We haven’t even reached the January transfer window and it is already a disappointing season for
Arsenal. They are outside the top four in the Premier League and now they are out of the League
Cup after losing 1-0 to Manchester City in the semifinals.
The loss to Manchester City in the League Cup was a bitter pill to swallow as Arsenal has the better
chances and easily could have had the lead before Sergio Aguero scored the only goal of the game
to win it for Manchester City. It was the 12th goal of the season for Aguero as he scored with just
about seven minutes left. Arsenal put the pressure on Manchester City goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon
but they couldn’t get one past him. Early on it was Park Ju-young who was robbed by Pantilimon
who dived and tipped a shot around the post. Not long after that save it was Pantilimon stopping
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Later in the match it was Oxlade-Chamberlain being stopped again by
Pantilimon.
No Offense Without Robin
Arsenal has one of the best strikers in the world in Robin van Persie but he was unavailable for the
game against Manchester City due to suspension. Without him in the lineup the Gunners simply
had no one who could finish. To win big games you need a competent striker and Van Persie is the
all that Arsenal has. Manager Arsene Wenger tried to put a positive spin on the loss but it sounded
hollow. “You may say we lost the easiest competition to win, but if you look at this season and the
teams still in it, it doesn’t look so easy,” said Wenger. “I want to take the positives. How far can
we go this season? If we keep this attitude then we have hope.” The one hope Arsenal has for the
future is Oxlade-Chamberlain who played better than any of their other high priced players.
Arsenal Favored at Wigan
Arsenal won’t have much time to dwell on the loss to Manchester City as they take on Wigan on
Saturday. Arsenal is a big road favourite against bottom feeder
Wigan. Arsenal can’t afford any letdown against Wigan as they need the full three points if they
hope to stay close to fourth-place Newcastle United. The next month will decide if Arsenal has any
chance in the Premier League as they have six games including one at first place Manchester City.
