Arsene Wenger Needs To Knuckle Down, Be Mean in Order for Arsenal To Succeed

As Arsenal succumbed to a shocking 3-2 home defeat at the hands of newly promoted West Bromwich Albion, it was the same story for the Gunners. A lack of presence in between the posts along with lacklustre defending ensured Arsenal began early signings of faltering this campaign.

Despite another atrocious performance from keeper Manuel Almunia, who was at fault for two of the three strikes, Wenger failed to come hard down on the shaky Spaniard, insisting his faith was still fully towards the 33 year old and that the goalkeeper is an easy target.

Nevertheless Almunia suffered an elbow injury and will miss the upcoming Champions League clash against Partizan Belgrade, which ensures deputy Lukasz Fabianski steps up to the main plate. Fabianski is another player Wenger has failed to address properly. The Polish has had a torrid time at Arsenal since joining in 2007. 

Despite appearing 37 times, a majority of those performances have been horrid, consisting of vital errors at vital times. But on every occasion Wenger has not once faulted Fabianski's errors. Both Fabianski and Almunia have a tendency to make simple errors as well as failing to deal with corners and set pieces, yet week in week out they are defended and replayed despite Wenger boasting two of the most promising young goalkeepers in Europe.

Those goalkeepers, Vito Mannone and Wojciech Szczensy, are both touted as future Arsenal number ones. In their slim opportunities at Arsenal and on loan, they have proven to be a talented duo. Despite witnessing the "experienced" keepers falter on a rotating basis, neither man has been given the opportunity or responsibility to prove their worth at the top level, instead awaiting chances in the reserves and League Cup.

Szczensy, who is seen by Wenger as the future of the Arsenal keeping ranks, has grown frustrated by the lack of opportunities, threatening to leave in the winter. But yet Wenger still fails to realise this and refuses to be "mean" and actually drop players.

It is not only the goalkeeper ranks where Wenger fails to be blessed with a backbone. Emmanuel Eboue has consistently been utilized as a winger and on occasion it has benefited the Arsenal attack. The Ivorian is blessed with speed and balance alongside a handy cross. 

However, more often than not the 27 year old is somewhat of a liability, constantly wasteful in possession and failing to pick simple and needed passes. It is almost an insult to the overgrowing list of talented teenagers lavishing in the reserves awaiting opportunities.

The likes of Henri Lansbury, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Sanchez Watts, Nacer Barazite, and Fran Merida are all talented wingers, but the latter three were forced on loan or sold in Merida's case whilst Thomas and Lansbury have to look to Cup football for chances.

Andrei Arshavin has been another example. The Russian has been one of the most lacklustre players in the Arsenal lineup for the past months, yet Wenger has shown no signings of changing or replacing the Russian magician.

Granted Arshavin has been among the goals and does boast the brilliance to make something out of nothing, but too often of late the 29 year old has shown traits of laziness, poor control, and a general disinterested.

Even with the impressive form of Carlos Vela and the presence of the highly renown youngsters, Wenger has not shifted or even dropped Arshavin, which raises questions about the general depth of the squad.

It is early in the season and Arsenal are a team that should never be written off, but all agree it is finally time for Wenger to show some fire towards his players rather than other managers and officials.