Arsenal: Wenger Out?

These were the cries echoing around The Emirates as Arsenal crashed out of the F.A Cup against Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

The majority of Gunners fans have been asking this question for some time now. Is Wenger up to the job anymore? It seemed like Kazim-Richards’ second-half winner was the final straw and, unless they can pull off a miracle in the Champions League midweek, it will be yet another season without a trophy.

So where’s it going wrong?

Of course, the selling of Robin van Persie in the summer to rivals Manchester United has dented his cause, and Wenger’s signings in Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla aren’t quite performing at consistent levels. And his players are the ones letting him down. Other than Jack Wilshere, who, in my eyes, is one of the best midfielders that I’ve seen, there aren’t many ‘match winners’ in the Gunners squad.

There’s a sense of disbelief throughout the team, and their body language just isn’t there, but then neither is Wenger’s, especially in the Cup defeat. He crouched low throughout the game, and that in particular doesn’t rub-off well with any team.

January was key and Arsenal didn’t see the need to strengthen, but in truth, they did. Wenger must have seen that the strength-in-depth in his squad just wasn’t there, so why, when funds are available, didn’t Wenger see the need to buy another forward? Lukas Podolski is a terrific player, but a player of his quality should be contributing more than twelve goals a season.

I do think, however, that the Theo Walcott saga may have been occupying the manager’s mind as no boss wants to be involved with transfer discussions like that. Without Theo, though, Arsenal would be in a much worse position.

Players like Coquelin, Ramsey, Gervinho and even Sagna lately, haven’t stepped up to the mark, and perhaps the defeat to Bradford in the Capital One Cup has dented their confidence, although that would be one poor excuse.

I still don’t believe for one minute that all the problems surrounding Arsenal Football Club are as a result of Wenger, although perhaps things need freshening up at Arsenal and maybe, just maybe, a bit more of a fresh, young manager, needs to be brought in sooner rather than later if Arsenal want to still be labelled one of the ‘big boys’ in the Premier League. If they fail to step up to the mark, then there will be serious trouble surrounding the future of the club.

Midweek will be a test to see how they fair against the runners-up of last season’s UEFA Champions League competition in FC Bayern München. Wenger’s men will have to put on a scintillating display against the side currently leading the Bundesliga by a whopping fifteen points.

Hopefully, for Arsenal’s sake, the hangover of the F.A Cup defeat won’t damage their quest for Champions League glory, and indeed a top four league finish.