Arsenal: why a season that promised so much has ended in disappointment...

Having just watched Man United beat Arsenal 2-1, I can’t help but think there’s something quite tragic about Arsenal’s disappointing end to a season that had promised so much at the turn of the year. There is no denying they are a quality team, with world class talent (going forward anyway), so I have been scratching my head all week wondering why they have thrown away the Premiership after being in a winning position, and why they couldn’t beat Liverpool over two legs in the Champions League.

Whereas many people feel that the 4-0 humiliation Arsenal suffered at Old Trafford in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup was the ‘beginning of the end’ so to speak, I can’t help but feel that the season was lost the following weekend away to Birmingham. Being knocked out of the FA Cup was bad for Arsenal, very bad, but it was by no means disastrous. They were still in pole position and favourites for the Premiership title, and they were looking strong in their tie with A.C. Milan in Europe. But what became clear after James McFadden’s equaliser for Birmingham on 90 minutes, was that the Gunners needed a leader.

By moaning, and huffing and slumping to the ground in tears at St. Andrews, William Gallas illustrated to his team mates that he was incapable of leading them, showing himself to be an immature and incompetent team captain. The mere thought of the likes of John Terry or Steven Gerrard falling to the ground in tears à la Gallas is laughable. The symbolic importance of a team’s captain on the floor in despair after a couple of shaky results is huge. In doing this, Gallas was calling out to the likes of Terry and Ferdinand to rally their troops and prepare for a real title race, because it was apparent that Arsenal would not be up to the task. And so it has proven.

Two months after their last visit to Old Trafford, the Arsenal side that played United today was a different side. After Gallas needlessly handed (or handled as the case may be) the game back to United with a gift-wrapped Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, Sir Alex Ferguson threw on Anderson and Tevez as a sign of intent, knowing full well that Arsenal had neither the leadership nor the organisation to handle the United attack that would ensue. What happened next? Arsenal fell apart and reckless challenges followed, and after a clumsy foul from Gilberto Silva, the inevitable happened, Owen Hargreaves slotted away the free-kick as United claimed the lead, and with it probably a tenth Premier League title.

When they are allowed to attack and to play their unique brand of football, Arsenal are breathtaking to watch and capable of beating anyone in the world. At times, with Adebayor, supported by Fabregas and Hleb, anchored by the hugely underrated Flamini, Arsenal can be unplayable, unstoppable; just ask A.C. Milan. But their inability to grind out results, and see out games away at Birmingham for example, has cost them dearly. They are the same gremlins that have haunted Wenger ever since he arrived in North London. If he can just instil an ounce of discipline in his side, and if he can just somehow find a natural leader who is capable of grabbing 10 players by the scruff of the neck, then there will be no stopping this Arsenal side of undoubted potential.

Steven Gerrard - overhyped and misunderstood

Now I'm trying my hardest here not to come across as just a bitter Man Utd fan. But can someone please tell me what I’m missing? Can someone please tell me why Steven Gerrard is regarded as being among the best central midfielders in the world? Off the pitch, I laud him for his sense of spirit and passion, and he has been rightly praised by fans and the media alike for his shunning of Roman’s millions. Yet on the pitch, time and time again I have seen him put in wasteful, inefficient, selfish, and ultimately overhyped performances for both Liverpool and England.

After Tuesday's Champions League Semi-Final Second Leg tie versus Arsenal, Liverpool’s captain Gerrard was portrayed as a hero, who brought his side back from the brink of elimination with an 87^th minute match-winning penalty. Yet once more, any unbiased spectator of the game could tell you that Gerrard was ineffectual in Liverpool’s midfield, and clearly lacked the discipline needed to fulfil his manager’s orders and sit on the left flank.

After Benitez fielded Gerrard on the left wing and Kuyt on the right, only Kuyt rewarded his manager with a performance which made up for the lack of natural width in the midfield, battling his way through the muscle of Diaby, and the speed of Clichy down the right hand side. Meanwhile, Gerrard insisted on drifting inside, into territory where Mascherano and Alonso fought hard to assert control over the Flamini-Fabregas partnership, thus allowing Eboue to run riot in the huge holes his absence created.

With the ball at his feet, Gerrard tries too hard to make things happen. Time and time again he punts the ball needlessly crossfield, or tries to show his teammates how hard he is trying to win the game by blasting a shot over the bar and into the stands. Once in every ten attempts, he pulls off one of these "Hollywood" passes, or one of these shots even, successfully, and is hailed as a midfield magician, but after those nine attempts that are unsuccessful he is simply good ol’ Stevie G, who bleeds red and white, and whose heart beats along to the Kop’s chants of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

When he plays at his best, Gerrard should be considered one of the best in the Premiership, but when he isn't, there are so many players I would rather have in my team. It is clear that Gerrard is a very talented footballer, and in his defence the left wing is clearly not his natural position, so he should not be judged on this performance alone. On Tuesday night however, the flaws in his game were shockingly evident, and it irritates me when he is considered to be better than other Premiership players like Lampard, Carrick, Fabregas and Barry, who all have the discipline, composure and patience (all of which Gerrard lacks) required to play in the centre of the midfield, and who will all effectively sit in midfield, pick up the ball and play the simple passes all...day...long.