End of the Season?

"Despite the fact they have set the pace for so much of the season, there has always been a fragility about Arsenal that has worried their admirers.

Something about them that has not seemed as robust or as durable as the character of United or Chelsea. It is hard to see United, for instance, ever submitting to the kind of run that has transformed Arsenal from runaway pace-setters to forlorn pursuers in one month."

Quoted from Oliver Holt in The Mirror

Two simple paragraphs with exact reflections of Arsenal's early promise but faltering season ending form. I've always felt what the invincibles gave were their abilities, potential, experience and aggression which got us through an unbeaten season and titles. What the current young crop has is the first two attributes but lacking the all-defining last two is just evident for all to see.

Let's not kid ourselves, AW needs to strengthen the squad alot more than he realizes. Looking at who can replace the first teamers in every department, the closest I can think of is Bendtner and Walcott (prove in that they are already regular subs) and coming in a distant third would be Denilson and Senderos. That means we have a better strikeforce than all other areas. Once Vela returns, RVP regains his match sharpness and Eduardo recovering, we don't really need strengthening there for the foreseeable future.

So who will deputise for Cesc? Flamini? Hleb? Rosicky? Gallas and Toure? Even the goalkeeping department needs address for next season as most of us feel Almunia is not a top 'keeper. Losing Diarra was inevitable so a solid backup for Flamini is essential. Many fans cited the wingers position as critical and I could not agree more.

Diaby is not comfortable on the wings and he professed to prefering a more central role. Djourou is more of a backup for Senderos than our first-choice CB pairing - maybe AW can consider giving him the DM role which he prefers too? We can all go on about the squad and how so many (even neutrals) realize we have too small of a strong squad to challenge on four fronts. Now after 31 games and the end of March approaches, we have just one front left for glory.

Summary of Team:
First Team (Back-up)

(GK) Almunia (solid No. 2, needs a new TOP No. 1 after Lehmann leaves. Fabianski still need more time)
(CB) Gallas (Senderos - lacks balance and pace, Djourou - lacks experience)
(CB) Toure (Senderos - lacks balance and pace, Djourou - lacks experience)
(LB) Clichy (Traore - Not good enough)
(RB) Sagna (Hoyte - Not good enough, Eboue better option in defence than attack)
(DM) Flamini (Denilson - lacks experience, steel and engine of Flamini)
(CM) Fabregas (erm... Diaby? Rosicky better option there)
(AM/Winger) Rosicky (no one good enough to replace him. Eboue should be made Sagna's backup)
(AM/Winger) Hleb (same as Rosicky - no one good enough to replace him. Diaby closest option)
(ST/AM) RVP (Eduardo, Bendtner, Walcott)
(ST) Adebayor (Eduardo, Bendtner, Walcott) and soon Vela...

Go Arsenal!

We will still support you despite a season of so much promise ending with nothing...