Mentally Shattered

Well... the season isn't officially over, but really it may as well be for us fellow gooners. It's a shame we started so well and then lost momentum - if things had been in reverse and we were charging our way up the table, I think we'd all be much happier. It was that tantalising glimpse of a return to silverware that sucked us all in and the cruelly slammed the door in our face that makes it so hard to feel positive about the team at the moment.

However there is something to look forward to in the remaining games - now, surely, is the time for Arsene to get all his experimenting done. He should really be considering this a pre-pre-season. We are in no danger of not qualifying for the Champions League next season, we are most definitely out of the title race, so why not try something new.

So if Flamini is going to sit out the rest of the season (and hopefully we haven't seen the last of him) there is room for an experiment in the middle. Surely Mad Jens' deserves a go in the engine room. Think about it - all that pent up anger and frustration unleashed on the midfield of Reading. I'm certain Wenger, with his wonderful eye for a remodeling of a player, must have this in his plans. And why not throw Eboue in goal - he sure dives plenty.

But really, now is the time to get all the experimenting out in the open. Theo Walcott is the obvious candidate to get the nod from the gaffer - the lad needs consistent starts, preferably up front, to settle in and show us how good he can be. With nothing to lose and everything to gain now is the time to rest a worn out Adebayor and give Walcott some quality game time... maybe give him some dreadlocks to speed things along.

Certainly Cesc looks like he is a player who could do with a few weeks on holiday - preferably nowhere near any agents or Real Madrid/Barcelona scouts. It would seem a good time to give Denilson some Premiership minutes, but the little Brazilian appears to have disappeared off into the Amazon. Several weeks ago it was announced he picked up a minor injury in a closed doors friendly, but there has been no update on his status since. This leaves us with Diaby or Gilberto in the middle - it is a shame we can't have Fran Merida back before the end of the season to see how he fares in the faster pace of the Premier League.

Looking at the backline things are less clear cut for the run in to the end of the season. Kolo Touré isn't in form and has been playing out of position for several weeks. Perhaps it was the African Nations Cup that did it but he too looks like a player who could do with a few weeks break. We have two players in Hoyte and Eboue that could play in the right back role (though perhaps not next season), whilst Alex Song could continue his education alongside Gallas. It does appear though that there will be no room in the team for Philippe 'Nut House' Senderos.. who was taken off in a straight jacket after mentally collapsing in the Liverpool second leg. For such a hard looking bloke, he does seem to be awfully fragile mentally. It is a tough call about what should be done with Crazy Phil - he was part of the brilliant defensive unit that took us to the Champions League Final... but to me still looks too slow and easily rattled to ever be a first choice. So perhaps, though I never thought I would have believed this a year ago, Alex Song is more likely to remain in the squad next season, though surely a new centre back of some quality is due in the summer to help revitalise the defense - I wonder if Bacary Sagna has an older brother?.

Talking of mental patients - sleepy Steve Coppell brings his faltering Reading side to the Grove Saturday... three points will go a long way to paying the bills to the local mental institution. So hopefully we'll rebound from the recent disappointments and smack them 7 - 0 - they do after all, have the worst goal difference in the league bar Championship bound Derby. So hopefully I'll be going crazy with goal fever this weekend.

By Paul Wright

Buy Arsenal Tickets with

World Ticket Shop