Saturday 7 April 2007

Losing my religion


Unfortunately, I am a glass half-empty kind of individual. My pessimism is my curse. However, it can sometimes be my saviour as my expectations are forever low.

Take Arsenal, for example. I do not believe that Arsene Wenger's team is on the cusp of greatness. In fact, the Gunners are balanced on a tightrope and are in danger of falling into a deep precipice. There is no doubt that Arsenal possess oodles of talent in their young team, that they are encouraged to express the finer points of the game.

But it is also evident that Arsenal are a team incapable of doing the simple things when necessary. Wenger can unearth footballing prodigies from all over Europe and Africa, but he doesn't seem to have the tactical ability to achieve what these players tantalising promise.

Look at Rafa Benitez, he looks to be, finally, making real progress at Liverpool. He obviously gives his players proper direction as to what he wants. Look at the game at PSV, the team that knocked out Arsenal, 'Pool dismantled the Dutch with ease and look assured of a semi-final slot. This coming only a few days after a convincing result over Arsenal at Anfield.

Three defeats on the trot for the Gunners, it is not what we have come to expect. It is a worrying trend at the wrong end of the season, because if this problem is not attended to, Champions League football will not on the menu next season, which will have a knock-on effect.

If this nightmarish scenario comes to fruition, top players won't be so keen to move to the Arse, revenue will drop and season tickets will probably be easier to get.

There is something wrong, Wenger has to stop the rot or a season of so much promise will deliver us to a horrible reality where we will wish that the glass was at least half full.