Arsenal In The First Third

In the last few years, when pundits and opposing fans talked of Arsenal a few things came to mind, the most daming of which was the dreaded phrase – “soft underbelly.” It came to depict the recent crop of Arsenal players as easy to get off the ball, easy to upset with physicality and a penchant for letting both of those allow opposing teams to roll them over.

Here in the throws of the 2010-2011 campaign, I am not hearing anyone use the term “soft underbelly” when it comes to Arsenal. Resilient and tough are popping up, with even Everton’s Phil Neville recognizing the change in Arsenal:

For that question I think we need to look closely at all the areas of the team and see where we stand. Let’s start with the Goalkeeper situation – shall we?

GOALKEEPERS: Right now Arsenal are riding a crest of success that is coming in the form of one Lukasz Fabianski. Yes, that would be the same Fabianski who last season was better known as an out and out flapper in goal. Since Manuel Almunia’s elbow “injury,” Fabianski has gotten a run of starts and in each one has looked impressive. Even in losses to Chelsea and in this weekend’s win against Everton, Fabianksi has looked every bit of what Arsene said he was. He is dishing out the ball well, he isn’t really flapping over the place and the saves he is making are all quality not just “shot stoppers” like Almunia. Additionally, it looks like our back four have a growing confidence in his ability to get the job done and that says something.

Now, there are some, me included, who are waiting for the other shoe to drop. We’ve not had it this good and frankly if past performances are to be believed, then there is a big howler yet to come. Maybe part of that is driven by the young Wojicech Szczesny who is waiting in the wings, who has the confidence and skill tobe the #1 we have craved. He has had two Carling Cup starts that have been impressive and he recently signed a new long term deal. So we are in spades with polish keepers for the forseeable future. That leaves Manuel Almunia the odd man out right now and he has been challenged by the gaffer to fight for his spot but frankly, I don’t see it happening and won’t be surprised if Almunia winds up for sale in the January window.

DEFENCE: Now this is a tricky spot. I think we have in our defence the best right back in the league. He is quick, he is strong and based on this weekend’s performance he has a rifle shot that none of us knew about. Of course I am talking of Bacary Sagna. What a player this guy is. I really am amazed at how well he plays game in and game out. He is solid and I don’t think it is a coincidence that a lot of our stronger scoring plays come from the right side.

But the rest of the defence tends to be a yo-yo of inconsistency. It is improving. I need to make that clear. I do think our back four options are significantly stronger than a year ago. Hell, just removing Mikhail Silvestre did that. But we are even better without Willie Gallas who was viewed in a slightly maligned yet positive way. The two signings of the summer,  Koscielny and Squillaci have shown themselves able – though at times prone to the killer mistake. Personally, I think Koscielny is the better long-term option. He is quick and strong in the air – I seldom see him losing a ball in the air. The mistakes he is making however, are typical of a player transitioning into the league. If he gets them sorted out and our CB stalwart Vermaelen comes back I like that as our starting tandem. Though, I need to say I won’t be dissatisfied with Squilacci either. In the recent Everton match he was showing a total commitment to blocking shots and getting the ball in a way I can’t remember an Arsenal defender doing it in a while (actually the whole team was doing it inthe last 10 minutes of the match which was good to see). Then our fourth option, Johan Djourou, who I have had difficulty supporting, puts in a stalwart performance against Everton and I am wondering to myself – hmmm maybe he can play.

On the left side we have something of a positional challenge brewing. On one hand we have the stalwart Gael Clichy. I am of a mixed opinion about Clichy. He is pacy and great at getting back for cover (sometimes). At other times he will win the ball only to lose it again (quickly) it happened this weekend against Everton.  Pushing the french veteran is another solid left back option in the form of Kieran Gibbs. Gibbs is engima right now with so much promise and talent that he is getting starting calls in England friendlies without really playing. The problem with young Gibbs is a series of unfortunate accidents hampering his playing time. Gibbs keeps the ball a lot better than Clichy and his crossing is only slightly better. Overall their pace is equal and Gibbs may be a little more solid. It should be not time at all before Gibbs supplants Clichy as the teams preference for LB.

MIDFIELD: What can you say about this midfield? When healthy and on point there are so many options and strengths that it could be the best in the league – bar none. The problem is inconsistency. Look at West Brom and you see the issues with complacency. Look at the Everton match and see what can happen with a solid performance. Overall, I think that the midfield has slowly been coming into its own this season. My preferred line up for the midfield is Fabregas, Wilshere and Song. With Rosicky and Wilshere sharing the duties. When Ramsey comes back, it is only another option. With Diaby and Denilson off the bench and youngsters like Lansbury in the wings the midfield is the least of the teams worries.

ATTACK: I don’t think I remember Arsenal having the plethora of attacking options it has right now (at least in the last five years). The addition of Marouane Chamakah, the coming of age master Theo Walcott and the emergence of Samir Nasri has given Arsenal a potent offence that again – like the rest of the team – when consistent is a threat to score every time it has the ball. Marouane Chamakh has been an absolute gilt edge signing. He gives the squad something up front it hasn’t had  in a while – height and presence – and patience. If he is not working the box, he is holding up the ball to bring others into play. We haven’t had that with Nicky B – no matter how good the Dane thinks he is. This should benefit both Walcott and Van Persie, the former who has found his scoring touch and the latter who when healthy is one of the best in the league at finding the back of the net. Then there is Samir Nasri, a traditional midfielder by nature, but having been put out on the wing of the attack recently. I am just going to say wow. He isn’t scoring in droves but he is causing defenders to have fits. He is direct and creative. His pace and touch are sleek and skillfull and he is cheeky (at times.) Throw in my new favorite whipping boy – Andrei Arshavin (who when he can be bothered is actually good) – and the Arsenal attack is as potent as any.

MANAGER: Arsene Wenger – well what’s to say? Love him or hate, he has kept this organization afloat with sound financial practices in a time of fiscal uncertainty and remained competitive whilst doing it. But  moreso it his faith in the youthful players he has signed that may be either his greatest achievement or his most glaring flaw (depending on which side of the coin you fall on). After the invincible season, Arsene made the decision that going forward the team would rely on youth. Slowly the championship teams of the past were gone as the last remnants were shipped off two years ago. It was a dangerous ploy. Youth take time to develop and after quite a few seasons of winning the Arsenal faithful were not in the mood for any long term re-building. But Arsene has persisted and resisted the temptation to drastically alter his plans. Sure this season he has brought in more seasoned players than before but the overall core of players remain true to his youthful focus. If this season continues along the path it is now, there could certainly be some vindication in store for the French manager. Right now though through all the tumult and injuries it is Arsene’s focus and commitment that has kept this club going where others would fail.

So where does that leave us? Who knows?Wwe are only a third of the way in and about to head into a difficult patch that doesn’t stop until after Christmas.  What is evident though, is that team is turning a corner. Whether or not they take the full turn remains to be seen. Me for one, I am going to enjoy it. This is the first season in a while, where I am a little more cautiously optimistic we will win something.

And while we wait for what is going to be a cracker of a Derby this weekend, let’s just do a quick scan of the contenders and pretenders:

Chelsea: I think Blues fans should be worried right now. The 3-0 loss to Sunderland showed that when injuries hit this team, that the bench they have is not adequate in any way shape or form. The biggest loss they have right now is the sale of Ricardo Carvalho. That left just Alex and Terry in the middle and frankly when they are hurt it looks like they get real weak there. Terry just came out and said he could have surgery now on a nagging leg injury and could be out for months. If he is, it is going to get dicey for the champions.  Additionally, with Essien out for 3 games due to suspension the engine that makes that team go is missing. The depth is just not there in this squad that if they go through long injury patches of key players they could be in some trouble. But still they are Chelsea and when healthy they are a solid squad that will contend till the end. CONTENDER.

Manchester United:  I really don’t know what to make of this squad. By all accounts they should be 6-2-5 but they have gotten absolutely lucky in some good and bad draws. And the only intangible I can think of is Sir red nose himself. With him in charge you can not over look this squad. CONTENDER

Manchester City: I hate to say I was right, but so far Roberto Mancini is not letting me down. He simply does not know how to manage an attacking squad. He plays the EPL like Serie A and fights for a point only – regardless of what he says. I said at the beginning of the season, Mancini would be their biggest opstacle towards winning anything .  He can’t manage the egos and he can’t manage in a style that fits this league. If you are going to play defencively the lesser teams will only be more than happy to oblige and the better teams will figure you out soon enough.  Word is that Mancini could be out soon. That would make this club drop even further in my opinion as a new manager comes in works a new system and a new work ethic. Add that to all the egos and well – a good case of schadenfreude is in the offing. PRETENDER.

Tottenham Hotspur:  Any weird squad to look at. They look absolutely fierce in the Champion’s league against Inter and then can’t be bothered for the league. What is evident is that Spurs are quickly becoming a one trick pony – get the ball to Gareth Bale let him run down the side and cross it in and pray Van der Vaart is in the middle to kick it in.  PRETENDER.

Liverpool: Oh my. Talk about bad fortune. This club is so far down the table for such a “big club” that 10th place will seem like heaven to them at the end of the year. PRETENDER.

SHOCKED: Sunderland. Are you kidding me? They have yet to lose to any of the big squads. Chelsea, United, Arsenal, Liverpool, City and Spurs have all only managed to either lose or draw against this squad. Brucie is managing them well, and Asamoah Gyan could be the find of the season.