Insipid Arsenal need much more than a new manager to get fans on board – but who has the patience to rebuild the club?
MESUT OZIL is at least assured of one award this season.
Getting this massacre pulled by Chinese State Television for his outspoken political comments should make him Player of the Year with China’s Gooners.
Ozil’s heartfelt outpouring over the plight of Muslims in the world’s largest Communist country is to be applauded. It is also by far the biggest impact he has had on an Arsenal match for a long time.
But while Chinese Arsenal fans were spared the sight of their team being well and truly rinsed by Manchester City, everybody else either shielded their eyes or watched the stark shortcomings of this club brutally exposed.
Going a goal behind is not an uncommon sight at the Emirates. Kevin de Bruyne’s razor sharp finish after one minute and 29 seconds was the fifth game in a row that Arsenal have gone behind. It was merely quicker than expected.
REVERTED TO TYPE
But it reflects how Arsenal have reverted to type much sooner than we thought after Freddie Ljungberg took over as interim manager.
While Duncan Ferguson has got Everton roaring as caretaker boss, Arsenal are as insipid as ever just over a fortnight into Ljungberg’s reign.
When an entire football club has flatlined, it is going to take more than a managerial change to get the pulses going again.
ACCA WITH LADBROKES Pick up a whole load of acca features to help you land the big one
Everton have been up and down but never out. Either pushing for the top six or battling relegation there has at least been adrenaline coursing through the veins at Goodison Park.
Arsenal are nowhere and have been for too long. Lifeless and soulless. Existing.
Ljungberg has identified ‘10 or 15 things’ urgently required to put things right in the short term. But that is not enough.
Poor Calum Chambers had a nightmare in defence against City’s rampaging forward line. His mis-timed tackles, mistakes and mishaps had his manager’s head in his hands at one point.
most read in football
But Ljungberg can only replace Chambers with the equally erratic David Luiz.
Ozil was replaced by a kid in Emile Smith Rowe 13 minutes into the second half. Ozil’s hissy fit, kicking his gloves at being taken off, is another sign of the long term malaise at this club.
Ljungberg won’t be in charge long enough to put any of it right but what manager out there will possess the patience or be given the time to rebuild this club from scratch?