What has happened to Arsenal?

I watched Arsenal’s last few dismal performances, and I was wondering: why are they so bad? They’ve got one of the best midfields in the world with Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin and Walcott. And then I realized: They have no Hard Men! No physically intimdating, body-on-the-line, don’t-care-if-I-get-hurt, hard, fierce tacklers.

They’ve got a bunch of pansies who skip gaily around the pitch focusing on intricate step-overs, and back-heel passes – basically ten Cristiano Ronaldo’s running around, with not as much skill.

Man Utd have Rooney, Vidic, Scholes
Liverpool have Carragher, Mascherano, Gerrard
Chelsea have Terry, Essien, Lampard
Arsenal have …. Robin van Persie.

Then I noticed the obvious pattern: Englishmen!

In the early 90’s Arsenal’s back 5 was the England back 5.

It was Seaman, Winterburn, Keown, Adams, Dixon (and sometimes Steve Bould).

They were all hard men who were almost impossible to break through. Season after season they had the best defence in the league. I think it’s time Wenger started investing in some stocky home-grown talent, rather that trying to buy up the whole of Africa