Yearly Archives: 2015

A BIG thank you to BBC Sport from all Arsenal fans

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I would just like to thank BBC Sport on behalf of all Arsenal fans for moving our game away to Manchester United in the FA Cup to Monday 9th 7.45pm kick off.

This means over 10,000 travelling Arsenal fans will have to take a Monday off of work to travel up to Manchester for the game. And if you are looking at going by train?

Trains

Thanks BBC. You have really thought of the Arsenal away fans with the staging of this fixture.

Remember, next time your commentators talk about the magic of the cup dying. Club or fans no longer be interested. YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

Keenos

 

Arsenal’s New Sylvain Wiltord

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Sylvain Wiltord was once Arsenal’s record signing. He joined Arsenal in 2000 for a club record fee of £13 million, just weeks after scoring the injury time equaliser for France in the Euro 2000 Final. Big things were expected of the Frenchman, who was Ligue 1 top scorer as he led Bordeaux to the title in 1999. He was supposed to the fox in the box. The man who, at 26, could guide young French winger Thierry Henry.

He became an invincible, and was immortalised in Arsenal history with the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford which saw Arsenal win the league, in Manchester.

He is the 9th most capped French player in history, and 8th highest goal scorer. With 2 Premier League medals, 2 FA Cups, 4 Ligue 1 titles, a World Cup runners up medal and a European Football Championship winners medal in his trophy cabinet. He certainly had a stellar career.

However, it is a career that never really reached the heights it was perhaps expected to at Arsenal.

Signed amongst a lot of hype, having scored that goal in the Euro 2000 Final, it had looked like we had finally replaced Ian Wright (At that point we had not been down the Lane, to tell the Tottenham scum).

Wiltord’s Arsenal career wilted as Thierry Henry grew in stature.

In 2000, having had a year to settle, Henry was beginning to show glimpses of the great he would become. On the other hand, Wiltord very quickly became a bit part player. Back up to Henry upfront, covering on the wings.

31 goals in 106 league games. Over the entire 4 years, he ended up with 49 goals in 175 competitive games. Over the same period, Henry got himself 125 goals, in 208 games. He was certainly in the great man’s shadow.

However, despite never reaching the heights that was expected, he was still a fans favourite.

Always dependable, he rarely had a poor game. When Henry was out injured, he was still a threat up front. When Ljungberg on the left was out, he did a job on the right wing, making up for a bit of lack of quality with always putting in a shift, never complaing about being played out of position.

He was never the best crosser, could not beat a man with skill, and was not a great finisher, but he would never stop running. And with a bit of pace and strength, on his day, he could be a threat. He ended up being voted Arsenal’s 33rd Greatest Player.

What makes me reminisce about Sylvain Wiltord is the performances and development of someone else in the squad, who reminds me so much of the Frenchman.

Danny Welbeck

Now Danny Welbeck has a lot of good attributes. He is strong, he is quick, he has a high work rate. But he often lacks quality. His ability to beat a man is often negated by getting the ball stuck between his feet. His passing can be wayward, and his shooting leaves a lot to be desired.

But this does not mean he is a poor player.

Like Wiltord, he will become a good squad player. He does have the class to lead the line on occasion, as he showed against Galatasaray in the Champions League and on occasion for England.

Sylvain Wiltord went throughout his career averaging 1 in 4, with his appearances in on the wing reducing what would have probably been a 1 in 3 striker record. Danny Welbeck is currently hitting very similar statistics.

Welbeck reminds me so much of Wiltord. The way he is perhaps not quite good enough to be 1st choice striker. The way he can cover on the wing. The way he will miss chances then score others. They play in a very similar manner.

As long as Welbeck keeps his head down, continues to work hard for the team, takes his chances when they come, and does not become a big time Charlie, he will have a career at Arsenal.

Danny Welbeck will never become the next Thierry Henry, but he could become the next Sylvain Wiltord.

A deep future ahead for Santi Cazorla?

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After yesterday’s victory against Middlesbrough, I had a brief exchange with GC about the future of Santi Cazorla. This got the old brain cogs going.

Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil. all brilliant players, but how do you get them all on the pitch, at the same time, in a formation that get’s the best out of all of them?

I imagine Arsene Wenger’s original plan when he bought Alexis Sanchez was that he would play as a striker. With similar attributes to Luis Suarez (without the violent, biting, racist tendencies), it looked like a role which could suit him. That would then enable Wenger to play Cazorla, Ozil & Walcott in behind. But Sanchez looked lost upfront.

The next solution was 4141. With injuries (to Walcott) at the time, it meant there was even enough space to put Ramsey and/or Wilshere in the side. Again, it did not work.

In recent games, however, there have been signs of a new tactic, new positioning, which is showing signs of working. Playing Santi Cazorla deeper.

I first noticed this in the victory against Manchester City. Whilst he was supposed to be the more advanced of the 3 man midfield, he put in a tremendous defensive shift. He got a goal and an assist, but it was his ability in his own half that impressed me.

Tackles, clearances, interceptions, blocked shots, passing out of trouble and running the ball clear. He was an all action midfielder. He showed the attributes required to play in what I call the ‘Waterboy Role’. The man to carry the ball off the defence and defensive midfielder, and link in with the attacking players.

Yesterday against Middlesbrough, he once more played the role, and yes, I know he was up against a Championship side, but it worked.

His ability to play out of danger is impressive. Being two footed, it means he always has a pass on. He also has the ability to beat a player, opening the pitch up more.

Whilst he does not have the pace to play on the wing, meaning that his ability to beat a man is negated as they get straight back on him, in the middle of the park, his skills give him the extra half second to then play the right ball.

With his natural ability, he rarely needs to boot the ball clear. He always creates a situation where a successful pass is on.

Against Middlesbrough, he attempted 114 passes at a 91.2% success rate.

He also showed plenty of signs of linking up with Mesut Ozil ahead of him. Ozil’s stats were similarly impressive. 97 passes at 92.8% success. With the pair of them in the middle, you feel we have the opportunity to pass ourselves out of any situation.

With Cazorla playing deeper, it would also allow us to spring onto the counter attacker quicker. He is a better passer than Aaron Ramsey, and plays the ball quicker. Rather than Ramsey getting the ball, than having to play it to Cazorla or Ozil ahead of him, which slows the play down, it means we can launch the ball from deeper, and go both way’s. Especially with Mikel Arteta currently out, Cazorla adds the extra passing prowess to build from the back.

Of course, there are some down sides. Cazorla is not naturally defensive, and his slight frame could leave us exposed. These would both be solved if we went and signed a bully of a defensive midfielder to play in behind him, to protect him, to do the work of 2 men allowing Cazorla to be a bit free’r.

And obviously, it was just Middlesbrough. Could we play the formation against a better side who could possibly expose a defensive weakness? Probably not. But that is where tactical flexibility comes into it.

At home, against 70% of Premier League sides, we have most of the ball and dictate the play. We could play Cazorla deep, with Ozil in ahead, as we do very little defending. Against the better sides, where we might not have as much of the ball, you change it round, dropping either Ozil or Cazorla for someone a bit more physical, a bit more defensive.

In the past, I have always felt Cazorla performs better deeper. It allows him the freedom of the pitch, opening up a lot of grass for him to play into. Whilst he is dangerous around the edge of the area, playing deeper allows him to build up with the play.

Where this tactical change would also leave Ramsey and Wilshere is also questionable. Before, it was a case of these two fighting out for the Waterboy Role, with Cazorla and Ozil fighting it out for the Number 10. Moving Cazorla deeper, on a more semi-permanent basis will reduce their playing time.

Then again, both Wilshere and Ramsey spend so much of their time out injured, it would not create a massive issue. And with Wilshere being just 23, and Cazorla now 30, it could be a simple case of Wilshere being Cazorla’s successor.

What is for certain is playing Cazorla deeper allows us to play Ozil in his natural position, with Sanchez one side and Walcott the other.

All we need to do is buy a top defensive midfielder to support him.

Keenos