Early on Diaby’s deflected header hit the cross bar.  Around 36 minutes Eboue came off injured and Vela came on.  I think Wegner should consider starting Vela.  If Alex Song can start for Arsenal, then Vela is definitely capable of starting too.  Toure then had his over the shoulder shot blocked by a one cleated Collins.  Later, after some good work on the right flank, a through ball was hit to Adebayor who some how missed the target all together.  It looked like a certain goal, but like I said in my last post, Adebayor of this year is much more wasteful with his chances than he was last year.  Maybe being selected to the PFA team of the year went to his head or something.  Adebayor then had a golden chance to redeem himself with an open header, but all he could do was hit it to the keeper.  Van Persie was subbed in for Bendtner, but I think it was too little too late by then.  Also, what was Arsene thinking, not starting Van Persie this game?  He has been the source of all our goals this calendar year.  Maybe Wenger has accepted we are done this season in the league and is trying to make sure he doesn’t get hurt for the FA Cup or the Champions Leauge.  He must figure that the CL and FA Cup are our last chances for any silverware this season.  It has been too long since we have won a trophy and I am willing to settle for anything right now honestly.

Fast forward to the summer.  Flamini, one of the most important parts of our teams, is linked with Milan.  We could have offered more money after he refused our deal, but instead, we stood by our principles and look where that has got us.  Gilberto was let go, though I don’t think that was that bad of decision.  He was showing his age, and although I was/am very fond of him as a player, we didn’t really need him except for the odd game.  Finally there was the whole Hleb saga.  Although Hleb didn’t score that many goals (11 in 3 years),  he was really good at providing a killer pass and retaining the ball.  His control was second to none, and we still miss that.  Not to mention his experience, as he was one of our older players.

So there I am, expecting us to buy a new outside midfielder and another tough tackling center midfielder.  At the end of the day, we ended up with a guy who couldn’t get a first team game in a second rate league, a kid who can’t vote yet, and only one person who we include in our starting 11.  Something is desperately wrong with this picture.

Now to this season.  I’m going to go through it player by player.

Samir Nasri

Nasri was a good buy, and is a suitable replacement to Hleb.  He is capable of scoring goals, something Hleb wasn’t, and he is also able to assist when needed.  Although he may not have the ball control as Hleb, it is still up there with the best, and he is still young and has time to improve.  One of our stand outs this season, thinks me.

Then there is Cesc with him in the midfield.  Undeniably our best player.  He pulls all the strings to our offense, and is undervalued as a defender too.  He is mature beyond his years, soccer-wise, and has great vision and experience that is vital to our team.  After he was hurt in the Liverpool game, it was obvious how much we struggled to create on offense.  No one else on the team, maybe the world, has an eye for a pass like he does.

Next to him is Denilson.  It’s obvious that he works hard for the club.  It seems like he runs himself to empty every game.  But he is no Flamini.  If anything, he is another, lesser Cesc.  That may be why is seems to be struggling, but we need someone else to play that position.  He seems like he can be good in the future, but not now.  He just isn’t a center defensive mid, something that we so desperately need.

Right mid.  There Rosicky (hurt), Walcott(hurt), and Eboue(hurt shit).  So we are obviously struggling a little bit in that area.  Recently we have been playing Song in the middle and Denilson on the side.  Once again, this makes Denilson have to play out of position.  And how the hell is someone like Song able to break into Arsenal’s first team consistently?  I’m not trying to be mean, but he is really bad.  A team of Arsenal’s quality shouldn’t have someone like him in the starting line up week in and week out.

Up front there is Adeybayor, who despite not scoring as regularly as he did last season, still finds himself our top scorer with 12 goals.  He seems to be more wasteful this season with his chances.  Opportunities that he would have put away routinely last year are now being hit right at the keeper or wide (look at recent West Ham game).  Still one of better players.  I just hope that he doesn’t pull the same shenanigans this summer that he did last time, otherwise he may see himself sold.

Robin Van Persie

Now for RVP.  Since his brace at Stamford Bridge, he has simply been on fire.  He has been either scored or assisted every single goal that Arsenal has scored in January.  It’s obvious why.  Besides Cesc and Nasri, he is one of our only player who can creative enough to create chances for themselves or others.  I can’t understand why he wasn’t started in the West Ham game, especially considering his form and our need for points.  Aston Villa had drawn and it was a good opportunity for us to gain on them.   Instead we messed that up.

Our defence.  Of all the things things I thought coming in this season, I thought, at least we won’t concede goals.  We came in with the two outside backs of last year,  a world cup winner, and a center defender who was part of our “Invincible” campaign.  Where did it all go wrong?  This season we seem way to soft at the back.  Clichy, I hate to say it, seems worse than last season.  Gallas is apparently afraid of aerial challenges (Fulham) and makes dumb mistakes (Aston Villa penalty).  He is supposed to be our most experienced defender.  He should be setting an example, not losing us points.  Toure is not the man he used to be, unfortunately.  Apparently, Man City offered us £15.  I think we should take this and buy another center defender.  Sagna has been one of the only bright spots this season for us on defense, but I don’t think he is as good as last year either.  Maybe I am just biased to last year.  I don’t know.

By the way, I heard that Cesc may be coming back soon, which should really help us out.