Ultimately, Fabregas will be captain, but it probably won’t be this year. Wenger will have to figure out a way to get the most out of Gallas this year and maybe try and dump him in the offseason.

As for Ramsey, he’s not ready and they really should loan him out. It’s too early to write Rosicky off – he played very well for them last season, when he was healthy. Eduardo may not be the same after his broken leg, but he at least gives the team a proven striker that they can rotate with RVP, Adebayor, and Bendtner. Marginalizing Gilberto last season was a mistake, especially since they underestimated Flamini’s loyalty to the club. Fabregas can’t do it all by himself and he really hit the wall last season.

Bottom line is that, while it’s too early to write them off, they are a deeply flawed team.

Newcastle were a mess of a team which is why they got a thrashing. Sunderland & Hull are more disciplined sides & play well as unit which is why they’re getting good results. To me RVP seems to fragile. Too many times i saw him lose the ball to the opposition whereas players like Henry & Adebayor always manage to fend them off. Fabregas looks so fatigued to me. I think he’s seriously missing Flamini coz right now he’s all over the park covering for his teammates mistakes.

The biggest issue for me is the attitude problem. This is an Arsenal side that has no dearth of talent but is lacking guts & determination. The only guy offering that at the moment is Fabregas & he’s only 21 for God’s sake!

Where’s our next Adams & our next Vieira? Its about time we had another player like that in our midst. Right now all i see are a bunch of school boys running around trying to figure out how to function as a team. We’re in a real leadership crisis & it shows on the pitch.

We’re definitely not out of the title race despite what many people might think, but there are serious & urgent problems that need tending to & i don’t think Wenger is going about it the right way at the moment.

I say strip Gallas of the captaincy, give it to Fabregas. He’s the real leader no question about it. Bench RVP & bring him on as a super-sub. Give Vela his start & see what he can do. Keep Song/Denilson as holding mid-fielders but not both at the same time. Personally i prefer Song at the moment despite his recent lapses. Mix it in with Ramsey & Wilshere at times. And for God’s sake do something about the defending! Especially at set-pieces. We’re getting destroyed by stupid mistakes. Maybe get Djourou in for a few games in place of Toure/Gallas.

Take some calculated risks. Right now that’s better than sitting & watching a team lapse into lethargy & complacency.

They still need to find someone to replace Flamini. Denilson didn’t get the job done yesterday. He was sloppy and gave the ball away (then again, so did many of his teammates). Still, I’m sure things will pick up once Rosicky and Eduardo come back. This is a squad lacking depth and the return of those two will help immeasurably.

Sunderland played well. Arsenal were just atrocious. Is it just me or did they seem fatigued from the start? Song is good but slow & he lacks the energy of Flamini. I blamed him for the goal. Very very sloppy & very very disappointed. Bendtner stupidly got a yellow card towards the end. The guy needs to grow up. I think Wenger needs to bench RVP. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but he ain’t clicking right now. Maybe bring him on as a super-sub or something. Adebayor as usual is our only work-horse on the pitch. I think we gotta commend him for the way he’s playing for us at the moment. Still lacks the clinical finishing of Henry but maybe nobody’s that good anymore.

I think i’ll drink again tonight. Its just too depressing to think about. Another season without a trophy beckons…