Why Arsenal’s complacency and lack of professionalism has seriously hindered their chances this season

Arsenal, find themselves in second place, 5 points behind the leaders Manchester United. This story could have been so much different had Arsenal shown a stronger mentality and a little professionalism.

Most Arsenal players, fans and staff will viewthis season as a metaphorical head banging campaign. They have dropped points in places and circumstances which are almost unforgivable.

Arsenal’s home form has seriously hindered their title credentials. The Gunners away form has been very decent. In fact, they have the best away record in the Premier League. So technically they have cracked the hardest part. But their home form has been the critical issue.

Arsenal’s first home defeat of the season came against West Brom. A rather shocking result, to be honest. Some will argue this result is typical of the Premier League’s climate of inconsistency, as teams are beating each other more often than before. But you have to remember, this is West Brom. The Premier League’s yo-yo team. They managed to score two goals in two minutes. They rattled Arsenal. The Arsenal players have seriously got to look at themselves. Especially at home they should show a far more resilient character. After going a goal down, they should assert themselves and show their mental strength by instantly getting onto the front foot. Not let in another goal. It just highlights their weak mentality as a team.

The most embarassing home defeat for Arsenal this season is clearly the game against Spurs. This game demonstrates the weak attitude of the Arsenal players. Arsenal were a far better team than Spurs in the first half. And deservedly got themselves two goals ahead. But come the second half, Arsenal showed their lack of professionalism and complacent attitude. And they let their two goal lead slip and lost the game to their arch rivals. The Arsenal players are simply to blame here. Their complacent attitude has resulted in a comfortable two goal lead at home to be taken away from them. The most humiliating aspect for the Arsenal faithful is that this result was at home and to their local rivals. It’s an unforgivable mentality shown by the Arsenal players.

It must be so frustrating for the Arsenal fans to know that they have lost more games at home (3) than they have on the road (2). This really could have been their year had the Arsenal

Arsenal have again shot themselves in the foot. But this time in Europe. They initially started off cruising the opening group stage matches. Smashing Braga for 6 at the Emirates and then beating Partizan Belgrade away from home. But come the remaining three games of the group stages, Arsenal showed their brittle nature. They lost to Shakhtar Donetsk away from home. This result could have been far more different, had Arsenal had the character to hold onto their lead. But yet again, the story of the season for them, they simply didn’t have in it them to hold the lead. But losing to Shakter isnt a shocking result. After all, they are a very good side with some quality players. However, the defeat against Braga, in Portugal was fatal. As it put Shakhter in pole position. Meaning if Arsenal were to finish the group in second they would have to play one of the top European teams in the last 16. Low and behold, they now face the might of Barcelona, with the second leg at the Nou Camp. The brilliant recent form of Barcelona will seriously worry Arsenal. As Barcelona are hammering everyone in their way. It will test the character of the team. But the mediocre mentality of the Arsenal players, will worry the fans. As Barcelona could potentially embarrass Arsenal, like they did last year.

Back to the Premier League, Arsenal have shown some consistency recently. But their weak mentality has infiltrated through, yet again. Arsenal travelled up north to play Newcastle. The Gunners started off the game perfectly, scoring three goals in the opening 10 minutes. That’s most defiantly Premier League title contenders form, simple as. Especially away from home. They finished the half being four up. Yet Arsenal, still let the three points run away from them. Arsenal again highlighted the complacency in the team. Abou Diaby got himself sent off for horrendous behaviour. Yes it wasn’t the best challenge from Joey Barton, but the reaction from Diaby was a definite red card. There was no need to react so abruptly. It’s just a lack of professionalism.

Arsenal completely lost their bearings after that. Thus allowing Newcastle to come back from four down. It’s humiliating for the Arsenal fans to see their players showing a lack of professionalism to see the job through. The Newcastle come back again highlights the complacent attitude of squad. As it’s the second time they have let a comfortable lead get away from them. The Arsenal players lack resilience when the going gets tough.

Arsenal have been caught being first class mugs time and time again this season. Yet one thing stands out to me. They seriously lack leadership on the pitch. Had the captain Cesc Fabregas shown some leadership skills maybe Arsenal could have kept it together, rather than crumbling. Cesc Fabgregas shouldn’t be captain. He is the captain merely because Arsenal want to prolong his stay at the club. But Fabregas isnt the only player. The other senior members should take some responsibility in making sure everyone on the pitch sticks together. The players simply lack the grit to be really successful.

Arsenal haven’t won a trophy since 2005. Yes, they may well beat Birmingham in the League cup final later this month. But Arsenal could have been in pole position of this season’s title race. They have seriously let themselves down. They clearly have the ability and strategy to be successful. But collectively as a team they lack the drive and professionalism to see games out.

It’s a shame, this really could have been their break through year.

Why the signing of Andy Carroll is a fatal error for Liverpool

So Fernando Torres departs Liverpool for £50 million. Incomes Andy Carroll for a mind blowing £35 million. Andy Carroll now becomes the 8^th most expensive in the world. A frightening thought. Seeing as he has only 6 months of top level football experience. And a single England cap.

Mark Lawrenson once said ‘managers live and dies by the signings they make.’ It’s a very valid point. Especially in the case of Liverpool. One main point to why people wanted to see Rafa Benitez sacked was his poor signings. Go back even further, Bentiez’s predecessor Gerard Houllier, again poor signings by the end of his reign were a crucial factor his departure. Since the 90’s Liverpool have been renowned for making poor signings. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some fantastic signings. But there have been far too many poor signings, which has put Liverpool into decline. This Andy Carroll transfer could possibly be a transfer which haunts Liverpool for years to come. There are too many risks involved in this deal.

Okay, it sounds like I hate Andy Carroll. Its far from that, I do think he is a good player. He is a defender’s nightmare, as he is physically strong, both on the ground and in the air. He is defiantly a player with potential. But even if Liverpool signed Andy Carroll for £20 million its still a huge risk. As he is still relatively new to the top level of football. And he isn’t a proven consistent goal socerer in the Premier League. Arguably, Andy Carroll isn’t a natural finisher too.

But I hope he proves me wrong and takes the Kop by storm.

Some argue that Andy Carroll has shown he can cut it at the Premier League level. It’s a valid point. Andy Carroll has scored 11 Premier League goals already this season. He is the third highest Premier League goal scorer this season. So in the first half of his first season in the Premier League as Newcastle’s number 9 he has shown he can find the net. But how many times have players started off the season brightly scoring lots of goals but then seen a their form dip? Remember Amr Zaki? The former Wigan man’s debut season in the Premier League he initially took the Premier League by storm. In the first half of the season he scored 10 goals, and was being linked to a host of European giants such as Real Madrid. But by the second half of the season, his form had dropped. And he only managed to get one goal in the second half of the season. Most people don’t even know where he plays now (Zamalek, if you were wondering.) The worrying aspect about Carroll is that he hasn’t been able to even prove to himself if he can consistently score in the Premier League, let alone to Liverpool.

Football's top 15 highest transfer record’s show something very clear;

Rank	Player	From	To	Fee (£ in millions)
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	Manchester United	Real Madrid	£80
2	Zlatan Ibrahimović	Internazionale	Barcelona	£56.5
3	Kaká	Milan	Real Madrid	£56
4	Fernando Torres	Liverpool	Chelsea	£50
5	Zinedine Zidane	Juventus	Real Madrid	£45
6	Luís Figo	Barcelona	Real Madrid	£37
7	Hernán Crespo	Parma	Lazio	£35.5
8	Andy Carroll	Newcastle United	Liverpool	£35
9	David Villa	Valencia	Barcelona	£34.2
10	Gianluigi Buffon	Parma	Juventus	£32.6
11	Robinho	Real Madrid	Manchester City	£32.5
12	Christian Vieri	Lazio	Internazionale	£32
13	Andriy Shevchenko	Milan	Chelsea	£30.8
14	Dimitar Berbatov	Tottenham Hotspur	Manchester United	£30.75
15	Pavel Nedvěd	Lazio	Juventus	£30.7

This list shows that every player bar Andy Carroll have all proven themselves before their big money moves. As all these players have regularly played on the international stage, the Champions League and the top leagues of Europe.

The biggest eye opener is when you compare the players to Carroll. Is Carroll in the same bracket of players like David Villa, Hernan Crespo and Andriy Shevchenko? Obviously there different type of strikers to Carroll. But when the big money moves of David Villa, Hernan Crespo and Andriy Shevchenko were made, these players were considered world class. Whereas Carroll has a world class fee but is viewed as a player with potential. This is worrying. As it suggests Liverpool are spalashing £35 million on potential abilty, rather than current abilty.

The fact Liverpool have splashed £35 million on a player who is relatively unproven in the world of football suggests one thing. Panic buy. Its fair to say, Carroll isn’t in the same league as Robhino, David Villa or Andriy Shevchenko (in his day.) But Liverpool felt the urge to replace Torres by any means possible. The reasons to replace are varied. Some argue that it will make the Liverpool owners, FSG look like a selling club, so they needed to show the club is moving forward. While others believe it’s due to the fact Liverpool were lacking a centre forward due to Torres’ departure.

But the fact £35 million has been spent on a player who has scored only 34 professional goals clearly demonstrates the idea of being a panic buy. Every professional goal he has scored is virtually worth £1 million seeing as he was brought for £35 million. Which is an insane notion. Surely if your buying a striker for who is the 8^th most expensive player in the world, he should have scored more than the actual transfer figure itself?

FSG always talk about their ‘long term ambitions.’ The signing of Andy Carroll suggests the opposite. It shows an impulse buy. Yes he has potential, but the fee suggests a desperation to get a player in to replace Torres.

In the longer term it would have been far wiser had Liverpool waited till the summer to find Torres’s successor. As the club could have scouted the Europe and even if they were that keen on Andy Carroll, they could closely watch his progression at Newcastle. And see if he can maintain his consistency in the Premier League for the whole season. Furthermore, if Liverpool waited till the summer, they would have got Andy Carroll for a far friendlier and realistic price.

Once Carroll had arrived at Melwood for his medical journalists began to speculate that Carroll was forced out of Newcastle. Carroll reportedly said ‘I didn't want to leave. Make sure the fans know I didn't want to leave.’ This is worrying. The fact Carroll was reported to have been ousted out of Newcastle suggests his heart may not be with Liverpool for the long run. And the expectations of being Liverpool’s record signing and the 8^th most expensive player in the world may unsettle and alienate the player from loving Liverpool.

Off the pitch, Andy Carroll isn’t an angel. It’s fair to say Andy Carroll is a volatile character. He is known to have arguments with players and has been in trouble with the law a few times. Liverpool are taking a huge risk in taking in a player who could unsettle the squad and could bring bad press to the club. If Liverpool can make Andy Carroll grow up and be a well behaved professional it’s for the best for Liverpool and England. But it’s a damn big risk which could potentially back fire on the club, as it did with a certain British transfer record breaker Stan Collymore.

Andy Carroll is a panic buy acquisition. And this signing has the potential to haunt the club for years. As there are too many flaws in transfer. Firstly, the fee. I can safely say, Liverpool will never recoup any of the cash spent on Carroll. Liverpool are spending huge amounts on potential ability, what happens if this potential ability doesn’t materialise? Liverpool will be world’s football’s laughing stock. And their reputation could be tarnished.

Andy Carroll’s volatile character could leave Liverpool red faced, especially if he poorly represents the club in his personal life. Liverpool must closely look after their record signing. His behaviour off the pitch could be a time ticking bomb.

Liverpool have taken a massive gamble, whether or not it pays off is another question. But this acquisition will have a big effect on Kenny Dalglish’s reign as manager. But there are too many risk factors for the price Liverpool have brought Carroll for. It’s an accident waiting to happen.