Ten points out of twelve. That was my prediction from the so-called “four crucial games” which will come to an end on Wednesday when a confident Liverpool side will pay us a visit at the Emirates.

One point, one goal scored and five conceded.

I don’t know you but for me, this is depressing stuff. What really bothers me is that the fixture list, this season, was made just for us, yet we failed to take advantage and dropping silly points like the two away at West Ham didn’t make things easier.

The Better Team. Really?

According to Arsene Wenger, yesterday’s performance was a very good one, with Arsenal, it seems, unhappy with the defeat because “we felt we were the better team” he said. Back in November, after the Emirates defeat, he also said something similar and I have to confess such statements leave me wondering.

I mean, if we really were the better team in these two games against Chelsea but still lost 3-0 and 2-0, how many more goals we will concede the day we have a below-par performance against them?

My take on the game is that Chelsea did just what they had to do and had we scored one they would have stepped it up a gear to again have a two-goal cushion, simply because we are incredibly weak at the back and way too exposed to counter attacks.

Missing A Striker

Not long ago I was saying how this Arsenal team has to always make sure to score one more goal than the opposition, winning games 3-2, 4-3, you know, without ever enjoying a clear sheet. Mind you, this is not fantasy football considering our average goalkeeper and all the mistakes we make at the back and unfortunately, whilst the conceded goals came just as predicted, the goals from our team are lacking. Now I’m not saying we would have won, but had we had a pure striker, then I believe a draw would have been more than possible yesterday.

Speaking of strikers, hate him as much as you want, but Emmanuel Adebayor, a target man, was sold and we’re missing him. This is because for a reason which beats me, we kept on playing as if he’s still there, moving the ball around, shift the play on to the wings and then cross. But cross for who? Arshavin? Nasri? Fabregas?

You can’t keep on using a system which requires a strong and physical striker in the penalty area when the striker having these characteristics is gone. I smiled when Cesc fouled Drogba and told the referee, “Look at him. Now look at me. Do you really believe someone so big will go to ground after a challenge from someone so small?”

Yes Cesc, you are small, almost all those around you up front are and we have no one who can score. Andrey is not, Samir is not – he’s not even shooting actually – and Theo is not. Seriously, facing Chelsea, away from home, with a weak backline and a depleted forward line is suicidal.

Is It The Fear Of Losing Him That Is Keeping Wenger At Arsenal?

Whenever someone even hints at the idea of sacking Wenger, everyone turns pale and starts asking questions: Will Fabregas follow him on the way out? Will we ever be competitive again? What about the financial side of the club?

Sometimes I wonder if the fear of what may happen without him is really what is keeping the man at the club. I, personally, am one of those who simple cannot see Arsenal managed by a different boss and yes, also fully aware of the fact that Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and others will ask for a transfer if Arsene is sacked or leaves.

But, and this is a big but, what if someone comes in and does better? During all the time we’ve been asking questions on how Arsenal would be without Wenger, no trophies were added to the trophy cabinet, instead we always saw a squad so close to perfection but never perfect because Arsene – a very stubborn man – prefers not to address two-three small tweaks which would turn us into a winning side.

The truth is that the best manager for Arsenal is a less-stubborn version of Arsene Wenger. If he changes his mentality, like for example bringing a new goalkeeper when he realises the one in goal is not good enough or signing a new striker when he understands that Nicklas Bendtner will not recover in time to face Manchester and Chelsea, then maybe we will again start dreaming of winning something.

Until he does, and there is no indication that he will in the near future, we will keep on asking questions, how it would be without him, how it would be if he was less stubborn and how it would be winning again.

Looking Forward

There’s very little to look forward to in terms of the Premiership. How long ago we were laughing at Liverpool for being out of the title race? Well if they manage to beat us on Wednesday, only two points will be dividing the two teams.

United are at Aston Villa and Chelsea at Everton. Who knows, maybe they will do us a favour and we’ll cut the gap to 6 or 7 points on Wednesday? Can’t really do it ourselves anymore, we were presented with the opportunity but now it’s gone.

See you for the preview on Wednesday morning. Until then, take care.