For those of us with a vested interest in the Premiership, the international hiatus is, more often than not, an unwanted distraction.
Teams in form are unlikely to welcome anything that risks upsetting the stride pattern, whilst those with something to prove are usually keen to get back in the saddle as soon as possible.
The international break also creates a headache for columnists concerned primarily with club football. It has been over a week since the 1-1 draw away to Sunderland and most of the salient issues regarding the team’s current form have been discussed ad nauseum.
What is clear about Arsenal this season is that they are the most unpredictable team in the league. The condition borders on schizophrenia. Two laudable victories in the traditionally hostile north-west were followed by that unbelievable home defeat to Hull City.
I’m sure that result had many people questioning their hearing: “sorry, did you just say ‘Arsenal 1 Hull 2’?” Credit to Hull, they deserved it. They wanted it more, as the gaffer had to admit.
The admission was worrying. Did the lads not learn anything about hunger and application from last season’s late collapse?
We have to accept a certain number of unstoppable, Geovanni-esque wonder-strikes, and the odd freak result, but there should be no excuse for not giving 100 percent in a home tie against Hull City – or anyone else.
Against Sunderland a week later, after a solid Champions League victory mid-week, the team had the opportunity to bounce back from their humbling and nip any negative murmurings in the bud. They signally failed to do this.
We might say we were unlucky to have a goal erroneously chalked-off, and it is true that Grant Leadbitter’s thunderbolt was another Geovanni moment. Yet the truth is that we should not be putting ourselves in situations where a flash of brilliance could cost us vital points.
Too often we squander opportunities and fail to make the most of our customary monopoly of possession. This is asking for trouble – especially when the only predictable thing about our performances has been our defensive ineptitude. Even in games where the final result has been convincing, our defending has been anything but.
Having spoken with friends and having seen the comments on numerous forums, I know I’m not alone in thinking our defence is in urgent need of reinforcements. The established partnership of Gallas and Toure not only lacks height, it also appears to lack the mutual understanding on which a successful defence is based.
What is required – as soon as possible (i.e. January) – is a new battering-ram of a centre-back. Given Arsene’s famed powers of acquisition this should not be too hard to accomplish.
He should also have no trouble – assuming the new managing director is finally in place to assist him in the transfer market – acquiring replacements for the perpetually infirmed Rosicky and the long since departed Flamini. Without investment in these key areas I expect our erratic form to continue.
Of course, we must take into account the potential effects of the prevailing economic conditions on the football transfer market. Football’s cash bubble seemed unaffected by the early stages of the economic downturn during the last transfer window, but it is unclear what effect the subsequent deepening of the crisis will have.
In a depressed market, clubs should be less quick to spend; yet it is also likely that the valuations of players will fall back to more sensible and sustainable levels. This may appeal to Arsenal’s thrifty manager, who is notoriously reluctant to pay over the odds. Indeed it may be the time when the club finally reaps the benefits of its commitment to a sustainable business model.
