Wenger ... Please Go!!!!!

I looked all over the dial to tape the Capital One game today against Bradford City, but maybe I was lucky that it was nowhere to be found. After actually fielding a quality team in this competition for the first time in ages (except in the final), one wishes he had stuck to the old strategy. Maybe the youngsters could have come good where our starters aren't. The result, for those who missed it, was a 3-2 loss on penalties after tying the game late at 1-1. Bradford is fourth in League II, three divisions below Arsenal. And they almost held most of our first team scoreless for an entire game. It was only an 87th minute header by captain Vermaelen, who according to reports I've read had a terrible game otherwise, that sent this into extra time. But after an anemic start, in which we didn't get a shot on target until the 70th minute, it sounds like we had numerous opportunities to win it. Wilshire missed, Gervinho missed a couple of opportunities earlier (and according to the picture I saw, one was an open net from six yards out -- here it is Ugh!), Cazorla came close, Coquelin hit the woodwork and the Bradford goalie had a number of class saves. 

But the same old problems appear to have emerged yet again, and it is worth noting that we have only three goals from open play in the last six games we have played (with the two questionable penalties the only reason we won one of them). To remind anybody that actually reads this post, the problems with Arsenal appear to revolve around 1) lack of attacking flair, 2) lack of squad depth, 3) missing defensive mid and 4) motivation. It appears all of these played a factor yet again, together with team selection. Wait, some will say, Wenger finally put a strong team in. But how strong is this team? Wenger can't help it that Giroud is out hurt, but who is his backup? Well, how about the man with the worst first touch and shot of any striker in the Premiership (Gervinho for those who don't follow the squad). Podolski was back, so why wasn't he started up top? And what about Ramsey as a winger? He is utterly useless and I would have liked to see the Ox start the game (he was apparently lively upon entering). Ramsey is utterly useless and continues to hurt the team. And yes it was cold, but can't our manager motivate the squad for a game that might lead to their only legitimate chance of silverware this year. Apparently not.

It is time for Wenger to go. Let him finish out the season, and maybe see us drop out of the top four, but then be done with him. He's ultimately the one who put a lot of faith in Diaby this year, which has hurt us again. He's the one who keeps putting Ramsey on the pitch. He's the one who's played Gervinho as a striker. He's the one who didn't replace Song or Van Persie (or Fabergas or Nasri or Clichy or Ashley Cole or ...). He's the one who has made us as predictable as Stoke (with a very different style). And he's the one that has overseen the destruction of his own impressive record by failing to motivate his good and now average players to even play average. Enough is enough! We need new blood and I don't care who it is. Arsenal stands on the precipice of a Liverpool like fall, just as the Reds seem poised to push back up toward the top in this bizarre year of parity below the top two. Thank you for the memories Wenger, but please go to PSG ... or Timbuktu, for all I care!