Arsenal’s visits to St James' Park and the Riverside earlier this month yielded just one point from a possible six. A large chunk of the reason for that can be attributed to the fact that Arsene Wenger’s regular midfield trio of Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb and Mathieu Flamini were missing.

Titles have been won and lost because of injuries to players at a critical stage of the season. Chelsea, Manchester United and even Arsenal can attest to that. Shouldn’t Wenger be prepared? One point out of six will tell you the manager hasn’t got a plan B.

I was in the UK during Arsenal’s three crucial away trips to Aston Villa, Newcastle and Middlesbrough, and what was noticeable was that the back-up midfield looks distinctly ordinary to the point of being disjointed.

‘... the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott and Eduardo have still to prove that they can step up.’


The Gunners are top of the Premier League because Fabregas, Hleb and Flamini have proven to be such a compact and efficient unit that when they are just 60 per cent on-song, as they were against Chelsea, they can still scare the daylights out of any team. But what happens when they are all injured or suspended again? Will other teams fear the likes of Gilberto, Denilson, Diaby and Diarra? In the trips to the North East, Gilberto proved inept. while Denilson’s strength, movement and tactical awareness are still sadly lacking. Lassana Diarra will probably be a fine player one day, but right now he is more of a liability, and the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott and Eduardo have still to prove that they can step up.

Wenger needs to address these points in the January transfer window and not believe in his youngsters to the point of being naïve (like playing no cover against Sevilla and allowing Danny Alves to run riot over Armand Traore). Sure, I would like to see Arsenal raid the cradle for more future prospects, but I am concerned with the here and now. Sir Alex Ferguson won the title last year significantly on the back of a geriatric Henrik Larsson and the Indian summer of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. Maybe Wenger needs to look at some older, experienced players for the short term.

What will happen when Kolo Toure is away at the African Nations Cup and William Gallas falls to another injury? Does anyone really think a Philippe Senderos-Johan Djourou partnership will frighten off even the most lacklustre striker? Do Arsenal have anyone else? Gilberto?

Earlier this season, there was a debate as to whether Gilberto should have been made club captain in view of his stellar performances last season. Now, without Fabregas and Hleb to help him out, Gilberto is seen for what he really is – very poor.

When fans chant “Arsene knows”, I believe. I admit I didn’t think Gallas would be captain material in the way Adams and Vieira were, but the elevation of Gallas to the captaincy has transformed him, both as a player and a person. His late goals against Manchester United and Wigan were crucial, but his leadership, especially against Chelsea, has been equally significant to the point where he is starting to rival Cesc as Arsenal's most influential player.

But I digress. In January, Gilberto – along with Jens Lehmann – will probably want to leave. Lehmann, who has been displaced by the surprisingly able Manuel Almunia, can go, but despite the poor performances of Gilberto, he cannot be allowed to go. Wenger made the mistake of letting Matthew Upson leave too early and that cost him a title shot. Gilberto is not looking too flash, but he does have the experience to fill in at center-half when the bottom of the barrel is bare. Bringing in a new defender will be too risky at this stage, even though I for one would desperately like to see Micah Richards or (a recovered) Ledley King make their way to the Emirates Stadium.

I’d also like to add a word about Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie – is there a better striking partnership in the league? When Van Persie came on against Chelsea, didn’t the pair look stunning playing together? Imagine Adebayor and Van Persie spearheading the triangulate of Fabregas, Hleb and Flamini. It’s an awesome prospect. Except … when will the two ever string a decent run together? Injury has robbed Van Persie so often you can chart a bus at the frequency of his visits to the treatment room. And Adebayor, good as he is, is looking tired at being the sole front-runner. It looks like burn-out will threaten the partnership before it can reach maturity.

It really is time for Nicklas Bendtner and Walcott to step up and create for Arsenal the kind of back-up Ferguson had when he could field Sheringham, Solskjaer, Yorke and Cole, and they won just about everything on offer during their Treble season. Right now, teams facing Arsenal without Adebayor and Van Persie just don’t feel threatened. Both Bendtner and Walcott need to score their maiden league goals soon to make opponents think more of them than just prancing ballerinas.