Regression

God said, “Let there be light”, and a flame flickered, wavered, and was conveniently put out. That has been the story this past week for Arsenal FC. When the new look squad took the field against Swansea, one could glimpse of sliver of hope begin to regenerate among fans. There was hope that the new signings would bed in and Arsenal would quickly regain the lost confidence after the infamous defeat at Old Trafford. They scraped what can only be called a lucky win, although it was always going to be difficult after what had happened in the last few days of the transfer window.

Their confidence restored a little, the players then headed to Borussia Dortmund for what was definitely the toughest game in the Champions League group stage. Dortmund were very impressive, but a goal from van Persie pegged them back, only for Perisic to steal a point in the last five minutes with a spectacular effort. Arsenal had defended like lions, and had only gone down to a wonder goal. That game did a lot towards regaining that lost confidence. It was a good away point and the team looked strong.

Going into the Blackburn game, there was a positive buzz about the team probably for the first time in months. All the new players (bar Park) had been given a run and there was genuine excitement surrounding the game. Arsenal would finally be able to play their own slick, passing game. Blackburn were a side that had little confidence going into this fixture – three losses and a draw isn’t a record that anyone can be proud of, and surely this was on their minds. One would have thought this was the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to pounce and further deepen the gloom at Ewood Park, while furthering their own rehabilitation.

Arsenal looked as though they were on course to do just that. In the first half, they had a massive 66% of possession, and the crowd were treated to some vintage flowing moves. Mikel Arteta contributed with his technical skills in central midfield, and Ramsay had a solid half as well, keeping it relatively simple. The attacking was very easy on the eye and finally one caught a glimpse of the Arsenal of old. The goal came as a result of an amazing through ball from Alex Song that Gervinho latched onto, swiveled, and shot right into the bottom left corner. It was a fantastic finish from an unlikely angle.

Arsenal were completely dominating in all parts of the field when Blackburn, out of nowhere, found an equalizer. The goal was typical of Arsenal too – new left back Andre Santos, handed his first start, was playing Yakubu onside (remember how Clichy used to play the exact same game), and Yakubu finished well before Szczesny could react. It must be said though that this was Santos’ first full game, and so communication was always going to be a problem. However, this was a problem in the Dortmund game as well, when countless through balls were threaded through the central defense. More on the defense later.

The goal, meanwhile, did little to stem the flow of the game. Arsenal still continued to attack and dominate play, and it was little surprise they scored the next goal.

Song was once again involved as he released Ramsay on the right, who spotted Mikel Arteta’s run into the box and cut back for him. The Spaniard scored with an emphatic finish, his first goal in the red and white. The first of many, I hope. We finished the half on a high, and this looked the perfect game to get our confidence back. Everyone had played their part, and we looked coherent in attack, a first this season. Everyone had set roles and the communication between midfield and attack was great. Things were on the up.

At half time, though, something happened. Maybe they replaced the drinks with something else. As we took the pitch in the second half, we looked a different team. Back came the uncertainties that were so visible in the Dortmund game. We were still enjoying majority of the possession, but somehow seemed less confident on the ball.

Arshavin was in the mood to show off his defensive skills, and soon conceded a free kick outside the box on the right. The zonal marking we have deployed was in place. The ball came in and two players missed the subsequent header a little way off the near post. The second ball then hit the unsuspecting and surprised Alex Song, who had no time to react. The ball bounced off him into the net. 2-2 Blackburn. They had equalized once more. The goal was entirely down to rotten luck, and there was really little Song could have done about it.

Out we went in search of a goal again. Somewhere along that quest, we lost Bacary Sagna – probably one of the players of the season so far. He has been a rock defensively and that had been the case in this game as well. To replace him we had Johan Djourou, a player completely lacking in confidence, being played out of position as right back.

Things went from bad to worse when Blackburn scored their third to take the lead. Hoillet’s corner was met with a low shot from Nzonzi way outside the far post, which was drilled straight into the path of Yakubu, who promptly finished. Yakubu was in an offside position, but the linesman obviously missed it, and we were behind. Fortune, when it doesn’t go for you, is cruel, and we were facing its full wrath. An own goal and an offside goal is about as bad as it gets, right?

Wrong. Arsenal pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but this was always going to leave them vulnerable to a counter attack. That was just what happened. After a failed Arsenal attack, Nzonzi’s clearance found Olsson, who beat Djourou and Song and cut into the box from the right. There was almost no one in support and he attempted a pretty poor cut back. However, in the way of the ball was Kocielny who, instead of putting his boot through the ball, somehow almost tapped it into the open net. The ball was coming at a great pace, but at this level, you have to get your priorities right – that ball has to be booted out, not controlled and passed! Arsenal, in an amazing turn around, found themselves 4-2 down in a game they had absolutely dominated midway through the second half.

There was a huge element of luck involved in all the goals, but that cannot hide the fact that we were defensively naïve. We just cannot defend as a unit. In that case, one wonders what is the logic behind using the zonal marking system on set pieces, since working as a unit is essential for it to be successful. The defense needs some serious sorting out, and I just cannot see what steps Wenger has taken towards that. There isn’t a defensive coach, and there is little chance there will be one. Why this is so, especially when we have Steve Bould already at the club is beyond me. We rely too much on defending intelligently and intercepting balls, and even Blackburn found ways to get past that. No disrespect to Blackburn, of course, but they are not at their best by any means right now. Hell, their fans had even planned for a massive protest against the manager!

Marouane Chamakh, that goal scoring machine, came on for the last fifteen minutes or so, and a candle was extinguished in my heart. This game was beyond us. Just as I was coming to terms with that, however, Chamakh scored. It was a brilliant header, to be honest. He jumped between two defenders and steered it into goal.

We had about ten minutes to get level, but we just could not find the net a fourth time. We came close, mind, with Mertesacker heading over when he should have scored. Chamakh and van Persie also had late half chances that they failed to convert. The pick of the lot was the last one though, with Walcott almost through on goal. He was at full speed when he took the ball away from goal and was brought down by the keeper. At least it seemed like he had been. However, that little piece of action went unnoticed, as the referee had no intention on getting involved in controversy. Sky replayed it just once. Frankly, nobody even cared.

So there it was 4-3. Arsenal had lost, courtesy of two own goals, and an offside strike. Some might argue, however, that winners make their own luck, and if they did, I would agree. There is simply no excuse for a performance like that. We were all over the place defensively and the second half was a horrible nightmare. It was amazing to see the contrast in our play in the two halves, but right now, the first half is almost irrelevant.

It simply beggars belief that we conceded an astonishing four goals against Blackburn, a team that came into the game with little confidence. It also beggars belief that we scored three goals and still ended up losing!

The defeat is not just bad on paper. It exposes all kinds of flaws inside the club. The fact is that a lot of the new players we bought on deadline day were panic buys – we got them solely because of that 8-2 loss and because we were getting nowhere with primary targets. Why that was so will remain a mystery. The question of why we didn’t spend the 50-odd million pounds sitting in the bank gains more relevance. A lot of that has to do with the way Wenger went about the transfer window. Apparently, he has full control over transfers, which I find very odd. Why is that? What, then, is the board doing? We are stuck with terrible commercial deals where we lose between 30 and 50 million pounds a year.

Stan Kroenke, the majority shareholder, is silent as ever on issues concerning the club. He hasn’t even been to a match since purchasing 66.7% of the club! His reluctance to speak out is worrying to say the least. There is little clarity on his vision for the club. The presence in the background of Alisher Usmanov, the Russian billionaire in control of 29.5% of the club, adds to this uncertainty. He is getting more and more support from the fans, as he is certainly someone who comes across as being interesting in investing in the team – a sugar daddy, if you will.

The issue of ownership is one that clearly needs to be settled soon, and yet I can’t see that happening. That will certainly decide our long-term future as a top-level club. The management has been very poor over the last few months, both in terms of transfer business, and things not directly related to matters on the pitch. As a lot of people have rightly said, 50 million in the bank isn’t going to defend on the pitch. Surprise, surprise, it actually doesn’t!

The board members are not the only ones to blame – Arsene Wenger must surely shoulder some of it, since he makes the decisions on transfers, and is the one who decides on tactics. His reluctance to change his tactics is befuddling. We have just one formation we work with – a 4-2-3-1. We are simply incapable of playing in any other way, and a successful team is surely one that can work with different styles of play, a functional plan B or even C. We simply do not have that adaptability.

I wonder how bad things need to get to ring in the changes big time. I keep thinking time and again that we have hit rock bottom, but I am always proven wrong on that! The only way right now doesn’t seem to be forward. There are doubts everywhere you look. We desperately need some direction, and it would be the perfect time for Stan or the board to come out and declare exactly what their plans are.

I have a feeling that only when matters are clearer off the field will we start shining on the pitch. Our record speaks for itself – 14 goals conceded in 5 games. We conceded 18 in the entire ’98-99 season. At the moment, that fourth spot looks completely unlikely.

The sad part is, this situation was unthinkable last season and completely avoidable. Now I fear it might be too late. We have a good squad, mind, and will hit form at some point, but by then will it be too late? It just might. Even panic buying in January might not help. I really hope it doesn’t come to that.

As the season progresses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep defending Arsene. I am not saying we get rid of him, as that will only serve to make things even muddier. We need something to happen, something to lift our morale, because we are in a dark, dark place right now. There isn’t any light at the end of the tunnel.

The hope that things, at least potentially, can get better keeps me going. It is going to be a long season, and as I write that, I realize I’ve said it more than once in my previous ramblings. It is the truth, though. For the sake of the club, I hope we hit rock bottom soon and the rebuilding can start.

Today was a step back. We have regressed. A way back isn’t clear at all at the moment. Try as I might, I just cannot end this on a positive note. So here is something that might be helpful. I hope Liverpool fans don’t mind me using this – it is perfect for a club like Arsenal right now: http://bit.ly/5mUnv.

And on that note, I take my leave.