I’m sure you must have heard it by now. In an interview with Sky Sports, Lucas Torreira – God bless him – says Arsenal deserves Champions League football:
[su_quote cite=”Sky Sports” url=”https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11629848/lucas-torreira-says-big-club-arsenal-deserve-to-finish-in-the-top-four”]”Qualifying is something which is very much on our minds. The squad is focused on qualifying for the Champions League because a big club like Arsenal deserves to be in that competition…”[/su_quote]
I find such a statement given the current situation of things at the club, scandalous to say the least.
Do we really deserve champions league football a’la top four?
According to Sascha P from SportsBettingDime.com, Arsenal are only being given 3/1 odds to finish in the top four of the EPL. While Arsenal are three points back of Chelsea for fourth (and a point back of fifth-place Man U), Sascha says there’s some reason for optimism. Chelsea still have away matches with Man City, Liverpool and United remaining. Arsenal only have one match left against a top-four team (Tottenham, away). Arsenal also get Man United at the Emirates, a prime spot to leapfrog the Red Devils. Fifteen points behind Liverpool with 13 matches remaining, a league title is far out of reach, but a spot in the Champions League is anything but.
….
Thank you Sascha, but, I’m not so sure that’s enough and here’s why:
Arsenal’s Shambolic Defence
Any sensible fan you ask – because there are the incredulous lot – will tell you, or agree that we have a problem with our defence. And it’s not just the defenders.
Remember our game against Chelsea where we defended as a team?
Everybody tracked back, even Aubameyang pushed back and tackled in Arsenal’s final third. It was a tight unit; we gave Chelsea no chance to play their game.
Then there’s the obvious handicap we have in the actual defence. Koscielny has been amazing, not only is he defending like his life depends on it, he’s scoring goals.
But we have to admit that he’s ageing and is running on reserve tank.
Then there’s Mustafi, a defender who we need to sell. His game isn’t atrocious but, for the amount we bought him, I expect much more than he’s giving.
Sokratis has been fantastic as has been Holding and Bellerin before their injuries. Without them, our defence hasn’t been a defence.
Arsenal’s Dismal Transfer Business
Emmanuel Petit has been quite vocal about this issue. He told Sky Sports:
[su_quote cite=”Sky Sports” url=”https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11628668/emmanuel-petit-criticises-arsenals-lack-of-january-transfer-activity”]”The frustration level must be very high for Emery, as in only his second transfer window as Arsenal manager he was told he cannot sign anybody,” Petit told Independent.ie. “You look at the money Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City spend and unless you join them and put the cash on the table to compete for the best players, you are going nowhere. “Tottenham are not spending money but they are in the position Arsenal were in a few years ago – building a stadium – but there is no excuse for Arsenal now.”[/su_quote]
And it gets worse with rumours filtering in that Arsenal’s management have given Unai Emery only £45m for the summer.
And, Mislintat has left the Arsenal, one of the few people who can somehow Houdini the transfer market with such funds. Enough said.
[poll id=”63”]
