Arsenal: How They Have Performed

How can I explain Arsenal's performance thus far? Turbulent? Shaky? Unpredictable? Yes, I think all those words work.

It's not that Arsenal has played badly, actually it is the absolute opposite, Arsenal looked as good as they looked since the 2007-08 Season, but lady luck hasn't quite been shining on us the last couple matches.

See, in this 4-3-3 formation Arsenal are playing, it means you have to press higher up the pitch and put pressure on the opponents' defense. In the first couple of games against Everton and Celtic, Arsenal did that, especially Nicklas Bendtner, who chased down defenders along with Alex Song etc al.

But once you stop doing that, then that puts unnecessary pressure on the defence, and that was shown particularly in the game against Man City, when we conceded four, despite it not really looking like we should have.

Another key to this formation is the full backs, they are meant to bomb down both flanks and provide telling balls into the box and turn the 4-3-3 into 2-3-5's at times, but Sagna and Clichy don't do this, they both run down the flanks but there attacking plays leave much to be desired.

Two seasons ago, Sagna and Clichy were undoubtedly two of the best full backs in the premier league ney in Europe, but for Clichy ever since that Birmingham game in 2008 he has never been the same, little mistakes have crept into his game, the 4-4 Tottenham game comes to mind.

The midfield against Everton and Celtic were world-class. They closed down, they hurried, and they put pressures on opponents midfielders and defence. But for the last couple of games, they have taken there foot off the gear.

Alex Song has looked at bit sloppy and Cesc Fabregas can be forgiven because he was injured, but Denilson can have no excuses. He has been given chance after chance for the past season; he must be the only player to play over 60 games and not really have an affect on a match.

He was the only main stay of the Arsenal team last season, and yet he did nothing for it. He didn't score an amazing amount of goals nor did he marshal the game and take control. He was just there, like a ineffective poltergeist, and yet Arsene Wenger consistently plays him and has now baffling given him a new contract.

All I can say is I am praying for Nasri to come back and Rosicky to gain full fitness.

A surprise to many but not to me has been the impressive start that Thomas Vermaelen has made at Arsenal. I read on Blogs and Forums how angry people were that Arsene Wenger had spent so much money on an unknown defender from the dutch league and not signed Brede Hangeland.

This baffled me because although my faith in Wenger, like some other fans, has wavered, I have never doubted his ability to find world-class players from obscurity.

So when everybody began praising him after his Everton and Celtic performances it didn't surprise me. And it seems that Vermaelen has brought the best out of William Gallas and now we see the world-class player that was at Chelsea.

To me, Manuel Almunia provokes a mixed view of his goalkeeping abilities. He is a very good shot stopper, but positioning and decision making are not his strong points. I haven't forgotten that he saved us against Man United in the Champion's League Semi-Final last season, but in the second leg, he didn't exactly perform up to standard.

Now so far this season, his negligence has been at fault for at least three goals we have conceded. Maybe Almunia is getting complacent he probably doesn't see a threat to his position. We all remember how Fabianski performed last season and then in reserve all there is two young goalkeepers Vito Mannone and Wojciech Szczesny, although I have heard positive things about the latter.

Although this will provoke much debate, I think the way the club is going about transfers is right. It is obvious that Arsenal does not have the funds to compete with the Man City's and Real Madrid's of this world. We got hung out to dry on the sponsorship deal, and the Highbury flats aren't selling like they expected, so they and Wenger have had to be more shrewd about the purchases they are making.

And my belief is that this team can win a trophy this season, but if we are aiming for the title, then a goalkeeper, midfielder, and striker are needed. But to sum up on a whole, Arsenal have performed badly this season. We just need to stamp out the times when we lack concentration and start focusing on winning once again.