When Does Arsene Become Accountable?
The Kids, they’re alright. But alright does not win you a title.
Yes, Arsenal got hosed. Theo Walcott’s coming out party was spoiled by a pathetic penalty decision, a putrid product of the Kop End.
Stevie G got to grin and smile like he had won the match, though he did everything in his power to lose it by squandering so many possessions.
But, a win would only gloss over glaring problems. Problems for which Wenger has not had to account.
Why was the squad not strengthened in January? Arsenal is the fifth wealthiest club in the world, why are they turning a profit in the transfer window? What future glories are so great that one can pass up a shot at the title or the Champions League? Why have they gone two months without playing decent football?
Wenger scoffs at the outrageous sums spent for Torres and Babel, yet these are the two players who killed his team’s hopes today.
He seems to have the answers for all of football’s ills, yet sits incredulous when his team – starting a central midfielder and a right back on the wings – struggles to attack the goal.
Wenger may still have a magic hat. But, when the rabbit repeatedly comes out dead, it begins to lose its effect.
Some good points, but I don’t think Wenger can be held to account for all that went wrong for Arsenal last night (or, indeed, in last week’s tie.) The fact was that some of his key players let him down last night; Adebayor may have scored one last night but he also missed a sitter a couple of minutes earlier, Senderos failed to adequately mark his man for both of Liverpool’s first 2 goals, while Hleb again looked like he had his mind elsewhere (Milan, perhaps?) And you’re right about Gerrard (even Mascherano was better with his passing last night.)
By the way, I know I’m not the most impartial of observers here, but I thought that both the Hleb-Kuyt and the Toure-Babel incidents were penalties (though I can understand the grievances of Arsenal fans as to why their one wasn’t given.)
I thought on the Babel one that Toure deliberately stayed out of his way. Any contact was incidental and didn’t affect Babel’s momentum. Even outside of the box, I don’t know if that would have been a foul.