Noah Shulman-Miller
Just before the kick-off against Aston Villa, Arsenal supporters were riding high on the back of wins against two of the best teams in Europe.
We expected a solid victory in a crucial game for European qualification. However, within minutes at Villa Park, our confidence was again undermined by below par performances from most of the team.
We have been here before – and too many times. It is clear that our old frailties still come back to bite Arsenal in the arse.
The inconsistency of this team will always be our downfall. From being so excellent across the field on Saturday to so below par against Villa, what happens to us that transforms us into virtual zombies just 72 hours later.
So, what is this about? Is it that our current crop of players is simply not good enough to sustain quality over several matches?
Is it about strength in depth of our squad when it comes to rotation and competition for places? Is it about player commitment? Or is it about Arteta’s inexperience – in tactics and game management.
One question that Arsenal fans have been raising as we potentially await the transfer window is; How many players in this Arsenal team deserve to be there next season?
And whether the current group of players is actually talented enough to fulfil the fanbase’s very high ambitions.
The truth to those questions is that this football club has been crying for an efficient clear-out of deadwood year after year and we still haven’t seen that happen.
If and when this clear-out comes it could mean that we see the club raise funds for some more reliable signings in positions we need reinforcements in.
The banner flying from a plane over Villa Park literally foreshadowed an increasingly frustrating and disappointing away performance against a relegation candidate. “Back Arteta, Kroenke Out” it read.
The campaign to raise the funds for this plane to be flown across the Midlands was funded by Arsenal fans across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter with the aim to put pressure on the Arsenal board this summer.
After another season of inconsistent performances, it has caused frustration to mount amongst Arsenal fans and made the majority of fans to come to the realisation that we need to spend this summer or we will be in the worse predicament than where we are now, come the end of next season.
