Arsenal Yet to Score: 0-0 Stoke

Arsenal has started the season with two nil-nil draws, seemingly both challenging and reinforcing the narratives going into the season. To start, one can't help put think we would have grabbed at least two more points with Van Persie in the lineup for both the Stoke and Sunderland games, and probably be sitting pretty on six points, rather than languishing on 2 (thankful Man U, Tottenham, Liverpool and even City have already dropped points). So the question: who will replace RvP's goals was and is legitimate. On the other hand, fears that the defense was going to be a real problem this year appear to be greatly exaggerated. I would still like to see a right back to replace Jenkinson, until Sagna returns, and maybe a fourth center-half, even as Mertesacker has settled in nicely, but one has to admit that Bould has seemed to improve the shape, discipline and challenging of the back four. 

As to the game against Stoke, we dominated on both sides of the pitch after an early flurry of attacks at Brittania, but again failed in putting the ball in the net. Giroux clearly needs a breakthrough to get rolling and will hopefully get one soon. Podolski looked active and strong running forward through the middle, but obviously needs to improve the actual finish to those great runs. Cazorla was great again, but he too needs to ensure his shots at least hit the target. And we need to work on our set pieces. We had corner after corner, but except for the flubs by Diaby and Giroux, had little to show for them. Walcott returned to his old disappearing act when he finally appeared on the pitch after Gervinho had put in a less than impressive performance after shining in the first game. Five takeaways from the game:

1. Arsenal need to work on set pieces: we have Giroux, Diaby and Mertesacker at over 6'2", but have yet to have anything close to a goal, even after 11 corners against Stoke.

2. Someone has to step up and put the ball in the net. One goal might be enough to open up the floodgates, as Arsenal has been dominating possession and creating opportunities, just not scoring on them.

3. Steve Bould's work with the back four is really paying off, as they have looked indomitable in the first two games. We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves yet though, as neither Sunderland or Stoke will be near the top of the league in scoring (though neither will the Gunners if they don't start soon).

4. We need reinforcements at right back. Jenkinson is just not ready to take the mantle and, while he was strong defensively on Sunday, I believe we need someone who can consistently get forward and put in good crosses and that is  not the youngster yet. It is yet another example of Wenger not taking care of an obvious need before the season started. And it has played a part in already costing us four points.

5. If no money is spend before the transfer window shuts Friday, I think this should be Wenger's last year. The moves over the past few years have taken Arsenal from a perennial title challenger to the most maligned team by the media in the EPL. And this is not without reason. The Song trade, in particular, seems to make no sense at all -- particularly after he admitted he wanted to stay at Arsenal for life. Rumors had us in for the exciting Sahin, but somehow we lost out on that good piece of business as well. Look around the league and you see why our rivals are improving at our expense. Let's start with Chelsea: they took Mata from us after we balked over a few million pounds more, outbid us for Hazard and, of course, still have the hated Cole plying at fullback. Moving to Manchester United, they just got our best player, who scored a sublime goal in the 3-2 victory Saturday. City has tons of ex-Gunners including obviously Nasri, Clichy and Toure. Even Tottenham has Abebayor as their top striker. Are we to be a selling club for the forseeable future? It's hard to know. But from that list, one could argue we are worse at left back, defensive midfield, attacking midfielder, on the wings, in the hole and at striker than we should be.

That's not good enough, and neither are Arsenal right now. And whether we blame Wenger, the board or both, it is time to change things at the club or risk becoming another Everton, happy with the occasional win over a big opponent and lucky to play in Europe at all. Of course, Everton sit far above us in the table at present, and have picked up a nice new army of talent as they push forward with their first good start in years. We, on the other hand, find ourselves in need of a win at Anfield this weekend, a tough ask after they should have beaten the defending champs.