Cause for Concern at Arsenal

Arsenal fans and staff have become all too familiar with the ritual airing of conventional criticisms of the team’s performances – over elaboration, the desire to score the perfect goal, the absence of a ‘Plan B’, the failure to replace key players like Vieira, Bergkamp and Pires, and so on – and it has always been a question of tolerating the outbursts and enjoying the magical football. Until now.

It has to be acknowledged that there was something ominous about the 4-1 defeat at Anfield. It was not simply the emphatic scoreline, or the fact that Liverpool had secured sweet (and thoroughly deserved) revenge for the embarrassment of the three previous encounters. What was particularly disturbing was the manner of the defeat, which was quite out of keeping with the values and traditions of the club and evoked comments from observers that the team played in a way which suggested that they already considered the season to be over.

Peter Crouch, a wholehearted but not exceptional striker, tormented two of the best centre backs in Europe and won the match with a stunning hat trick. Kolo Toure, who has been outstanding for the Gunners week in and week out, had arguably his poorest ever game for the club, and William Gallas, who has missed several games through protracted injury problems, looked disinterested and at times more prone to errors than Sol Cambell.

To make matters worse, Emmanuel Eboue was so lethargic he seemed to be fighting the after effects of ‘flu and in front of him both Cesc Fabregas and Denilson appeared jaded and desperately in need of a rest, while Abou Diaby only rarely revealed the qualities which have encouraged the Arsenal faithful to see him as a ‘new’ Patrick Vieira and Julio Baptista did nothing to suggest that he is worthy of a contract next season.

From the starting line-up, that left Jens Lehmann, who cannot be blamed for any of the goals, Gael Clichy, who continues to demonstrate that he is already a better left back than Cole (and a more loyal and composed one), Alexander Hleb, who worked tirelessly and with the best close control of any Arsenal player, and the industrious Emmanuel Adebayor, who twice hit the woodwork.

There is no doubt that Arsene Wenger will be bitterly disappointed with this performance and anxious to emphasise to the players that the best way to deal with the devastating effects of recent elimination from the Carling Cup, the F.A. Cup and the Champions League is to remain fiercely competitive and to fight for the highest possible Premiership place at the end of the season. Anything less would jeopardise Arsenal’s status and ambitions in Europe and betray the very spirit of the club.