Ok...NOW It's A Crisis...

afternoon.

Yesterdays' events have compelled me to blog earlier than I would have normally. So here goes...

I'm starting to run out of scapegoats and explanations for Arsenal's continuing failings. I have blogged in depth about my feelings about Arsene. Whilst maligned, they are not all completely fair, after much consideration and frankly I am tired of blaming our manager. So I am not going to.

At least not today...

Spurs' marginal victory yesterday means they have recorded 3 wins out 4 in the North London rivals' meetings over the past 2 years. Where as previously it was 1 in 20. In that time, Tottenham have closed the gap on their most hated of Islington neighbours. But other than personnel and improved quality of player, in my opinion the only difference is that Spurs have moved and evolved, but Arsenal have not. The antithesis of stagnation.


This biggest change for Arsenal was the departure of David Dein. Dein made a lot of the calls in the Arsenal boardroom. He was also Wengers' right hand man. When things were going awry, he was the one to have a quiet word in his ear; the voice of reason. That man now appears to be Ivan Gazidis and he does little to aide Wenger or appease the fans. On the face of it. I feel Gazidis is letting the club down more than Wenger ever has.  So who is Ivan Gazidis?


Ivan Gazidis was born in September of 1964, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He then moved to Manchester at the age of 4 and supported Manchester City as a young boy (does anybody see where this is going). He graduated with a degree in law at Oxford before moving to the States to work with Latham & Watkins. In 1994 he joined the founding management team of Major League Soccer and 7 years later became deputy comissioner. Three years ago in 2008, he was enlisted as Chief Executive of Arsenal Football Club, replacing the outgoing Dein. He was brought in to improve Arsenal's commercial avenues and to improve revenues from marketing.


There is NO doubt whatsoever he has done this. And so why is less and less money been invested into the Football Club, in terms of quality, no, world class players. Is the effort not there? It appears there is no teeth for the fight. The problem is for Gazidis and that prehistoric, ignorant mouthpiece, Peter Hill-Wood is that Arsenal has become one of the biggest cash cows in these recession ravaged times. Profit is clearly a good thing. But it is clearly an even better thing for the fat cats, chairpersons and majority shareholders. A football club that is run as more of a company than a sports team, is not. If Arsenal Football were situated in America it would now be a franchise. Hold on....With Kronke (ineffectual as he appears) and Gazidis, Arsenal are now heavily American influenced and financially - or not - backed. Maybe we already are?...

The big problem for me is the sheer level of ignorance on Gazidis' part. The lack of success since 2005, is clearly lost on him:

"I think perspective is very important,"  

"You need to take a distance when you assess the season. This club has over 120 years of history and if you're looking at where we are and how we're doing at this period of our development you have to say it is one of the special times, one of the golden times. I hope we don't forget to appreciate that.

What special times would they be Ivan? Where are these 'golden' times you speak of. Yes we have had success, commerically and in the past on the pitch. But that was with a different regime, which YOU were NOT a part of. So don't put your name on that success. Ever. The tumerity of this man is astounding. He was guilty of not putting the funds on the table for Juan Mata, now thriving at Chelsea. We could have had the same pacy left winger for £7m pounds less than what they paid for. But the funds for deals for Cesc and Lesri were not forthcoming and had not been sorted out.

So what about the transfer kitty? what about the war chest? Couldnt that have been used BEFORE Fabregas was sorted out?

truly astonishingly bad mis-management. I think if not blame Wenger, then blame Gazidis; The buck must stop with him


This brings me onto my main point, with Sagna now sidelined until at least January, Arsenal have a real problem on their hands. Carl Jenkinson will almost certainly now deputise at right back (although Coquelin could also be utilised there as he did with Lorient). Jenkinson is showing promising signs. But the cold hard facts are that this is not the Blue Square Conference. This is the toughest league in the world. many have failed. many will fail. Jenkinson is horribly unexperienced in this department and I am seriously concerned he will be exposed against pacy wingers.

When we return after the international break, Arsenal play Sunderland at home. Jenkinson is likely to be pitted against Seb Larsson or Elmohamady. The game is very much winnable and should be. But Steve Bruce will be fighting for his job and as unpredictable as this league is at times, its a tough call.



Then its Stoke City, again at the Emirates. Always tough against a physical side, who Arsenal repeatedly struggle against. Jenkinson v Etherington is likely to be his chance to best his oppenent. Then it is Chelsea. Mata will no doubt come back to haunt us. One other thing though...this fixture will be Fernando Torres' return from suspension. Hmmm...a fresh Fernando Torres, bad form or not....


Doesn't bare thinking about.....


What is currently 15th place and 3 places above the drop zone, could and really should improve.

But if things don't go smoothly and - as we have seen, rarely do - in a months time, 15th place might not look so bad and then what happens?....