Gunners, Gunners, Gunners!

A huge victory for Arsenal today! After taking a 1-0 lead, they gave one back and then their play started to look negative and discombobulated. But for all the talk of how far they've fallen (and they have fallen pretty far to be fair), the club is back in 6th or 7th place I think (still have some games to get through before I check the table). We have now won six of seven and are clearly on the rise. Next week is obviously a tough fixture, but it should show us if we really are on the ascendancy, or will be pushing really hard for that 4th spot all campaign. I must say that Liverpool looks shaky of late. Now to the report card ...

Gervinho: today looked like his coming out party, with a goal and two assists, but I have noticed a real upping of his form game by game. I think the commentators will shut up soon and admit that he was a good signing. He is fast, creative and appears to link up really nicely with Van Persie.

Van Persie: what can you say except that he is probably the best striker in the Premiership today. The winter transfer window is key to bring in some reinforcements to hopefully convince him to stay. But pure quality and beauty in his footballing skill and finishing touch. He now has 25 goals in his last 26 games, I believe. Incredible!

Ramsey: pretty good game for him, including a beautiful chip to assist on the first, Gervinho goal. I think he is slowly evolving into the midfielder we hoped we would be. Should be noted that he just missed an early goal as well.

Walcott: terrible, terrible, lemon terrible. When is Wenger going to give Chamberlain a chance to start again? Walcott too often loses the ball, his crosses are terrible, his finishing touch suspect and his general demeanor on the pitch largely negative (and often clueless). I would love to see a sale to Juve in January, but if Wenger is dedicated to making this kid decent, I suggest he bench him for a game or two to at least make him think (something he rarely does on the pitch, one should note).

Arshavin: I am probably one of the few Arsenal fans that likes the little Russian, but if we ignore the pathetic midweek form in Marseille, I'd say he's had two good showings in a row. He can get around defenders quite easily when he's in good form, and pushed forward to start the setup of the second goal. It will be interesting to see if he can score some goals and get back to the quality he once appeared to promise. 

Djourou: Not a stellar performance, but pretty good. I like how he pushes forward, there were no attacks that started on his side and he appears to me to be a better right back then centre back by several degrees. Did almost cost us a goal with a silly back pass, but it was really Szez's fault.

Koscielny: A second great start for him in a row. A couple little errors here and there, but he is really growing into the centre back position and had a couple key clearances. 

Mertesacker: I keep going back and forth on him, but I am really worried he is too slow for the Premiership. I have seen him beat on the right several times and that was true at least twice today. Also had some really stupid passes out that were almost costly and the promise of his height in the box has not materialized yet (except in the crucial miss that could have leveled us late at Blackburn).

Szczesny: not his best performance, as he really does need to work on his positioning sometimes, but continues to grow. He needs to watch when he sneaks forward out of the box though, as two of the last three games he almost got caught out.

Arteta: He is solid in the middle, but I think it's time to admit that he has been a disappointment for the club. He doesn't lose the ball that often, but his passing forward is average at best, his corners not much above average and his goal scoring threat essentially non-existent for well over a month now. My main issue with him is he appears to want (or need) to take three to four touches before he passes. This is often costly, as openings are closed while he dances around. This is one critique I have of Ramsey as well, but his overall quality at putting balls in dangerous spots is much better at present.

Song: steady as ever, but as I've mentioned all season, I do think he needs to work on his play in the final third, as he too often tries to slide tight passes through in the middle that aren't completed when there might be the opportunity to slot sideways or push to one of the wings. I'd also like to see him shoot a little more, after seeing that lovely goal he did score.

Chamakh: time to say adieu to this striker, that actually looked promising upon his arrival last Fall. Rumors are abound of his departure and I really hope it happens. He should have scored at least one, if not two and just can't seem to find the finishing touch.

Santos: not a terribly impressive performance. I'm starting to worry that he was another average signing for the club. He needs to think more in his decision-making and stop with the stupid plays and fouls. 

Refereeing: I don't know if being an Arsenal fan means paying too much attention to the calls, but ugh. The ghost free kick to Crouchy actually led to Stoke's goal and if pulling a player down right as the ball approaches him isn't a penalty, I guess I don't know what one is. There were also a host of other baffling calls and no-calls, but can't complain too much in a 3-1 win.

Now, where do we go from here? After Chelsea, we have a series of very winnable games (forgoing the probable loss to Man City). We are in good shape to win our group in the Champions and will hopefully field quality line-ups for the Carling. I have to reiterate that something must be done about Walcott. He is essentially useless on the pitch and that means that one third of our attacking three are actually a negative force. Yes he can reap havoc with his speed, but how often does it amount to anything? Please, please, please give Chamberlain a chance. As to Chamakh, I really hope we unload him in the winter. Park needs to get on the pitch so we see what he's about and I'd like to see Ryo get a shot some time soon (in the Carling if nothing else). I also wonder what will happen when Vermaelen comes back? It's hard to see Koscielny sitting on the bench, so do we push him to the right back spot until Sagna returns? Or can he play on the left? We will have to see, as that eventually is almost upon us.

Last point for today, and it's a rather obvious one. We need to work on set pieces on both ends of the pitch. We rarely score on corners or free kicks (forgoing the essential Van Persie scorcher last weekend) and too often give up goals on opponents dead ball opportunities. This needs to be a main focus moving forward. I don't know how much work is done on this, but we need to step up and grab some clean sheets in the Barclay's. We need to stop the dead ball leakages (which were prevalent last year as well, when we led the league in that ignominious category) and find a way to be more dangerous ourselves in these situations. 

Arsenal Wins! British Press Protests

Arsenal pulled out a last second 1-0 victory over Marseille in the Champions League tonight, but the British media is protesting the result, arguing that it undermines their grand narrative for the season (dubbed the "Fall of the House of Arsene"). The press has consistently argued since August that Arsenal is underperforming, that they lack quality, that Wenger must be sacked, that the team can't compete at the highest level and that really they should just accept relegation now to avoid the disappointment of actually playing the remaining 40 or so matches in all competitions. Unfortunately, Arsenal has decided to go off script and actually surge to the top of their group in the Champions League (a feat that only Chelsea can match -- Man City (3rd), Man U (2nd)). But the media hopes to see a quick turnaround to the disappointing form they so adore decrying. 

On a more serious note, how should we judge this result? Well, one thing to consider is the argument that this team has no character or winning edge. The  truth is they have won several games when not playing at their best (including the crucial road game against Udinese and a nervy 2-1 victory over Sunderland last weekend), and I can't remember a recent game they actually won this late. This is huge for our confidence and there were some surprising and heartening performances. Gervinho showed a lot of energy and verve after coming in and either purposefully or serendipitously assisted on the 91st minute goal. Ramsey scored the huge goal, hopefully increasing his confidence going forward on the rebound from his injury. Djourou was actually the key player in setting up the score and was decent on the wing, maybe finding a better home when we do use him. Koscielny was pretty solid in the back (with a few errors) and might have saved a tap in in the second half. The back four kept a pretty good line (I was paying attention), fixing some of the errors that have cost them since the season began. And we won without a goal, or really great performance, from Van Persie -- who seemed a little off today including missing on a relatively easy header; though he was offsides.

Now to the other side of the equation. Santos looked lost for huge parts of the game, making some questionable decisions, missing several passes and seeming a little shaky on defense (particularly in the first half). Mertesacker got beaten relatively easily a couple of times and I really do wonder if he has the quality to lead us out of our defensive malaise. On the other hand, a clean sheet is a clean sheet and our first on the road in the UCL in 3 1/2 years is nice. I also have to join the chorus and say it's time to give Oxlade a chance to supplant Walcott on the wing. Yes Walcott has incredible speed and creates the occasional opportunity, but he should have scored in front of the goal, missed several opportunities for good crosses and just doesn't have the quality in the final third necessary to be a top player week in and out (even as some very smart football analysts like Warren Barton still love him). I think I have to reiterate my point from last weekend -- Arteta is pretty disappointing so far and needs to up his game or find a spot on the bench while others take over. It is clear to me how much we miss Fabergas now as we control the ball in the middle but have a hard time moving forward with any consistency or verve. Jenkinson looked a little better and at least is getting down on the right side and trying to send crosses in, but still has a lot of work to do to get to top flight form. And Song is strong on defense (though almost had one costly mistake) but really does need to think about his attempts at forward passes, as too many are cut off en route. Arsenal looked better on set plays and throw ins (I can't believe how many they have given to opponents this year rather than the simple toss and flip back). They showed nice control of the midfield and had some nice movement forward. But the team is too predictable and slow in its buildup and that hurts us in actually scoring goals. We need to find more creative ways to move forward, use the wings on the approach on occasion and make good crosses and cuts in the box. When I think back to the invinsibles, I yearn for one attack that smooth. 

In a broader sense, it must be acknowledged that this team has a lot of promise for the future, particularly if we can pick up some talent in the winter and summer transfer sessions. Chamberlin, Ryo, Miguel, Frimpong, Campbell, Ramsey, Wilshire and a host of other youngsters mean the future of the club might be quite bright. If we can start climbing up the table again, putting some pressure on Tottenham and Liverpool, I don't think the top four is even close to out of reach for us. But we need to build on our successes and put the best team possible on the pitch. One clear critique of Arsene in recent years is continuing to play players who underperform -- like Bendtner, Dennilson, Arshavin (starting to show glimmers of his old form again) and Djourou (last year). Why haven't we seen Park once? Particularly as he may be the player that killed the Hazard deal last summer and maybe cost us Eden for good. Why hasn't Chamberlin played in the last two games, given his incredible form of late (and Walcott's lackluster efforts)? I'm sure the press will find bad news to cull from the game, but I think we may be on the road to turning things around (without anyone really noticing, we have won 5 of 6, and really lost that darby against the run of play with a bad call thrown in for fun). 

P.S. It's hard not to at least note another bs call from the refs in a UCL game. If that isn't a clear hand ball, what is? We really do get the worst calls of any team I can think of.

How TV Ruined Your Life

I rarely provide endorsements on this blog, but have to do so for a very funny and incisive media critic I have recently discovered: Charlie Brooker. His series How TV Ruined Your Life (You Tube) is a wonderful example of how to mix humor and critique in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking. I showed a part of this series in class today, and my students loved it.

A Public Service Announcement from Slate ... Blacks are Different!

Slate's William Saletan, who appears to depart further and further from reality with each passing year, has written an article today that would be laughable if it wasn't so tone deaf (Slate). In it he argues that .... wait, you better sit down for this one ... not all Blacks in America think alike. I don't believe it! Is he serious! It can't be! Aren't Blacks one monolithic group with similar views on everything? And gays too, right? Of course Mormons are all the same, though (psst, they can marry more than one women, wink wink)?

He is, of course, discussing the surprising rise of Herman Cain to consideration as a viable candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination. Articles have appeared arguing that this proves the Tea Party is not racist, that Cain is the future face of the GOP (hmm, me thinks the media doth protest BS too little) and from angry Black intellectuals arguing that he is "callous to the poor" and "the perfect racist" (those both sound about right based on what I've heard). The most troubling aspect of Cain's run, to me, is his connection to the cynical Koch brothers and their relentless plan to take down Obama, and maybe the entire progressive movement while they're at it (Slate) -- a connection the mainstream media finally appears willing to address. Cain is a self-made man and like many self-made Americans, has little sympathy for the poor, downtrodden or annoying liberals trying to mess with his bottom line. But in typical fashion, the media will put a huge focus on his race and ignore the class dimensions of his personality, which are probably substantially more relevant here (as they were with O.J. Simpson, one might add, though potentially murdering the future prospects of 99% of 300 million is a little more serious).

Back to Saletan. He is providing important advice that I really should heed when planning future menus for visiting Black friends (maybe they don't all like fried chicken and catfish? Say it ain't so). Of course, one could ask the more serious question of whether a reporter who writes this tripe is actually figuring this out for the first time. But, no, I'm sure he just realizes how nearsighted the rest of the public is and figures he can help. So stereotypes aren't always true. Hmm, a real eye-opener. Thanks, Will!  

Media Bias in Images ...

I often talk of media bias on this blog, but this is a perfect example of that predilection at play: Washington Post. The story from the Washington Post includes an image of a crazy looking protester with a burning car in the background. There is a long tradition of treating protesters as marginal, insane figures, but this has only become more common in recent years. Luckily the internet has the power to challenge the mainstream media's visual and linguistic framing of those seeking change. 

Arsenal Wins!

A much needed victory for Arsenal, but less than convincing. What can you say any more? This team is really average since the Birmingham loss last year. The thing that is most annoying is how often we don’t even have our best team on the pitch. Why isn’t our most exciting player at present (besides Van Persie), Chamberlain, even playing in a game we need to win? Why did we spend money on Park if we are never going to use him? We clearly need to be active in the transfer window and hope we can put some victories together to stay in the hunt for fourth. A report card of the game:

Free kicks: Can we please get a free kick on goal (and please never let Walcott kick one again)? I wrote this before Van Persie’s saving FK, but really, it is a troubling trend overall.

Arteta: what happened to our big signing? He started with some promise but seems to get worse with every start. His corner kicks were too low, his free kick too high and when he has an open shot in front of goal as time is running low (around 70 minutes) he completely scuffs it. On top of this, a silly foul led to one of Sunderland’s only chances (which Seb Larssen converted; as he promised, one should note).

Gervinho: up and down performance from him. He is starting to look more comfortable and could become a real danger. What I have trouble understanding is why we so infrequently get it out on the wings. We play too much in the middle without a Fabergas or replacement to do the effective distribution that used to make us so dangerous.

Walcott: is a really, really average player with an ego that almost matches Bendtner (who actually does have talent, as far as I’m concerned). He thinks he can run around defenders and often just ends up losing the ball, his free kicks are almost always terrible, his crosses generally average and his decision-making really pathetic (note: a foul in the box near the final whistle could have drawn a whistle and equalizer from the spot). As many Arsenal fans write, he just doesn’t seem to have a good football brain; or to put it more directly, sucks in the final third. He has glimpses of brilliance, but they are often based on service from others. If Juve wants him, I say we bid him a fond adieu and let Chamberlain start or move him to the center.

Benayoun: please go back to Chelsea!

Rosicky: his best days are gone. It’s still nice to watch him dance around, but it never appears to amount to much anymore and he rarely shoots when he is open near the net. We need Ramsey to be in that position and perform better than he did against Totti.

Santos: bad free kick, but solid going back and overall once he came in. Might end up being the best signing besides Chamberlin this summer. Gibbs was fine, though not spectacular (didn’t do much going forward).

Mertesacker: better job for him, though he does telegraph his passes too often, lumbers going back and did have an error that would have led to a second Sunderland goal but for a great save from Szczesny. But I do believe he’s starting to grow into his role in the middle. Koscielny was fine, nothing much to report – which is good news for our centre backs.  

Jenkinson: I’m still not convinced by the player, but was pushing to go forward and did a good job defending, though his services weren’t needed that often. It’s incredible how far Sunderland have fallen without Bent.

Arshavin: second best player on the pitch once he came in. Danced around four defenders and almost scored, a nice cross, decent shot, drew the foul that allowed Van Persie to win it and showed the creativity and danger largely missing from this side these days.

Song: maybe our most solid defender, even as he returned to his holding midfield role. But too many of his forward passes were not completed today. Needs to work on that aspect of his game. But has become a favorite of mine of late.

Van Persie: our MVP week after week. Without Fabergas and Nasri, there is just such a lack of creativity it’s sad to watch this once great team (and we’re talking about 8 months ago really). Even without great distribution, he scores twice and maybe saves our season.

Howard Webb: actually had a decent game. I mention him because I often think he is one of the worst refs in the league. A couple of missed calls here and there, but good job overall. Given how often the refs have a say in our games, we should thank him for a job well done.  

We have some winnable games coming up and need to grab more points to qualify for the knock-out stage of the Champions League, but I feel the key for us right now is to move forward in the Carling Cup and push our way up the table. News in recent weeks has included the realization of how far we’ve fallen: Martin said no thank you to a January transfer, long time target Hazard appears set to go to Real Madrid instead and, of course, there was Mata who also said no thanks to Arsene (along with a host of others this summer). If we need evidence of our decline, it is the young players who no longer are drawn by the prospect of tutelage under Wenger, going for the bigger money and better teams. Rumors have also started to spread on some possible replacements for Wenger if he does step down (or is given the boot). Among them are Bergkamp and Ancelotti. I would take either, really. The key is to do something to give this team a winning spirit again. There is just a sense that the team feels much as the fans do – waiting for something bad to happen even when we’re ahead. But a win is a win and something to build on. Go Gunners!

Art in the Age of Creative Exhaustion

Performance art is again pushing the proverbial envelope into new and exciting places with a live birth on stage. Artist Marni Kotak, who previously reenacted her grandfather's funeral, the night she lost her virginity and teenage masturbation on stage has decided to bring the magic of childbirth to a Brooklyn gallery that may or may not be near you. While some will decry the bad taste of the event or invoke the tired ole "this ain't art" argument, what's more interesting to me is how emblematic this is of the rather limited vision of art these days and the ways reality television and social networking culture have influenced the entire cultural landscape. 

Interestingly, Kotak argues that she doesn't like social networking sites because they take time away from authentic experiences with family and friends. I agree with the thought, but have to wonder how having a baby in public in any way challenges the social networking logic of sharing the intimate details of our lives with anyone and everyone we know (or at least kind of remember from that night at the bar three years ago or that random meeting in the elevator on a rainy Thursday afternoon in November 2007). Does rendering an event in public really give it more authenticity, or is it merely a new way of mediating our experiences and creating a world where the only thing that seems to legitimate experience is sharing it with others. 

At the deeper level of deconstructing art itself, it does continue the rather tired postmodern penchant for calling anything and everything art. When the dadaists argued that "only stupid people see beauty only in beautiful things" and started the anti-art movement, they were making a profound statement about the elitism of avant-garde art and our rather limited aesthetic tastes. But one wonders if pop art wasn't really sufficient to make the point complete. Do we really need to create a world where every experience is called art if it is placed in the confines of a context that can be labeled artistic? Has creativity completely devolved into various incarnations of appropriation? And what does this augur for our collective future? I believe that art is answerable to no one but the artist themselves, but do sometimes pine for those days of modernist yore when artists were actually trying to say something profound and maybe even change society.

Empathy's Swan Song? ... GOP Style

In a recent post, I explored conservative statements that seemed to reinforce the notion that empathy is a dying animal in America today. As the Wall Street protests continue and spread across the country, the response from GOP Presidential candidates has been telling. First and most prominently is Herman Cain, the millionaire founder of Godfather's Pizza (who clearly had little empathy for the people forced to eat his crappy food). He argued that the protesters were "anti-American" and engaged in, you guessed it, "class warfare." As to the first point, it is clearly anti-American to protest anything Republicans or the wealthy do, though he did suggest protesting the policies of the President (who the GOP led House have blocked from doing much of anything). The second point continues the tiresome trend in American political discourse of calling any attempt to address growing inequality in the country as "class warfare." Rather than attacking the absurdity of the claim, maybe it is time to just admit that we need some good old class warfare in the U.S. Cain also claimed that those protesters are simply "jealous" and should shut up and get jobs. Where those jobs are is a wholly different issue.

Fellow also-ran Newt Gingrich also got involved in the fray claiming that our "bad education system" spreading "really dumb ideas" is to blame. Hmm, I'd be more apt to believe it is behind the eight year Bush debacle except that he went to the most elite institutions in the country. 

A final argument from Cain is potentially the most revealing. He claimed that his parents never played the "victim card," and that may very well be true. But that is the essential strategy of the Republican party since the 90s (if not earlier), as I pointed out in another post. Of course, not all victims are equal. Rich and middle-class white victims are clearly in the right while poor and minority victims are just sore losers.

Bending the Truth Beyond Recognition ...

Republicans have become very good at bending the truth to support their worldview and help get them elected. But sometimes the lies are so big the media actually feels compelled to call them out. And the Wall Street Journal, of all outlets, did the job yesterday (Twitter) when presidential candidate Mitt Romney claimed that he would reverse the military "cuts" instituted by Obama. The exact quote: 

"As President, on Day One, I will focus on rebuilding America’s economy. I will reverse President Obama’s massive defense cuts. Time and again, we have seen that attempts to balance the budget by weakening our military only lead to a far higher price, not only in treasure, but in blood."

The problem? Well, let's take a look at the numbers ...

Hmm, the GOP is often pretty bad at math, but this seems a little ridiculous.

Liberal Media?

One of the strengths of conservatives is the ability to make themselves and their supporters victims, even when they are in charge. There are numerous ways that this is accomplished. Among these is the ways that gays, blacks, feminists, illegal immigrants, Muslims, liberals and, of course, the media are working to destroy their lives and America itself. This discourse works well because America loves a victim who they can then bitterly rant out against as one of the forces working to undermine their faith, hard work and patriotism. Conservatives rarely focus on the actual source of so many Americans discontent (and diminishing quality of life), their corporate angels. One critique that is used relatively constantly is the charge that the media is liberal and thus constantly working against conservative hegemony. 

I have often written on this topic over the years, but wanted to delve into it against here after the media finally starting paying attention to the Wall Street protests that have now spread across the country. The same can be said of the protests in Wisconsin, the anti-war protests in 2003 (the New York Times actually wrote a story after the first huge DC protest claiming the organizers were upset with the turnout, until those organizers came forward and said they never spoke with that reporter) and the Seattle protests of 1999. So is it true that the media is liberal? I think there was certainly a time when one could make that argument, thinking back to the days of the muckrakers or the time when the Washington Post took down a President. But what of today? Since the 80s, the media has been moving decidedly to the center and even right. Certainly there is a long tradition of arguments against a liberal media bias (Manufacturing Consent being an obvious one), but the charges have become much easier to support in recent years. Beyond the fact that there are now five giant media conglomerates that rule over 90% of what we see, read and hear, is the reality that the media is not comprised of the kind of reporters that once challenged power. The reporters, news chiefs, anchors, editors and pundits are part of the elite now, and thus don't have a real stake in challenging a power system they are a part of.

In fact, the media now fits smugly into that "new managerial class" that scholars starting writing about in the 70s and 80s. At the time, it comprised professors, teachers, government workers, scientists and the like, who were middle class but essentially served the interests of the power elites. That group has grown in power and stature, while it may have actually strunk in size. And the media stands at the forefront today, as the in locus parenti for not only our children but large swaths of the overall population, who are often more interested in who wins American Idol than who their Congressman or even the President is. In fact, it is true that by the late 90s the media was actually to the right of the general public on two key issues: economics and foreign policy; while being to the left of the masses on social and environmental issues (according to a large survey by the Pew Research Institute). This reality actually serves the conservative rhetorical machine perfectly.

The media maintains the perception that they are to the left of center by reporting on stories about social issues and the environment in ways conservatives can attack, while actually supporting wars, the war on terror, tax cuts and the like. In fact, it is really hard to make the argument that the media is liberal at all after 2000, when they offered a completely unsubstantiated argument that the people just wanted a decision in Florida when poll after poll showed the opposite. Lest us forget that three years later, it was the "liberal" New York Times that largely supported the war in Iraq and their own Judith Miller who fooled so many Americans into believing we found Weapons of Mass Destruction. Or consider the specific case of the Saddam Hussein statue being pulled down and how it was covered by CNN in the U.S. versus CNN live. The former just reported the story as symbolic of American victory in Iraq and how much the people their supported our efforts while the latter juxtaposed these images with the actual costs of war -- including children in hospitals with missing limbs, dead bodies and the like. How is this explained? Why would the liberal "CNN" treat Americans differently than the rest of the world? Why were the two best sources for accurate information during the buildup and subsequent period BBC and Al Jazeera? 

The reality is that reality is just an inconvenient truth that can easily be combed over these days. Conservatives are much better at this than liberals and thus the "liberal" media in fact too often supports conservatives in their daily effort to spread anger, fear and victimization to the masses. Liberal media? Only in their grappling with the truth ...

CEO's Suffering

I think this chart speaks for itself:

Race in America - Part Deux

As I discussed in a post last week, I think we should be a little weary of the idea that we have entered a post-Black or post-racism period in America. Two events this week seem to put a focus on the reality that race is still on the tip of too many American's vituperative tongues. In the first incident, we have learned that Rick Perry hunts at a location that was once (and maybe still is) known as "niggerhead." Details are still sketchy, but it appears that the name is still used by many who live near the site: Washington Post. The more we learn about this candidate, the less savory he becomes to all but the most radical, right wing of Americans (by the way, Rush Limbaugh says it's no big deal).

The second incident involves Hank Williams Jr., possibly best known today for his song that begins every Monday Night Football broadcast: Slate. The conservative singer was recently on Fox News where he compared Obama to Hitler and called him the "enemy." The exact quote from Williams, speaking of the golf summit this summer between Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (you just can't make up the names of conservatives: Bush, Dick, Colon, etc.), "one of the biggest political mistakes ever ... It would be like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu." When it was pointed out to him that he was comparing the President to one of the most hated men in history, Williams replied, "That is true, but I'm telling you like it is." Now the first thing to say here is that we really need to consider who we allow to be spokespeople and pundits in America. The second is that this is the sort of person that is emblematic of what is wrong with America today. The absurdity of comparing Obama to Hitler is not as troubling to me as the notion that so many Republicans now have that democrats are actually "enemies" of the country. 

So is racism dead in America? I think not. Now who is the party that spread it? Again, this seems rather obvious. A final point for today, a  60 minutes/Vanity Fair poll asking people if they knew what the GOP stands for found that only 45% do ("God Opposes Populism" for those who don't know). While silly polls like this that just show how uninformed Americans are a little tired (just like the Leno skits), I think a more interesting poll would be to ask the GOP and its many supporters what they actually do "stand for." But that's just a silly liberal, Hitler-loving enemy speaking in "elitist" tongues ...

What to Do?

The calls are now starting to mount to sack Wenger. The season is all but lost seven games in and our beleaguered manager has already admitted the league title is probably out of reach (hmm, unexpected pun). But what about 4th place? Can they again ascend above Tottenham, even after this disappointing defeat? Can they surpass a resurgent Liverpool, possibly on the cusp of rediscovering the taste of past glory? At the moment, serious doubts on either score seem prudent.

So where does the club go from here? We will now be without Wilshire and Sagna until next year. We will be without Vermaelen for the next couple of matches after the international break (and hopefully when he finally returns, he will find a way to avoid another injury as Van Persie has so far this year (knock on wood)). We are still without Squillaci and Djourou, though I don't take that as terribly bad news. What is a team that can start to win games and what should we look for in the winter transfer window? Some thoughts:

Forwards: Van Persie is first rate and will start until he is either injured or leaves. If things don't improve, I expect the latter to occur. Beyond Van Persie, there is clear weakness in this position. Hopefully Gervinho will grow into the role and perform as he did at Lille last year, but that certainly hasn't happened yet. Chamakh is getting back in form, but he has to put it in the net more. One hopes this starts to happen. We still haven't seen Park yet, so nothing to say there. And finally, Campbell just scored for Orient and is hopefully a great signing for the future. I think we could certainly use another top  striker to bolster the squad. And, as I've argued before, why not put Walcott up there and see what happens. He just isn't as good a winger as some pretend (nor as bad as some decry, to be fair).

Goal: Szczesny and think he will be a great goalie, but he still makes mistakes and needs to avoid falling asleep. With a better defense in front of him, he could start providing us with the unthinkable -- a clean sheet (against anyone besides bottom dweller Bolton). Could use a better backup, but Fabianski isn't bad and we have much deeper needs.

Midfield: Here, obviously, is our big problem. But let's think about a healthy squad for a moment. We have Arteta, who is doing a good, though not great job so far. We have Wilshire, who will hopefully return to form upon returning. We have Song (who just keeps improving in my eyes) and Frimpong to serve the holding position. We have the surprising Coquelin, who really looks like a great player for the future. And we have Oxley-Chamberlain as the winger (or Walcott obviously). On the left, we have Arshavin, who regardless of what Wenger says might be on his way out after this season. He is a major disappointment and I think it's time to cut our losses (and maybe get Hazard for him, if rumors are to be believed). And we have Ramsey, who is occasionally great, but often sub par -- as he was yesterday for much of the game. We obviously need more creativity here to get the ball forward to Van Persie and whomever else is up front. A key signing over the break could be huge to really jump start an offense that looks good, except in the final third (where it counts).

Defense: This is obviously our major problem area and needs to be addressed with great celerity in the winter. One has to admit that Arsene is largely to blame here, with a number of questionable signings over the past few years (instead of established English defenders). Among the worst selections are Djourou, Squillaci and some that have just left. Now let's start on the wings. Sagna might have been our second best, and most consistent defender, but now he's gone for three months. And our only backup is Jenkins? Are you kidding me? This is an example of the problem with Wenger of late. We need a reasonable backup here, and it just doesn't exist. Obviously Gibbs and Santos are reasonable options on the other side, but who will now take the spot for Sanga? We need someone with more experience than Jenkins, made clear both in the Man U debacle and yesterday as Bale teared him apart. Now to centre back where the real trouble begins. Mertesacker appears to be growing into the role, but he has certainly cost us so far, particularly on the first goal yesterday. But I thought he was relatively strong overall and that Sagna might have been more to blame for the Van der Vaart hand-ball assisted effort. But then what? Koscielny is okay and seems better when Vermaelen is in, but we need more power and support back there. Hopefully we can lure Cahill in January, but there are no guarantees. If not, we need someone else and now maybe a left winger to fill in for Sagna and maybe replace him in the future. It will be interesting to see what happens when Vermaelen and Mertesacker line up side by side, but I'm not sure we can count on the former to actually make it through the rest of the season without another injury (if you watch the way he plays, which I love, it really isn't a big surprise that he hurts himself often).

Coach: Is it time to let Wenger go? I don't think it is his fault entirely that we are in this situation, and if a few calls and games go the other way in February and March, we might be talking about a return to glory for Arsenal. But that didn't happen and now the team needs something to change. Is it the coach? It is the most obvious thing that can be done to shake the team up and do something. I would probably wait until January, see what happens with our winter transfers and then decide. But another bad result or two might just mean it's time for a change. 


The reality, as many have argued, is that Arsenal stands on the precipice of what could become a long term decline. I think they can save themselves from this fate if they develop a winning attitude. We can't calculate the effects of the endless list of injuries, or the bad calls that have really hurt us since last February, but the squad has performed much better in the Champions League (as shaky as it's been) then they have in the premiership. Once you lose your confidence in sports, it's hard to recover. Yet the Gunners have to find a way and soon. As the season has unfolded, can we really blame Fabergas or Nasri for wanting to leave? I do think it is telling that top athletes would rather take the easy route then help rebuild their own teams, but if that's the reality of the present then we can either decry the fact or build our team around that sad fact. And if we can't, well it'll be time for me to stand alongside the naysayers and finally say adieu and merci to our French God turned oh so human.

Will the Revolution Be Televised?

A rather quiet social movement is gaining steam across the U.S. Under the rubric "Occupy Wall Street," the loose configuration of groups and individuals started their protests on the infamous street in downtown New York back in July. The number of protesters has been steadily rising and the movement has spread to other cities including Chicago and Seattle: CNN Story. What are the protesters after? It depends who you ask, but among their reasons for taking to the streets:

- To offer a voice to the 99% of people currently being screwed by the 1%
- To challenge corporate greed and its deleterious effects on us all
- To stop mortgage foreclosures
- To confront growing unemployment, inequality & poverty
- To provide healthcare to those who can't afford it
- To acknowledge and address global warming

The 34 organizations and random individuals that are involved are an eclectic bunch that hearken to Seattle in 1999 and the anti-war protests in 2003. It is heartening to see people take to the streets and demand change (who aren't sponsored by corporate tycoons (who may or may not have the same name as an ex-New York mayor, for example)). In a surprising revelation, some protesters have claimed they take their inspiration from the democratic uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East. Hmm, so maybe that talk about us inspiring democratic revolt is actually backwards? 

P.S. Interesting Op Ed from Krugman: NYT

Arsenal Loses, Again!

This might be the straw that broke the Gunners back. The media has been talking about how bad Arsenal is all season and, while they controlled much of the game, they now really do look like a team on the decline. This loss will drop us toward the bottom of the table, means we've already lost to Liverpool, Man U and Tottenham (in addition to Blackburn) and makes it very difficult for us to get anywhere near the top four. A major disappointment to say the least. A few thoughts ...

- We controlled the ball in the midfield well and had some real chances, but as usual they weren't taken. Gervinho should have scored, Walcott had two or three good opportunities and we rarely went wide, where it looked like there were openings. I think Chamberlain is the future on the wing for us and maybe Walcott can be moved to the center, but I am one of those who continues to doubt his decision-making and finishing (particularly in huge games). I think it is also time to say that Gervinho is a disappointment so far this year, though he has scored. He gives the ball up too often and doesn't have the finishing touch at present.
- Two mistakes really cost us huge. One by our goalie (really almost unforgivable) and another by Mertesacker, who looked much better for much of the game, but for the let down against Van der Vaart in the first half. Szczesny really has the potential to be a great goalie, but he needs to do better at times. If he's moving his feet a little, he would have saved the shot.
- The question of creativity in the midfield continues to be huge. Again, we controlled the ball for much of the game, but had a limited number of opportunities and failed to get the ball to Van Persie in dangerous positions. Ramsey looked bad in the first half before scoring the equalizer and looking better in the second in general. Towards the end, the whole team started giving the ball away and it showed the lack of leadership that is costing us huge.
- The back line is a huge problem, as we know, but it is odd to say that Song might be our third best centre back on the team (or maybe second behind Vermaelen).  He has really done a great job in the position in two straight games.
- Coquelin looks to be a talented player and one that could really grow into that defensive midfield position. I like Frimpong, but was really impressed with Coquelin's overall game and his composure.

The reality is that the top four is starting to look very difficult for Arsenal. That means next year we will not play in the Champions League, thus making it harder to get top class players. We need to go on a run right now (even if we do lose to Chelsea and Man City) and be very active in the winter transfer window. I think a Carling Cup or FA Cup are not out of the question and we do look in decent position to move forward out of our group in the Champs League, but really need to find a way to get this team some confidence again. Right now we are like the Cubs ... we find new and exciting ways to lose every time we're on the pitch!

I, Referee

Martin Atkinson has consistently shown himself as one of the worst referees in the Premiership. He is much too quick with the yellow and reds and affects games, which in my mind has always been what officials should do their best not to do. After the numerous fiascos in the 2010 World Cup and some very questionable calls in the Champions League last year (lest we forget the absurd second yellow for Van Persie) together with all the bad calls in the Premiership (with many going against Arsenal, I can't help but mention), isn't it really time to do somethings about the refs who too often influence matches: 


1. Institute some kind of technology to deal with goal line decisions (poor old England and the goal that never was against Germany stands out), 
2. Tell refs to err on the side of caution (not giving cards unless a game is out of hand) -- this was clearly not the case in what was shaping up as a good darby between Everton and Liverpool. Everton was in fact playing very positive football before Rodwell was given a red for a ball he won and where Suarez seemed to overact the aftereffect of. The replay made it clear it probably wasn't even a yellow. Arsenal has had a draw and loss (to Newcastle and Liverpool) that were heavily influenced by reds. 
3. I really think technology should be used on off-sides. Too many bad offsides calls affect games. Arsenal has had several important goals disallowed in the past two campaigns and one could argue that both Liverpool goals were offsides in week 2. 
4. Referees should talk to their assistants before they make huge calls. I saw this recently in a Champions League game and it led to the right decision. Once the red card is out, or the penalty spot pointed to, it's too late to do anything but piss off the team and fans who get screwed. Liverpool won the game 2-0 and maybe would have won anyway, but we will never know. Again these bad calls too often come in the biggest matches and that is exactly what should be avoided. 

P.S. Well, I just watched parts of the Newcastle Wolves match and again the refs had a lot to say about the result. There was what looked like a penalty right before halftime turned into a free kick right outside the box and then a disallowed goal that looked like it should have counted.  
P.P.S. The first goal for Tottenham was close yesterday, but it did look a lot like Van der Vaart used his hand (or upper arm) to control the ball. And when we add this to all the bad calls Arsenal has been getting over the past several seasons, if really does call into question why everyone in the world seems to be against this team (the media, the refs, ex-players, other clubs and even their own former stars). A good analysis showed that Arsenal would have finished second in the league but for all the wrong calls last year: Ideal Table (and another more detailed analysis of some games is here - Bleacher Report). Really if we pinpoint two huge errors, I think it is reasonable to argue the absurd red card against Van Persie and the bad calls in the Newcastle comeback played an equally big role as the Carling Cup loss in leading to our late season collapse and the ultimate dismantling of the team. Not that any of this matters really, but I do think it's time to try to do something about bad refereeing. It really is a problem and decides far too many games.

Arsenal Wins!

It wasn't pretty. It didn't end anxiety about our defense and will to win. It doesn't automatically qualify us for the knock-out stage of the Champions League. But it was an important win -- our third in a row -- and accomplished with all the injuries I discussed yesterday. The 2-1 win saw goals from two summer signings -- 18 year old wunderkind Oxlade-Chamberlain (who looked very impressive in spells) and defender Santos (who looks much better moving forward than playing defense). The defense still looked porous for parts of the game, too many opportunities to put the game out of reach were blown and the result was still in question down to the final moments. Yet unlike Man U and Chelsea, the team didn't wilt in this tie and held off their opponent for an important three points. 

A few thoughts from the game ... Chamberlain looks like he could challenge Walcott for the starting winger spot. That could actually open the door to put Walcott and Van Persie up front together, as many including the former believe is a more natural spot for him. Mertesacker continues to look slow, but was more stable in the back and may just work out as a good leader for the defense (but like most Gooners, I can't wait for Vermaelen to return). Arshavin and Rosicky are past their primes and this should probably be their last season with the squad. Arshavin still shows moments of great creativity, but has a tendency to try to get around defenders by kicking the ball forward and being blocked off. If I can see it, I'm sure most defenders are aware of the tired move by now. Rosicky doesn't have the shot he used to, nor from what I can tell the will to shoot. He had a clear shot on goal in the 2nd half and instead passed the ball. Chamakh appears to have woken up from the stupor he had on the pitch for most of the past 10 months or so, but has to be more forceful in finishing. Yes he finally scored recently, but should have had one or two in this game and could have helped us at least salvage a point at Blackburn a couple of weeks back.

The good news is we have won three straight and go into Tottenham with a chance to get our League season back on track. One hopes we can display the mettle we have shown in the Champions League so far this year in a critical league battle ...