Arsenal Introspection.

The 4 - 0 loss to AC Milan and 2 - 0 loss to Sunderland means we are out of the running for silverware this season, physical silverware anyway. Though as optimism and a manager’s urge for spirit would have it, ‘fourth place’ is apparently silverware enough for the squad. Timing of le Prof’s comment aside, it is a reality that Arsenal fans would be delusional not to have accepted at the start of the season. Albeit, with a few changes - perhaps back then a top four finish would have been possible; now, all but the fourth spot is available to us. But how significant is this really?

Fourth spot means we claim a chance to compete in the champions league (and the prestige that comes with it), earning us realistically a minimum bonus of  €10 million and the chance to attract stars to the club and retain the ones we currently have. Let’s debunk this for a second. According to Wenger in a recent interview, about  €35 million is made prior to the starting of each season, whether these are funds that Kroenke demands of Wenger or whether they’re used to pay for expenses, it can be generally agreed upon that fiscally, we are doing a lot better than our Premier League compatriots. In any case, it is said by Stan that we are very much still in a good position financially should we fail to finish in a champions league position.

Like many pop philosophical quotes that are thrown around, the argument that we need a champions league spot in order to attract big players is one that doesn’t seem to hold much water. As much as he is a scumbag, did Luis Suarez not join a club that is failing more than we are to secure a champions league place? Besides, is it really like Wenger to spend big on players? Maybe the recent weeks have sort of planted a seed in Wenger’s mind as to his transfer policies, but such is optimism - the proof of the pudding is in the eating. But running with the idea of optimism, it would seem that right now the only place that would need bolstering is the midfield. But more on that later.

The most alarming (and the most critical) element of securing a champions league place is that it would seem to be motivation for our stars to stay. Arsenal, the clubs where stars are made and sold off at their peak. Truly, the loss of David Dein still hurts today. The same David Dein who convinced our flying Dutchman van Persie to join the squad. Truly, he is the big star that needs to be kept in this squad. The loss of Van Persie shouldn’t be overstated however, nor should it be underplayed. While he is integral to our squad, recent comments by the board allow us to think that they are more confident for the future, or that we are really that desperate to keep him; the will to keep him until the end of his contract rather than sell him should he choose not to renew. 

But with the arrogant growing Walcott, the flying Dutchman, Gervinho and the emergence of the Ox, there oughtn’t be any fear in our final third, especially if a quality striker reinforces this squad. The true worry lies in our midfield. A fresh spark at the start of the season, in weeks recent Aaron Ramsey has looked nothing short of a flat battery. While being deployed in that creative zone, he seems to posses enough visionto play there. What he seems to lack in however, is the technical ability - and that’s how the loss of Cesc truly hurts us. Against teams like Sunderland who were more active without the ball, the flaw in Arsenal is really exposed. Teams sitting back, soaking up pressure, and allowing us time on the ball never used to be much of a problem, for we had Cesc Fabregas to pick the lock that was the defence with that killer through ball. Even this season, we have seen the shadow left behind by Cesc in some game winning plays. Note Alex Song against Dortmund, note Alex Song against Everton, note Arshavin against Sunderland. But even so, such occurrences appear to border on anomalies, as good as Alex Song and our little Russian are. 

But it is not only the creative nature of our game that Sunderland highlighted, but our midfield dominance. When Sunderland formulated that seemingly airtight defensive master plan against us, they combined sitting back in the final third, with pressing in the midfield. It is here that the loss of Samir Nasri and Fabregas are felt, for with players infamous for being wasteful in possession, we cannot simply be the divine midfield force that we were. In Arteta we have the ability to hold possession under pressure, but the same cannot be said with the likes of Walcott, Ramsey, Rosicky, and Gervinho. And even then, with such pressure in our midfield zone, most of these players cannot physically compete. Of course it would be unreasonable to expect a Joey Barton like presence in the midfield, but could you ever imagine the likes of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva being dominated in the midfield like the current squad? 

The return of Jack Wilshere cannot come soon enough. Blooded with a year’s experience in a rotating midfield triangle comprising of Fabregas and Song, he has the defensive discipline in being pro active without the ball. While he doesn’t possess the precision or vision that Cesc did, he does provide a level or two more creativity than Aaron Ramsey does, who quite frankly could use a vacation. And if not Jack Wilshere, dare I hope it? Maybe a transfer? Perhaps Montolivo from Fiorentina? Perhaps a return transfer from Flamini? Perhaps the returning of Alexander Hleb to the club he once called home? Okay the last one would be like pulling Sol Campbell out of retirement, but as it stands, the midfield, where the Arsenal squad once defined itself, appears to be stuck between a rock and a hard place, and with the risk of losing our prized marksman, change cannot come soon enough.

And I love Theo Walcott but it scares me that he’s been in this Arsenal squad for six years. Someone needs to really up their game.