Arsenal Team: To stay or to Change?

After 7 straight wins in the league, last seen in October 2007, is there a need to change the team anymore? Are there still calls to sack Wenger or sell the team away?
At the start of the season, we lost two of our most influential players in Fabregas and Nasri. To add to these losses, the team was also recovering from the debacle of last season; where the loss in the League Cup Final to Birmingham destroyed the confidence of many players. With injuries putting out Wilshere and Diaby, we put out a youth team at Old Toilet and were duly giving a epic thrashing of 8-2. Daggers were out for Wenger’s head for the first time ever.

Not sure if the Old Toilet debacle or Wenger’s own realization of the team situation led to Wenger’s reaction. He was finally stirred into action and flexed his muscle in the transfer window at the very last min. In his words, “we finished our transfers at 1159 pm on 31st March 2011”. Mind you, the quantity brought in was historical for that window as we got Gervinho, Ryo Miyaichi, Park Ju Yong, Arteta, Mertesacker, Santos, Oxlade Chamberlain and Benayoun (on loan) to beef up the squad.

Alas, Arteta is no Fabregas although he bedded in almost immediately. With injuries to key midfielders and AA losing his form and playing as bad as Eboue once did, we were lost in midfield at the start of the season. The crisis was apparent to all and the confidences of the players were at an all time low. Wenger needed a miracle and a captain on the field.

In RVP, he found both. The boy who grew up with Arsenal and was 80% of the time injured decided to man up this season. He brought his scoring boots and make sure his body was protected well this time. At the age of 28, he finally shines after 7 years of nurturing. His 33 goals (26 in the league) so far has ensure that we are right up there in the Champion league placing. The surprising plus point is that he has proved to be an inspirational captain so far by keeping his temper in check and bringing the team up when the chips are down. In fact, the team set another record by winning 4 straight games after being goals down this season.

As the new signings bedded in and the injuries cleared up, the feel among the supporters was that we have turned the corner. Alas, Arsenal being Arsenal this season, we began a roller coaster ride. Down we went after losing to Man citeh, up we climb after thrashing Blackburn 7-1 and down we go again by losing to AC Milan in the Champion league away game 4-0. Not enough? Down we went by going out of the FA cup to a Sunderland team that we just beat one week earlier to the Cup game.

The daggers were out again. There was a public questioning of the methodology of Wenger and the transfer policy of the board. The supporters wondered if nurturing ungrateful young millionaires were led to years of reward of good football or it was just a dream. Loyalties of players were questioned and previous money diggers (Cashly Cole, Clichy the money, Somemore Nasri and of course Adebye bye) were hang out to dry.

Suddenly, the turning point came as fast as we were thrown out in the depth. 2-0 down after 34 mins at home to arch rivals Tottenham, the supporters were down in the doldrums. It was down to the leaders in the team to start the revival. Sagna scored his first goal of the season and the ever dependable RVP equalized before half time. The resurgent Little Mozart (Rosicky) put us ahead and we never turned back as Walcott finished them off with 2 more strikes. It was the mother of all comebacks and many wondered if this was really the turning point.

It was proven to be the turning point so far. The swagger is back and the team moved with confidence and style. With the Little Mozart finding his musical score and rolling back the years, we won the next 5 games on the trout with wins over Liverpool and a 3-0 thrashing of Milan in the Champion League. In the process, we overhaul the scums and wrestle back 3rd place which we sit 3 points clear at this point.

The calls to overhaul the team seemed to be a thing of the past. Are we finally able to look forward to the good old days with trophies galore? Or will the vicious cycle repeat itself again? Have faith, I believe we have turned the ship around and Arsenal is going to be associated with trophies again! Go Gunners!!!