Arsenal have their blue print

We talked about it post-Bayern and even pre-Swansea. We’re not the only one either. For Arsenal to likely have any kind of a success (a realtive term really) they needed to do exactly like they did in Germany. They needed to commit to defense and and focus on working together to lock things down.

We’ve had 2 successive games and in those two games they’ve managed to do just that.

In watching the Swansea match, I got a different perspective than most of the pundits did. While I read about Arsenal being “cautious and afraid” what I saw was an Arsenal that seemed more “committed and focused.” Some have said that Arsenal were leggy and while that was true the only one who showed that as was pointed out in Arseblog – Diaby (more on him later.)

The fact is Arsenal of the last two matches looked exactly like Arsenal of the first four matches (before the first international break). There was a total commitment to the system. There seemed to be communication between all players. And when it looked like Swansea would find a way to breakthrough, there always seemed to be someone in the right place at the right time to cut them off or limit their scoring chance.

Arsenal have now gone away on two difficult trips without conceding a goal. They’ve gone to the Liberty Stadium and beaten a squad that had only lost at home twice this season. People will scoff and say Arsenal only beat Swansea. First consider that as we know Swansea has already out played Arsenal on their own pitch and consider point 2 that both United and Chelsea only managed to play to draws at the Liberty. This is not light weight squad and will have the chance to play spoilers as they still have matches to play against Tottnum, United, City and Chelsea. Now that we are out of there you can expect many Arsenal supporters to root on the Swans.

The point is, Swansea are no pushover squad. And given how poor the league is this season, a win is never an easy feat for anyone there.

So the blue print is there. With 9 games remaining, more of the same will likely push them back in to the coveted Champion’s League spot. But let’s not forget this squad has been the master of its own fate. The run in sure looks favorable to Arsenal but as we’ve discussed all season, there hasn’t been a lovely of consistency and production by this squad to warrant real hope.

Arsenal this season have failed to go more than 5 games in a row without conceding defeat. With 27 to play for, you think that 24 points would certainly secure the 4th or possibly 3rd spot (with City looking more and more wobbly you wonder how that might pan out.) But consistency is the key. If Arsenal can maintain their form of these last two matches or at least not let the dips in form hurt them and NOT make the stupid individual mistakes as has been their bane this year then all should be well. If not. . . well we all know the likely outcome.

I’ve been speaking of narratives lately. There is the “Arsenal are shite and in decline narrative.” There is the “Arsenal will be fine narrative.” Last but not least is the pragmatist narrative I like to focus in on. Sure there are issues. There are MANY issues. But there is also good to be reflected upon. I’ve seen better commitment and focus from this team than has been there all season long. It is wrong to not bring that up.

It’s easy to pick one of the more “zeroed-in” right or wrong points. But as with everything, there is a more nuanced view than that. I’ve said it all along, Arsenal have talented players that when they play to their ability and form can play and likely beat even the best Europe have to offer. When they do stupid things they look no better than a relegation squad. It’s harsh but true.

The manager has his issues too. But he also has to be given some credit for whatever he has done to adjust things and again following a similar thread to Arseblog – he has to be considered brave for pulling his captain and sitting his goal keeper in place of someone who hasn’t played in over a year. Yes, there is an argument to be made as to why this wasn’t done sooner. We’ll dice that to pieces in due course. The fact remains he has done it and done it with some affect. Again, let’s hope it sticks or all this good will that has built up will be all for nought.

Time for Diaby to go

When Diaby was signed by Arsenal in 2005 he came with a lot of promise and hope that he would eventually replace Patrick Vieira in the midfield heart of the club. However, after his horrific ankle injury he has been an absolute shell of that promise. While he has managed to actually stay fit more than he has been injured this season, you only need  look at the hollow performance against Swansea to know he has lost it.

Its never easy to acknowledge that someone with so much talent will likely never realize it but I think it’s fair to say that if Diaby meets his potential it won’t be at Arsenal. Of all the players who played on Saturday Diaby looked the most lost and inffective. He merely came along for the ride and never got out of 5th gear.

The maruading runs in the midfield that had shown how good he was, never materialized. Even his footwork and passing which he could fall back on, were non-existant. He even looked scared to shoot.

The fact is Diaby has to go this Summer. He can longer be carried and the same can be said for anyone else not living up to their potential.

I know Wenger wants to build a squad and he sees that being done if you commit to the development of a core of players over the long-term. That becomes problematic when your (ie, manager’s) commitment to a player is to the detriment to the squad as a whole and some of Wenger’s commitment to players is questionable at best.

It’s time for not not only Diaby to go but Arshavin, Bendtner and others must be cleared out. A mix of youth and proven talent must come in to support the new British core and talent we have available now.

If Arsenal make it into the top 4 again then they must give the rebuilding of the squad a proper go this summer. I do not suspect the league to suddenly improve immensly over 1 summer. The decline in form of teams has been steady over the last few years. When Arsenal as poor as they have been defensively have the best away defensive record in the league – you know that says something about the league as a whole.

Jettisoning the last of the deadwood and bringing in some supporting quality could give the club the boost it needs to compete again. Anything other than that will likely force Arsenal to face another season like this.

INFOGRAPHIC: All the key stats and moments from the match: