Arsenal 0 – 0 Fenerbahce: We look worryingly like a Carling Cup side
4 comments November 7th, 2008
The course of this match was established from the minute our line-up was published. We do not have that many injuries. Put aside the long-term absences of Eduardo and Rosicky, and yesterday we were without Gallas, Adebayor, Walcott, and the unheralded Eboue. Manuel Almunia may have been injured, or if you believe Myles Palmer, he may have been dropped. But in the outfield, our line-up looked as if it had been decimated.
It is worrying that the loss of Adebayor and Walcott makes us look so unpromising on the attacking front.  Whilst he performed well, the fact that Aaron Ramsey, a seventeen year-old who has never started a Premier League game, was forced to start is quite remarkable.
The front six of Ramsey, Denilson, Fabregas, Nasri, Van Persie and Bendtner seriously lacked pace. If good football is founded on the “pass and move” principle, then this lot were alright at the passing, but less proficient at the ol’ moving.
A line-up containing Fabianski, Djourou, Silvestre, Denilson, Ramsey, and Bendtner is not good enough to call itself an Arsenal First Team. It more befits a reserve or Carling Cup side. I am not writing these players off, but for various reasons, I do not perceive them as currently possessing the requisite quality to mount a challenge in the Champions League or Premiership. When you consider that’s pretty much half the side, something is very wrong.
There were boos after the game, but they weren’t boos of anger. They were boos of disillusionment at what is happening with this side at the moment. Arsene says the players are tired, but we’ve barely had a third of the season.
I waited a day to write this report in the hope that my mood would improve, and I could focus on the positives from a performance that seemingly lacked invention and energy.
As is clear by this post, my mood hasn’t improved. I hope I haven’t depressed you. We have a day to lift the mood amongst the fans and the players before Manchester United visit. Hopefully Arsene’s press conference will help bring back some of the positivity.
Till then.
