The Gunner Red Herrings

It is human nature to blame other people for our failures or the failures of those we love. For the gunners that has become routine. With every match there is someone to blame. Occasionally, the referee is blamed (especially when all time favorite...Howy the spider on the web is on the pitch). Le Professeur gets his beating and fair share of insults and blame too (the best memory I have of this is that awful substitution during the home game against Manchester United when he brought on the little Russian for the Ox). Talking of the little Russian, he has been blamed and insulted way too much for his tiny stature. If you play for The Arsenal, I suppose you can expect a bashing every so often... I say this because even with a win someone is always blamed for missing a shot here,misplacing a pass there etc. However, there are two players constantly blamed for every lose or draw...

I will start with the Welshman...Aaron Ramsey. Ramsey has been blamed for misplacing passes, shooting awfully, shooting instead of passing and vice versa and of course the mystical death of famous people when he scores. So I beg the question, what's a man to do? I will not try to defend Ramsey but I will let you know that I rate him very highly.
Ramsey Skills:


A look at the above video explains why I rate him so highly. Ramsey is gifted with accurate passing, an eye for goal, he is obstinate especially when he loses possession of the ball and he is always willing to track back. Why don't we see this, you ask. The simple response is that you don't want to. I go back to human nature, you don't see the magic he has because of the need to point a finger at someone, or just because it is characteristic of humans to make mountains out of mole hills. I know that what happened to Ramsey on that fateful 27th February 2010 kept him away from football for one year, it also slowed his development into the world class player that he is meant to be by at least two years. I would also like to remind you of the partnership that he had formed with Jack Wilshere. They play so beautifully together, so clearly that might be what Aaron needs to prove himself to you. At the moment he is like Rooney without Antonio Valencia. I am not asking you to give Ramsey time, just your confidence. When Wenger describes a player as "An offence-minded Roy Keane" and "an all-round player,with fantastic ability to cover distances" then that player is special. Remember he is only 21.

I bet you know who is next....yes, you guessed right... Gervais Lombe Yao Kouassi or simply Gervinho. Gervinho is often praised for his ability to take on defenders. The man never fears to try a dribble or two or three. However, this often praised trait is also the one used to slaughter him. He is blamed for staying on the ball too long instead of passing or shooting. This is mostly blamed on his forehead (I don't see the relationship, but that is football for you). It may be true that Gervinho loses possession sometimes too easily, but you got to admit he is world class and plays with all his heart (and pace). His quick runs on the wings trouble defenders, his ability to cut into the box is amazing. He uses his size and pace very well. All that Gervinho needs is to be a bit quicker in his decision making. This does not mean that he is slow, I am not flawing the man. He came from the French league and if anyone has watched a French league match you will notice the game is highly defensive and rather slow. Gervinho was used to that. I believe with time, he will be indispensable to Arsenal. So yes, I am asking for patience from you.
Gervinho Skills:


Lastly, the same way winning is a team effort losing is also a team failure. We are one team so support all your players through every win and every lose. Supporting any football team is like taking marriage vows... "for better, for worse".