Are Arsenal In Trouble?

Perhaps this was always going to happen. A summer devoid of any big signing was never going to satisfy the Arsenal fans long starved of success and their concern was somewhat justified in the opening game of the season against Aston Villa.

While it's definitely far too early to say that Arsene Wenger's job is in danger, on the evidence of the performance at the Emirates on Saturday, this Arsenal side is not likely to end the Gunners' now 10-year-drought without a league title and maybe even end a 9-year-drought without a trophy - even Liverpool who haven't won the league since 1991 have won many trophies in the interim.

Yes, it is tempting to say that Arsenal perhaps need a change in manager and thinking to get the success that a club of their stature - and now great finance - should now be chasing. It's been 7 years since Arsenal moved to their new stadium at Ashburton Grove, but no trophy of any significance as yet has been presented at the ground to the fans. The stadium's construction surely must have been covered by now so that is no excuse for the lack of success that Arsenal has experienced in the last decade or so.

There is definitely a good core of players to work with - Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Kieron Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott and Wojciech Sczezny are players that should be considered the core of any side but so were Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, Mattieu Flamini, etc.

Why is it that sides like Liverpool can keep their core players like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher despite the lack of league titles while Arsenal just keep losing core players to other "big" clubs? The fact is that winning trophies is an integral part of a footballer's career and even if it's not quite the big one, a player is more likely to stay at the club he loves if he still gets the odd chance to win trophies, even if he might not be paid as much elsewhere.

Clichy, Adebayor, Nasri, Fabregas and van Persie all left because Arsenal could not offer an opportunity to win a trophy under the current set-up. And one wonders if Ramsey, Wilshere, Gibbs, Koscielny, Walcott, etc. will stay at Arsenal if this continues. At least, Welsh and English football can say that the best of their young players is playing consistently week in week out in the Premier League.

Credit is due where it should be though - and Aston Villa deserve all of it particularly Paul Lambert who has somehow managed to keep Christian Benteke at Villa Park and appears to have revived the career of former England international, Gabby Agbonlahor - if he kept playing like this, he could shed that former tag in time for a possible spot at the World Cup next year. Agbonlahor was a menace for an Arsenal defence that again looked weak against more physical forwards.

And of course, Lambert has managed to continue to build on the confidence of his young charges - and strengthened the side - that grew from the last couple of games at the back end of last season which saw them stay up after being in the bottom 3 for so long. It seems that Villa are a side that might give plenty of the big names a bit of trouble this season with their bright, attacking football.

It is early days as yet but at least Villa Park could be a bit fuller now this season with their side now potentially capable of playing football worthy of a top ten spot come May next year.

Elsewhere, Manchester United showed they are definitely getting behind their new manager, with a superb performance at Swansea - Robin van Persie showed he will be at the top end of the Golden Boot competition with two superb goals - and one effort on goal that was beautifully saved.

Daniel Sturridge might very well join him up there after his goal ensured a winning start for Liverpool in a tough gruelling home opener against Stoke. Mark Hughes looks set to continue the tough formula for the Potteries with a few enhancements of his own but Liverpool would definitely welcome the time Suarez makes up his mind about his future.

Sunderland look like relegation fodder at this early stage with what must be a demoralizing home defeat against Fulham to start the campaign. Expect Paolo di Canio to do a bit more yelling this season.

 Benteke thanks God for his goal - Villa fans should thank God he's still at Villa Park!

Player of the Day - Christian Benteke. The best striker not playing for one of the so-called big 5 clubs - and Liverpool. No wonder he wanted a transfer last summer - plenty of clubs would definitely want him, and it is to Villa's benefit that the Belgian striker is staying there, for now.