France go 2 up

By Boris Mellor
October 25 2009

So what did Arsenal learn from throwing away a one nil lead away at Alkmaar? Answer: they learnt how to throw away a two goal lead, and draw when they could have just as easily won. Wenger believes his defence has improved, well on this performance he needs to go back to the opticians, because he is not seeing the full picture here.

Arsenal failed a big test today; they demonstrated that they cannot beat the teams below them on a regular and ruthless basis. A team that cannot hold a two goal lead is not a real contender.  The theory that we can outscore every team we meet is as charming as it is patent nonsense.

I can't be bothered to report this in full, it doesn't need it, and it can be done in three sentences. Here goes:

 Arsenal score against run of play, but then dominate and go two up.

Team lacks killer instinct and fails to score a vital third against desperate team.

Team takes foot of the gas and glass jaw defence fails to defend free kick and then allows itself to be mugged for a penalty.

West Ham Kick out Racism at Agincourt

As Wenger strolled around at half time wearing his green Kick it Out Badge the West Ham announcer made his contribution to the cause. "Anniversary of Agincourt. Can we beat the French in the second half?"

No doubt they intended to fill our wall with their English dead with those well known Cockerneys:  Kovac, Diamanti, Behrami, Ilunga and Franco.

Stop Press Wenger Has Learnt

Wenger has explained that he has learnt from throwing games away, it is not throw them away even more, I apologise for suggesting that above. What he has learned is, "We have to play the football we love and learn when we are leading to kill the games off and keep playing the way we want to play the game."

Well that's a relief I can't wait to see this revolutionary new approach.

Now the good news

A draw was enough to put Arsenal in third place with a game in hand. A chance to gain three points rather than just one on Man U was given away, but with Spurs losing and City drawing at home the Gunners position in the top four is looking a little more secure. With 29 goals Arsenal remain the leading scorers in the Premiership and are still on target for over a 100 goals. They are also on target to concede over 50, not so good news.