13 Days from Hell, Post Match Thoughts of Arsenal v That DAMN United
I am not liking this but, hats off to United they did exactly what they had to do and they advance in the FA Cup to Wembley. Meanwhile Arsenal, have spent the last 13 days with every thing to play for – for only the league to play and given the current mental and physical state of the club, some fans really wonder if that is a possibility.
When I looked over Fergie’s lineup, I thought we had this. Even with Diaby and Denilson on the pitch together, we had the right people overall on the pitch to lock this down. Fergie’s plan wasn’t completely evident to me at the time. It is now. Arsenal’s match against Barcelona was a tiring one. Along with travel back from Spain, the Arsenal squad were likely to still be not fully ready. The youth of United’s set up was less about experience and was more about using their week off to full advantage on the counter. Which they did. I think United wound up with 3 shots, 2 of them goals. All of them on the counter.
Look, I don’t like Fergie, because I think he gets preferential treatment way beyond what anyone should get, but you have to hand it to him he knew that with a week off, and with Wenger was likely to come in with his first team, regardless of what happened in the midweek he was going to have an advantage over Arsenal’s tired legs.
My biggest problem with the team he set up though was that Diaby and Denilson where both on the pitch TOGETHER. If there is anything that annoys me – it is this. If Wenger cannot see that when both are on the pitch we simply do not have enough forward movement to add anything to our build up of play. A lot of it comes from Denilson who spends more time, jogging on the pitch and passing sideways and back. He doesn’t even know how to close down a player for pete’s sake. He was the direct starting point for the second goal – Valencia racing down the wing of the pitch – with Denilson looking right at him. Instead of closing him down, he goes down to his intended path and Valencia goes deep for the cross without anyone challenging him. Fucking disgraceful from the Brazillian if you ask me. For Diaby, his biggest flaw to me, is what he does with the ball when he gets into the final third. Sure does a good job getting into the final third but never seems to be able to keep it or do anything when he gets there.
The only feel good moment of the match was the return of Aaron Ramsey
But something else is very wrong with this club. When everything seems to be going right, it all goes horribly wrong. The win over Barcelona was the apex in seeing what this club can do when healthy and has its core 11 available. Then slowly as injuries mounted (thank you Stoke) this runs occurs. All of that capped off with Szczesny’s freakish finger injury last week, and then the injury that sends Djourou, our defencive anchor, out for the the rest of the season. As one of my reader’s so aptly put it – Murphy’s Law should henceforth be called Arsenal’s Law. Seriously whatever can go wrong with this squad will go wrong with this squad.
The fundamental problem here is not the “crockiness” of our team. I think our style of play lends it self to getting injuries. We move the ball alot. How do teams take us on when that happens? They press and try to knock us off the game. This causes injuries – ad naseum. The real problem is that we don’t have suitable subs that can sufficiently fill in when those injured players go off the pitch.
Squillaci, Diaby, Denilson, Eboue, Rosicky and a few others just don’t inspire confidence on the pitch. It’s a shame about Rosicky really though because of the promise he showed before he showed up with a series of injuries that kept him out for nearly a full season. But nonetheless is part of the “b” team that just doesn’t have the ability to help us when we need it.
So what do we do? Well, according to Martin Keown – on two occassions, has said that if Arsenal go trophyless this season, Wenger will likely blow the team up as it is the end of his five year plan. Now I would take this would a grain of salt. You would think that Martin might be in the know about such things having been a coach with the team for a while. But he is no longer a coach because of his rather “opinionated” style, but it is likely just that an opinion.
But is Martin off the the mark? Is blowing the team up really what is going to improve things. Well, I want to go back and say that our starting XI when fit are able to compete with anyone. They are in my opinion (again caveated when healthy) the best team in the league. Yes, I believe that (I am not asking if you do). The problem is we are not always healthy. So that means its time to blow up the “B’ team. Seriously some dead weight has to go. We’ve talked about it endlessly. I’ve tweeted about it even more and gotten a lot of flak for vocally calling for Andrei Arshavin to be sold this year – AFTER he scored the winner against Barca.
But let’s sales aren’t the option. Let’s assume the return on the sale isn’t what we paid for them, then get rid of who you can and force the others to the reserves to make way for the very hungry set of youngsters that seem to be doing good things for their loan teams. People are saying give me 6 Jack Wilshere’s and we’ll win. Well, I contend that 6 Jack Wilshere’s are already signed at this team. The problem is they are all off on loan. Does anyone find it odd that Szczesny and Jack have the same attitude when they approach a game? No, I don’t. I think it is something born of their time on the youth side of Arsenal. A team that won, regularly. Our youngsters who are now plying their trade for other teams on loan, have won. They are hungry to win and they are likely to be hot commodites here soon enough. Even better that a lot them are English (For the English press perception). Sit the dead weight in the reserves and the young guns really take over. Keep the starting XI you have and let the young guys show what it means to be hungry.
Struggling to keep it together.
The other thing is the board needs to show its own leadership. Starting with Ivan Gazidis it needs to communicate the Wenger that the status quo is not the answer. However, I have my own thoughts about this. To me, the board is the biggest impediment to the status quo – not Arsene Wenger. When we moved to the Emirates we were told that it would free us up to make the big money moves that we would need to make to compete on the world stage. Simply put I believe that the board is restricting access to those funds and that board is hamstringing Wenger’s efforts to bring in players. Now, I believe Wenger does buy into the idea of being financially prudent so as to not wrack the club with debt – he does have an economics degree after all – however, I do believe he would’ve shelled out some dough for a CB had he really had access to the money he needed.
Why do I think the board is a big part of the problem? Well, I think they are completely disconnected from the supporters. How can you authorise a price increase of 6pc when we are on the verge of collapsing for the 6th straight season. The board just doesn’t get it. Honestly if we are going to hold Wenger accountable for tactics and team set up then the board has to be held accountable that sets up the best possible conditions for the manager to operate under. I expect more on the board’s role to come to the front this summer, especially in light of the price increase.
Finally, I think Wenger needs to win as much as the players. Not to save his job but from a purely mental perspective. I think like the players he needs to know what winning feels like. Sounds funny saying about a man who the only trophy missing from his cabinet is the European one he so craves. Wenger needs to know that winning begets winning. That it brings about a mentality that he has lost. When we moved to the Emirates his mindset had to change – from winning to maintaining a competitive edge while we get our feet under us at this new place. That shift in mindset has had a damning effect and frankly, Wenger lost his way. Not the plot. He lost his way.
Well, so there it is, in the span of two weeks we have gone from three trophies to play for to one. Wow. This does remind me of 03/04 when we lost out on the Champion’s League and FA Cup within the same week. Then it was Thierry Henry who placed the team on his back for the rest of the season. Will someone step up to carry the team the rest of the way this season?
Some Final Thoughts:
I really hope that the absence of Johan Djourou means the promotion of Ignassi Miquel. During the two matches he played in I was really impressed with his ability. He knows how to force players off the ball and that close control skill he learned at Barca (the incidently want him back – he came out and said emphatically no.). I would also be willing to let Song go back to the CB role and let Diaby play DM or Ramsey come on. But under no circumstances should Squillaci or Denilson be allowed near the pitch again.
My views on the board just that are my views. I could very well be wrong. I spent some time talking to people (AST members, season ticket holdes, a variety of fans) and they could very well have an axe to grind I have been reading some very interesting thoughts from a writer I really respect and he thinks it may be otherwise. Especially given the improvement in the back room team that is trying to line up commercial deals for the club. So take it for what you will it is an opinion.
One final thought – someone said I think on another blog they didn’t want us to win the league because it would only mask over the issues. This is so true but I want to say something – I’d take winning the league nonetheless.
Och well. Down from a game every three days to once a week. Actually not bad if I have to find a positive.
See you on the flip side.
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