A Thursday morning rant

Here’s a few quotes following Arsenal’s draw with Southampton…

Theo Walcott said “I felt a lot of fear in Arsenal to be honest.”

Bernd Leno said, “We get red cards, make mistakes, are disorganized.”

Mikel Arteta said, “We shot ourselves in the foot. It obviously made it really hard.”

I guess we can take some positives out of Wednesday’s game. We picked up a point and Aubameyang broke his scoring slump.

I guess we can also take some negatives out of Wednesday’s game as well. We picked up another red card, played 35 minutes with ten men and watched a ex-Arsenal star slot one home against his former team.

Even though the second half was better than the first, the Gunners starting XI seemed flat, uninspired, unorganized and at times played like they were wearing cement boots. Even on throw-ins there was minimal movement to get open, they were slow peddling back to cover counterattacks and there just seemed to be a real lack of leadership on the pitch.

Yes, you can lead by example, but sometimes you need to get in a teammate’s face and demand more than they are giving. It’s called leadership!

I don’t know about you, my fellow Gooners, but I am sick and tired of these results. Things will not improve in January no matter who the club signs until the spirit of this team improves. This is a club that needs a serious kick in the pants. Just look a the talent Arsenal has at their disposal. Compare the names on yesterday’s teams sheets. How many names on the Southampton side have any real star quality attached? Not many. Then look at the Arsenal side. A lot of quality players, many with top international resumes and stats. We even have a world class midfielder who can’t make the squads for our Premier League or Europa League matches.

There is serious talent on this club, however, there are obviously some glaring weaknesses, too. Above and beyond their football abilities, I see many of these “star” players just not playing up to to their abilities.

Also, I’m tired of the “let’s be patient until the pieces are in place” theory. Managers should play to their team’s strengths and don’t try to force “their” tactics on a club that isn’t currently equipped to play that way. Play with what you have until the pieces can be put in place through the transfer market. In the mean time, build your tactics around what you do have, not with what you don’t have or hope to have. Who has the patience to wait for that?

I read somewhere last week that maybe Aubameyang should be stripped of his captain’s armband. Now, I’m not on the pitch so I’m not privy to what is said or what is not said, but Auba’s body language of late seems to lack commitment, or even interest. Those are not leadership qualities. But then again, if not Auba wearing the armband, who should? Tierney or Gabriel? No, they are too young. Bellerin or Lacazette? No, they’re too unpredictable. Maybe, Bernd Leno?

Also, the red card situation is totally out of control. Arteta needs to demand discipline on the pitch. Again, playing with 10 men in the Premier League doesn’t usually lead to positive results. I wrote yesterday about who Arsenal should just park the bus. Well, that’s kind of what happens anyway when you are left with 10 men on the pitch.

Sorry for all the frustration today, however, this club is maddening. I’m tired of the excuses, the results and the lack of progression up the Premier League table. Folks, we are currently 15th, 5 points above the relegation zone, 6 points from the top 10, 10 points from the top 4, and 11 points from the top of the table. And finally, of the 6 London clubs in the PL, Arsenal are 5th out of 6.

This is not where any of us want to be, but at the end of the day we did sign up to be Gooners, and Gooners we shall be!

Keep your chins up, and keep the faith – no matter who hard it becomes.

Gunner1953