From Crisis to Crisis

I suppose I should say something before the Swansea match so that whatever happens there will either temporarily alleviate the crisis or continue it.

Oh, the crisis, yes.  THE CRISIS. There is a crisis at the Arsenal. It is one crisis that is composed of many other crises, any one of which would be enough to wreck a season, much less see the club capable of being only 4 points off the top of the league with a victory over the Swans.

There is the crisis of the only one striker. Seeing Giroud lumber about, heavy legged and seemingly bereft of confidence, one can peer back to the past two transfer windows and remember the baffling decision not to buy him any help.  Now the club have one striker, not very ably assisted by a talented but inexperienced young Frenchman and possibly Chuba Akpom. Akpom is 18 and was just recalled from a loan at Coventry City.

There is the crisis of injury piled on top of injury. This is not an unusual crisis for the Gunners. An official inquest has been launched, however, and nobody knows if that will make a difference. What we do know is that Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, and Walcott are currently unavailable. Not many clubs, no matter the squad depth, could endure this kind of injury plague to their attack. Throw in a now-knackered Koscielny and suddenly there's a defensive crisis because there are no reserve first-team central defenders.

There is lastly the crisis of confidence. This is the crisis that has seen Arsenal surrender half of all the goals this season in just 3 matches. 17 have been shipped versus Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. What it says about the players and the manager is anyone's guess, but it is certainly a problem. They're not just losses, they're hideous collapses that embarrass everyone and make you question BIG things.  Big things like...

• The manager's ability to prepare the side for "big" matches.
• The players' ability to execute a plan of attack and defence. 
• The talent in the squad.
• The players' heart and desire. 
• The manager's willingness to adjust and make changes when things appear to be going badly. 
• The manager's place at the club.

None of those things is pleasant to think about, but unfortunately after three such occurrences in one season, they are things that will come to mind.

Swansea will tell all, won't it?

No, probably not.