Arsenal receive massive title boost with 3-0 humiliation to Sheffield Wednesday By Twig
It was a humiliating defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last night, on a night where there were little or no positives to take home. The scoreline was made worse by injuries to Oxlade-Chamberlain and (his substitute) Theo Walcott. However, Gooners would probably not be expecting too much from this team when the lineup for the game was revealed: Wenger made sweeping changes to the team, fielding many players whom had not seen action in months or were on the fringes of the first team. Without the pace of Bellerin, work rate of Sanchez and passing of Cazorla, Arsenal are really not the same team. And against a home side who were on a good run of form themselves, Arsenal faced a daunting task.
However, despite all the gloom it seems an early bow from the League Cup is exactly what Arsenal needs in their quest for Premier league glory this season. Our squad is simply too thin, and our injury list simply too long, to be able to play in 4 competitions. Welbeck hasn’t kicked a ball this season, Wilshere’s return date is ambiguous and Ramsey has just been added to the injury list. Arsenal’s best bet for going the distance in the title race is to wrap our incredibly thin squad in cotton wool and only play them in competitions that matter. With all due respect, the League cup shouldn’t be high in priority to any top four EPL side.
Many commentators, like Jamie Carragher, are of the view that Arsenal can win the title IF they exit the Champions league. I agree with him totally and I think our exit from the league cup today also helps our title challenge. Unless Welbeck, Wilshere and Ramsey make quick recoveries, we only have a squad large enough to play in 3 competitions max! At the moment, Gooners should be happy with the result and hope fervently that Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain are not out on lengthy lay-offs.
Twig