First Term Report: Arsenal

With over 10 games gone in the Premiership season it's possible to make some assessment of how the campaign is going for each club. Analysing Arsenal though, is a bit of a puzzle.

If this piece had been written before the weekend, the focus would have been entirely different. By beating Manchester United the Gunners seemed to have put behind them a run of poor results. Then came the home defeat to close rivals Aston Villa.

For most observers, 4 losses before the end of November means Arsenal are not going to win the title this season. There will be defiant noises from the Emirates but it is impossible to see this team going the rest of 2008/09 unbeaten, which would surely be required.

Of more concern is whether Arsenal can protect their place in the top four-or really the top three, because fourth place would not be a comfortable position to finish with the changes to Champions League qualification.

The odds have to be against a side breaking into the top four this season but at the moment Arsenal aren't showing the consistency to keep pace with Chelsea and Liverpool. Manchester United aren't firing on all cylinders but Arsenal still trail them at the moment.

The Gunners are a team who fascinate; capable of sublime football but equally adept at losing matches they should win. For a long time pundits have argued that Arsenal's style is at fault but the debate now is about whether they just have the wrong individuals to implement it.

Sir Alex Ferguson has often remarked about 'individual errors' when his United teams have been in a bad run. A similar thought comes to mind with Arsenal- it's not their system that leads to experienced defenders failing to mark on crosses and set pieces. Going forward Arsenal have the talent. It may just be a question of buying a no nonsense stopper and a more destructive influence in midfield.

Against that, from last year's midfield Arsenal are missing the names of Flamini, Hleb, Gilberto and Rosicky - few teams could handle those sorts of losses, although questions could be asked about where the replacements are.

Possibly from the reserves? The silky progress of Arsenal's youth in the Carling Cup is forming a head of steam to give them their head in the Premiership. It's a call Arsene Wenger will surely resist but their progress may be useful in pressurising their seniors.

The Frenchman favours evolution over revolution but if his first team regulars continue to underperform he might embark on a summer cull to make spaces for the new talent.

For the moment Arsenal have until January to establish some stability in the league- Champions League progress is fine- otherwise even Wenger may bow to pressure and get the chequebook out in the transfer window.

Verdict

B; but this is a drop on past standards.