UNTOLD ARSENAL » Blog Archive » Anotther day, another crisis

Except today’s crisis isn’t at Arsenal – its with Manchester City who have spent the megabillions and don’t seem to win very many matches.

There is talk of their manager known (in this house at least) as The Ooze, being given the push.  Ever since he had his spat with Cesc and asked for an apology (which Cesc gave him) he has looked a bit of a dope – and so it is seeming.

And what a relief that it is not Arsenal that is the heart of the crisis today – which shows how (to reduce Harold Wilson’s phrase) 90 minutes is a long time in football.   The media have successfully forced us all to think that success today is everything.  Planning, organisation… it all counts for nothing.  Everything is NOW NOW NOW.

For me, perhaps because I’m older, broader perspectives are more important.  Arsenal have now played eight games at the Ems against the likes of the Bankrupts, the Insolvents and CSKA, and they haven’t been beaten.   True, we have lost to WH Nutters and Hull City, which is not good news, but it does say that things are not quite as bad as was suggested last week.  (There was incidentally a great “keep the faith” banner at the Ems on saturday, and that just about sums up my mood). Overall I think we look great as a team, and as a club, and that gives me real hope in terms of what might happen next.

Had we lost to the Bankrupts we would have entered tuesdays game with the media saying it will be a relief to get away from the unremitting gloom of our European and EPL campaigns.   But we won so now we can turn to “the latest gems that Wenger has unearthed” from the “never ending Arsenal production line” and all that usual stuff.

In addition to the team that meandered through Sheffield Untidy we might get a look at Ayling (who for some reason came off early in the last reserve game), Bischoff (played 3 reserve games on the trot, scored a great goal in the last, and looks fully recovered from his injury), Coquelin (who played in pre-season and is looking strong) and the improving Lansbury.

Trouble is we can’t play 15 players at once – and it is the midfield that is looking particularly strong at the moment.  I was hoping at one time that Eduardo might put in an appearance, but it looks a week or so too early for him.   But not long now.

As noted yesterday, I have now changed the moderation process.  It will hopefully still catch the spam and abuse, but make life easier elsewhere.  The maths questions stay, and if you haven’t successfully posted twice before your comment will be held for moderation – but after that you should be able to post straight off.

Tony