Here came the Sun(derland)

At the end of the long and tardy interlull, otherwise known as international break, we were back with a weekend of pure football. Firstly, I have to hand it to the way internationals are being managed. I honestly believe fans seem more excited about each week being a football week after the end of season than in the one week break of internationals. We look forward to friendlies, some new faces coming in, a promise of a beckoning new dawn and similar such rays of hope that point to a new beginning at the end of a season. But the internationals, and especially the friendlies, they just get me down. They give me such an insurmountable empty feeling, it seems untrue. It’s almost as if sat on a giant wheel. I go up a little, and they stop to fill the remaining seats on the giant wheel. I am waiting to just get done with this routine, painful exercise and get back to a full speed adrenalin journey.

Back to our fixture on Sunday. On paper, it was as good a game for us to start getting some points in the season. Sunderland has been one of the few teams of the league with a worse record than us since February. Steve Bruce was one of the few managers who had a worse transfer window than us. I just wished our old boys were as loyal as Steve Bruce. The way Steve Bruce has strived to keep the wage bill of Manchester United under control, it is worth a special mention. John O Shea, Wes Brown, Kieran Richardson, who not!

 A goal straight from kick off. We were looking very sharp in the first 30 minutes and then Sunderland had their first attack. Our confidence evaporated faster than alcohol at 120 C. This team is probably the only team in the entire of this planet, who could score the first goal in 30 seconds, yet only labour to a 2-1 win. I sincerely believe this team needs to see a shrink. Our innate ability of not having the ability to defend does not seem to be a lack of talent at all. Per Mertesacker and Koscielny in a Man United/ Chelsea/ AC Milan shirt would have had us raving about the number of clean sheets they can manage. But, at Arsenal, the belief is not there. The belief that our centre backs are good enough is not there. Not amongst the players, the staff, the supporters, no one. We do not believe that we can keep a clean sheet. I sincerely think our defense is not as bad as the players or the supporters believe they are. They need to have some confidence shots. Unfortunately, that comes only from keeping clean sheets. Chicken and egg, someone! The only player who looks disastrous in defense to me is Carl Jenkinson. He is currently playing like a cultured Eboue without the latter’s pace to track back. Perennially caught out of position with players running beyond him! From what I remember, the majority of the opposition’s attacks were sparked on his flank. He is too young and raw to be playing for our first team. If my memory serves right, Coquelin played at right back as well, while on loan last year. It seems a better solution than pushing Jenkinson on the firing line. Once Vermaelen is fit, Koscielny could go into the right back position as well.

The real bright spark of the second half was Arshavin. He looked like he cared and was full of mazy runs. Van Persie’s free kick apart, Arshavin was the best player of the second half. He should be rewarded with a start against Marseille on Wednesday. Arshavin always fancies a game against European opposition. Gervinho was too anonymous after the first 30 minutes to merit a start again. Moreover, he is a very familiar opponent for Marseille and could be nullified. In the middle of the park, Arteta continued to look solid without looking dangerous. During his brief Arsenal career, his performance would never go below 6/10, but does not seem to go over 7/10 either. He is a much better player than what he is showcasing to the Arsenal fans. Hopefully, he unleashes it soon. Rosicky had one of his best games in probably three- four years. Song was immense in the middle as usual.

Marseille should be a good, open game. Hopefully, the result goes our way. And for Gods’ sake, hope, people other than Van Persie also chip in with the goals!