Source: Daily_Mail
LEO'S LONDON: Wenger left with nowhere to turn as problems mount up for Arsenal's Mr Contrary
Leo's London is a hard-hitting column on the big issues around the capital'sfootball clubs. Every Wednesday, Leo Spall will cast his eye over themajor talking points in every corner of the city, analysing the PremierLeague big boys and shining a light on the lower-league sides. So,whether your loyalties lie in the north, west, south or east of London,stick with Sportsmail for the latest views...[LNB]***************************************************************************************************************** Arsene Wenger is the sort of manager Arsenal fans can be proud of 99 per cent of the time. But when the usually dignified, urbane 'professor' turns into Mr Contrary it is embarrassing.[LNB]His attempt to belittle the contribution of Didier Drogba inChelsea's 3-0 win at the Emirates on Sunday and his take on his team'sdisallowed goal was not worthy of him.[LNB]Wenger was arguing cases that had no merit and it did little to helpArsenal's cause. Even if it was meant as a distraction from theirshortcomings it was doomed to failure, undermined by the flimsinessof the arguments.[LNB] Hard to take: Arsenal's players face Didier Drogba's free-kick[LNB]This was not Chelsea's fortunate win against United - Carlo Ancelotti's side deserved the points at the Emirates. All the outburst seemed to demonstrate was that Wenger is getting desperate.[LNB]An awful injury list combined with a squad that lacks title-winning depth appears to have left him with nowhere to turn. Ifthe season is to be salvaged in terms of silverware spending in January is required, which is generally not his style and has meanthim changing his approach.[LNB]No wonder he looked rattled.[LNB] When Carlos Vela goes to ground after the merest suggestion of a touch and calls for a penalty, it is clear the diving debate should still be raging.[LNB]The Arsenal striker got nothing for his fall against Chelsea on Sunday when he was under pressure from Branislav Ivanovic but neither was he booked for simulation.[LNB] Going down: Carlos Vela[LNB]More than three months after the Eduardo furore erupted, referees havefailed to stamp out the theatrics. Vela's fall was a long way away fromthe worst example of this kind of behaviour.[LNB]It could even be argued as a borderline case, but he was looking for a foul and fell at the first opportunity. Contact was a side issue.[LNB]If he, and the others behaving like him throughout the leagues, were booked in these circumstances, players would soon think twice about doing it again.[LNB]The referees want managers to stamp out diving and perhaps the obligation should be theirs but to expect all of them to act is unrealistic, whatever they say in public.[LNB]It has to be down to the officials and if the man in the middle is given license to come down hard on perceived offenders there is a chance of improvement.[LNB]Even if it leads to a rash of unfair bookings, it is better than one or two poor penalty awards and would be a price worth paying.[LNB] Nicolas Anelka has been repeatedly praised as a 'new man' and talked of as Chelsea's best player who has come out of his shell.[LNB]That he is playing supremely well, there is no argument at all. He has been linking play superbly and scoring goals in a formidable partnership with Didier Drogba.[LNB]But have people forgotten what he did last season? For those who have, he scored 19 Premier League goals and won the golden boot.[LNB] Neil Warnock is well known to have had fans rearrange the letters in his name to give him a derogatory nickname. It starts Colin[LNB]But if Crystal Palace fans attempted an anagram of their manager's name after he passed his 100th League game in charge it would probably be: Now Can Like.[LNB]Fans' favourite: Neil Warnock[LNB]Okay, the R is missing, but you get the point. Two years after he replaced Peter Taylor at Selhurst Park, Warnock appears to have won over the majority of supporters, many of whom were sceptical about his loudmouth approach.[LNB]To give you a measure of his backing, he has been recently discussed in some quarters in the same breath as club legend Steve Coppell.[LNB]Warnock's fierce defending of his team will undoubtedly have something to do with it and his outspoken attacks on officials certainly win more friends among home supporters than others.[LNB]Coming out to fight for Palace and their chairman Simon Jordan during financial problems has helped too. On the pitch, Warnock's team are always committed and full of fight. He has not been afraid to blood youngsters either, but whether he has achieved that much is open to debate.[LNB]Warnock took over Palace after a poor start to the season and guided them to the play-off semi-finals. Last season they finished 15th in the Championship and this time around they are currently 11th and not far off the play-off places.[LNB]It is a decent return and brings hope of better things but is far from stunning and makes him a strange candidate for hero worship. Still, he has been called a lot worse.[LNB] LEO'S LONDON: Sturridge could do worse than follow example of KakutaLEO'S LONDON: Forget breaking records, QPR must convince teenage sensation Raheem Sterling to snub Chelsea and Co[LNB] Explore more:People:Nicolas Anelka, Neil Warnock, Carlo Ancelotti, Simon Jordan, Carlos Vela, Didier Drogba, Peter TaylorPlaces:London
