Wanted! Famous Arsenal Spirit (last seen skulking into an AA meeting)

(anyone who read my last blog entry entitled "Hands Up" should be warned that as a result of being in such haste to vent my frustrations on Sunday, I've ended up repeating a few of the sentiments I expressed previously )

Hi folks

Things can't be good on the Arsenal front because I actually found myself watching Spurs v Pompey tonight and for the first time in many years, I was interested in the result. Obviously a Spurs loss is always worth a bit of mileage in the mickey taking stakes, but our North London rivals have been off the radar for so long, that their results haven't really mattered in recent times.

Whereas tonight I sat here hollering at the telly because the ridiculous Uriah Rennie handed the Lillywhites all three points at the death, by awarding a penalty for an extremely dubious handball. Meanwhile I'm assured by my Spurs mate that their run of form can't last and that things will be back to normal soon enough. But if I'm sat here worrrying about Spurs establishing a four point advantage over us in the table, then you know that something is seriously wrong!

Its hard to put our problems into proper perspective because we grown so accustomed to success under Wenger. However in light of the cyclical nature of football, I guess we're long overdue a dodgy spell. What's more things could be a lot worse. I was listening earlier to a podcast of Radio 5's Sunday Sportsweek show, in which Gary Richardson interviewed a financial whizz kid who happens to have the misfortune to be a Man Utd fan. He confirmed that according to the balance sheets, last season Liverpool earned 15 million Euros more than Man Utd from their triumphant run in Europe and that was with Utd going out in the knockout stages. So he estimates that with all the additional incidental income (ticket sales, merchandising etc.) that Utd have foregone this season, they've missed out on a least 15 million quid.

According to this chap, while Utd will have been unlikely to have budgeted for their extended involvement in European competition, as far as he's concerned it was probably essential if their new American owners were going to have any prospect whatsoever of servicing their ginormous loans. I didn't realise this but apparently the three New York hedge funds who loaned the Glazers more than £800 million to buy the club (over £100 million more than has been widely reported!), considered it a sufficiently risky investment that they are charging an absolutely extorionate 18 per cent interest (if only I'd have known! I could have bought Man Utd with my Barclaycard at a better rate and turned Old Trafford into a public karsey - I guess this would be doing a public service since, as the song says, "Manchester is full of sh*t" :-)

This Moaner's hoping that as the Glazer's ability to make the repayments on this loan (let alone turn a profit) become increasingly unlikely, with Man U's footballing misfortunes and the adverse knock-on effect on all their revenue streams (Vodafone!), perhaps this will soon present an opportunity for a consortium of genuine Utd fans, like himself, to buy the club. However the reality of this situation is that the Glazer's could end up having their new toy repossessed, with the result that Man U might find themselves in the control of a bunch of even more anonymous American bankers (yes that's a "b"!)

Nevertheless, the vast majority of footie fans couldn't give a monkey's about such boardroom shenanigans. All that matters to them is what goes on on the pitch. I suppose their financial circumstances could result in a "fire sale" of their star footballers in the summer. But for the moment the Moaners are fortunate that they don't have to contend with the possibility of losing Wayne Rooney at the end of this season.

Whereas there seems to be an ever increasing sense of foreboding amongst us Gooners, as many have interpreted Thierry Henry's recent lukewarm body language as evidence of the inevitablity of him buggering off to Barca. My position, as I've already stated, is that Titi's silence on the subject speaks volumes. But until such time as I've witnessed proof positive (considering the portents of such doom, I'll probably refuse to believe it until the crowing Catalans are proudly displaying their latest capture in a Barca shirt!), I prefer to kid myself that Thierry is only contemplating a move.

Meanwhile whether he continues to fulfill his contract at THOF, or decides his future lies elsewhere, our captain's current preference for keeping his own counsel can't possibly be having a positive effect on team morale. After all, although our title prospects have gone for a complete burton, it's hard to imagine our leader on the pitch encouraging his team mates on to chase Champions League qualification, if there's some suspicion that Titi might be competing for another club in next season's competition. In the opinion of many, we've already given up on the Premiership, but if they don't wake up and smell the coffee soon, we might find ourselves struggling to cling on to European qualification.

Even if Henry eventually confirms that he's going to stay, the current air of uncertainty can't be healthy. What's more in recent matches, when we've most needed a captain to inspire some 'do or die' commitment, there's been obvious signs of Henry's head dropping. While we've often witnessed Thierry leading by example, haring the length of the pitch to try and win back possession, personally I've never been convinced that a player who shoulders such a huge share of the goal scoring burden should be bothered by any further responsibilities.

I've always believed either midfielders or defenders make the best captains, because unlike a striker they don't play with their back to their team mates for much of the match and are therefore much more aware whether their colleagues are pulling their weight. Also a team leader is the last player who could be transferred into our club. It takes time to learn the correct buttons to push with each individual. To date Senderos seems the only viable alternative in my humble opinion and if Henry should leave, I only hope Wenger doesn't choose another stop-gap due to the fact that he feels it's too soon for the Swiss centre-back.

If given a long term run in the team, I'm sure Phillipe will grow in confidence. At least his inclusion in Saturday's line-up left our defence looking far less nervous. Although in the absence of Pascal Cygan, they certainly weren't the only ones, as at least I didn't have to spend the entire match hiding behind the sofa, absolutely bricking it whenever the Toon attacked.

Circumstances prevented me making it to St. James and I find the rare instance of having to watch the Gunners live on the telly far more aggravating. Even where the away fans sit at St. James Park, right up in the gods, it may be hard to maintain the illusion of being able to make oneself heard, but at least there's still some sense of playing ones part in proceedings, by hollering ones head off with encouragement. Whereas I get incredibly hot and bothered by the impotent feeling of sitting in front of the gogglebox, screaming about every single mistake. I'm reminded that it's much more stressful supporting the Arsenal from afar.

I wouldn't wish ill on any Arsenal player, least of all one whose limited abilities don't prevent him from trying his best, but I am sorry Pascal that I can't help but hope your injury is nothing too trivial, or one which doesn't heal before the broken bones in the feet of either Cole or Clichy. At least on Saturday Cygan's enforced absence meant we got the defensive line-up which would be most Gooners preference. Although personally I'd have reversed the full-backs, as Ralphie doesn't look too comfortable at left-back and with Kolo there instead, only one of our four defenders would be playing out of his natural position.

However it would seem that as far as Wenger is concerned, there is no substitute for experience. Mind you there was some evidence of this in Senderos' struggle with Alan Shearer, as the wily old striker provided our Swiss centre-back with an education in the abuse of the elbow. Much like Mark Hughes in his day, Shearer is the sort of striker capable of ruffling any defender's feathers. Yet while they might be the subject for so much loathing in an opposition shirt, what I wouldn't give right now for a just little evidence of such feistiness in the Arsenal squad.

Perhaps it will serve us well to be going into the Chelsea game with our backs so far up against the wall, instead of riding high as we've been in recent encounters. Although on this occasion I rather suspect, if we are going to achieve the right result, it will be us who'll be required to disturb the Blues recent winning rhythm, with some of our own old school physicality.

Peace & Love
Bernard
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Wanted! Famous Arsenal Spirit (last seen skulking into an AA meeting)

We Gooners are more than used to a mid-season kick up the Arsenal. In seasons past such a disappointment has served as a timely reminder to some of our prima donnas, that when the going gets tough, merely turning up with our pretty passing game, is often not nearly enough, in a Premiership where hunger and commitment still count for plenty.

However what was so depressing against Newcastle on Saturday night was that we've grown accustomed to witnessing a robust reaction to such a hiccup. Whereas there was little, or no evidence of the renewed resolve we’d all been expecting at St. James Park after our woeful capitulation at the Reebok last week.

My brow became even more furrowed listening to Le Prof's bitter post-match postulating. It might be his policy not to criticize his players in public but he sounded like every other broken record manager as he blamed the ref, Shearer and Gilberto's sending off. Instead of railing at the referee, Arsène would be far better off directing his anger at the bird-flu ridden chickens which have begun to roost in his own half-hearted Highbury house. Inconsistent officials are, and always will be an intrinsic part of the beautiful game and griping about them is as pointless as complaining about a bad bobble of the ball.

To my mind it looked as if Dermott Gallagher suddenly decided he needed to get to grips with the game before it became too feisty. As a result, I thought he flashed a yellow card at Gilberto without realising he'd already booked the Brazilian and it was far easier to show him the red than admit his mistake in front of millions, by rescinding the second booking. Whatever the case, I sincerely hope Arsène will be admonishing our World Cup winning midfielder, as he was entirely culpable for putting himself in this precarious position in the first place with his utterly senseless foul on the stroke of half-time.

Anyone who's found themselves flagging during a football match would be familiar with the way in which the Brazilian dangled out a lackadaisical leg. So I'm inclined to believe our lazy midfielder was already looking forward to his half-time breather, when he foolishly chose to bring his opponent down instead of having to leg it after the zippy zebra. It also occurred to me at the time that he might regret putting himself on a knife-edge for the entire second-half, only one badly timed challenge away from having to take an early bath.

Yet in truth the Arsenal had a full complement of players for the first hour of this encounter, which was more than enough time for our talented team to put the Toon to the sword. Bramble showed some early promise at Ipswich and Boumsong formed one half of a formidable partnership with Mexes at Auxerre. But together both centre-backs have been the Toon’s Achilles heel to date, causing many to question Souness’ judgement. Perhaps these two lummoxes will go on to prove everyone wrong, but I rather suspect their lapses in concentration will be the cause of Newcastle being torn apart in matches to come against stouter opposition this season.

So while the media laud the mettle Newcastle demonstrated to defeat the not so mighty Arsenal, like all our other rotten results on the road, in my opinion we were the architects of our own downfall. We failed to get behind their lumbering centre-backs on more than a couple of occasions and while it took an incredible save from Given to keep out Henry’s volley, the fact that this was the only time we troubled their keeper during the entire 90 just ain’t good enough. However it won’t be until Chelsea walk away from St. James with the points, without working up a sweat, that we’ll be able to put our own abject efforts into proper perspective.

Wenger was also wasting his breath blaming Shearer. Saint Alan has been getting away with being the St. James Park bully, with almost absolute impunity, for donkey’s years. On Saturday the ref appeared so reluctant to reprimand the old war horse, that when Gallagher was finally forced to book him, I thought he did so almost apologetically. However despite the ageing striker’s dirty tricks, we’ve not succumbed to a defeat at St. James in nine seasons prior to Saturday’s debacle.

In fact it wasn’t so long ago that the Arsenal were renowned for dishing it out, rather than being the sort of soft touch that every aggressive team in the league is looking forward to playing. I had a call from a fellow Gooner who was watching George Graham’s post mortem on Sky. Considering the wonderful entertainment we’ve been treated to by Wenger’s team in recent years, I never imagined I’d be nostalgically reminiscing about the good old days of Graham’s boring, boring Arsenal, where at least we could be confident that it mattered to his team, as much as it does to those of us on the terraces. What’s more, any players guilty of merely going through the motions would be guaranteed a week’s worth of the sort of punishing drills that would ensure they wouldn’t dare incur such displeasure again.

In truth Arsène is guilty of spoiling us Gooners. We’ve all become far too blasé about our success. There was an item on MOTD2 about long-suffering Sunderland fans, schlepping a similar 500 mile round trip to the capital for the second time in seven days, subsequent to 9 successive defeats, loyally supporting their side, despite the inevitability of the drop and with little more to hope for than the occasional goal celebration and a rare point. By contrast it’s perhaps a little petty to be throwing our toys out of the pram considering it’s the first time in 3 years we’ve suffered successive defeats and the first time in 5 years we’ve gone two games without a goal!

I recorded the sycophantic British backslapping of the Sports Personality of the Year earlier that same evening, in favour of flicking between Barca v Seville and the Milan derby. There was plenty of talent on display but a dearth of the sort of frantic, full-blooded commitment, which makes football in this country so exciting. It occurred to me that the tepid brand of football we are playing at the moment might be perfect on the Continent. Instead of the prospect of losing our star striker in the summer, perhaps Wenger should be considering shifting the club, lock stock and new stadia, to southern Spain!

The only glimmer of hope at St. James was the sight of Senderos geeing up his colleagues in the tunnel before the game. It was the somewhat timid encouragement of a player who’s a little insecure about his place in the starting line-up, but it carried the feint, but beautiful scent of the sort of spirit which used to be the trademark of this Arsenal team. Hopefully it won’t be too long, but the time can’t come soon enough for my liking, when we might be hearing the Tony Adams type roar, of a leader who’s capable of inspiring his troops to roll their sleeves up and get down and dirty in Saturday’s sort of struggle.

Is it mere coincidence that the club can’t get all us Gooners signed on the dotted line quick enough, committed to our costly season tickets at the new stadium? As I drive past this increasingly impressive edifice a couple of times a day, I never imagined the possibility of commencing our first campaign at the new gaff without the prospect of Champions League footie. But then perhaps, just perhaps we could copy the Scousers and take this as our cue to go and win the bloomin’ thing!

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