Saturday 23rd February will probably be remembered as the turning point in the Gunners season. Top of the Premiership and still in the Champions League, everything was looking rosy for Arsene Wenger's side when they travelled to Birmingham City. Unfortunately within three minutes Eduardo suffered a horrific injury, and by the end of the game Arsenal dropped two points when James McFadden fired in a late penalty. Since then they have only won twice in the league (although that should become three victories against Derby tonight). Why did it go all wrong?
Let it be said, when Arsenal were good this season, they were devastating. They started the season like a house on fire, losing their first league game in December, and found themselves top of the pile. Emmanuel Adebayor was finishing off the wonderful passing moves his team-mates created, and suddenly a side tipped to be battling it out with Tottenham for a Champions League spot were starting to look like potential champions. Then came the Birmingham game. The child-like reaction of captain William Gallas to the late penalty showed the world everything wasn't right in the Arsenal camp. The spat between Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner in the Carling Cup semi-final was another sign that perhaps the team weren't united in their title challenge. They now look set to end the season trophy less, after so much promise at the beginning Wenger's young guns have faded and will need to pick themselves up for next season.
So what needs to be done to turn Arsenal into champions? First of all there has to be a better candidate for the captaincy than William Gallas. A team full of young players need a role model to look to for guidance and motivation when the going gets tough. Sitting in the opposition's half during a penalty kick hardly inspired the team to success. Defensively Arsenal haven't been as good as Manchester United and Chelsea, so reinforcements are needed at the back. Also next season must be the time to find out whether Theo Walcott will sink or swim. He'll turn 20 and should feature more for the first team, and keep his place with the sort of performances we're told he is capable of. Moreover if Wenger can keep Robin van Persie fit for an entire season his side may deliver what they have promised for so long.
Player Of The Season: Alexander Hleb
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