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| Captain Van-tastic has led by example |
Match day 5 of the Champions League group rounds has come and gone and the only English club to have clinched a place in the round of 16 is the "crisis club" Arsenal. In fact, not only are they through, they have clinched the top spot in their group with a game in hand. Meanwhile the Sheikh's loyal subjects at Man City are praying for a miracle to go through, while both Chelsea and Man U are not guaranteed anything with one game to go.
Arsenal have won 5 straight league matches and have moved from an early season low of 17th up to 7th and level on points with Liverpool and Chelsea. Robin Van Persie has continued his prolific scoring run and with Vermaelen back in the fold, the defense is getting tighter and the newer members of the squad are gelling with the rest of their teammates.
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| Chelsea defeated at Stamford Bridge as RVP Nets a Hatrick |
While nothing has been won yet and there's still plenty to play for, Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have not only qualified for the Champions League round of 16, they have done so for the 12th straight year...a very difficult thing to accomplish that consistently. Personally, I am sick of hearing the tired complaint that "Arsenal haven't won a trophy in 6 years". Birmingham has and now they are in England's second tier. Portsmouth won a trophy 3 years ago. Since then they have gone in to administration and are currently 18th in the Championship. I'd rather be Arsenal than either of those clubs and others like them. Yes Arsenal have come close and failed but they keep challenging at the highest level year after year while fly by night teams come and go.
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| Arsenal are the only English team to secure a place in the round of 16 so far |
Man City, Tottenham and Liverpool may currently sit above Arsenal in the EPL table, but 2 of them are not playing Champions League football. Meanwhile, the one that is, Man City, is probably on their way out and only got there by buying every player under the sun and running up a record one year loss of 194.4 pounds. Of course trophies are what every fan wants for their club, but I think having a highly competitive team year in and year out is a major achievement that only several top flight teams have been able to do.
Anyhow, just for laughs here is what the media was reporting 2 months ago and how their tune has changed since:
NY Times September 14 The Worst of Times After Years of Success
November 23 Arsenal, Leverkusen and Apoel Advance
Fox Soccer October 2 Once Proud Arsenal is a Club in Crisis
November 23 CL Review: Arsenal Best of English Clubs
The Telegraph October 3 Arsenal Crisis Worsens After Bacary Sagna is Sidelined
November 25 The Train Wreck Days are Over and Now Arsene Wenger,
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| Alex Song and Robin Van Persie score against B Dortmund |
The Guardian September 27 Arsenal Injury Crisis Threatens To Derail Season, Says
League Defence: Arsène Wenger's team have a solidity at
the back that United, City and Chelsea must wish they
could summon themselves
the back that United, City and Chelsea must wish they
could summon themselves
Daily Mail September 18 Wenger in Crisis! It's Arsenal's Worst Start For 58 Years
Express September 10 Arsene Wenger: My Hell
BBC Sport September 9 Alan Shearer On Why Arsenal's Problems Are Not Over
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| Alex Song runs through Borussia Dortmund |
Independent September 18 Defensive Shambles Deepens Arsenal Crisis
November 25 Arsenal Back On Song After Summer Woes
The Sun August 23 Antonio Di Natale Thinks Arsenal Are In Deep Crisis***
November 24 Has Arsene Wenger Turned Corner? Arsenal 2
November 24 Alex Song: Why Are You So Harsh On Arsenal?**
Football Talk October 7 Arsenal ARE In Crisis...Wenger Has To GO!
November 24 Who'd Have Thought It Would End Up Like This?
Just Arsenal.Com September 18 Wenger Is Leading Arsenal To Mid-table Mediocrity
November 25 The author has not posted a new article since October
I also discovered this website wengerout.com which has not been updated since October 5th.
***Di Natale and Udinese were easily dispatched by Arsenal
**Alex Song was a beast in Arsenal's win over Dortmund. His run to set up RVP's first goal was
insane and his defending and midfield presence were massive throughout the entire 90 minutes.
insane and his defending and midfield presence were massive throughout the entire 90 minutes.
Up the Gunners. Come on Arsenal.
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| Theo Walcott is teaming well with Gervinho and Van Persie |
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