Truth must be told guys; the likes of Willock, Smith-Rowe and Nelson need to be dropped for now; until probably when we have got ourselves back into a good position in the league. Starting youth regularly at the expense of more established players has not worked well for us so far.
When I saw our team list against Brighton on ThursdayOfficial Arsenal team to face Brighton – Pepe and Tierney on the bench night I was shocked to see Willock playing, while the likes of Pepe and Tierney started from the bench. Let us face the fact ladies and gentlemen; in difficult times in football, clubs need men who have the experience and grit to see them through any crisis. When teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid go through hard times, you don’t see them making use of academy boys or players who have not experienced the both sides of football; that is the winning and losing aspect of football. Willock had no business starting that game, no matter how talented he is.
Pepe may have not lit up the premiership, but he is good talent and he has played top flight football in France and for his African nation, Ivory Coast. Pepe could have given us enough bite at the attacking end of our half, but then do I know more that the coach knows? Who is being paid to train these boys? Ljungberg of course!
Is Tierney still injured, or he is being forced to sit out games he should be starting? I don’t see the reason why we would buy a left back to solve our left back issue, and then decide to still stick to the same player who played left back for us last season; and who seems not to be our solution at the left back position at all.
I won’t want to say that Ljunberg may be freezing out some players, so as to stamp his authority on the team but that is what it seems like. Every coach has a way of doing things but then most coaches realize that results matters. To achieve results, you must make use of every player at your disposal and that includes the experienced players you have to; despite the issues you may have with such players.
From this day forward, I pray that Ljungberg has the wisdom to choose the right team, at the right moment; and that includes dropping inexperienced players for the experienced ones.
Sylvester