Arsenal Blows Another

Another away game with plenty of chances; another meager point and a clear indication that spending a little money would have done us good. Van Persie almost converted on a couple of chances, hitting the woodwork twice, but we should have been ahead before halftime except for yet another blown opportunity from Walcott. I have been writing this for some time but just don't understand how Wenger cannot see what everyone, including the announcers, seems to see on most occasions he is on the pitch: missed opportunities, poor crosses, terrible decision-making and an inability this season to finish when he is one on one with the goalkeeper. A beautiful through ball by Chamberlain put him in just that position and a movement to either side would have made for an easy goal, but like he does so often he shot too quickly and too close to the goalkeeper. It was a nice save but again showed a player who lacks either the skill, intelligence, confidence or poise to finish far too many of his opportunities. I think it is fair to say a decent finisher would have scored at least 10 to 15 goals with the chances Walcott has had. Instead he blew two (one late in the game from close range that went wide) yet again and really cost us two points. 

We looked dangerous for large stretches of the first 70 minutes, but seemed to go lame the second Oxlade-Chamberlain went off the pitch. Instead of the quixotic switch for Arshavin that occurred against Manchester United, this time Henry came in, but one has to ask why it wasn't Walcott that was substituted off. Wenger did replace Ramsey with Rosicky, which at least told the Welshman that he can't continue to play at a subpar level, but it appears that Wenger has run out of ideas and is living on his past. An FA Cup victory now sits in our sights, but fourth place keeps begging as we've picked up one point from our last four games. It is a pathetic run of form that brings us back to the beginning of the year and something odd for an Arsenal team -- the inability to score. It is generally not for lack of chances, though we aren't pushing the ball forward with the urgency or acumen that we once did, but for a lack of finishing touch and a ridiculous reliance on Van Persie alone. One assumes Chamberlain will start to score, but who else can we count on on this team? Arteta's goal scoring days seem behind him, Mertesacker's promise of the occasion goal was a tease to appease, Ramsey hasn't hit a decent shot on goal in months, Gervinho has yet to repeat his success at Lille and I have cataloged the Walcott debacles almost every week (lest us forgot his last goal was a fluke). When Gervinho returns, one wonders if the starting wingers aren't he and Chamberlain, leaving the lame Walcott on the bench where he belongs.

This is clearly a mediocre team that had a decent run in October and November and a team that lacks the motivation and/or talent to compete at the top level. I continue to hope they can get on a run again, but a 0-0 draw against a bottom dweller we beat 3-0 in the reverse fixture just shows how far we've fallen. The bad news on Wilshire just continues the injury plague that has beset the Emirates and I have to once again wonder if our medical team is up to snuff. In the end, I think we are heading for the inevitable departure of Wenger and hopefully a more inspiring coach for the future. I hold out the dream that we can somehow grab the fourth place spot that is begging us to take it and/or get one final piece of silverware under Wenger, but can't find it in my heart to believe that he understands what it takes to win any longer. Watching the Gunners play right now is borderline torturous.