Gooners' Views: Catching Up With "Little Dutch"

Gooners' Views is a forum for Gooners to air their views about all things Arsenal.

There are a variety of community based football networks out there, but Vital Football is one with great readership and quality. Vital Arsenal is no different.

I managed to catch up with one of the leading writers at Vital Arsenal—Tim Stillman, who regularly attends all the Arsenal matches (home and away), is a passionate Gooner and writes a column on Vital Arsenal. He is incredibly opinionated, and writes some very thought provoking pieces.

Here are his thoughts on Arsenal, and the season so far.

1. It has been an inconsistent season for Arsenal until now—what do you attribute this to—the lack of experience in the team, or just poor levels or concentration in the games so far?

A bit of both to be honest. I do believe we lack experience and leadership, but having said that against Hull we clearly lost our focus and Fulham was just abject in every department.

We don't really have enough players to steer the ship when things are going wrong, though that's why I believed somebody like Silvestre was a good signing. The plain fact is, our team and our squad is not as good as Manchester United's or Chelsea's, it really is as simple as that. 

2. You watch every game at the Emirates Stadium—or the "Grove"—is the atmosphere really as flat as it seems on television? 

The atmosphere is flat, but I'm not sure I could name an English ground that has a persistently good atmosphere. The demographic of football has changed, physically and psychologically. Atmosphere is a product of a bygone age at football grounds now and I think we should probably accept that. No club is better or worse than anyone else in any division. 

3. Do you really believe that this team lacks height? It has been one of the criticisms leveled against Arsenal recently - and all the players don't seem to believe that it is a problem - your thoughts?

Yes it is obviously a problem, neither of our centre halves are aerially dominant and none of our midfielders are either. I've long felt that Senderos should have been a first choice at Arsenal, he is not a better centre half than Gallas or Toure, but he is better for the team.

It's no coincidence that our best runs of form in the last three years have coincided with Senderos' prolonged inclusion in the side. Our lack of height is an identifiable weakness that every team looks to exploit, most succeed too. 

4. Do you think that Arsenal will find the consistency required to win the Premiership this season? 

No, like I said the squad is not good enough depth wise. We've lost more experienced players in the summer and not replaced them, I'm not sure why, but we seem to be crossing our fingers and praying that someone like Denilson or Song can instantly come in and play 60 games consistently well. I think we are in another transition phase to be honest, which could easily have been offset with a couple of quality additions.

5. Should William Gallas retain his place in the team after some dodgy performances?

His time out injured may do him good, he has not played well this season. We have a number of first choice players under performing and I am afraid that is a symptom of not having competition for places. 

Dropping Gallas may have been a worthwhile statement from the manager that he is not afraid to take action against senior players. There again, Gallas has admitted he has played poorly and one of his greatest commodities is that he never shies away from a situation.

I'd back him to turn it around, but if Silvestre or Djourou flourish in his absence, I wouldn't rush him back into the side.

6. What about Robin van Persie—do you think that his past injuries are the reason for his average performances this season?

No, I just do not think he is a particularly altruistic player. If he has his shooting boots on it's great, but when he misses chances, you notice that he fore goes the opportunity to pass to better placed teammates. 

He also has a broad history of falling out with team mates which suggests he's a bit of an individual and players like that will usually be sketchy unless they are a bonafide genius such as Cantona or Maradona. That said, he has improved the team aspect of his game of late and I would encourage and expect him to continue that approach.

7. It's too early to tell—but, how do you see the Premiership panning out? 

I see Chelsea winning it and comfortably, by six or seven points at least. Scolari is a quality coach and what made me take notice was their lack of transfer activity over the summer.

Instead of making wholesale changes, Scolari identified a couple of decent players, shipped out a little bit of deadwood and now you see that Chelsea have an impressive continuity that they haven't had under Abramovich. Mourinho was abysmal in the transfer market and consequently, he couldn't improve on what Ranieri had left him, meaning his empire came to a halt very early on.

Scolari identified one or two areas and generally trusted the players he has inherited.

I see Newcastle getting relegated and good riddance, Villa will make a decent charge to 5th place. But the bottom will be fascinating, Hull, Stoke and West Brom have shown they will be nobody's whipping boys, there are no "Derby's" this year, which means perceived bigger boys in trouble such as Newcastle and Spurs have to take their predicaments very seriously.

I think we will finish third, but I have a feeling we'll go well in the Champions' League.

8. Should Wenger have bitten the bullet and signed a defensive midfielder in the summer to replace Mathieu Flamini?

Absolutely 100% yes. He obviously tried to be a bit too smart and wait until deadline day to make his move so as to cut the price of any acquisition, but ended up with egg on his face. Losing Diarra, Gilberto, and Flamini and not replacing any of them has, quite simply, cost us any chance of competing for the title. I strongly believe that. 

9. Cesc Fabregas has looked off-colour this season—perhaps a partner better than Denilson may have helped him?

There's truth in that, but I always expected Cesc to be a little below par. It's par of the course post international tournament and the fact that our paucity of midfield options in August caused us to rush him into the start of the season was a big factor in him getting injured too.

There's so much responsibility on him now, his performances will pick up, but Wenger has put the team in a situation now whereby Fabregas is absolutely 100% indispensable, simply because we do not have any kind of replacement bar Ramsey.

He can handle that mentally, but I doubt he'll handle it physically and I shudder to think how the team will cope when he inevitably picks up knocks.

10. Does Aaron Ramsey have a case for his inclusion in the starting XI after his sterling performances in the games for the Wales Under-21 team? 

Not yet, he needs to do it in the first team. He'll get there, but he's fine on the bench and in the Carling Cup for the moment. 

11. Cesc has stated that Arsenal "don't play too much skillful stuff"—your thoughts on the midfielder's apparent frustration?

We have to adopt a more cautious approach because we don't have a defensive midfielder, as evidenced by the bizarre 4-5-1 against Sunderland. The lack of a buffer in the middle of the park inhibits our game greatly and subsequently, Cesc is less liberated. We have also lost Hleb who was key in terms of ball retention and keeping a balance in midfield we seem to lack this year. 

12. Finally, on a lighter note, St. Totteringhams Day seems like it will arrive a lot sooner than expected this season, won't it?

I expect to be celebrating it with my Christmas sherry! Perhaps finally, their fans will learn a lesson about pre season humility. 

Thanks a lot Tim—it was a pleasure having you here at Bleacher Report.