

Total money wasted (2 years):   £133,372,000

--

Just let that sink in.

We've spent £133m - as mathematically proved - on players like Fabianski, Mannone, Squillaci, Djourou, Andre Santos, Diaby, Frimpong, Denilson, Rosicky, Arshavin, Gervinho, Bendtner and Park Chu Young on 2 seasons alone. Most of these players mentioned have stayed at this club beyond those two years. Arshavin, for example, was four. Mannone was six. Diaby was (and is) eight. Frimpong was around eight. Johan Djourou was TEN.

Okay, you might counter that by saying players like Rosicky and Fabianski have repaid the money invested in them. Fine, then. You could replace them with Almunia. Or Eboue. Or Miyaichi. Or Kallstrom. Or Senderos. Or Cygan. Or Merida. Or Traore. See my point?

The total wastage of cash on these players must be absolutely horrendous. At financially crippled times in Arsenal (2004 - 2009), Wenger must have tossed around approximately half a billion on these players, stubbornly trying in vain to bring 'Project Youth' into fruition. To add to that, he sold the world-class players that he did create from the flop project. Destroying a club's wage budget to such an extent - especially in lean financial periods - is not only a sackable offence. It's a scandal.

How could Wenger have repaired that? Instead of keeping Diaby, Frimpong and Denilson on combined £150,000 wages, he could have bought ONE world-class players on that pay packet. To use an example, Wenger confessed in October 2009 that he had the chance to buy Gareth Barry and Xabi Alonso, but refused to do so because he didn't want to stunt the progress of Song, Denilson and Diaby. How stupid does that sound?

And Wenger has an economics degree?

In all honesty - wouldn't you rather have one world-class player in the team than two average players? Isn't it better to have one van Persie in the team than two Bendtners?

Of course, I wouldn't deny that there would have been side-effects of having one decent player rather than two appalling ones. Due to the length of the squad being downsized, players would be overplayed and stretched to the core. Injuries would doubtless follow as well.

If you haven't deduced yet, the above perfectly describes Dortmund's present state. Dortmund's current injury problems aren't down to Klopp, it's down to being forced to having a thin but talented squad. Due to being hamstrung by money woes, what they've done is absolutely the right thing. As Klopp and Wenger have proved, it's better to have a thin, talented squad than a large, mediocre one.

If Klopp ever was to come to Arsenal, he wouldn't have to worry about a small squad. All he has to do is fire the current medical staff and fill depth in the team. Arsenal are currently lacking five players - 2 goalkeepers (Viviano and Fabianski are to leave), a centre back, a defensive midfielder and a striker. With £140m in the bank to spend (averages £25m per position with £15m to spare), that should be no problem.

Of course, my main objective of wanting Klopp at Arsenal is not because he'd sort out our injury woes. Rather, I want him because he can motivate teams, his pedigree will attract top talents and he can replicate Dortmund's pressing philosophy at Arsenal - a significant upgrade on Wenger's tippy-tappy football. This article was simply to erase fears that Klopp may be too similar to Wenger, when he is actually a whole other animal.

"Animal" is right, innit?

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Everton, Wenger, Cygan, and my Wigan wish

I've been away, and I regret it.

I apologize for the recent lack of blogging. It was enforced due to work, and will not happen from now until a long time. A lot has happened in the space of a week - mostly, it's all depressing, nightmarish stuff. However, you might find a slightly upbeat mood in my post, as all these events has culminated to Wenger's possible departure. Will it happen? Read on.

The Everton massacre...
Bloody hell. I can't believe I convinced myself that we'd win the game. What I witnessed was beyond description. Could someone give me a word that covers 'abject', 'apocalyptic', 'inept', 'horrendous', 'shameful', 'pathetic' and 'comical' all in one go?

Even under the disappointment, under my growing loathing of this manager and pity for a good group of players being ripped by Arsene, I need to save a spot for Martinez. Dominating over a top side - even Arsenal, a crumbling team and a crumbling manager - takes intelligence and guts; Roberto certainly had that.

Monreal and Podolski played for Arsenal on the left, Martinez knew that area was defensively weak. He pulls off a masterstroke by playing target man Lukaku there, who torments a lazy Lukas and unconvincing Monreal all day. Wenger, meanwhile, sits clueless in the dugout instead of countering Everton's tactics.

Is this what he gets paid 6.5 million for?

Let's get one thing straight - the players did not let Wenger down. Let's not forget these are the same players who bounced back after a shocker of an opening game (Wenger's doing). These are the one's that compensated for Wenger's failure to buy a striker. These are the one's that, assisted by Bould's training, have defended leads at the Westfalenstadion and the St. James' Park with their lives on the line.

"I'm not saying that this season is destined for disaster. I'm just saying that Arsenal fans are expecting too much of the thin squad that we currently possess. I secretly am a bit scared that the depth of our squad and our nervy defence might be a factor to destroy what looks like a promising season."

Yeah, I said that in October.

"I'm having serious doubts over Wenger's tactical capability after I saw that he didn't make any change to our strategy in the game. I had stressed earlier that Dortmund would be a difficult matchup, and winning dirty should be the order of the day. However, instead of facing facts, Wenger didn't do anything to the formation, the tactics or anything, and thus witnessed a repeat of the first half."

Yeah, November.

"Our Premier League season is over. The only way we'll win the league is if Giroud remains fit and firing, Ramsey returns for the City and Chelsea matches in storming form AND we defeat our two direct title rivals. Don't get your hopes up people - there's not a chance in hell that such scenarios are coinciding over the span of 4 months. I'd be astonished if we finish second in the table, forget first now.

Look, the season isn't dead yet. We still have the FA Cup to look forward to, and can entertain ourselves over two legs against Munich. However, one would be optimistic - if not foolish - to expect more from this season."

On February 1st.


Look, we are Arsenal Football Club. We don't deserve shit like this. We don't deserve a pathetic excuse of a manager, we don't deserve his incompetent backroom team. We don't deserve to pay the highest wages to see Sanogo replacing Giroud and we don't deserve to get thrashed by EVERTON for fuck's sake.

Do you want another example of why Wenger needs to leave?

Wenger's injury comments...
Take a look at this.

Wenger: "Some of them [muscle injuries] are down to the medication that the players take that you don't even know about [egoistic]. Then you realize afterwards that they took this medication but that's not prudent."

Shouldn't the medical staff check on the apparent drugs that Arsenal players are taking? And how is taking drugs related to Walcott's Achilles heel injury or Ramsey's thigh strain?

"The toxins don't go as quickly out of the body as they should and they [the players] get tired."

Oh, and you overplaying them is not having an impact? Let's note that in yesterday's match, Ramsey came on as a substitute after 2 days of full training. Let's also note that even though Giroud was almost certain to not score yesterday, Wenger overplayed him and risked him further towards injury. And will overplaying an injury prone 33 year old to inevitable injury also be related to taking drugs?

"At the moment, we have not come to any conclusion."

Shame, as Le Grove, Arsenal Truth, Raymond Verheijen and me already have deduced the answer months ago. Injuring players is down to overplaying them, especially young legs. Keeping them injured for longer than expected is related to Arsene's incompetent medical staff and his tendency to train his team like the Marines.

You know what? Let's leave speculation aside and look at cold, hard facts that no Arsenal supporter would disagree on.

• Wenger and his staff don't know why his players keep getting injured, he said as much.
• Wenger sat with his chin propped on the touchline while Arsenal lost comprehensively to Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea.
• Wenger publicly said he doesn't know why Arsenal collapsed at Stamford Bridge.
• Wenger did not buy a striker in January after Ramsey and Theo got injured, and after Juventus publicly put Vucinic on the transfer list on January 29th. Our striking options, as of today, are Giroud, Bendtner and Yaya Sanogo.
• Wenger is paid 6.5 million a year under a supposedly financially constrained Arsenal.

Glaring blunders in one season - aren't these sackable offences in itself? Would any other club tolerate that? For a year I can understand, maybe even two, but for 7 consecutive years?

Wenger should go, I realized that this time last year around the Blackburn and Bayern losses. I have long since moved on, good runs and the team's toughness did not delude me. After our 3-0 hammering, it increasingly looks like Wigan will either end or prolong Wenger's reign. We can safely take this as fact, as I had a very reliable source confirm it seven days ago.

#Wenger update: My source confirms AW is indeed keeping his future secret. Players, backroom staff know nothing, dunno about board members.
— Freddy Dennis (@ArsenalBlogz) March 30, 2014

Isn't earth-shattering but at least confirms that #Wenger's having second thoughts and keeping stuff mum. #AFC #Arsenal
— Freddy Dennis (@ArsenalBlogz) March 30, 2014

Personally, I'm still afraid to let up hope. Even if Arsenal lose to Wigan, I reckon Wenger will still renew his contract. However, I am far from certain about the accuracy of my speculations, and would not want to pass any opinions as facts here. As it stands, I hope we see Klopp as manager come June.

Anyways, whether Wenger stays or not, at least we've added some quality to the board.

Pascal Cygan is to be confirmed as board member...

That is really good news. In honesty, I never really liked Cygan - he's always been in that 'deadwood' category for me. I'd have rather preferred getting Bergkamp or Dein in, because they might have been more firm and decisive on their opinions, not to mention really popular among the fans. I don't really know Cygan's character or mindset, he's always been one of those nobodies for me.

However, I'm more than glad that the board are getting footballing brain into the backroom. Lord knows that it's important to question the accountability of a manager footballistically, and while I don't think Cygan would have the backbone to question Wenger, I think he'll come down hard on a different manager should he underperform.

Cygan might be a clever addition, but I can only judge him after minutely looking him up. The same goes with Jurgen Klopp, as his current injury crisis at Dortmund worries me. What if he's the same as Wenger, overplaying key players and blaming others? Now that I have a lot of free time, you should expect proper reports on Klopp and Cygan. I want to know if they're good enough for us.

I want us to lose against Wigan...
Here comes the most controversial one.

You may have realized that judging from my opinions, this season is as dead as possible to me and I'm looking forward to 2014/15 without Wenger. However, I'm certain that my dreams would be in danger of crushing should Arsenal defeat Wigan.

I know the mentalities of all kinds of Arsenal fans, trust me, I do. I've been a huge admirer of Wenger for over 6 trophyless years, I've been in the neutral (to want Wenger to change) for around 6 months and have been a staunch anti-Arsene man for half a year. In a year and a half, I've been all three kinds of Arsenal fans.

I know that if we reach the FA Cup final (and lose it), Wenger's backers would still want Arsene to stay even if we finish fifth. I am completely sure that people would view FA Cup runners-up and top five for 18 years as progress, never mind dropping off four places in four months. Such is the mentality of Wenger's supporters that they glorify mediocrity in the hope of saving their beloved manager's legacy.

So, I'm sorry. It is difficult to describe how hard the decision was, but I don't need to justify it. I know that if we lose against Wigan, the chances of Wenger leaving almost become certain. Even if he renews, angry fans will force Arsene to revoke his decision.

I want Arsenal to lose tomorrow. You may hate me for that, heck, I hate myself for that. However, I know in my head that Arsenal losing will only be a good thing for Arsenal in the future. It will create pressure, and pressure creates the conditions for change. The emotions in my heart cannot and will not overrule that.

I'd give anything for Arsenal, but I'd give even more for an Arsenal that actually progresses. Sometimes life's weirdest and boldest decisions could turn out to be the best. If Arsenal lose to Wigan, that decision might as well be forced upon the board.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )