【BBC分析】阿森纳难道重蹈覆辙？

原文标题：Arsenal: Are Arsene Wenger's side spurning title chance again?

作者/Phil McNulty 翻译/心里曾经装着她

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal have now lost two on the bounce having led both games

图：温格的阿森纳已经连续两场在领先的情况下输球

It was the chant Arsenal's supporters used as a signal of their superiority - a song designed to demoralise opponents in the years when silverware was a common currency.

这曾是阿森纳球迷展现自己优越的一首歌曲。一首在那个奖杯像白菜一样的年代里，他们用来败坏对手士气的老歌。

"One-nil to The Arsenal" carried an ominous tone when the teams managed by George Graham and Arsene Wenger were at the height of their powers and the titles rolled in for the Gunners.

“阿森纳1-0”...在格拉汉姆（译者注：这老哥不是教授的前任！是前前任！）和温格执掌的球队在符合他们高度、奖杯也能滚滚而来的年代里，这首歌似乎就预示着什么。

It was turned back on Arsenal in mocking tones by Manchester City's supporters at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as for the second time in a week that once-famous advantage was transformed into a damaging defeat.

而在周日的伊蒂哈德，当阿森纳一周之内第二次将自己往日享有盛名的优势拱手送人，这首歌成为了曼城球迷讽刺的回敬。

Arsenal have led by that single goal at Everton and Manchester City before losing 2-1, overpowered and outflanked in both games in a manner that had alarm bells ringing for those who saw familiar flaws being exposed.

阿森纳在埃弗顿和曼城两个客场都取得一球领先，但最后都1-2失利。两场比赛被对手出奇制胜的方式再一次为他们敲响警钟，熟悉的顽疾再次暴露出来。

译者配图：12月13日，威廉姆斯头球绝杀，埃弗顿主场2-1逆转阿森纳

So has this last week proved that the early season optimism was only another false dawn for Arsenal and Wenger, or is this simply a stumble?

所以过去这周是不是证明赛季初阿森纳的优异表现其实是是假黎明，或只是简单的绊脚石？

Same old Arsenal?

原来还是你？

Arsenal's weakness under pressure, first at a thunderous Goodison Park on Tuesday and again in the face of a Manchester City side that was simply too intense and talented for them to resist, was something that was supposed to have been cured this season.

先是周二折戟古迪逊，然后周末又在曼城面前对对手的强度与天赋低头。阿森纳这种难以抗压的毛病，本该是本赛季已经愈合的伤。

And, in Arsenal's defence, there had been promising signs that the obvious soft underbelly that has undermined them in recent seasons had been cured at times this term.

而过去几个赛季里拖球队后腿的防线也在本赛季开始给人希望，多次传达出积极的信号。

Arsenal were poor at Manchester United on 19 November but hung in and earned a point they did not merit when Olivier Giroud equalised late on. It was the sort of the game they had lost on many other occasions.

11月19日客战曼联时球队的状态就很糟糕，但他们不断坚持，最终由吉鲁扳平比分。这是那种在其他很多时候他们都会输掉的比赛。

译者配图：吉鲁进球的价值在于，当一支强队不在状态又缺兵少将，他首先得确保不断拿分

And it was only a fortnight ago that Arsenal were being lauded for a stylish, ruthless demolition of West Ham United at the London Stadium, a performance many felt carried the hallmark of potential champions.

而才两周前，阿森纳才在伦敦大球场用既潇洒又无情的表现痛击西汉姆联，广受赞誉。很多人认为，那场比赛的发挥具有王者之相。

The loss at Everton was their first in the Premier League this season since the opening day defeat at home to Liverpool, and in that spell was a 3-0 beating of current leaders Chelsea that was so comprehensive that it convinced Antonio Conte he had to reshape tactically, with staggeringly successful results and 11 straight league wins.

对埃弗顿的比赛是自开幕战主场负于利物浦后枪手本赛季联赛中的首次失利。在这个阶段中他们曾经3-0大胜切尔西，当时沉重的结果使蓝军主帅孔蒂痛定思痛决心变阵，他们后来拿到了11连胜。

It was an impressive 14-game sequence for Arsenal.

而枪手的14场不败非常华丽，使人印象深刻。

In mitigating circumstances, they have also lost Shkodran Mustafi to a hamstring injury. The Germany central defender has proved an excellent signing since arriving from Valencia in the summer, adding genuine defensive backbone in partnership with Laurent Koscielny.

在相对不重要的比赛中（对斯托克），他们的穆斯塔菲也腿筋受伤。夏天从瓦伦西亚加盟后，德国中卫确实显现出了至关重要的作用。他和科斯切尔尼的搭档让阿森纳的后防挺直了腰板。

The last time they suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats was in March 2016 against Manchester United and Swansea City. The last time they suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats away from home was in April 2014 at Chelsea and Everton.

上一次他们连续输掉英超比赛还是今年三月客场对曼联（2-3）+主场对斯旺西（1-2），上一次他们连续输掉英超客场比赛还是2014年4月负于切尔西（0-6）以及埃弗顿（0-3）。

译者配图：当教授来到海布里时，世上还未生拉什福德。后来温格表示那场比赛是争冠局势的一个转折点。

And yet. And yet.

还是在等待。还是等待。鱼沈雁杳天涯路，始信人间争冠苦。

The question Arsenal have failed to answer on so many occasions since "The Invincibles" went 38 games unbeaten to win their last title in 2003-04 is - could they stand it when the heat was on, when the physical and mental pressures were at their height?

自03/04赛季不败夺冠后，阿森纳一直很难回答一个问题：渡河冰塞川,太行雪满山，而今登高处，能否胜犹寒？

At Everton and Manchester City they looked in control at half-time, less so at the Etihad perhaps, and twice they have become unsettled and eventually beaten by teams who have applied sustained pressure.

在两个客场到半场时他们看上去都控制着比赛...可能在埃弗顿那场的优势要多一点。但两次他们都慢慢风雨飘摇，最终被持续施压的主队给击倒。

When it came to the pressure points, Arsenal were brittle and cracked. They have been fragile before and now need to produce hard evidence very swiftly that this is merely a temporary state of affairs and not a revisiting of damaging old habits that refuse to die.

每当到临压力的关键点，阿森纳就变得易碎而容易击倒。他们已经脆弱过，而现在要很快用强有力的回应去证明这一切只是暂时的，不是复蹈前辙，旧梦又起。

Arsenal looked tired. They were subjected to a fierce physical test at Everton on Tuesday, but every other title contender has been playing this week and they quite simply have to meet these demands if they wish to end that title drought, irrespective of the fact they have Champions League football to factor in where the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool have no European commitments.

一颗心很累。周二在埃弗顿对他们的身体来说一定是激烈的考验。但争冠的对手们本周的比赛任务都是一样的，如果要打破冠军荒，你不得不做到这些。当然，这一秒暂时先不考虑切尔西和利物浦有无欧战的优势。

Once Manchester City went ahead there was, from an Arsenal perspective, a grim inevitability about the outcome. And, most worryingly of all for Wenger, it seemed like mentally his players knew it.

当曼城反超比分的那一刻，从阿森纳的角度来看，似乎结果就已不可避免地注定。而最让温格担心的是，他的球员们心里有一个小人儿，小人说他知道会发生什么。

This talented team has been betrayed by its Jekyll and Hyde nature under Wenger for years and these last two games will have raised all the old questions and doubts.

这支温格手下才华横溢的球队多年来都被自己双重人格的本性所欺骗，而过去这两场比赛只会重燃那些过往的质疑。

In the 12 seasons since Arsenal last won the title, in only two of those campaigns has the margin between the Gunners and the champions been in single figures. Twice the gap has been more than 20 points - so a systematic pattern has emerged rather than an extended hard luck story.

自上次夺冠后的12个赛季里，只有两个赛季枪手与英超冠军的积分差距小于10分，有两次甚至超过了20分。所以比起不断延长的坏运气，人们更愿意相信这已经系统性地成为习惯。

The gap to Chelsea is already nine points. Arsenal now have home games coming up against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace. They cannot allow it to get any wider.

如今距离切尔西的差距已经是9分了，阿森纳还将在主场迎战西布朗与水晶宫。他们不能让9分继续变为两位数了。

Where was Mesut Ozil?

人呢？

Mesut Ozil's performances have come under the spotlight this week

图：厄齐尔这周的表现被显微镜不断扩大

Mesut Ozil is a graceful creator. He can make and score goals and influence games - but when Arsenal needed him as the chips were down at Everton and Manchester City, he went missing.

梅苏特·厄齐尔是一位美妙的创造者。他可以制造、打入进球，影响比赛。但是当阿森纳在埃弗顿和曼城的客场处于下风，需要他时，他的照片却被贴在寻人启事。

At Goodison Park, he carelessly squandered a potentially decisive chance when the score was 1-1, and when Ashley Williams powered in to head Everton's late winner, Ozil was heavily criticised for turning away from the challenge, appearing to flinch as the defender charged in.

在古迪逊公园的记分牌是1-1时，他漫不经心地浪费了一次可能改变比赛的机会。而当威廉姆斯顶进决胜球时他静悄悄从对抗区域溜走，也受到铺天盖地的批评。这是大敌当前的畏缩。

And at Manchester City, when Arsenal were struggling to gain any foothold and their defence was being placed under constant examination, Ozil's presence could best be described as peripheral. He was on the margins rather than a vital outlet.

而在曼城，阿森纳很难持续控住球，他们的防线也不断经受考验。厄齐尔的存在变得边缘化，他不是那个他应该成为的主角。

Ozil is used by Arsenal's critics, with justification, as the embodiment of the problems that always let them down. He flourishes when the sun is shining but takes shelter when it starts to rain.

阿森纳的批评者们用论据表示厄齐尔就是他们问题的化身。日出时他会盛开，下雨了他却躲避起来。

As Kevin de Bruyne stepped forward to take the responsibility vacated by the suspended Sergio Aguero, Ozil failed to fill in as Arsenal's other stellar performer, Alexis Sanchez, tired visibly and was starved of service in the second half.

在阿圭罗停赛后，德布劳内站出来扛起了重担。而阿森纳这边，当桑切斯下半场明显疲惫又缺乏支援，厄齐尔却无法填补这样的空缺。

Ozil won only 25% of his personal duels against City, lost the ball 14 times and played just one key pass, where that is rated as a pass that assists an attempt on goal.

对阵曼城的比赛中，厄齐尔仅仅赢得了四分之一的身体对抗，14次失去球权，关键传球只有1次。

而那一次被认为是险些助攻成功。

The final straw of Arsenal's frustration was a last-minute free-kick mix-up between Ozil and keeper Petr Cech that saw a short ball played rather than the obvious launch into the penalty area.

而乱成一锅粥的最后一根稻草就是比赛最后一分钟厄齐尔与切赫之间关于一次任意球的误会。比赛在一次短传之后就被吹了终场哨了，而非像本来很明显地那样长传送到禁区里。

With that he was gone, down the tunnel and with nothing to strengthen his hand in current lucrative contract negotiations with Arsenal. The serious clubs will look at his performances this week and question whether he has got it in his locker to add to their elite resources.

故事到这里他就静静地走了，走到球员通道里摊开双手，没有给自己增加任何要续约大合同的砝码。而大俱乐部们考量了他这周的表现，也会产生他是不是真能给自己的精英部队锦上添花的疑问。

Ozil has a rare talent that cannot be denied. But on these occasions, like Arsenal, it is also flawed.

不可置疑的是厄齐尔有那种独特的魔力。但是在这种时候，他和他的球队一样，会闪现裂痕。

Wenger aims anger at ref again

斗狮

Everton manager Ronald Koeman did not spare Wenger's feelings after he complained that referee Mark Clattenburg's performance played a part in their loss at Goodison Park.

在温格抱怨了对埃弗顿一役主裁判克拉滕伯格的表现后，埃弗顿主帅科曼并没有很赞同。

He was particularly annoyed by a marginal decision on the corner which led to Everton's winning goal.

教授尤其对一个角球判罚的细节不满，那最终角球导致了埃弗顿打进绝杀。

译者配图：科曼第一次在主场击败温格的那场比赛，可以说毁掉了什琴斯尼的枪手生涯

Koeman, whose Southampton team beat Arsenal 4-0 at St Mary's last season, said: "I am not surprised by Wenger and his comments. It is the third home game in a row that I have won against Arsenal and three times it was about the referee."

上赛季率领圣徒在圣玛丽球场4-0击败阿森纳的科曼表示：“我对温格和他的言论并不惊讶。这是我连续第三年在主场击败他了，而每次他都会谈论裁判。”

It was the same story at the Etihad Stadium as he turned his ire on referee Martin Atkinson and his officials as Leroy Sane looked barely an inch offside for City's equaliser and Wenger complained David Silva was offside in front of Cech for Raheem Sterling's winner, although it is questionable whether he was hindering the keeper.

而在伊蒂哈德球场，他又如出一辙地将怒火转移到主裁判阿特金森和他的团队，因为萨内打进的扳平球几乎越位了一英尺，而斯特林打进的绝杀球也被温格认为是席尔瓦干扰切赫视线在先，尽管这是值得讨论的。

译者配图：温格和切赫本人当时都认为席尔瓦阻挡了扑救视线

Wenger said: "It is very difficult to accept in a game of that stature but, as it is well known, the referees are protected very well like lions in the zoo, so we have to live with those decisions."

温格说：“用这样的方式输掉一场比赛很难接受，我们大家都知道，裁判现在就像动物园里的狮子一样被保护起来，所以我们必须在这些决定之下艰难存活着。”

Wenger's complaints may be valid, but history suggests it is rather more than errors by officialdom that have been behind their succession of failures to mount a title challenge.

温格的抱怨也许有一定道理，但历史证明，没能完成夺冠大业绝不只是因为裁判的失误。

In Wenger's defence, it is only two defeats and the season has only reached December - the problem is that that table will now tell him and Arsenal they will need something akin to a four-game swing to pass, for one, Chelsea while they go on an extended run of success.

在温格的辩护中，这只是两次失误，这刚刚才十二月。但积分榜却清晰而深刻地提醒他，阿森纳可能需要一种四连胜之类的势头来追赶切尔西不断延续的成功。

After this week, and the manner of Arsenal's defeats, it is an equation that would test even Wenger's endless optimism to the limit.

这一周过后，失利带来的考验，甚至将会把温格的无限乐观都带到一个极限。

翻译笔记

我觉得，不知道怎么讲，首先这文章真的锻炼英语。锻炼到我翻译的头皮发麻。发表之后一定要自己多看几遍，大家也要给我建议与批评。到底应该怎么翻。之前一直顺风顺水，可是最近屡次受到一些指责说我翻译水平需要提高，翻译不追求精益求精，甚至我发这个干嘛就糊弄一下不懂英语的人。我看了不会高兴，但是有人这样想就要不断提高自己，就像有人觉得你做的饭不好吃那就是厨艺还不够。我一直说翻译是艺术，你能看懂但你翻译不会用一样的语言，我的语言就是我的风格。如果都是俗到千篇一律，这个懂球号也没有必要在这里了。我会坚持自己因为我清楚自己得到过的鼓励与认可。我也是确信自己的水平与能力的。

又翻了一篇阿森纳的分析，像曼联球迷什么的可能很久没看到自己主队相关了，很抱歉。每年到这个阶段阿森纳的话题总是特别多，十一月终结了，还不是很惨。十二月却迎来这样的一周。没有记错的话发文日期的一年前阿森纳在主场2-1击败了曼城，势头正旺，但如今这一周的结果确实是心态上的一个打击。教授没有轮换，欧冠大演帽子戏的卢卡斯一分钟都没有出场。你能看到大家都累了，没有那么强的心气了。而这种时候厄齐尔真的会在威廉姆斯身边静悄悄跑开，也一直迟迟没有换下来。可能打曼城，切赫自己出现尴尬纪录之后（第一次在英超连续八场没有零封）自己也着急，最后搞那个误会枪迷纷纷要砸电视电脑了。我客观来说不太愿意看见阿森纳掉队，对联赛的悬念没有帮助。但是如果继续下去的话，这一年依旧无法属于枪手。下一场踢我的主队，埃文斯也不知道能不能恢复，希望双方都需要一点反弹的压力能让比赛精彩吧。枪迷们，选择了你的主队，你选择的就不是鲜花与荣耀，而是内心永远不灭的希望，是眼里永远灿烂的理想。陪着教授一起理想主义下去，陪着他继续走。谢谢。