Dispelling two recent Arsenal myths
Funny how a good run can restore so many things. It restores hope and faith where only a few weeks and months ago there was frustration and gut-wrenching soul searching. Sure, none of that has gone away. This season still teeters on a knife’s edge. Another ‘blip’ and well, it would bring out all the questions and myths that linger on the periphery of this Arsenal team.
But yesterday I came across Jeremy Wilson’s excellent article in the Telegraph that talked about the promise of Arsenal for next season. In it I was surprised by something he wrote (and go over later) and it got me thinking that there are a lot of misconceptions about this team. Over the last few weeks and months, we’ve heard them all – Arsenal are a one man team, this is Wenger’s worst team since he got here and on and on.
Given that we now have a full week in between matches I thought now was a good time to go through a few of them.
Arsenal are a One Man Team
He scores when he wants. He’s skilled, he’s dutch, he scores with his first touch – Robin van Persie. Our new (sort of) Dutch Master is setting the Premier League alight with his ability to score seemingly (except the last two games) at will. The truth is that when Van Persie is in the box, he is a danger to score all the time. At almost any angle, with foot or with head, he has found the back of the net more times this season than not. And it only goes to figure that when he gets red hot players want to get him the ball to do his wonderful things with it.
So does that make the Gunners a one man team?
Frankly no. This past weekend when Gibbs scored his first ever Premier League goal, he became the fifth Arsenal defender to score in the last six games. That means the likes of Vermaelen (2xs), Koscielny, and Sagna have all scored. But Arsenal have also benefitted from a total of 18 different goal scorers this season. That means from the goal keeper only 6 of the 25 man squad have failed to put the ball in the net. That’s approximately 2/3 of the team scoring.
It’s easy to focus on one player when they are doing so well. But every team has their fulcrum. What would Manchester United be without Rooney? How about Chelsea with Lampard? Liverpool without Gerrard? The point is every team has one player that without them in their lineup they would falter. Calling Arsenal a one man team is a myth perpetrated by those that wish their team had a player who was in such form. Its bitterness, jealousy and a lack of understanding around the team that brings that out.
It takes more than one man to cross the ball, or send beautiful chip shots over defenders or to hold the ball up to release other players. It takes a team. Arsenal are a team and that team spirit is alive and well. And. Growing.
This Is Arsene Wenger’s Worst Team Since He Became Manager
Now this is where Jeremy Wilson comes in. In his article he mentions that had Sept 1 been the start of the season, even with Arsenal’s January wobble the Gunners would only be five points off of Manchester United and Manchester City. If you were to even extend it to starting the season in October, the Gunners would be level with those two teams. Of course if you ended the season in February we’d be out of the Champion’s League.
But are we really that bad?
August and January were woeful. August was woeful because of bad management of the summer transfer window and not having suitable players in place before the season starts to make a solid start of it. Wenger and the board have to bear the brunt for that. January was poor because injuries to the back four were substantial and too many players were playing back in defence that were out of position.
However, when you examine this season against last season and even against 2008/2009 (the last time a lot us thought Arsenal would win a title) this team statistically measures up very well.
As of right now 30 games in here is how Arsenal stack up –
2011/2012 30 GP 61 Goals 39 conceded 59 points
2010/2011 30 GP 59 Goals 29 conceded 58 points
2008/2009 30 GP 48 goals 27 conceded 55 points
The only season that stood out in stark comparison was the 2009/2010 season where Arsenal scored more goals (71) and had more points (64) at the same point. What above illustrates is that even with the wobbles of January and last August this team is no worse off statistically than its predecessors except in the goals conceded and if you were to take out the anomaly of the OT gutting in August its even more equal (but we can’t do that).
You know me and there are intangibles to everything. And I think in this case the intangibles of this squad are BETTER than each of these past squads except for maybe 09/10 squad mentioned previously. The 11/12 Gunners so far have shown a mental toughness that hasn’t been seen by many of the recent versions of Arsenal going as far back as the Invincibles. To me that alone definitely makes this squad better than last season’s iteration and if it can maintain a positive momentum for the last 8 matches of the season it will end up in my opinion better situated than the 07/08 squad who mentally lost it after the horrific injury to Eduardo.
All in all as I look at it, this squad has had its very frustrating and infuriating moments but it is hardly our worst squad. And that came as a shock to me. I like everyone else thought this squad isn’t normal Arsenal quality. But I think as I look at the progress made that Arsene Wenger is perhaps setting the stage for this iteration of the club to go on to the next level.
I agree with Wilson’s premise that adding the likes of Wilshere back to the squad and adding Podolski to the lineup make this club even more better than it is now. Defencively there are still some issues to work out but slowly and confidently the Gunners are pulling together in that department. If Arsenal hadn’t stumbled out of the blocks in August it would be neck and neck with two the leagues leaders. One who is perennially there and one who is there by the grace of a lot of money. Should Arsenal get their business done in the transfer window early and have time to gel (This also assumes no major injuries post Euro 2012) this supposed ‘worst Wenger club’ could give a run for the title next season.
This makes the Easter Sunday meeting against City all the more interesting. When we last played them at the Etihad, I really felt it was a game we should’ve won. Now what is curious about my saying that is – I am one of the people who doesn’t buy this crap that – oh such and such a team deserves to be in the CL or 4th or whatever. You deserve to be where you are because of how you played. But that one match is one match I really believe we should’ve had. We played markedly better than the hosts and unfortunately it only took our one mental lapse for us to pay for it. I believe that should we get by QPR this coming weekend and City have troubles dispatching their next opponent, the table is set perfectly for Arsenal to snatch something from City. That, above all else will do more to dispel any notion that this is our worst team in Wenger history.
Unfortunately we won’t have time to go over the following other Arsenal related myths:
1. A lot of people put the frosty relationship between Pulis & Wenger down to a clash of styles & personality. Not so. It harks back to a match at the Emirates when a clearly aroused Pulis, naked bar his trademark cap, sexually propositioned the Boss. When he was politely rebuked he flew into a rage and took his sexual tension out on a defenceless James Beattie in the Stoke showers. He has never got over this incident (courtesy @GarethDParker via twitter)
2. Igors Stepanovs was once considered a Greek God but was banished to Earth, and lost all his powers. It showed at Highbury. (via twitter follower @Bosscielny)
3. Kaba Diawara had the skill and ability of Messi, but when he came into the UK, Customs made him hand them over. (via twitter follower @SuperD33J)
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anyone remember why arsenal went from a 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1? it was to compensate for the lack of presence in midfield after vieira departed; a presence that fabregas and gilberto couldn’t duplicate alone. arsenal had to sacrifice a striker to throw another body in the midfield. talking about intangible qualities dag? vieira had them by the boatload; the most complete player i’ver ever seen.
anyone remember how arsenal started playing hleb centrally in the 4-5-1? contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t a stroke of genius from wenger but an accident. during the pre-season, 2007, one of the cm’s (diaby maybe) picked up a knock. we didn’t have anymore fit cm’s so wenger brought on gibbs to play out wide and moved hleb behind fabregas. on the field, fab and hleb switched positions when they saw that hleb’s dribbles created a problem that no one in the opposition midfield could solve. it was genius because it was the first time arsenal looked rampant since vieira’s departure. it didn’t matter if adebayor, van persie, or bendtner were in front of hleb, his dribbles collapsed defenses and created space for ade to hit 30 while fabregas got 13 goals and 22 assists in the league that season.
i think arsenal should revisit that concept as it’s easier to find another hleb than it is to find another vieira.
@joshuad, there is no other Vieira. Haven’t seen anyone close to it.
carrib, cavani is intriguing. however, has he intimated that he’s remotely interested in leaving napoli? he’s king there and i don’t think he wants to leave. won’t hurt to ask.
vertonghen is interesting as well but that one is tricky. first, it depends on how much he costs. second, is he better than vermaelen or koscielny? if scum finish in the top four, that would probably be a better choice for him. king and gallas are old and cripple, and he’s clearly better than dawson and kaboul. it’s like chelsea signing cahill; they needed him more than arsenal did. we’ll see.
i think we’re pretty solid in center midfield. we’ve got tomas, song, and arteta. then there’s wilshere, diaby, coquelin, and frimpong to come back from injury, not to mention ramsey.
what i think we need is a special attacking midfielder. we don’t need a fabregas replacement, we need a hleb replacement; someone behind the center forward who gets on the ball and goes, and his dribbles collapse and scare the crap out of defenses. but also a player who does the defensive dirty work required of a bpl midfielder. not only would this type of player enhance arsenal’s attack, but van persie would be thrilled to have someone behind him that is near his technical level.
you ever play with someone who you loved to play with because he was so good and made everyone else around him better? that’s the kind of player we need to sign as an attacking midfielder. a team like arsenal needs that kind of player. i believe it would make arsenal a genuine title contender. a player in the mold of alex hleb or jay jay okocha would excite the crowd as well. i think a budget player that checks all the blocks is moussa dembele. however, wenger may have earmarked wilshere for that position. we’ll see.
@joshuad,
Reported fee for Vertonghen is is 10m because he only has 1+ years left on his contract. Intriguing thing about him is that he plays DM quite often for Ajax, is better in the air than the Verminator, current Ajax Captain, excellent ground game. As far as I am concerned, with their skills, both Koz and TV could also play as a box to box DM in tandem with Song a la Viera/petit.
I think Arsene is eyeing Wilshere, Ramsey and the OX to fill that creative AM role and will not go out to get someone there. Personally, none of them are quite ready yet.
I actually think this is the closest team to the invincibles in almost 7 years. I figured I should say that first so you don’t waste your time trying to read through the rest of my rant.
In the last 7 years, and especially the ‘almost great’ 2008 team, all we’ve heard are teams with great flare and potential. All that buys you in the market is compliments and the odd cup or two (in our case a few cup finals). All the truly great teams are the result of a healthy balance of flare, technique and mental toughness (knowing how to drag out games and not losing just because you were not able to outscore the opponent). Flare/technique can come from potential and practice. Mental toughness and ability to close out games mostly comes, but not always, comes from experience.
When I think of the Arsenal over the last 7 years I can’t help but think of certain pretenders from down the road. This team has taken one step away and above that, in my opinion, towards becoming a team like Manure. The thing is we can’t really have it both ways given our financial (self imposed or not) position – we’ll have to sacrifice a little bit of youthful exurberance/flair to get more mature performances that can challenge the top 2.
I’ll take it. In fact I think, the invincibles were just this type of team too. The fact that they were (notice the past tense) invincibles, and now only live on in our memory, clouds the fact that they drew quite a few games on that run – that they had players like Palour and Lauren who weren’t the most lauded for flair; that attacks were more apt to come down the left hand side with a certain Ljunberg in from behind on the right (granted all we have is mostly attacks down the right and no runner down the left); that that team lost games like that Champions league semi final against Chelski – against all odds too.
So while this team is no ‘invincibles’ it certainly is the toughest to beat we’ve had in 7 years which leads me to believe despite the January deep in form that this is the closest we’ve come to a team that can challenge for title – the closest to our beloved ‘invincibles’
That said, I fear that age would catch up with this team next year but I hope that one more year with the addition of one or two players like Poldi would give them a chance to truly live out their promise (note that I didn’t say potential)….
@mishel, not CLOSE to the Invincibles… you are really having a laugh. Talent wise, it is NOT near the 2nd best team we’ve had in 7 years. No way. The league is having a down season. United are weaker, yet might still win the league… Chelsea are “not as good”, quoting their own Frank Lampard…
So the Invincibles drew quite a few matches? really? They NEVER LOST a game!!! has happened one other time over 100 years ago… what else is there to know? they were playing in numerous competitions… and were trying to win the CL, as well as stay unbeaten…
and they lost to Chelsea in the CL, after having NOT lost to them in like 20 matches…
Please… this current team has some intangibles missing from recent teams… grit, drive and determination… team spirit… but like everyone else that played the “INVINCIBLE” team, this squad could play it 10 times in a row, and it wouldn’t beat them at all.
You’re talking a Toyota Corolla vs. a FERRARI.
This team should be lauded, and applauded for its efforts and recent run…. but its no “great” team by any stretch of the imagination.
@stag133,
We can’t be saying the same thing and yet arguing now can we?
So it’s either you are in that category that read the first line and decided not to read the rest of my post or you read it and I didn’t quite say what I said loud enough.
I didn’t say this team was as good as the invincibles – I said they are the closest we’ve got to the invincibles in 7 years.
I didn’t say this team was the most talented we’ve had in the last 7 years – I said this team had the best combination of graft and talent (I believe I used the word flair/technique) above in the last 7 years. Put another way this is the first Arsenal side in 7 years that I’ll give a fighting chance against a team like Stoke or Bolton – with the previous ones I just went into those games praying that the boys (yes, mentally and talent-wise we were boys) showed up.
To use your own argument, if all Arsenal teams from the past 7 years line up with the invincibles in a mini-league this Arsenal team would pick up the most points against them. Hence, they are the closest to the invincibles in 7 years.
And yes, the invincibles drew ‘a few games’ (enough for Fergie to hold as a stick over us in fact) and not ‘quite a few games’ like I said above and lost out at CL semi-finals. The fact that they has only been 1 invincibles in a 100 years is both an indication of how brilliant the achievement was and the fact the achievement itself was a one off. The fact that they achieved it though means that in our memory they’ll forever be greater than they really were.
Finally, I don’t think the League is weaker. I’d rather say the mid table teams have become better (they now have more players of the quality we wont mind seeing at the Arsenal) with the top teams not necessarily getting better.
This team is definitely not the worst team we have had. If you take a quick glance you will find that we have more leadership, experience and stability since post TH. What we lack more than anything else is SQUAD DEPTH. No REAL backup for Song (DM),Rosicky (AM)and RVP (Striker) needs to be addressed.
Jenkinson may or may not be the answer as backup RB but we can cope by utilizing Coquelin in that role and Yennaris looks to be the real deal in a few years. Ryo, Afobe and Campbell seem like certainties to make it, but once again, they are also a few years away.
The dross players we gathered in previous years should tell us that we are better off today. Almunia, Bendtner, Denilson,Fabianski, Vela, Squillaci, Chamakh, Park, are merely a few reminders of the shite we put on the field on a regular basis.
Cavani, Poldi and Vertonghen in the offseason would make us true contenders.
@Caribkid, Plenty of agreement, CK, not our
worst team by a longshot and the manager might even come in for some kudos
for finding a few veterans (notably Arteta, Mertesacker and Santos, not to
mention TH14, er 12) who helped us A LOT during this difficult season.
Still, we must face facts: we are delicate, heavily reliant on some older
players who may not be able to replicate their current form, and our best
Spring in ages is probably due to competing only on the single front. If
the goal is to be in a better position this time next year, adding quality
in depth (like you say….) would seem to be the key.
The veterans mentioned above (plus Rosicky and RVP) may have another year
or two of peak performance remaining, but counting on it seems foolish.
And, like you say, promising youngsters are just that. Counting on them,
for both basic fitness and real production (witness Jack Wilshere, this
season….) seems a huge gamble. We need players in their prime (mid-twenties)
who are healthy and strong enough to withstand the rigors of the long
English season. (Mentally as well, with greater parity in the English
League, and throughout Europe, there are fewer “easy” games…..)
Song has done it (this season, but Diaby, who might STILL
be worth another season of gamble, hasn’t). Buying another body who
could step in and be ready to go seems necessary. Revived press talk
about Yann M’Vila seems heartening but I haven’t seen him play and, as
always, it’s just talk…..
Bottom line, we haven’t replaced Cesc Fabregas. A combo of rampant RVP,
revived Rosicky (and steady Arteta and Song…) and serviceable contributions from the likes of Theo, Ox-Cham, Gervinho and Ramsey MAY be enough to get us positioned to
try again next season. If the former group falls back (as would be
expected….) and the latter one steps up enough to make up the difference,
we’re still left with a need for other, ready-to-produce, players. Getting
the Captain to re-up is step one. Poldoski as reinforcement seems very
nice as would the addition of another strong defender (Vertonghen).
Cavani (where did you dream up that one?) seems more ManCity (or Milan)
than the sort of player we would pay for (unless we lost RVP). In truth,
there is no replacing Cesc, but I worry that if we don’t try to put our
resources into getting someone into the center of our team (a ready-to-go
player….Jack Wilshere as savior/like-a-new-signing, seems super-iffy….) in the center of the
who can bolster us IMMEDIATELY, it’ll be more of the same (Groundhog
Day?) all over again…..
@HighburyTerraceSteve,
Cavani? Because that’s the type of goal scorer we need and he fits all your checkmarks listed above. He can play on his own up front, works hard, clinical, good on the ball and loves to score goals. Can play beside or instead of RVP and is strong and rugged enough to withstand the EPL rigors. He is very much like a Kun Aguero.
At DM, we need a versatile player who can seamlessly slot into other positions without missing a beat. Vertonghen, Immler and Wetzel all fall into that category but not certain M’Vila does.
Poldi is a nice addition to complement RVP but certainly is not a striker solution if RVP get’s injured. All of the top teams have at least 2 world class strikers if not more. Let’s see if Arsene’s usual optimism prevails that young, unproven talent will step up or will he take off the rose tinted glasses and address his needs in a practical manner.
@HighburyTerraceSteve, while Wenger should get big kudos on signing Arteta (while he was forced into actually doing so by the most embarrassing loss in recent memory)…
But he gets NOTHING for Santos and Mertz.
They haven’t done anything of note.
They are both defenders in NAME ONLY.
I hope Mertz is on a Heavy Carb / Pizza / Cake diet… because if you are going to be that clumsy, and unathletic, you better have some bulk and muscle to intimidate the other team.
HIT THE GYM Per…
@stag133,
Have to disagree with you on Santos. Before his injury he was giving us exactly what we got from Clichy. He was solid defensively and even better going forward. You only need look back to my piece in December before his injury – where I said he should be our starting LB over Gibbs.
@DaAdminGooner, I disagree. He’s a defensive liability, and I’d take Gibbs over him at the moment… just my choice.
and Fox Soccer had some really interesting stats about Arsenal’s success this season, directly being linked to when we have had Gibbs and Sagna on the pitch at the same time.
The theme about how to evaluate this Arsenal team continues…. And I think a lot of viewpoints are valid. IF we can hold onto 3rd (top team in London) and IF we can get RVP through healthy and signing a contract extension and IF we can get our summer business done early, we’ll be well poised for next season. (As you can see, I do think that, if we’re not a “one man team,” the captain is a very key part of our current “success” and our future….) If we do ALL that this season, while not “successful” the 11-12 season MAY be seen as transitional to something better.
While it pains me to say it, our resident hater, our chorus of negativity (albeit a chorus of one….), Mr. Stag133 is correct: Winning is the goal. I’m a little more patient and I believe
it’s more fun to actually watch the football and I also think there are different ways to get there. Additionally, I don’t have perpetual hate for the club, it’s players, and the manager (while lusting for all that is NOT Arsenal), but that’s just me….. Things HAVE changed and the clubs with crazy money can do crazy things, which throws a major wrench into the works, but the top of English football is as “up for grabs” as at any time since I’ve been watching it. And we (or them, or the team known as Arsenal….) have scrambled sufficiently to be in the mix. For this I am grateful….
Still, (from yesterday) I’m jealous of our London rivals in that they’re in the cups. Spurs and Chelsea will play an FA cup semi at Wembley (as will the Liverpool clubs) and Chelsea have a foot in the CL semis. It may make the task of getting back up for the CL a bit more tricky but it also gives them an outlet for building some momentum rather than the weird pressure which builds for Arsenal as we (they….) try to close things out. All told, it’s far from a done deal, and one of the three will be left on the outside, looking in. My hunch is that Chelsea will do the business and Spurs will be a bust up, with at least 3 of ‘Arry, Ade, Luka and Bale heading for the door. But, as always, what do I know….
That leaves the Manc teams and we can help ourselves, for this year and next, by beating City when they visit. (Yes, for this season, we must bow to league champs, United…..) In addition to securing 3rd, I think getting performances AND results against them and Chelsea are the key. We (they, Arsenal….) have to show that the big $$ teams are not to be feared.
It’s all a LOT to ask, but some good things (to me at least) seem to be in place. Why not?
@HighburyTerraceSteve, I would agree that signing RVP, culling the shite players we have been paying to do nothing (or play elsewhere)… and bringing in a few KEY players, early in the off-season, would give the club a launch pad into the next season.
No doubt. It would be a pleasant surprise, and a joy to see happen.
Historically, its a bunch of BS by the club.
But as you say, securing the Top 4 spot is first… we’re in very good position to do so… and frankly, 3rd or 4th? whatever… 3rd would be nice, but 4th is Wenger’s goal… without it, RVP is gone.
Sneezy has been very good, and a nice surprise… long may that last.
Rosicky actually playing…. and well, for more than a few games, is a massive blessing.
Sagna coming back from a major injury and looking good is fantastic news.
Vermaelen’s health is imperative, as he’s our only SOLID & consistent CB… in the entire squad…
and the contributions of Theo, Gervinho, Ox… complementing RVPs amazing season have been a big positive.
Good seasons by Arteta & Song…
so yes, there is a good base, but we’re missing a few key elements…. that make the difference between a good season, and one in which we actually WIN something.
If Tottenham could win the FA Cup, and get a top 4 spot.
Chelsea could win the FA Cup, the CL, and get a top 4 spot.
Liverpool could win 2 domestic cups.
Just me, but I’d trade places with the Totts and Chelsea… with the chance to win a trophy, AND have a chance for the Top 4 spot.
but we are where we are… in place for Wenger’s trophy… Top 4.
i agree that arsenal are no one man team. what they are, however, is a one superstar team. quite a long while ago, on the old site, (stag might remember) i declared that the one arsenal player most likely to be short-listed, i.e., top three, for world player of the year was robin van persie. i made that bold statement while thierry henry and francesc fabregas were still arsenal players. for me, it’s always been plain to see that van persie is a special player. well, now he’s fit too, and the envy of all of europe.
i also agree that this is not the worst arsenal team ever. but it’s not because of your stats. while they may be correct, they are clearly skewed. beside, i thought it widely accepted on this site that the ’08-’09 side was the worst wenger team. we simply lost too many players from the ’07-’08 season due to transfer or long-term injury. anyway, the ’08-’09 side has my vote.
this arsenal side is not bad. in fact, they’re a quite good and only one or 2 signings from being a great team. we didn’t start the season that way but the team has come a long way. if the club are smart, they will make the necessary signing or two very soon and have them settled before the european championship. we’ll see.
They are at the top lol. Had a senior moment then.
Did you delete my comment?
I agree with a lot of what you are saying but we have 58 points now and had 59 after 30 games last season. I think you’ve swapped the numbers around. Still like your blog though.
http://www.clearlyandsimply.com/clearly_and_simply/2011/07/premier-league-historical-statistics.html
I actually do think that this is Arsene’s worst team, at least in the last 10-12 years. While it’s true we have more goals and points than other times in the recent history, I think the Premier League in general has gotten worse as well. So I’m not positive that the goals and points are a good barometer of how good (or not good) this team is. English teams have a had a pretty dreadful time in Europe this year. So, while I don’t think we’re as terrible as many think, I’m not sure comparing this Arsenal side to other Arsenal sides using points and goals is necessarily the best way to go about it. Arsenal may be fine relative to the league, but I think they are probably the worst in recent history when compared with the rest of the world’s teams. Does that make sense?
@kyle, yes, it makes sense Kyle, but you shouldn’t use such logic!
@kyle,
The league is our barometer. How we perform there on a consistent basis is a better gauge of where we are then how we perform in Europe and measure against those teams.
The fact is all of England are down against European teams. We can aspire to be as good as those teams in Europe but our measuring stick is the Premier League.
@DaAdminGooner, and even with the EPL as a barometer, we’re not close to winning the league…
It was Wenger himself that said the goal was to be among Europe’s Elite teams, and win the Champion’s League… that is a laugh at this point.
@stag133,
It won’t surprise you to know I disgaree.
@DaAdminGooner, what exactly do you disagree with? You believe we are close to winning the league? If yes, what is that based on?
When was the last time we beat Man United? Head to head? finished ahead of them?
If you want a barometer, its Man United.
City are clearly ahead of us as well, and you believe we are close to being ahead of them as well?
Please, give me a logical explanation.