The Reason Why Arsenal are NOT Genuine Title Contenders

United were brilliant in showing Arsenal how it actually is done by not allowing Arsenal players space, whether it be retrieving possession or blocking shots by having at least two, at times even four United players charging towards an Arsenal bloke. Against less fancied teams, Arsenal do get away but against the better teams Arsenal do struggle defensively.

Talking of defensive cover, Arsenal really don't have any after Senderos was loaned to Everton. Sol Campbell signed by Wenger, probably for experience but does he have the same quality or even close to what he once used to have, believe me, NOT!

Another one is Silvestre, who United would have been glad to sell. Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, and perhaps Armand Traore, that's what Arsenal have got. These are what two decent center backs with Song and Eboue to fill in. Is this good enough to last an entire season, I guess not.

And like Vermaelen got a knock in one of the games, an injury to one of the key players, especially in the defense, could see Arsenal in trouble, defensively.

All Arsenal fans said after United outclassed them at Old Trafford was, "Had we converted our chances, we would have won the game." And what did the United fans say, "Dude, did you watch the same game as me?"

Let's not talk about the players as for now but Arsene Wenger, a brilliant manager in true sense who transformed the style of Arsenal's play. From a football club that played football marked as "boring" to a club that plays probably the most fluent and best football in Europe.

But isn't he also the one to blame for Arsenal conceding an awful lot. Arsenal's defensive style of play surely is not the greatest. Wenger was absolutely correct when he said that Arsenal gave United too much room but doesn't that happen every single time you see Arsenal play.

Coming to the Arsenal goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia, who is pretty inconsistent. When you have a goalkeeper of David James's quality available for cheap, who has class along with experience and probably even at his age is better that Almunia, wouldn't you go out and pay to have him keep for you.

Talking of midfield, Fabregas, Arshavin, Nasri, and Rosicky are all similar players who somehow play well in the same team, hats off to Arsene Wenger for that but where's the width gone?

Couldn't have Arsenal done with signing a couple of proper wingers who would have given them an extra dimension in the attack. Theo Walcott is quality and is exceptionally brilliant, also lifts the crowd with his quick feat, wouldn't Arsenal love to have someone playing on the other wing.

Diaby is decent in the central midfield but I don't like the idea of playing Denilson as the holding midfielder, he naturally is not a player who holds up play and hadn't it been good for Arsenal to get Patrick Veira back to the Emirates, that would have given them experience and also a captain, a leader that Arsenal really needs.

Fabregas is young and he's a brilliant player himself but not a captain like Tony Adams, Roy Keane, John Terry, or even Veira. When Arsenal are under pressure, he himself at times looks for inspiration.

It wouldn't have been bad for Arsenal to sign a superstar like a Ronaldinho. Some say he's beyond his time but he's someone all the players can look up to and learn. His recent hat trick in the Seria A gave us a glimpse of what he's capable of.

But then again, its like an unspoken policy of Mr. Wenger, not to sign superstars. By the way..he did sign a star in January last year and it sure paid dividends, Andrei Arshavin, who now finds himself at the core of the present Arsenal team has been a super signing.

Van Persie injury has been a big blow to Arsenal but it was all in front of Wenger even before the season started. The gunners never had attacking options. Their strike force was Van Persie, Eduardo, Bendtner, and a young Carlos Vela. If you think that's good enough, compare it to United, Chelsea, or even Spurs or Manchester City now, you'd find the difference.

Why sell Emmanuel Adabayor and Kolo Toure when you really don't have cover in defense and in attack. Thomas Vemaelen has been brought, but if he has an injury, is there anyone good enough in the squad to fill the void?

So, the question lies why not go and buy when you have £30m in the bank, especially a defender, ideally a forward and a winger as well.

At least this season, Arsenal according to me are not title contenders and I think they will run out of gas at the end of the season. For Arsenal to be able to contest for the premiership again in the near future, the gunners need serious reinforcements and Arsene Wenger again must go out to buy a ESTABLISHED star.