Answer these two questions honestly.
1. Has this season been one of our worst, if not the worst under Wenger? Not just in terms of results but the quality of our play.
2. Have we been unusually lucky with injuries this season? Particularly given our track record.
Most will answer yes to both those questions.
In truth, we don't just need one or two additions this summer we need 5 or 6 top quality players minimum. Thankfully it appears we'll scrape top four again and that's great as the Champions League money is essential but it really is time to invest heavily in this squad.
People will talk about all our dross leaving and this freeing up funds. Well in any other season said 'dross' would have played a lot more games to cover for injured players. These squad players will need to be replaced (obviously by superior ones) and there's no real standout youngsters coming through.
Ideally top quality first teamers need to be signed. The likes of Szczesny, Jenkinson, Ramsey, Arteta, Giroud, Walcott and Podolski can all be easily improved on and are worthy of becoming part of a squad rather than guaranteed first teamers. Some will step up with added competition which I believe has been a big problem for us - a lack of motivation caused by players being too comfortable.
It's going to be a HUGE summer for us. It appears there's going to be a managerial merry-go-round among our rivals and we need to capitalise. No more dross, no more "no value in the market", no more cut price Ligue 1 potential and no more facking LANS.
There's new TV and sponsorship money, wages being freed up and we're constantly told the money is there - well now it's time to use it.
The Harsh Truth
posted on 12/5/13
It's up there as one of our worst season and possibly one of the worst teams under wenger,
We have got to spend in excess of £60M to be competitive.
It's all about the quality of our signings.
posted on 12/5/13
"and there's no real standout youngsters coming through. "
I think Serge Gnabry might have a say on that.
posted on 12/5/13
I like the look of Yennaris, he's fast, quick into the tackle and spreads the ball well.
posted on 12/5/13
Giroulski
I can't see Gnabry having much of an impact next season but am happy to be proved wrong!
posted on 12/5/13
Castor Troy
there is no way we will spend 60m in the summer
posted on 12/5/13
There were times when it looked like everything was actually working:
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 5-1 West Ham
Man City 1-1 Arsenal
Games where we played like a very good side. Unfortunately, there's been far too many crap moments.
posted on 12/5/13
Judging by my article of yesterday lots of people on this forum would rather we finished 4th than actually win something . I really don't understand the mentality of some people on this board.
We have played some really dull football this season . Football which George Graham would be embarrassed by. We have gone out of two cups to teams way below us and I don't have a lot of faith that things will be much different next season.
Is Jovetic really the answer ? Never scored more than 14 goals in a season.
posted on 12/5/13
1. Has this season been one of our worst, if not the worst under Wenger? Not just in terms of results but the quality of our play.
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Unfortunately yes. At times when the team has "clicked" they have played some decent football. But this season, in terms of attractive football the fluidity that we as fans are useful has not been there really...
2. Have we been unusually lucky with injuries this season? Particularly given our track record.
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Compare to previous seasons I'd say no.
Although the one BIG injury that has hurt the team is Diaby. He started the season on fire and made a huge difference to the team. We shouldn't be surprised, what with his horrendous injury record, but him getting injured put the midfield balance all out of shape and the team really suffered.
posted on 12/5/13
I think we were worse in the 06/07 season. People see, to forget how terrible that season was. In fact if it wasn't for the Champions League in 05/06 that season would have been awful. We couldn't win away games. Our team just crumbled
posted on 12/5/13
The 06/07 season was bad to be fair. We lost so many influential players in the summer before: Bergkamp, Pires, Reyes, Campbell, Cole and Lauren
United and Chelsea were better then though, even Liverpool were decentish.