Are Arsenal In Decline?

[phuketsiam]

Having watched last nights game, I would say the gooners have serious problems and if Henry leaves it will only get worse, Big Cup qualifiers, Chelski, Scum, Pool, and Spurs (but maybe not in that order)

opinions please .......

[ThaiPauly]

I don't knpw about "Decline" I would use the word CRISIS.

This was covered on Lampards thread about Whinging Wenger.

IMO they were a two man team last year, this year they are a one man team, in the same way that if Gerrard is not playing for pool they do not perform as well.

If Henry is not playing, who is gonna score regularly for them right now.?

Viera marshalled the midfield and was also great at the back.

Sol Campbell... well we all know about him and Ashley Cole is still not fit, so who's left?

Van Persie is a half decent player, Reyes is inconsistant, Bergkamp is passed his sell by date, Pires and Lungberg are not performing like they used to (again age creeping in), you could in no way say that Pires who 2 years ago was a contender for PFA Footballer of the Year would stand a hope in h#ll of getting in the top 200 now,so Wenger is relying on new talent that is not ready to compete at this level yet.

There is a lot more work for Arsenal to do than any of the other big clubs I think.

Letting Vierra go could turn out to be the biggest mistake of Wenger's Managerial carreer, and if there is not one trophy in the cabinet at the end of the season, he could possibly go although what he has acheived at Asenal has been teriffic in the past 10 years, can history appease the fans and board??? All he has to hold on to is the chance of winning the CL......slim chance at best

then again it could all be down to changing their strip this year!!

[nev]

in one word YES they are in decline and i think they will find it harder for them to replace viera than we will replacing keane.

arsenal have problems all over the park and i cannot see winger turning it all around.

dont no what will happen if they get knocked out of europe and not qualify for the champions league, with there new ground needing to be full each week i cannot see them doing that.

spurs fans must be looking on in glee always had respect for spurs.

[mrbojangles]

Got to agree with ThaiPauly and Nev on this one. A resounding YES, absolutely in decline. And i'm quite happy about it

[The Dan Sai Kid]

in one word YES they are in decline and i think they will find it harder for them to replace viera than we will replacing keane.

arsenal have problems all over the park and i cannot see winger turning it all around.

dont no what will happen if they get knocked out of europe and not qualify for the champions league, with there new ground needing to be full each week i cannot see them doing that.

spurs fans must be looking on in glee always had respect for spurs.

Arsenal are not in decline as they were never at the top for long enough!

[ThaiPauly]

At least they are nowhere near as worse off as Real Madrid.

Reaching the last 8 in the CL is not easy when you look at the big sides that have now gone out.

The only ENGLISH (ha ha ) team left in the Cup

I wish them the very best , may they now go on to win the Cup

[nev]

well done arsenal, deserved to go through at least they play good football,even though they dont have any english players.

as for liverpool how crap are they, the wlorst ever defense of the champions league ever. happy days.

[ThaiPauly]

Well I suppose at least the Gooners supporters are English so thats a good start

[LaoPo]

How many National/English players were at the team....and how many foreign players...?

I support the view of Johan Cruijff. He would like to change the system that (any) clubs in Europe could only buy a limited number of foreign players, and I think he's right.

That's why the World Cup, coming up this summer would be more fun to watch that the Champions League.

Look at the enormous investments in foreign players of Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and other clubs...and what did it bring?

What's your vision?

LaoPo