Almost the perfect team (Arsenal F.C.)

Member Name: LisaW82

Product:	Arsenal F.C.
Date:	24/01/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smooth attacking play and a fabulous stadium

Disadvantages: Awful defending at times and too much reliance on youth

As a mad Doncaster Rovers fan, I have only managed to see Arsenal play in the flesh twice, the latter being a League Cup quarter final match 3 years ago at our old ground Belle Vue.

The Gunners were so lucky that night having beaten us on penalties as a result of an equlaiser scored in the last minute of a ridiculously allowed 2 minutes injury for a 15 minute extra time period.

I have never forgiven the referee for that, but there can be no denying that the football played that night by Arsene Wenger's men was the best I have ever seen in the flesh. This includes trips to see Manchester United and England play. The side Arsenal put out that night was a young team but did include the emerging Hleb, Van Persie and their now first choice keeper Almunia.

What happened next typifies the Arsenal of recent years as they somehow lost the semi-final to Wigan, at home. This would never have happened to the Arsenal with Viera, Campbell, Pires and Henry and it is still a problem that has yet to be solved.

Arsenal, on their day, are still the best team to watch in the Premier League, but still have that soft centre which has seen the likes of Hull City win at the magnificent Emirates Stadium, the new home to Arsenal FC.

With the rumours of Andre Arshavin about to sign, yet no defenders or holding midfielders lined up, there looks to be no end in sight for the frustration Arsenal fans are clearly suffering.
Wenger seems intent on not breaking the wage structure and instead will continue to focus on youth. This could be his ultimate downfall.

They are a great club, with fine tradition and need to get back to some of the defensive solidity that spawned the famous "1-0 to the Arsenal" chant of the early 1990s.

Summary: Great club that need to win something soon