Last Gasp Cesc Knocks Keane Cold

If last week was a teleportation to 2 seasons ago, today’s visit to the Stadium of Light was a throwback to late Emirates comebacks that have sprinkled the past two seasons with Gooner heartattacks.

As ever, the story was a trillion Arsenal attacks, with no goals for 90 minutes. Cesc’s first goals of the season came in added time. Just the potion needed to save Arsenal from a consecutive defeat, that rare entity that Tottenham Hotspur cherish delightfully under Juande Ramos.

Almunia made a fine early save when Walcott’s woefully short backpass gave Djibril Cisse a sight of goal but the Spanish custodian came off his line quickly to smother the shot.

Almunia was called into action again to tip Cisse’s 25-yard stinging diagonal drive over the crossbar as Sunderland started brightly with only a superb tackle by Kolo Toure preventing Dean Whitehead from reaching an astute pass by Steed Malbranque.

Arsenal improved as the half went on and Fabregas’ long-range drive was well held by Gordon and the Scottish keeper also clawed away Walcott’s fierce centre across the six-yard box. Walcott and Denilson also screwed 25-yard shots wide of the far post while Andy Reid was unable to capitalise after finding space at the back post with Cisse’s cross just a little too high for the Irish midfielder to control first time.

Then came controversy. Theo Walcott’s pace decieved Chimbonda before pulling back in the nick of time for Van Persie to score from 6 yards. However, the referee chalked off the goal, deeming Theo’s cross over the line. Replays suggested a clear contrary. Time for video refereeing, Platini?

Cesc was back to his best, although he will soon need a rest for all his persistance and endevour. A lack of pre-season and demands on a young body will one day hit Cesc were it hurts. For now, the Arsenal faltering machine need their jewel.

In the 86th minute, sub Leadbitter scored stunningly from 20 yards or so with his first touch, sending the home crowd into raptures. But there was always hope with Arsenal’s domineering attack. Cesc’s header came and went, but even that wasn’t the last of the chances. Straight from the restart Gallas had a chance as Gordon fumbled the ball, which he did all day. The Arsenal attack, for all its glittering individuals, was saved by their midfield presence.

Not bad, but more simplicity needed in the box. As ever.

Anelka: Arsenal will bounce back

Former Gunner Le Sulk has been having his say on everything narrowed towards meltdown in the footballing world. EuroSport blogger Anelka thinks Arsenal will bounce back from the shock defeat, and thinks there is no need to panic. Here is his full interview;

At the weekend, Chelsea faced a team who play in what you could call a typical English style. Stoke kept a lot of men behind the ball and tried to counter-attack whenever they could.

Every time that they had the opportunity, they would get the ball wide and try and put crosses in for their big guys, which is when they are at their most dangerous. And when those centres are blocked, they have a chance to get the long throws that they are becoming famous for.

But Chelsea won the match by controlling it from start to finish, from end to end. We played like we usually do, by defending as a team, attacking as a team and by having that extra quality, both as individuals and collectively.

I think that extra quality makes the difference, even in tough clashes like these. Another side with that extra quality also played against a typically English team. But Arsenal lost at home to Hull City. Now that was a big, big surprise!

What I mean is that Arsenal’s defeat was surprising - not the fact that Hull won. Hull winning is completely believable, because from the beginning of this season they have had some pretty impressive results and performances.

But it is unusual because, only the week before, Arsenal went to one of those difficult places in the North, where people say they struggle. But they still won against a very physical Bolton side.

The thing is, Hull played really well, scored a great goal and, to be fair, Arsenal missed a lot of opportunities to kill the game off. Maybe Arsenal still have that slightly shaky side to them when they play physical, aggressive sides like Hull. But they are a young team, a team that is learning very quickly.

So I am sure that next time they have a similar type of game, they will have learned from their mistakes and worked out how to win it.

Arsenal will bounce back from this.”

Indeed, doth hast belief.

Tigerish Boyancy Just What The Doctor Ordered

Quite frankly, I saw this coming after the Fulham defeat. Though, no-one saw this coming after our brilliant recent form and a new, bolstered defence. Many post mortems have been carried out, but little will find the true answers as to why. Every Tom, Dick and Harry has had his say. Nows mine.

If history is anything to go by, and especially the Emirates history, how many times have Arsenal been accused of underestimating lower opposition? It was qouted by Phil Brown and his new moustache-do that Hull ‘lacked the technical ability and would utlitse physically’ their strengths. Having witnessed Hull’s newfound superioiry on its grip on the Premier League, Arsene was wary in his programme notes about the Tigers. Perhaps then, it was all a mirage, like when one is thirsty and wants instant gratification, but only finds the bitter, humble sand to drink.

Our defence play, I have to say, has been changed and wasn’t bad yesterday. In the first half City were caught many times offside; a tightening of the Arsenal backline reminiscent of the ‘Old Guard’. However, what Toure and Gallas failed to do was fight for the headers, the so called ‘50/50’s’. If Phil Brown’s words were anything to go by, Gallas should have warned his pretenders. But there is more. Hull fielded an attacking threesome in midfield, with Daniel Cousin and Giovanni spearing the attack. Both are grossly underestimated, and both groslly scored in 2 minutes.

What was needed wasn’t Van Persie, but a Nicklas Bendner willing to head the ball and offer a fight and more selfish play. What was needed wasn’t Eboue but a jack Wilshere offering both skill and presence. However, in the cold light of Sunday, it is easy to say this. The 6-0 demolishment of Sheffield United was done by a whole team of youngsters; what was the likelehood of any starting agiasnt rejuvenated Hull? Once again I find myself resorting to the physical aspect, but there was no physical aspect which was lost, indeed only found by the Young Guns in recent games. All that was lacking was some Tiger spirit. What Hull didn’t have in technical ability they sure compensated for it, and Arsenal should have done vice-versa.

Watching Arsenal was like going back a year or two. Fustration with a slow approach. Indeed, Arsenal ping the ball about looking for they key. Once that didn’t work, why wasn’t plan B used? It seemed we HAD a plan B finally this year. Obviously, either Gooners are fickle as to the team’s preperation or subconiously, the XI thought they could cruise past the Tigers. IN fairness, 99 percent of both parties of support - and the neutrals - would have given their mortages on a home banker. This shock defeat just goes to show the romance of football, that once in a while some phlem coughs up in your face and it aint at all brilliant, but in hindsight in may just be a blessing in disguise for the lacklustre Gunnners. The Harlem Globetrotters need to reboot their engine with Arsene’s motivation manifesto. Perhaps Fleet Street shoukd post it back to London Colney.

In essense, the performance wasn’t bad. It was the end product that kills Gooners. Like everything in life, there are pro’s and con’s. Over the past few weeks we’ve witnessed the blissful Pro’s of Arsene’s philosophy. Now we’ve engaged in another battle of endless crap from media and something our very own team. This was just what the doctor ordered. My heart isn’t bleeding of hurt, for I know through a purple nosed doctorine, the League ‘aint a race, it’s a marathon.’ Write us off at your peril.

The Revolutionary In Quick-Fix Era

Arsene Wenger has supplied English football with some of its most memorable moments in the last 12 years.

They include the crowning of his ‘Invincibles’ of 2003-2004 who went through an entire league season undefeated, and the scintillating shows of a series of teams who consistently have played the most eye-pleasing football the nation has witnessed.

But forget for a moment his three Premier League titles, his four FA Cups and Arsenal’s one appearance in the Champions League final.

His greatest gift to English football perhaps came at the Emirates Stadium when an Arsenal youth team, by and large, humiliated Sheffield United in the Carling Cup third round.

Not just because the teenagers drew a crowd of 56,632, but more because it was the night Wenger provided an alternative to the madness.

The 6-0 scoreline struck a blow for common sense. It sent out a message to the whole of football that there is still a place for artistry and managerial ingenuity in a world which for most has become a measure of who has the biggest chequebook and the deepest pockets.

There is, after all, another route to success other than throwing limitless cash at players, many of whom turn out to have limited talent.

Football is not all about the £30million and the rest gambled on such as Dimitar Berbatov and Robinho. It can be about the young stars picked up by a sophisticated scouting system and nurtured by an astute club.

It can be about the art of management.

True, you could say Wenger has been forced down the frugal route by Arsenal’s reluctance to break wage structures and their refusal or inability to splash silly money in an inflated market place.

But that would be to miss the essence of Wenger.

Many thought the Frenchman would be the next to leave Arsenal after his friend and closest ally David Dein was ousted from the club’s board when he attempted to take the Gunners down the foreign ownership route.

The main reason Wenger stayed was because of the kids. Because he could not envisage leaving to a successor the legacy he had built so painstakingly over the past decade.

And on Tuesday night that legacy was plain to see.

In the brilliant hat-trick of Mexican Carlos Vela, the two goals of Nicklas Bendtner and, most crucially, the performance of the seven British players, Gavin Hoyte, Kieran Gibbs, Mark Randall, Aaron Ramsey, Jay Simpson, Henri Lansbury and 16-year-old goalscorer Jack Wilshere who played a part in the victory.

One barb legitimately aimed at Wenger down the years, along with the fact that he suffers from selective myopia where his own players’ disciplinary flaws are concerned, is that he has led the chase for foreign talent to the detriment of the home nations, particularly the England side.

Wenger has always defended that accusation by claiming he does not look at a passport when gauging the values and qualities of a footballer and that is why his latest crop of youngsters are also exciting from a national perspective.

Make no mistake, in a football world increasingly filled with colliding billionaires, the Wenger route is a brave route. The task now is to ensure that the gifted ones take the extra step to Premier League stardom in the manner of Theo Walcott.

As Wenger said: “The biggest challenge is to keep them together and slowly integrate them into the first team.

“When you are under immense pressure to buy in every transfer window, you know that you have these players behind and it would be killing the work we have done.”

Which is why Wenger should be applauded.

And why he insists, whatever the pressure, he will stick with his youngsters all the way to the final of the Carling Cup.

Let’s hope he does. And let’s hope they and their commendable manager demonstrate to such as Roman Abramovich and Manchester City’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan that cash is not always king.

And that, contrary to what one famed TV pundit once said, you can win something with kids.

Emerging Eboue

 

Firstly, apologies all round for the lack of writing for god knows how long. Its the piss taking of the technological age when your computers at home goes AWOL. Now i’ve resorted to sitting at the local internet cafe. It feels new, but I geuss old habits will gradually die, however hard they may be.

The same is the case for Mister Meaner, growing new-force Emmanuel Eboue. For the past two seasons, the Ivorian has infuriated opposition and fans alike. His growing lack of respect and abysmal end-product has made him, to an undeserved extent, the court jester. However, all good things emerge from the blackest of times. As he slotted the ball to equalise agiasnt boo-boys Bolton, we finally saw a new, polished side to a new Eboue. Lets not forget, Eboue came on the cheap under the elusive Wenger radar in 2005. His lung-busting runs became a trait in the final season at highbury, and was even compared to legendary Brazilian full back ‘Garincha’. His energy and enthuasiam brang a new dimension in comparison to the steady Lauren and DIxon beforehand, and it suited the new Wengerball dynasty perfectly. However, his ‘diving’ prone started. Most notably in the Champions League final, but who would not have allowed that? For all his bad publicity, Eboue - as a right back - was always going to be prone to falling on his backside either way. That however, is little excuse.

In the first season at Ashburton Grove, Emmanuel continued his prime role in defence. One notable highlight was agiasnt Hamburg when the Germans fustrated despite us winning 1-0. On came Theo and Thierry; an exchange between Walcott and Eboue, the Ivorian hammered home a late winner from the apex of the box.  

Since then, the slope seems to have deviated backwards. The signing of Bacary Sagna (an even more attacking yet stable defender) caused Arsene to rethink his first XI. Was Eboue deserving of a berth at the least? On previous performances for club, yes. However, his end product lacked considerably. Not enough assists or goals. The same could be said for Alex Hleb.

Now, after brilliant performances agiasnt Bolton, Newcastle and in Europe, is Emmanuel the new Flamini? With Theo the man of the moment, Denilson growing stronger and gelling with the ever laudible Cesc and the meanest defence in the country, who’s to say we can’t have another brillaint season?

Sheiking Up The Face Of Football

Not quite so long ago, you could go upto a football stadium and buy a ticket to watch Arsenal v Manchester United on the very night. Players brought for over a million were mega-superstars, and polo was only 25p.

The pre-requisite for being a football fan has changed dramatically in the space of 4 years let alone 15 years. Ambramovich gave us someone new to hate in 2003 as the Kings Road danced in delight. However, Chelsea were always on the fringes of a title-charge during the reigns of Vialli and Gullit. It was only a matter of time. An unprecended anthesis then, if we analyse the drama of September the 1st. The day Manchester City muscled their boo-boy neighbours out of the light and may, just may, be the new force to slice open the ‘top four’ and the mega riches of United and Chelsea.

Football has reared its ugly and beautiful head so much so, that analysists were dancing in the moonlight at midnight at this unexpected purchase by the Abu Dhabi United Group. Not only was the purchase from an owner with capital in excess of 3 TRILLION from oil and gas reserves, but he bulldozed straight away with bids for Berbatov, Villa and Robinho. The latter will now wear number 9 in a sky blue shirt and peter Kenyon has egg on his face. City fans deseverve their moment in the captailst glory; but like money itself, it won’t last.

The return on investment for the Arab Group will only the trophies; Mark hughes already has a head on a platter served with the tide of time. City will have the burden of trophies without actually wining anything for decades. And what of the consequeuces for the rest? Should we Gooners fear this new power? As Ambramovich showed us, we shouldn’t.

But football is incredulous. It is now recession proof, whilst millions can only abide by the credit crunch. Football is not the game for working class men, but tycoons who desire playthings and adulation. This game is now become streched with new boundaries, and everyone - the fans - will pay a price. Ticket prices will increase to oblivion, managers will be guarenteed little time and inpatient fans calling for short term fixes.

The whole paradox of this story is that Arsene didn’t buy. He lost his ‘poker game’, a much needed game. I cannot see us challenging for the league with Eboue and Denilson in midfield and Fabregas under severe physical and mental pressure to continually play every match. However, the window has gone and we must call stick together.

Will the top four be broken? I cannot see City ovetaking us or Liverpool. But they will certainly provide a new found challenge in this increasingly consuming, middle class game. It’s disgusting, and Al-fahim is reportedly trying to bid for Torres, Fabregas and Ronaldo for january. No way, not on your nelly. I’m sorry City fans, but if you ever did win the title, it would be grossly undeserved.

Double Dutch In The Summer Dusk

The skill of oratory from Obama tore through the heart to bring middle classed men to tears. The skill of intellect from Newton brang humans back down to earth. And Arsene Wenger just proved what a thick skinned man he really is. Swashbuckling at times, dire at others. Today, in the brilliance of August’s penultimate evening, is was simply sublime.

Craven Cottage will be remembered when Gooners waved imaginary cards at the transfer policy (still a matter of concern) and a gluttony of doomsday merchants banged hammer and tong onto the Emirates wall. If Sunday was lack of punch, Saturday 5.15 was Pimms all around. Cesc Fabregas, the delicacy of the creme de la creme, returned with aplomp. Still looking jaded but forced with a full run-out agiasnt King kev’s lacklustre side, it was his midfield pairing partner Denilson that made all the difference.

All came under the kosh after the defeat to Fulham, and no fewer than Denilson. Outmuscled by Bullard and co. the boy from brazil showed a presence new to our eyes. It seems to me that Denilson is fast becoming a clone of Gilberto; never seen on the pitch but once under the watchful eye, his contribution becomes forever greater. Today was no difference. The Arsenal coaching staff must have wispered a boost of confidence, for he was sharp and running at all costs. The third goal showed his excellent awareness; running at the Newcastle defence, he continued into the penalty area at a diagnal run from a through ball by Adebayor and slotted into the corner.

The first came after many missed oppurtunities. The game was a one sided affair; Gallas had a gaping net in only the 3rd minute from a corner flicked on by Sagna’s blonde briades. The pattern of play followed suit, and Arsenal duelly got their reward. Handball by N’Zogbia and Van Persie slotted past Shay Given, the shot too rasping to stop. The groove returned. Adebayor dillied and dallied and danced, contuious running into the box. This was new. This was what was needed, continous movement ‘esk-invincebles’ one should say. The second got the purists…well, puring. Eboue galloped through the centre (why, he’s a flank man I hear you cry) and found Adebayor, who flicked back to butter feet Emmanuel - he had a shooting oppurtunity, but instead back heeled and the in-coming Robin rocked the net of Newcastle. On my feet, on your feet. Craven what? Craving this.

On the cautionary note, whisper it. Van Persie is our key man..and he’s prone. If God can keep him fit and healthy and Van Persie can stay out of harms way, Arsenal can go all the way. The dutchman brings a delight in the art of goalscoring much like Bergkamp used too.

The Nasri-Clichy partnership seems to be blossoming, and one hopes the return of Tomas Rosicky will further contribute to beautiful play and goals. The frenchman even got into a heated battle with boo-boy Joey Barton. A cheeky clip in return for a shin busting tackle.  That boy’s learning fast, and he, like Denilson and Van Persie, reminds me of another Gunners great; Robert Pires’ ‘Penguin’ like running was something I couldn’t help but smile at.

This wasn’t no heroics, but it was an opus of tranquil football best served cold in the beaches. Though, it fair ot say the period were the league will be won and lost will be in the freezing ice up in Bolton and Manchester. For that, Arsene still needs to buy one last midfielder before the 1st of September. What does the professor have in mind? So many posts, so many blogs and so many tittle tattle. I won’t speculate, but one hopes Arsene has his fishing rod into the market.

Arsenal have found their Mojo again as the sun goes down for another 9 months. Blood, sweat and tears…but Arsene must surely listen to hope’s, not fears.

Form is temporary, Class is permanant

Another One Bites The Dust

Oh, hark at those who hitherto passion but do not come up trumps. Useless buggers, eh? The world and her nan scream for the sacking of 11 players and the tea lady, the doctor that is God orders Twente shots at the pill, and what happens? We’re back to blooming happiness.

Well, content at the very least. McClaren never used his brolly, but the ‘Wolly with the Brolly’ sure could have used to to wack some concentration in his defence. It was all too easy, and the result was a foregone formality. the 4-0 drubbing of twente cannot be a keyhole for future games, but the promise of a response was sure as hell needed.

After the disaster that was Craven Cottage, every player, especially the midfield, seemed to want the ball more. ‘Attacking from the front’ could be best used; plenty of times did Van persie and Bendnter muscle their way through, with comparitive ease. The test wasn’t for the opposition - it was a personal test. Whatever Arsene said, the ‘tea cup’ dressing down seems to have worked. If a positive must ouweight a negative, it must be that the blip has come early and passed. Only time - and Kevin Keegan - will tell.

The return of Cesc Fabregas cannot be timed more accurately. Perhaps he was hushed into the team after lkaclustre midfield outings by his colleagues; but didn’t we just miss his magic? Time after time, the crowd purred at defence splitting balls. Theo gathered most momentum from Cesc’s inclusion, and boy didnt it inject zest. With a heap of pressure from many impatient Englishmen, Theo’s response was world class. Ian Wright, eat your heart out. I for one, was sensationaly pleased with the effort and class. More of the same celebrations please !

Transfer activity has become a fiasco more arbitrary than the London 8 minute performance at the closing ceremony in Beijing. One in, four out in the space of a couple of weeks. Oh, and who was the taxi driver who gave Phillipe Senderos a lift? Someone give him a tip, for alas our defence has no weak link. Phillipe has the option to stay at AC Milan after next season with his pal Matheiu Flamster; good luck to AC, they’ll be recieving a blubster who cannot stop thinking about his tea in the last minutes of a crucial match (remember Anfield?). Senderos had his peak in his debut season, outmuscling Sol Campbell to earn a place in the 2005 F.A Cup Final. How his performances have crossed downhill, I hsll not know. Nor does Arsene, I believe. 

So our attentions turn to Kiev, Porto and Ferenbache. Definatly not an easy draw’ Kiev is the almighty dark, dank brothel which no sexually repressed man wants to enter, even a 40 year old virgin, such is the unkown quantity. If memory serves me right, we lost 2-1 in Kiev and only winning at Highb ury courtosey of a last gasp Ashley Cole header (which secured survival and a 5-1 thrashing of Milan which followed). Good luck to the travelling army of Gooners, you’ll be needing you’re thermals !

Wrighty; Arsene’s Losing The Plot

Let us maintain some sanity; from an objective emotional standpoint, this is quite absurd. The hyperbale surrounding the first defeat of the season is quite extraodrinary. Yet there is something more sinister. One puzzling, confusing gene called the investigative human mind. The title charge hasn’t crashed by no means. But questions - serious questions - must be raised if Arsenal are not to fall victim of a knock-out blow which may have severed effects harder than the force of James De Gale’s blow to win Britians Olympic Gold in the Boxing.

Fulham played out of their skins at Craven Cottage. No-one should have underestimated the strength of this fresh side that secured its top-flight status in dramatic terms. But, for Gods sake Arsene; Jimmy BUllard and Danny Mills - two seasoned veterans of understated ability vs Denilson and..wait for it…Eboue. This itself makes my calm blood boil. And right now, listening to talkSPORT radio, Ian Wright and a whole phone load of Gooners cannot fathom Arsene’s continued reluctance to buy.

Forget Alonso, GET BULLARD. Thats the cry right now as I type on the phone-ins. And, despite the raw emotion of this anonymous Gooner, Jimmy, alongisde Wrighty, are the epitomy of leadership, love and passion. He is an ‘accomplised midfielder’, hard working , not the most skillful, but every fan will love him regardless of his shirt. Why aren’t a top four side looking at Jimmy Bullard? Does Eboue, a player a now detest i’m sorry to say (no ambivalence) expect to get a first team game for the Arsenal? Please, if you are a Man.United fan reading this, please can you write a letter to your Gaffer and askig him to pluck EBoue.

The signing of Silvestre was undoubtely a master class stroke. But Arsenal are lacking experience, leadership and just sheer guts. Sympathy goes out to Denilson - a talented player, but not Arsenal standard, or not yet anyway. A look at Darren Fletcher, with 2 goals already, shows that skill is not the most important attrtibute needed.

Let us look at Team GB. They have delivered medals, and the nation are extremely proud. The amount of talent was untouched, like the Arsenal acamedy. However, the team included seasoned veterans of their respective sport, and thus I believe this was a key attribute to unparalleded success.

There is simply no point in producing a world class academy if clubs are going to pluck Arsenal and leave them dry. There is no point in producing 17 year old Maradonna’s if there is no reward for those adoring stakeholders, called the fans. Ironically, today I recieved a letter from Arsenal F.C with a membership form for Red level. My heart poured out for the pen, in contrast now my mind pours out to the bin.

Another issue which Ian Wright so passionately derives is the use of Theo on the wing. After an objective standpoint, I agree with the legend. Theo is not an Henry, he does not need to learn dribbling skills. On his carling cup debut, Theo showed immense raw talent in the mould of Michael Owen, hooking the ball past Cudicini to score with aplomp in the Carling Cup final. If Theo just gets the chance, like Sparta Pargue, like the end streak of last season, Theo will deliver. Undoubetdly. By prolonging his use, Wenger is applying more pressure on the poor boys shoulders. Theo is not a trickster. He is a goal scorer.

Let us remain in perspective. The league is a marathon, which United last seasons showed in master fasion. But the lingering thirst for success remains, and Arsene may just need an objective viewpoint soon enough. Let’s wait and see.

Arsene Wenger’s Magic, He Wears A Magic Hat

Perhaps its been the brilliant Olympics, or maybe because it’s been darn boring on the transfer front. But whatever has happened, I got the shock of my life as I typed in Arsenal.com and saw a Man.United player grinning in an Arsenal shirt. Usually I start my articles with an ambivalent metaphors - but not this time. For f*cks sake, Arsene Wenger, you are a genius.

Gooners across the world, let alone North London, were crying for some back-up for the AWOL skipper and the ever African nations Departing Kolo Toure. After last season last gasp failures, possibly due to error prone defending and an injury list as high as the Effiel Tower, many have tipped another 4th position (paul merson eat your heart out!). Its easy to see why, with a wafer-thin squad looking prone to exhaustion.

Arsene was always quiet on the defender front. And so too was Fergie. Mikael Silvestre was reportedly bound for local rivals City, but instead opted for a ‘last minute plane’ to North London. The fee is reportdely undisclosed, but as ever, the economics degree in Wenger will probably mean that the fee would be pittance for a vastly experienced centre-half. The Frenchman, having spent 9 years at Old Trafford, and undoudtbely succesful years, will be the last jigsaw of this exciting squad. He’s had his moments and been harshly critisied by United fans on occasions, however with a Double winning member in our squad, from fresh rivals, this is the PERFECT addition - cover for the defence and yet to reach his prime.

It must be asked why on earth did Fergie let him go? Gary Neville seems to be worse than Rosicky, O’Shea isn’t a class cover for defence. Which leaves only Rio, Vidic and Evra. Any injuires to the trio would leave United seriously bleeding in defence. Furthermore, a lack of firepower for United goes to show that the League winners are seriously frail. Lets not write them off, but let’s not do likewise to ourselves. For the pundits will look fickle, the commentators blubbering, and Gooners singing. Arsene Wenger’s magic hat weaves once again. Welcome aboard Mickey !