Saturday’s defeat at Norwich affected me much more than is normally the case with our setbacks and I have spent the last couple of days trying to figure out why.

Usually in the wake of a bad defeat (or even a depressing draw, like the 4-4s against Newcastle and Totteringham) I am able to keep things in perspective.

But on Saturday evening perspective was nowhere to be found: it was off cavorting somewhere with Lord Lucan and the Loch Ness Monster.

In yesterday’s Post Kelsey said: “That was one of the worst team performances I have seen for many a season.”

I would go further: it was the worst performance I can remember from Arsenal since Arsène Wenger took charge.

Casting my mind back to earlier horrors, there was always either an extenuating circumstance or something positive to grab hold of.

Collapsing 8-2 at Old Trafford? Well, we were a club in turmoil with a team comprising mostly youths and reserves.

Drawing 3-3 at home to Norwich during the run-in last season? The defence may have gone missing but at least we scored three.

Going from 4-0 up to finish 4-4 in the debacle at Newcastle? Again, we scored goals. Plus Joey Barton behaved despicably to get one of our players sent off and Phil Dowd gave the worst refereeing performance that this spectator has witnessed in more than 40 years.

I could go through many more examples (sadly) and there would always be some crumb of comfort to take away from the mess. But not on Saturday.

On Saturday we were so poor that the only crumbs were little bits of broken dream, dissolving dismally into the East Anglian turf.

Going forward, we were as toothless as a granny with gingivitis. At the back, we were as impregnable as an Essex girl on a Saturday night. And in midfield we made so many backwards passes we might as well have been playing rugby.

The three pillars of successful football – Skill, Passion and Determination – were absent without leave, away with Lucan and Nessie.

Of course, as you probably know, the disappointment hit me harder this time because I truly believed that we had put those sorts of performances behind us. Not that we would never again have bad results – that happens to everyone – but that there would be no more examples of just not turning up for a game that was  there for the taking.

In recent seasons I have felt that these kinds of showing were down to an inherent psychological weakness in the squad – one that also always manifested itself in our traditional late-season collapses.

And the weakness I blamed on the fact that the balance of the squad was wrong: too many young players who did not know what it took to win the big prizes. And that we also had players who were disruptive to good team spirit (like Nasri and Adebayor).

This season no-one can say we don’t have experienced, mature players throughout the squad: Mertesacker, Arteta, Podolski, Giroud, Cazorla for starters. And there seems to have been a good sense of camaraderie among the players so far. The only potentially disruptive factor has been the on-going saga of Theo’s contract, but you just don’t get the sense that he is someone who would cause trouble in the dressing room.

I know we have a lot of injuries, but when I saw the starting 11 for Saturday’s game I was happy we had a team capable of bringing home the points.

So when we lost in such a timid fashion, my train of logic went like this: here we are again with another abject surrender; but we now have mature players; we no longer have the disruptive elements… so it must be down to the manager and his team.

I do not for one second believe we lost because we were tired from international travel; or that we were complacent. Other teams also had many players on international duty and they did just fine. And we have had so many bad results to lower placed teams in recent seasons that the complacency thing doesn’t wash.

What was lacking, I felt, was any sense of motivation from the team. And the man ultimately responsible for motivating them is the manager.

If you look for a link between all the bad performances of the past five or six years, it’s not the players: the personnel have changed so much that our current team is barely recognisable from even two season ago; it’s not even the silent whipping boy of some supporters, Pat Rice. Pat has left and the man everyone wants to replace him is now in his position; the only link is Arsène Wenger.

In my post-Norwich doldrums I started to realise I was losing faith in Arsène. And that’s why this defeat hit me harder than any previous one.

Losing faith in Arsène is like falling out of love with your wife. It can creep up on you and before you know it, you’re looking at someone you have known for years as if they are a stranger.

The things that were so appealing, so charming – the windmilling arms, that way of drawling “weeellll…” at the start of every answer, the silly knee length puffer jacket – suddenly look silly. Unattractive even. But that’s enough about my wife. A similar effect was starting to happen with my view of Arsène.

In a marriage you can go to a relationship counselor who might just make you realise that the woman you always loved is still there, it’s just that current circumstances have got in the way of you seeing her properly.

In a football relationships, there are no counselors but there is good counsel to be found. And I found it here in the comments of Arsenal Arsenal. I read a litany of disappointment and disbelief. But, as the shock of that awful performance wore off, I also read many comments putting it down to “a bad day at the office.”

And while there has, perhaps, been a reassessing of expectations for this season, many commenters also pointed to the optimism we felt after the West Ham and Liverpool wins; to the quality of our performance against Man City. Surely the team that did so well in those games can not have vanished overnight?

There IS a link connecting all our poor performances of recent years. But it’s not Arsène (or at least, not a failure on his part to motivate players). The link is the changing economics of football.

This link forced us (rightly) to build a bigger stadium, with the period of austerity that it inevitably brought; it meant that when sugar daddy owners came on the scene they could skew the market for players to such a degree that even a club like Manchester United can no longer compete equally; and it meant a club like Arsenal, running itself sustainably, would suffer defections of key players at bad moments.

That’s the link that has left us now with a team in which several regular starters have only been with the club a few months; a team, therefore, that will inevitably stutter occasionally as it gels together; a team that has lost the EPL’s top goal scorer and player of the season; a team that gets lambasted by the ignorant press for not adopting the sort of Gordon Gekko economics that have bankrupted the entire nation.

No manager could have produced a title winning team during that period. In fact, no manager could have kept a team in the top four throughout all those crazy years.

Except that one man did: Arsène Wenger.

My faith wobbled, but it has come back stronger. We may win nothing this year. We may not even finish in the top four. But Arsène is still the right man at the helm and the tide in football finances is turning ever so slowly in our favour.

And I have a funny feeling that this version of Arsène’s Arsenal is going to surprise us all.

RockyLives

A lot has already been discussed about our game at Norwich but there are still many factors to ponder.

We kicked off after all of our main rivals had played and results should have given the team the incentive to grab three points against a bottom of the table side who had conceded nine goals in their last two matches.

We are, by now, used to this Arsenal team. Consistency, regardless of whoever we play, has been missing for quite a few seasons, and we weren’t disappointed. That was one of the worst team performances I have seen for many a season. People will say that it would have been different if  it were not for the fact that the in form Gibbs as well as super sub Walcott were out injured, but if we are a club that has genuine aspirations to winning the title or at least being in the mix, it has vanished.

RVP nearly single handedly got us into third last season with assists and goals (amounting to 27 points) and of course a helping hand from the Albion keeper Fullop. The warning signs were there.

I think it really is time for a reality check. We have now amassed only 50% of the points available after eight games – and has Bould really improved our defence? We have now conceded first in our last four EPL games, therefore having to chase the game each time. We were at sixes and sevens in defence, a better team than Norwich would have added to their tally.

All clubs have injuries but when you look at our squad, Diaby, Gibbs and Rosicky in particular have a history of injuries and IMO our squad just isn’t strong enough.

For the first time,  I place the blame on Arsene Wenger’s shoulders. Can he really motivate these players anymore? I am beginning to have my doubts.

He says we have to regroup for the Schalke game, but even if we eventually get out of our group as winners or runners up, can anyone realistically see us progressing further?

My main beef has been the same for a few seasons and that is the goalkeeper’s position. Apparently our Pole in Goal has been carrying an injury since the end of last season. Fabianski was shot two seasons ago and I will not argue that Mannone is a good third choice keeper. How many top clubs have to play their third choice keeper as the only option? Surely we need experienced cover for our number one, but Wenger appears to be blind to that. Apparently he tried to sign Schwarzer last season and when that didn’t happen, he appeared not to pursue any other options.

I really think we will struggle to get top 4 this season without an upturn in form and commitment by some of the players and investment in January.

A lot will be expected from Wilshere but I hope he isn’t played until he is 100% fit (as previously players have been selected then afterwards it has become known that they were carrying a knock – go back only to Saturday and Podolski was one who played under those very same conditions)

Santi is a great player but can be marshalled out of a game as was the case against Chelsea, or if he is off form we have no one else to pick up the reigns.

I am not asking for Wenger to go. Even if he did (in theory), nothing would change in the Boardroom in terms of what many would consider releasing REASONABLE sums for player acquisitions.

Look at our fixture list for November and the increasing number of injuries – it does not bode well. Chamakh is obviously out of favour as we saw the young German lad Gnabry thrown on to try and rescue a point . Is that the squad of a club with top four ambitions?

I am angry, upset, but mainly disappointed in the performance collectively, and only hope that things don’t get worse……..but I won’t hold my breath. We have a range of testing conundrums on our hands.

In the immortal words of Rocky…I will get my coat  🙂

Written by kelsey

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine came to see me in a distraught state. He was deeply worried that his 12 year old son was showing signs of coming out… as a Tottenham fan. The boy had showed no interest in following his dads hobby of Arsenal or football but now after starting big school he is was doing what all us parents fear, mixing with the wrong sorts, i.e. Tottenham fans. How could this happen? I don’t blame the kid, hes obviously troubled and hence mixing with the wrong crowd. I do blame my friend a bit, he should have been more forceful. But no, the real culprit is this countries educational system.

This got me thinking as to what should change. I believe proper education should start at about five when the kids are infants. I then wondered what if I was a teacher and addressing a class of five year olds, how would I approach it? Well it would be something like this.

I was greeted at the classroom gates by Ms Applegate, an attractive twenty something who would be sitting in whilst I gave the kids a good thrashing…err, I mean lesson . She greeted me warmly but overcome with excitement my first words to her were “Man, you smell good baby” She gave me a startled and worried look, but still led me into the classroom.

Hi kids my name is Terry, and I’m here to give you a history lesson. I usually get a cheer when I enter a room, but never mind, I forgive you. Right, to understand British history you must first understand Arsenal football club” (Ms Applegate looked shocked)

It all started in the 1920’s when a man who was very similar to Father Christmas, but better than him, called Sir Henry Norris, made the modern Arsenal. He was a great man. Before him there was no such thing as North London, so he invented it. He made Arsenal into a great football club, never taking reward for himself. Infact, he gave all his money to children and was loved and cherished throughout the world and beyond

Some people will say that he done some bad things with money but don’t believe them, he was very kind and gave all the children brilliant presents.

Now listen here kids sometimes bad people tell lies about good people. Some people will say that Sir Henry did some bad things but don’t believe them. For instance your parents might read in the local papers soon about how a man with the same name as me, looks exactly like me, and lives in the same house, has been caught swindling money from a local charity. This is very important to understand. It’s not me, just some poor man who has the same name and face and lives in my house”. (Applegate had her face in her hands)

Then Uncle Herbert came to Arsenal. Now Uncle Herbert was the cleverest man ever and some say he walked on water. In the 1930’s Arsenal won the world cup led by Uncle Herbert’s genius. He was such a genius that busts were mad of him all over the world. It is a fact that Her Majesty the Queen and Nelson Mandela have such busts of him in there house. So, Uncle Herbie is remembered as the greatest man that ever lived. The only thing that stopped Uncle Herbert from winning more World cups was that he passed on and became an Angel,

After Uncle Herbie, his son George Allison became leader. He took Arsenal to the Promised Land and won many more World Cups. He would have won more if it wasn’t for a very bad man called Hitler, who didn’t like football because everytime he saw a ball it reminded him that he wanted two balls. Besides, he was a season ticket holder at Tottenham.

Now, after the 1930’s, Arsenal became a force for all that is good in the world, but there were still some bad men who didn’t believe in Arsenal and would do horrible things. They are mostly called Tottenham fans. You can recognise these people because they are very ugly, have a tail, and sing silly songs about a man who is really a woman called Glenda Hoddle. You must never trust them. If a man ever asks if you want to go home with him and play with his Hornby Train Set or says that he has some very cute Rabbits living in his shed, don’t believe him, he is probably one of them”.

Then a little boy put his hand up.

Boy – “But my daddy likes Tottenham. He says they are a brilliant team in Black & White”

Terry – “What’s your name boy?”

Boy – “Timmy Jackson”

Terry – “Well Jackson, I knew there was something dodgy about you. Go and stand in that corner facing the wall. No use crying boy, you will thank me in the long run, I’m saving you from a life of Rabbits”.

All the other kids were looking bewildered, but I quickly put their minds at ease

So you see children, that’s what happens if you’re naughty like Jackson. If you do not follow the path of the Mighty Arsenal, you will have to watch endless replays of Jimmy Greaves and your memories of Hornby Train Sets will not be good.

At this point a couple of other kids were close to tears themselves from Jackson’s sobbing and I could hear groans of when can we play, or I want my mummy. Then Applegate intervened.

“Look Mr Mancini, this whole thing is totally inappropriate and I must ask you to stop now”

I wasn’t having that. These kids needed my help.

Leave it out love, these kids need a proper education not the drivel you teach them. After the lesson I will give you a nice massage and you will probably fall in love with me. Now be a dear and go and make us a nice cup of tea.

She looked shocked (no idea why) and stormed out, so I continued the lesson.

So kids, now I want to tell you about Father Arsene. He came to Arsenal in the nineties and everyone soon realised that he was the kindest, most generous and greatest manager since Uncle Herbie. He won lots of nice prizes, and gave them out to all the good children in the world. But not to little runts like Jackson over there. Father Arsene invented the term good football. Before him everyone just kicked the ball as hard as they could and beat each other up chasing it.

Now children, I want you all to stand up and sing this song. Just repeat what I say and remember to sing it every morning when you wake up. If your good and sing this every day you will get many nice prizes from Father Arsene

Good old Arsenal, were proud to say that name. Whilst we sing this song we will the game, while we win this song we will the game

Now to finish off kids, we will sing a song about how Tottenham went to see the pope

Just at this point I saw Applegate approaching with two rather large men, and there was no massage oils or tea tray.

Alright kids, ive just got to climb out of this window. Remember to sing your Arsenal song every morning.

So that’s what I think should happen to convert all undecided to the Mighty Arsenal. Whats your solution?

God Bless

Terry M