Most Arsenal fans will be the first to tell you that the Gunners are not quite firing on all cylinders so far this season, and after the summer transfer window saw the club actually make a profit rather than spending big to catch up with our Premier League rivals despite breaking the club’s transfer record to sign Alexandre Lacazette, you won’t find too many Gooners who are confident that the EPL title is on it’s way back to north London next May.
Having said that, we are actually level on points with the reigning champions Chelsea who did spend a lot on transfers in the summer. In fact it is only goal difference keeping us out of the top four and if you factor in the poor referee decisions at Stoke and Watford you could argue that Arsenal are very unlucky to be outside the Champions League places at this point of the current campaign.
You would not think it, though, to read the comments about us reported by Sky Sports this week from the former Arsenal striker Alan Smith and the former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, who were very dismissive and negative about Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.
Jordan said, “Arsenal are losing sight of the top four, which they used to be part of.
“I am a great admirer of Arsene Wenger but everyone has their time and the DNA of this club needs to change slightly. They changed with Wenger from an Arsenal team that people ridiculed for being boring to a beautiful team that played, and sometimes overplayed, and now there has to be a change again.
“The oxygen has gone out of Arsenal and it needed someone like a Diego Simeone to come in and give it a new energy and attract the elite players… I don’t think they are what they were.”
Smith said, “They are in limbo. The fans aren’t expecting any better than last season, they are always one game away from rebellion among the fans.
“Have Arsenal lost some of their appeal to potential signings? From a football level, do players look at Arsenal and think ‘where is that team going? Am I going to win silverware there?’ Arsenal seem to be slipping down the pecking order.”
So being above Liverpool, level with Chelsea on points and just one behind Tottenham going into this weekend shows that Arsenal are slipping out of touch does it? I know we are not world beaters but this criticism is just taking it way too far don’t you think?
Sam P.