Midway through April and out of all competitions, fighting to regain our top 4 status, it’s a feeling that we always hope to move past but seemingly get dragged back in almost like we’re magnets to mediocrity. Things change, problems seemingly get fixed and more relentlessly arise.
In recent seasons Arsenal have been scrutinized for shining against smaller teams and going missing against big teams yet this season our record vs big sides is decent and we’ve become inconsistent against the smaller teams, why can’t we find the formula to be consistent?
Gimli (@GoonerGimli) is lucky to still be alive as he was asleep under a mushroom when a strong gush of wind blew it over and it nearly crushed the poor boy but he is joined by :
As the embers of our flickering title challenge were extinguished by the 7-minute hat trick of Andy Carroll at the weekend, attention shifted from the fragile mentality of one last chance to catch Leicester to the reasons for our diabolical shortfall this season.
The questions have gained in momentum since conspiring to lose at Old Trafford and the subsequent insipid display versus Swansea at home. Although the signs were arguably there already, those results consigned many supporters to the inevitable outcome of a fourth place trophy (perhaps third).
When he arrived at Arsenal it would be fair to say that Andries Jonker caused something of a stir. In an interview with Dutch publication, Voetbal International, the new head of Arsenal’s academy laid out the problems in front of him and he did not hold back.
“Arsenal want more talented players to come through, because that has been lacking,” Jonker said in September 2014. “They want me to develop the players from the academy much better than it was done before.
“At this moment, considering the investments the club have made, players have hardly been developed properly. This is why they wanted me, a man who can guide the coaches and who can influence the other coaches.”