Arsenal Fluff Their Lines Against Premiership Title Rivals
Arsene Wenger may continue to argue that his Arsenal squad is good enough to win the Premiership title but outside of North London, there will be few football fans who agree with him after Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea.
Following on from the home loss to Manchester United last time out, it surely means the end of their challenge for this season. The unpalatable fact is that in four games with their two title rivals, Arsenal have come out with no points.
Even worse than the four defeats is the manner of them. Aside from the away game at Old Trafford, Arsenal have been dismantled by a superior side each time. Wenger may have the belief in his players but it’s questionable whether they have it themselves.
The Frenchman is a master of positive thinking and shielding his players from flak but surely he will struggle to make a case for a run at the title from the past two defeats.
Some Arsenal fans are taking comfort from the supposedly easy run-in to May that Arsenal will enjoy after they play Liverpool in midweek. The argument goes that the Gunners can go on a long unbeaten run while Chelsea and Manchester United have tougher assignments.
That assumption might hold true in a normal Premiership year but the days when the elite clubs can march past the mid-table sides has passed. The feature of the campaign has been the number of losses suffered by the ‘Big 4’- there is no reason to think Arsenal can go the rest of 2009/10 unbeaten.
Wenger’s Hopes Rest On Champion’s League
The Champions League is now Arsenal’s best hope of preserving a season that began with much promise. Their players may well be better suited to the demands of European football as pace and power is their undoing in the Premier League.
The longer the Arsenal trophy drought continues, it appears to be less about the youth of the Gunners squad and more to do with their style and heart. With the likes of Barcelona prepared to make a huge bid for Cesc Fabregas, Wenger’s squad simply have to make an impact in Europe.
Porto are the opposition in the up-coming last sixteen round of the Champions League. The result of that encounter may well decide whether Arsenal can retain their talismanic captain; an exit at that stage is bound to encourage a substantial offer from Barca in the summer.
If you enjoyed this post then try these:
- Premiership Predictions: Arsenal Can Throw Pressure On Title Rivals
- Liverpool v Arsenal – The Gunners Still Think They Have A Title Shot
- Bendtner Keeps Arsenal On The Premiership Title Pace
- Arsenal v Man United: Premiership Title Contenders Are Too Close To Call
- Derby Day Despair For Arsenal and Everton
