So Captain Fab is out for 4 months. UEFA Cup here we come. Trying to be philosophical, maybe this is for the best. It’s clear to just about everyone but Arsene Wenger that the current edition of Arsenal Football Club just doesn’t have the depth or defensive prowess to win anything. While a healthy starting XI can still beat anyone on any day, the side has too many holes to overtake Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United or perhaps even Aston Villa.
It’s depressing to think we won’t be seeing the best reason to watch Arsenal until some time next spring, but maybe a season that’s too dire to be termed a near-miss will give Wenger the impetus he needs to acknowledge that some rebuilding is in order. The midfield is woefully unbalanced, lacking size, grit, and defensive graft in the middle and paper-thin on the flanks. The central defence is small and erratic and Manuel Almunia pales in comparison to an in-form Jens Lehmann or David Seaman between the sticks.
Even with Cesc Arsenal were going to struggle to keep its usual place among the top 4, but now things look especially dim. Villa are a young, hungry, talented side coached by the excellent Martin O’Neill and I have to think a Champions League place is now theirs to lose. Gooners can only hope Cesc’s injury will be the step back the team needs to make in order to take a few forwards.
