FA Cup win...phew, about time for Arsenal. But was it bad for long term?

Phew, finally...Arsenal finally ended their 9 year drought this past weekend by winning a thrilling FA Cup final. After being down 0-2 to Hull City within the first 15 minutes, Arsenal found a way to claw back to force extra time where Welshman Ramsey slammed home the winner after a cheeky back heel from Giroud. The Tigers almost equalized late on in extra time when Mertesacker slipped and then Fabianski decided to do his best impression of Rene Higuita, allowing Aluko to strike the ball across the entire empty goal, only to see it refuse to cross the line.

Glory glory for Arsenal! Or is it.

With this long awaited silverware, Wenger was quickly given a three year extension, and supposedly a nice war chest to spend in the transfer season. Okay...great. There is no question that Arene revolutionized how Arsenal handled their business. His impact was felt across the EPL. But as the last 9 years have shown, not sure he still has it. Winning the FA

Scratching that 9 year itch

Cup was nice. However for a club of Arsenal's ambitions it still falls short, and really only means much if it is coupled with league title or a European cup. Neither of which Arsenal have come close to sniffing in a long time. If you believe what Arsenal and Wenger have been spouting the past few seasons, there has never been a shortage of transfer funds. Wenger's transfer record as of recently has not been stellar. He has brought in a number of decent players - Giroud, Podolski, Carzola, Mertersacker, Arteta...he did get Ozil who is world class (but that is more because Real Madrid got Bale and saw Ozil as excess). Otherwise, Wenger has not been able to get world class players to come on his own - Hazard and Daxler come to mind. He has also seen the likes of Cesc and RVP walk out the door...

This transfer season will be key for Wenger. Can he bring some real steel to this club and make Arsenal a legitimate contender for the EPL and Europe? The Gunners need a world class striker, right back, central midfielder (someone that brings some steel to that midfield). Just not convinced that Wenger will change his ways. FA Cup title or no FA Cup title.

Aresnal crashed out of the FA Cup...deja vu all over again?

After a week that saw Arsenal take the lead in the Premiership...after being 11 points off the pace a few weeks ago after falling to Chelsea 3-0...some where allowing themselves to dream that the Gunners might contend for some silverware this season. They were top of the Premiership, playing Stoke in the FA Cup and had a manageable tie against FC Porto in the Champions League. Pundits such as the Limey from Sports Illustrated even wrote an excellent piece outlining the position that Arsenal and Wenger are in currently should be the envy of other clubs. However after Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup this weekend, to Stoke mainly because Wenger fielded a Carling Cup worthy side:

Stoke

• 29 Sorensen
• 03 Higginbotham
• 04 Huth
• 17 Shawcross
• 22 Collins
• 06 Whelan
• 18 Whitehead
• 24 Delap (Diao 85)
• 26 Etherington (Pugh 90+2)
• 10 Fuller (Sanli 85)
• 11 Sidibe

Substitutes

• 01 Simonsen,
• 28 Wilkinson,
• 07 Lawrence,
• 14 Pugh,
• 15 Diao,
• 20 Sanli,
• 09 Beattie

Arsenal

• 21 Fabianski
• 18 Silvestre
• 30 Traore
• 31 Campbell
• 37 Eastmond
• 04 Fabregas
• 14 Walcott (Eduardo 67)
• 15 Denilson
• 35 Coquelin (Ramsey 67)
• 38 Emmanuel-Thomas (Arshavin 67)
• 12 Vela

Substitutes

• 24 Mannone,
• 34 Bartley,
• 07 Rosicky,
• 16 Ramsey,
• 23 Arshavin,
• 41 Frimpong,
• 09 Eduardo

Um take a look at that defensive back line for the Gunners...5 years ago having Campbell and Silvestre line up would be a solid pairing...in 2010 not so much. Any time you have 5 players who have a number in the 30s on the back of their kit you know you reaching very deep into your roster. I realize that Arsenal are heading into a difficult 4 matches in the Premiership - which will determine if Arsenal has a legitimate chance to capture a league title. -

Jan. '10	TIME	Home		Away	VENUE	Competition
Wed. 27	14:45 ET	Aston Villa	v	Arsenal	Villa Park	English Premier League
Sun. 31	11:00 ET	Arsenal	v	Manchester United	Emirates Stadium	English Premier League
Feb. '10	TIME	Home		Away	VENUE	Competition
Sun. 7	11:00 ET	Chelsea	v	Arsenal	Stamford Bridge	English Premier League
Wed. 10	14:45 ET	Arsenal	v	Liverpool	Emirates Stadium	English Premier League

There is no doubt these matches will be difficult and will tax Wenger and his squad. However I am not sure you should sacrifice the opportunity to win an FA Cup. With Manchester United and Liverpool already out of the Cup, Arsenal had a legitimate chance to go far in the tournament. Instead Wenger played this weekend's match as if it were a Carling Cup - a notion mirrored by goal.com. Wenger might be justified by his choice if his squad navigates the next few matches and finds a way to win the Premiership. However, Arsenal could just as easily fade in the title chase (I still think they are thin compared to Chelsea) and could also crash out of the Champions League, leaving the Gunners without any silverware again.
In the article by the Limey, they point out that Wenger has placed Arsenal in an envious position due to his financial savvy and prudence. However they also point out that since 2005 Arsenal have not won any silverware...while Manchester United has 3 Premiership titles, Chelsea has 2, both have won FA Cups and Carling Cups, Liverpool has an FA cup in that time frame....even Portsmouth has an FA Cup title! Soccernomics, a great book on the economics and statistics behind footie, points out that you do not run a sports club as a business. It is not something you do to make money, rather to entertain, boost your owner's ego and always seek silverware. I admire Wenger's ability to always be in contention always field strong squads. However I fear that if Wenger does not open the purse strings to bring in some additional talent and depth that Arsenal might once again be hailed as a fiscally responsible squad, but one without any silverware. I am nervous that the professor over thought his strategy with the Stoke match. This was not a Carling Cup match, this is not a game one can be cavalier about and not look to field your strongest side.

The transfer window is closing - Wenger has a chance to surprise us and announce the fact that Arsenal is serious about challenging for the last competitions they are in contention for - the Premiership and the Champions League.

Will this image be repeated for Arsenal's future any time soon?

FA cup

From what I could see Arsenal's win in the FA Cup was nothing to write home about. Now they have to face Bolton which have given them fits, a loss this year and two seasons ago a terrible loss late in the season that gave Man U the title. With Arsenal 10 points adrift, tettering on the edge in the Champions League and facing a tough match agains Bolton could they go a year without any silverware? I am glad to hear that Wenger will have some cash to spend this summer. He needs to get 1)Strong central defender 2)Goalkeeper 3)Goal scrorer to partner with Henry...thoughts?