Arsenal’s anxiety
You’d call it the same old story except a start to the season as awful as this is unprecedented for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. They’ve now lost three times in five games. And, despite the fact they’ve played Liverpool and Manchester United, they’ve also played a promoted team and one of the favourites for relegation.
Blackburn, of course, deserve a lot of credit. This was an admirable response to the ructions of the week when the fans demanded the sacking of Steve Kean. Kean himself also showed some mettle with an inspired substitution to bring off the impressive Rochina for Olsson. The latter’s energy and drive created the game’s key goal. And, when the chance was presented, Blackburn didn’t shirk it. They took the game to Arsenal.
In saying all of that, Arsenal have only themselves to blame – and for so many reasons. Their defence was an utter mess yet again. There is, admittedly, a caveat in the fact 50% of it – Mertesacker and Santos – must still settle in. But it was the basic nature of the errors. Their line was all over the place, as evident with Squillaci last season. Wenger hasn’t had anyone work on his defence properly since the run to the Champions League final in 2005-06. According to reliable sources, he doesn’t like other coaches accumulating power other than himself. And that’s what Keown was doing in that run. But they need to repeat it. They were in control of this game until their defence collapsed.
And yet, Arsenal could still have sown up the game. There’s no accounting for the gilt-edged chances that all of Mertesacker, Van Persie and Chamakh missed. And this wasn’t even a typical case of failing to pull the trigger. They just aimed badly.
A combination of those flaws, however, has meant that Arsenal are now fifth from bottom. Worse, they’re showing relegation form. Since the Carling Cup final their run has been as follows: DDDWDDLWLLDDLLWL. That’s 16 points from 16 games and only three wins.
It is, of course, far too premature to speak of that Carling Cup defeat as something of a final turning point in Wenger’s Arsenal career. But unless he starts to acknowledge – let alone solve – problems that are obvious to almost everyone else, then it will be hard to think otherwise.
Certainly, qualifying for the Champions League for a 14th successive season is going to be a formidable task.
Season settling
On that note, a sign that the season is beginning to even out everywhere else: Blackburn, Norwich and Swansea got their first wins with the latter also getting their first goals.
Up in the air
The question for Bolton, however, is whether today’s defeat to Norwich actually hurts more than the destruction at the feet of Manchester United. Much has been talked, after all, of how Coyle has rightfully raised expectations at the Reebok. And, while heavy defeats to United will never be a huge shock, a team with their notions should really be expected to defeat a promoted side at home. Bolton appear to have regressed slightly though. For all they’ve missed Holden in midfield, it’s at the opposite ends that they look shortest. In defence, the presence of the hapless Zat Knight has meant they can barely defend any high balls into the box. Both of Norwich’s goals came in the air today. At the other end, for all that Coyle got them to play quicker passes, they still resort to the long route too often – and that was even after Kevin Davies went off today. Again, while it’s far too premature to be making any kind of proclamations, Bolton don’t quite look like the side of last season.
Little comfort drawn
Speaking of premature reactions, Aston Villa greeted a 1-1 score against a similar-level side with boos. But then this issue goes deeper than a home draw. For them, aside from his Birmingham connections, McLeish is only conforming to expectations. Although undeniably solid, his teams struggle to score and are seemingly built for draws. Admittedly, there were patches today when the produced some improved, fluid football – not least the sleek first-half move that ended with Darren Bent shooting wide. But they still lack a player to take the final step. And, as evidenced by McLeish’s previous job in the Premier League, it is justifiably doubtful whether he can ever provide it.
Take it as Given
How good was Shay Given again though? It’s between him or Begovic for keeper of the season so far.
Newcastle, meanwhile, can draw similar solace from their superb midfield two of Cabaye and Tiote.
Kings of Queens
Pre-season predictions are always dangerous. Throughout the season, a manager might get sacked, a better might be brought in, a key player might get injured or a team-changing signing might be made. In QPR’s case, the latter has happened five-fold. Before this season began we had them to go down on the evidence at the time. But, since then, they’ve radically altered their squad. After Monday’s surprising 0-0 draw with Newcastle (in the sense that they didn’t score), Neil Warnock promised today that those signings would bear fruit. And they certainly did with an emphatic 3-0 win at Wolves. On this evidence, they can forget about relegation and start looking a lot further up the table.
Wolves at the door
How long ago does Wolves’ fine start to the season already seem though? That international break couldn’t have come at a worse time for them. Having won seven points from three unbeaten games before then, they’ve now lost two in a row and are looking more like the team that toiled to stay in the division last year.
Strike it lucky
That’s the benefit of actually playing a forward then. Apostolos Vellios may be a teenager and may be adjusting to the Premier League, but he provided Everton with a badly needed cutting edge. After so many pre-season fears, however, David Moyes, too, is showing that he is too good a manager for Everton fans to ever worry about relegation again while he is at the club.
