August 27, 2018 - T. Avineshwaran
I do not want Arsenal to drive like a Suzuki Alto! We have a Lamborghini in the form of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, but we have Vauxhalls like Xhaka, Sokratis, Mustafi and Welbeck.
You had a rough night, and you decided to drown your sorrows by guzzling a bottle of bourbon in a bar. The first two glasses induce our philosophical thoughts, and we share it to some random laddie, who seems fixated on his beer.
Three drinks later, you will decide to be the life of the party by singing and breaking out your best moves to impress people. Six glasses later, you see a beautiful girl and start crooning Frank Sinatra's, "The Way You Look Tonight", and your gazelle-like gaze captivates her. You feel invisible! Five hours of euphoria, five hours of joy.
Five hours later, you wake up with a terrible headache and not knowing who is sleeping beside you. The pain is so excruciating, you think about life miseries and why it should end now. We all dread hangovers, and it is something we wish to avoid. Imagine having all the alcohol you want and not getting a hangover, seems perfect but life has ways to mess you up.
Similarly, Arsenal fans seem to be in a state of hangover. Those who started supporting the team since the late 90s would be experiencing a headache. A team that used to be indestructible is now a worry for some fans. The Invincibles are the bourbon, and the current blip is a hangover - A hangover we cannot seem to shake off.
How could one team change an optimist to a pessimist? The going gets tough, but you knew they would rise from the ashes. There were the occasional FA Cup victories, but I did not feel euphoric. I felt the team I knew is eroding.
In 1997, my aunt gifted me an Arsenal Jersey with the name Bergkamp, and Number 10 emblazoned on it. I was intrigued, and as a kid, I wanted to know more about the team and the guy who wore the coveted number 10 Jersey.
Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Ray Parlour, Nicolas Anelka, David Seamen, Steve Bould, Marc Overmars, Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright were some of the names that hogged the headlines for Arsenal when I first knew them but Arsene Wenger quietly carved his reputation as a perfectionist and revolutionised the game.
In his first full season, the little known Frenchman won the double - The English Premier League and The FA Cup - in the 1997/1998 season, and England indeed took notice of him. His brand of football was loved by many and who can forget his rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson.
He did the double again in the 2001/2002 season, and one has to mention the might of “The Invincibles”! Not to forget the countless FA Cup trophies he won with the Gunners.
I thought he would grow old like a fine wine but his last few years tasted like sour grapes. Last season, I thought things would change, but the script remained stale and nauseous at some point. For many years, I felt the criticism on Wenger was unwarranted, but in the last two years, I thought it was time for him to leave. As a fan, I did not want his legacy to be stained.
Now the club has heralded a new era under Spaniard Unai Emery, who many claimed to be pedantic but based on his first three games, there seems to be more fear than stability.
He loves packing the midfield, but the Arsenal way is always about making the game look simple and beautiful. This Arsenal side can play football but its achilles heel at the moment is the defence.
The signing of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Stephen Lichtsteiner was supposed to shore up the backline, but so far, we only have seen Sokratis featuring in all games, and he has not convinced me yet. It may be too early to say but having seen his displays for Borussia Dortmund, he needs a reliable centre-back to protect him. He had Neven Subotic and Mats Hummels in Dortmund but in Arsenal, he is seen as the leader. In most of his games, he seems hesitant in his approach. Also, he is suspect to breaks, and against West Ham, he was struggling for pace. Building the future of the team backline's around him is just a waste because he is 30. Arsenal should have gone for Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen or Abdou Diallo, who joined Borussia Dortmund from Mainz 05.
Sven Mislintat was supposed to be the expert scout, but he has yet to convince me. The players Arsenal has signed since he joined were players under his former club. To me, that is a case of lazy scouting. For someone vastly experienced in Bundesliga, I am sure he could have unearthed some gems and brought them to the Emirates.
I know some of you would be saying, "Take a chill pill la cha, it's just a slow start, just like your car's pickup."
I do not want Arsenal to drive like a Suzuki Alto! We have a Lamborghini in the form of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, but we have Vauxhalls like Xhaka, Sokratis, Mustafi and Welbeck.
Unai Emery is urging for patience, and he is entitled to it, but some of his selections have been baffling. However, I can see intent and also braveness on his side. But I have my worries too.
For example, he signed vastly talented players, but it baffles me to see him bench Lucas Torreira, Bernd Leno and Lichtsteiner. These three players are game changers. He bought Leno because he loves a goalie who plays from the back but he uses Cech, who is a great shot stopper but never a sound option when it comes to building attacks. Torreira may be young, but he makes it up with his grit and determination. Matteo Guendouzi, who to me is a revelation, can partner with Torreira and cause problems for midfielders in the league. Let these two anchor and play from the deep. These two can protect the backline, and this would give some assurance for our centre-backs, who to me are not world class.
Lichtsteiner is a warrior, and I loved his cameos so far. He is a breath of fresh air, but I would also like to question Arsenal for not signing him earlier. He could have been the "Lee Dixon" we needed, but at the age of 34, he only has two good seasons left in his tank.
This team seems spirited, but there is no direction. Even against West Ham, the Gunners struggled. Arsenal played better against Chelsea, but Aubameyang had an off day. Arsenal is playing high pressure and possession football, but without direction, it is futile.
Emery fancies 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-2-2-1, and he wants his midfield to control possession. Aubameyang is the preferred lone man up front, and in the last three matches, Lacazette only came off from the bench. It is clear that both Aubameyang and Lacazette can play well together. They are a threat, and I believe Emery should start the two up front or at least place Aubameyang on the left if he is resolute on his favoured formations.
Fans will have lots to say, but they never know what the mind of the gaffer is. There is no time to experiment or learn. Emery is a proven coach with a good track record. Also, there are rumours of a dispute with Mesut Ozil over tactics. For the English media, they will surely exploit it. To me, this is the real first test for Emery. Ozil has divided opinions, and I believe that he has lost his mojo over the years. The contract extension was a real shame for a player who does not seem committed to the Arsenal cause. The "Ya Gunners Ya" may keep fans buzzing, but I am still not convinced with his attitude and temperament for the club. Aaron Ramsey stalling on his contract is also worrying. In the past, players would not hesitate to seal the deal with the club, but now the club has players who can hold the club to ransom.
I was lost for words when Jack Wilshere was allowed to leave the club. He was an Arsenal player through and through. He was willing to accept a reduced contract, but Unai Emery said he would not feature much in the first-team.
At a time when we need a player who can lead and drive the rebuilding of the team, Wilshere’s departure was a big blow. I hope the Gaffer knows what he is doing.
In the past, I used to say things would change but recent events have yet to convince me that this team will come out from its rut. It is going to be a painful season for us if we do not see any significant improvements in the next few weeks. Arsenal may have sealed its first three points, but it is a long and painful journey ahead for the club.
It is a new era that promises to be a bumpy one. I grew up watching this team managed by Wenger. It is going to take some time for me to adapt to this new era.