Everton versus Arsenal is yet another stumbling block in the search four our first trophy in the Emirates.
After today's performance, whatever it is, it's probably more likely flight MH370 will be found hidden under sand domes in the UAE than trophies found in Emirates stadium this season.
After such a promising start, seventeen weeks at the top, Arsenal is now battling for to maintain status quo, fourth. Again.
Arsenal's season has been blighted by injury but how can that be an excuse? It happens every year, and after a decade Wenger should have prepared for it.
Instead he's complaining about Everton's use of loan players. Everton has borrowed three useful players while Wenger borrowed a guy with a broken backbone. In fact Kim is emblematic as Arsenal has lacked a backbone since David Dein was removed leaving it to be more concerned about its image rather than its structure.
In a season Manchester United has lost to virtually every team, Arsenal remained scared of a spent force. Heavy away defeats 6-3, 6-0, 5-1 to rivals looks more akin to Federer demolition of Murray had it not been for the anomaly of one goal.
Today's outcome will not change our focus, instead of a race to the title and salvation, winning the FA cup will only mask our failures.
Arsenal have paraded fourth place supremacy for seven years now resulting in the loss of an team of style needing a skeleton of steel. Today all we have is a skeleton exposed by injury of one player with heart, Ramsey; one with pace, Walcott and one with guile, Ozil.
Despite almost losing the precious fourth place to Tottenham under Jol and AVB nothing has changed. We've fondled our way into a partial challenge but lack the impetus to sustain that challenge beyond February.
So today, Everton away is not a step to salvation or redemption; but if Arsenal loses, confirmation; draws, consolation or wins, decoration of the structural damage to a team that should now be sound.
Arsenal allowed Henry to retire at FCB as we weren't ready to compete for the Champions league yet six years later we remain uncertain if Arsenal can compete for the FA cup and now for fourth.
In a season, when Manchester United succumbed to 'Moyesia', Chelsea has no strikers, Manchester City falter through new management Arsenal with its stability has allowed Liverpool to mount and sustain the challenge it was meant.
Unless an Arsenal win today actually earns six points, the remaining games of this season will only recover image and winning the FA cup will offer some consolation but no redemption.
Now let's beat Everton.
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