Well what can I say, it wasn't good enough, and the harsh reality is this didn't even shock me. It was a typical Arsenal defeat, no movement shoddy defending, losing a game that we shouldn't have with the help of a referee who probably couldn't spot Gervinhos forehead from a mile away let alone make a penalty decision. The first goal was another Van the man beuty but he had a poor game. It's lucky hes Robin Van Persie in some ways because he missed a great chance but put it straight at Vorm, if that had been Chamakh fans would have put him straight out the exit door. The penalty was an abysmol decision and the referee was clearly tricked by Dyer. Why always us? The sh*te decisions always seem to be against Arsenal, maybe that's just me being an Arsenal fan, but think about how many more points we would have now. Penalty against Wolves, Penalty at City, Wasn't a penalty yesterday, red card at Fulham. That could of been six more points just of the top of my head. If we had those points we'd be two points clear in fourth. Indeed the debatable decisions table agrees with me, putting us bottom and saying we'd be joint on points with sp*rs if decisions had been correct.
Clearly there is something wrong when decisions from the referee can be the difference between a third place and a fifth place, a difference that in modern football means Champions League football or Channel Five. How can it possibly be fair that in the biggest and most expensive sport in the world tables can be influenced so highly by refereeing. Obvioulsy theres the call for technology but something, anything has to change to make it a fairer game because the reality now is that this is not fair. Constantly the FA and FIFA encourage players not to hassel the referee but unfortunately now that is the only way to get a decision. If there is no furious appeal then the decision is not given your way.
However we can't use the referee as an excuse for our performance on Sunday. We were simply not good enough and credit has to go to Swansea because they were excellent. They played the game we like to play. Kept the ball extremely well, dominating possesion and fashioning decent chances. There was not one player on our team who performed at the best of their ablity. Once again we go down to getting motivated against the small teams. This season we've lost games against Blackburn, Fulham and Swansea. Any team challenging for the title or even the top four should not be losing those games but surely the problem is more than just motivation. Is qualifying for Europes top club competition not enough motivation to play at your best?
A lot of the blame has to go to Arsene yes. The way he handled the summer for example was embarrassing at best but it is not only his fault. There was clearly something going on in the club that made the summer signings take longer, and more panicy than they should have been. The problem is not just with Wenger but deeper than that. Yes investment is needed and the time is now if that we really want to qualify for the top four. A few weeks ago I thought we should wait until summer, wait for the best to be available, but unfortunately for us, if we don't invest now the best won't want to come to Arsenal anymore because we'll be playing Europa League football. The defeats to Fulham and Swansea however are not solely Arsenes fault. He is not out there playing and the performances of individuals is not his fault. We have four full backs and Verma + Coq out injured at the moment. That would hurt any team, even City. Imagine Richards, Zableta, Kolorov and Clichy being injured, who do they play then, Wayne Bridge?
Our injury list is partly to blame, referrees are partly to blame, individual players are partly to blame, Arsene is partly to blame, but calling for Wenger to go now is foolish and so obviously not going to help the team. People seem to say it after any defeat, without really thinking about the consequences. The players adore Wenger, look at Cesc, I know we shouldn't look at the past and all that but look at the relationship he had with Arsene. He described it as like father and son. So if Arsene leaves, so does Robin, so do most of our best. What garuntee is there that any future will be better without Arsene. The board is clearly set on the self sustainabilty gig so there won't be more money to spend.
I think you have to be careful not to be too short sighted. Swansea are a good team but a team that really, we should be beating. Yet if you look at our season as a whole, I would have taken fifth at this stage after the start we had. People knock Arsene for losing games like Swansea and Fulham but where is the praise for getting us back into fighting distance from the top.
I saw someone yesterday tweet 'Fourth is looking completely lost' which, I think, is complete crap. Take another look at the table. Four points is not that bad, and with Chelsea still to come to the Emirates that is not a huge gap. We've caught up more before and I know we can do it again.
Thanks for Reading
Lick my Arse
@Arse_Licker
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