[GiRTh]

I'm an Arsenal fan. If I was to try and answer my own question, we'd be here all night. What do the football fans out there think. Why are we struggling to hold on to fourth place in the Premiership.

[Jay]

To be honest i don't think the big guns of your team like Henry and Gilberto havent had the best of seasons, also i think you have too many youngsters who i don't think are ready to wear the Arsenal shirt yet, i think you will get fourth but it will be very close.

[GiRTh]

Do you think that much of this can be traced back to selling Patrick Vieira? cos i do.

[Jay]

Yeah i think loosing Viera was a big part, but you made champions leauge final without him there. I think after Arsenal went to the final i think we was all expecting amazing things from the youngsters but it they have not produced.

[BigSister]

I think Henry has something to do with it, when he comes back you will be back to your best but you beat liverpoo in CC without him and got to CC final and was v unlucky against blackburn in fa cup as well

[James]

Arsenal are missing Henry and van Persie so the goals have dried up. Generally though can't compete with the spending of the likes of Chelsea.

[GiRTh]

The thing about us getting to the CL final was that we did it with amazing performances from Henry and Reyes (remember him!!). The youngsters contributed but it was mainly down to those two. Reyes has gone and I've absolutely no idea what is wrong with Thierry. Arsene was right to drop him.

We need to rebuild and I think it will take at lest two seasons to do it.

[Jay]

I think every world class player has a bad patch, Rooney, shevenko and Henry. He played alot of games over the past few seasons including going to the world cup. Hopefully he will be back to his best next season.

[GiRTh]

Hope so. We need him. I was expecting him to leave at the end of last season and, for me, him staying showed he 'll probably finish his career at Arsenal. He's 30 this year. He's got probably 2 - 3 years maximum at the VERY VERY top. Lets face it at 33 Barcelona and Inter won't want him. He's got an English wife too, which I think is another reason he stayed.

[Jay]

I guess he can go on till he can, remember Zidane was still playing for Real Madrid and was still doing wonders which is amazing for his age. I think Henry is a massive part of how you do next season, if he's at his best then i can see you doing really well next season.

[Dan_]

Another player I think Arsenal have missed is Robert Pires or more his goals from midfield, nobody has really come close to scoring the amount he used to get and he had the ability to totally change games.Whilst Rosicky is a very good player he's never really been a consistent goalscorer and I don't really rate Alexander Hleb.

If you look at the top 3 they all have goalscoring midfielders-Gerrard,Ronaldo and Lampard.Arsenal's highest scoring midfielder is Gilberto who's never been known for his goalscoring.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Jay
I guess he can go on till he can, remember Zidane was still playing for Real Madrid and was still doing wonders which is amazing for his age. I think Henry is a massive part of how you do next season, if he's at his best then i can see you doing really well next season.

Could be right. Hope you are.

We've got players who are amazingly inconsistent. Helb, has amongst the best control in the Premier league but he doesn't stamp hi authority on games. Rosicky, has an amazing skill level but is the same. He doesn’t control games. Eboue is a good player but probably needs another year. Clichy has show that we haven't really missed Ashley Cole. Toure, is not a natural defender - that why we struggle in Europe. Adebayo has potential but how will it take for him to fulfil it and lovely little Theo Walcott will be a world class player in a few years

I told you if I got going, we'd be here for the night. I’ve still got loads to say.

[Jay]

Fabregas has done well, but he looks out of form at the moment i think the game you lost to West Ham really summed your season up.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Dan_
Another player I think Arsenal have missed is Robert Pires or more his goals from midfield, nobody has really come close to scoring the amount he used to get and he had the ability to totally change games.Whilst Rosicky is a very good player he's never really been a consistent goalscorer and I don't really rate Alexander Hleb.

If you look at the top 3 they all have goalscoring midfielders-Gerrard,Ronaldo and Lampard.Arsenal's highest scoring midfielder is Gilberto who's never been known for his goalscoring.

Good point. The thing with us is that before Chelsea appointed Mourinho we were always the top goal scorers on the league. This was down to the Pires's and Ljundbergs of this world. I even think that in Chelsea's first winning season we were still top scorers. Now, we couldn't score in a brothel without Henry. van Persie has potential but again, how long do we wait for him to fulfilit.

And don't even get me started on why we sold players like Sidwell and Bentley. I see that Man U, Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool are all interested in signing Sidwell. It makes me sick

[Dan_]

Originally posted by GiRTh

Good point. The thing with us is that before Chelsea appointed Mourinho we were always the top goal scorers on the league. This was down to the Pires's and Ljundbergs of this world. I even think that in Chelsea's first winning season we were still top scorers. Now, we couldn't score in a brothel without Henry. van Persie has potential but again, how long do we wait for him to fulfilit.

And don't even get me started on why we sold players like Sidwell and Bentley. I see that Man U, Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool are all interested in signing Sidwell. It makes me sick

Do you reckon you'll end up keeping Baptista? I'm not sure he even fits into Arsenal's style of play, Reyes was much better suited but I guess he was homesick.

It must have been frustrating for players like Sidwell and Bentley though never getting a proper chance in the team.I think Bentley's got what it takes to play in the England team right now.I read an interview with him saying he he got fed up waiting for his chance at Arsenal so asked to go.I'd personally rather have Bentley than Hleb anyday.

[Mike]

Problem with Arsenal is they like to get goals the hard way i.e walking it into the net but unlike when they went on that unbeaten run a couple of seasons ago it's just not happening for them, even as a Chelsea fan though i have to admit that on their day when the likes of Fabregas, Hleb, Rosicky and Henry are playing at their best its a joy to watch, this season though it just hasn't been consistant enough therefore they have fallen behind.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Dan_

Do you reckon you'll end up keeping Baptista? I'm not sure he even fits into Arsenal's style of play, Reyes was much better suited but I guess he was homesick.

It must have been frustrating for players like Sidwell and Bentley though never getting a proper chance in the team.I think Bentley's got what it takes to play in the England team right now.I read an interview with him saying he he got fed up waiting for his chance at Arsenal so asked to go.I'd personally rather have Bentley than Hleb anyday.

Hleb has great control but I agree with you, I'd rather have Bentley too. Sidwell is a bit of a sickener' He was let go at least 2 - 3 seasons ago, matured in the championship and is now a quality player. Both players are England class. Up to a certain extent I can understand the Arsenal haters who target the fact that we have so few English players We’ve had quality English players but have chose to discard them. I like what Man U have done with Rossi, Richardson and Dong. Loan then out till they’re ready then give them a good run in the first team

Baptista is a good player and I like to see us playing quality even if it's slightly out of position. Obviously Reyes was a better fit but if he wants to be a mardy bum then that’s down to him.

[SiMoN!]

i really hate everything about Arsenal
Hate HATE
lol

i dont like there Arrogance - they think there the bets ever
were dur there not

and there such bad losers - yer know one like to losers - but tema accep that they lost - were as Arsenal just moan.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by SiMoN!
i really hate everything about Arsenal
Hate HATE
lol

i dont like there Arrogance - they think there the bets ever
were dur there not

and there such bad losers - yer know one like to losers - but tema accep that they lost - were as Arsenal just moan.

LMAO Don't you think that Chavski get the arrogance awards these days.

[SiMoN!]

Originally posted by GiRTh

LMAO Don't you think that Chavski get the arrogance awards these days.

lol only silver

Arsenal get gold (they got to have something)

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by SiMoN!

lol only silver

Arsenal get gold (they got to have something)

When do we ever complain. Vieira's gone. lol

[Novo]

Have you found the answer yet girth

[Zac]

Lack of leadership, or respect for leadership.
Lack of motivation for non big 4 games.
Lack of a bit of grit and work ethic.

That's what is wrong with them.

[30stone]

We showed the last of what you said at fulham Zac.
I don't think were struggling to hold onto 4th spot at all.

[Zac]

[rquote=2612750&tid=57530&author=30stone]I don't think were struggling to hold onto 4th spot at all.

[/rquote]

Uh well you were struggling... I think.
I don't know the slightest think about football. I just made that **** up. Me and football do not go together.