Author Archives: goonersx

Why didn’t Wenger strenthen our defencive side ?

Arsenal in big games eh? “If we could snatch a draw it is a good result” I’m sick of hearing draw is a good result because we are playing away to a big team in the League or in a Champions league match even before the match has started. Tell you what, draw is a good result, when you are in the last 10 mins of a game and losing 1-0 or 2-1 from that moment onwards anything you get out of the game is a good result. For The Arsenal of 10 years back, win was the only option no matter which team was playing against you.

After the Man City and the BVB games, yet again it was highlighted that the squad lacks a solid defensive structure and not one player in the center of midfield is aware of their defensive responsibilities in case the opponents are waiting for counter attack. The same mistakes are repeated in game after game and season after season which are underlined by pundits, journalist and even neutrals and to which the manager remain completely phlegmatic and distant from overturning the approach of Arsenal towards so called ‘big games’.

On Sky sports Monday Night Football, Gary Neville highlighted Arsenal will NOT win the league. To support his argument he said the players are naïve, they lack power, experience and steel in midfield, there was no defensive plan set-up to protect the lead at 2-1 and that leaves them vulnerable to attacks. When you are leading 2-1 and there were 10-12 mins to go against a big team you don’t take risk, you keep hold of the ball and put on a defender!!! Right, we don’t have any CB!!! After Debuchy’s injury Chambers was on the pitch leaving no further CB option further highlighting the sheer negligence and stubbornness of the manager. Similarly, BBC MOTD also pin-pointed to Arsenal’s jeopardy at the back and in defensive midfield from last season and continuing to be repeated yet again against Man-City.

Personally I can’t stand Jose Mourinho, but on Saturday after Chelsea’s match against Swansea City when talking transfers he was spot on, said he identified needs before season ends, target players, go and get them. How often have we (Arsenal) ‘identify needs’ or ‘target a player’ and get him?

It was 2012 when Robin Van Persie was sold to ManUtd, 5 transfer windows to find a striker and when questioned about not signing a striker Wenger gives his usual statement “we have Sanogo, Walcott who can play as a striker, Podolski can play up front, Campbell can play there” OR his verdict that Arsenal are only looking for a ‘TOP TOP class player’ and those player are not available in the market. Enough with the excuses Arsene!!! And finally when we buy a striker in last 8 hours on deadline day who was never on the radar and was only available because ManUtd signed Falcao, again highlighting that there is/was no planning or a strategy in place when it comes to buying a player and Arsene had no intention of buying anyone if Welbeck was not available.

For the case of Defensive Midfield (DM), last summer (2013) we had to sign a player (Flamini) who was training to get fit with us. Now our DM is a player (Arteta) who is converted and made to play that role in the team, typical make do Arsene Wenger methodology. He still refuses to pay for a player (DM) and fails to address the gaps in the team which the team is desperately calling out for. We’ve team full of tap dancers/cheerleaders we needed a conductor. Misplaced ire to get angry at Arteta, not his fault Wenger didn’t sign better in the summer, or that he isn’t a natural holding midfielder. After watching the Man City and BVB games twice its Deja vu, if you don’t address the problems ergo….. Once again paying for shambolic transfer strategy. That issue lies with manager.

AW after the defeat to BVB: “They were very strong in midfield, stronger than us, I agree”. Yes Arsene they were strong in midfield because you and you alone failed address the one position this team craved for, and why do you have to agree now!!! Weren’t those heavy defeats to Chelsea, Liverpool enough to accept the need for a DM and that a Defensive Mid should be priority number 1 for the summer window? Baffling……Puzzling…….Shambolic….

Written by Sidd

Where it all went wrong with our Defence

9 Replies

Let’s be all honest with ourselves, we had a decent summer transfer window. I wasn’t half expecting Wenger to sign 5 good first team players, so I can give it a good 5/10 for the activity and quantity of the players we bought and 0/10 for the literal ignorance to fill the gaps in the team which the fans, pundits, journalist and even neutrals can clearly point out to what this current Arsenal team is lacking and what is needed (top class CM/a backup CB) to have a real go at the league title and yet again we are left at this case of so close yet so far. I don’t know what goes on in the Arsenal Boardroom let alone in Mr. Wenger’s mind but even as a strong advocator of Mr. Wenger I cannot get my head round to the current defensive situation and the mere negligence of the manager to correct it.

To think about it: We lost/sold 4 of our defensive players

1) Sagna: Free to City (bench warming duties)

2) Vermalean: Sold to Barca (3rd choice CB) to which Wenger himself commented that we would DEFINETLY sign another CB to replace Vermalean as we are short in that position.

3) Iggy Miquel: Sold to Norwich City

4) Carlos (banter) Jenkinson: Loan to West Hammers.

Now that’s 4 defensive players OUT. And we have replaced them with Chambers and Debuchy. So that still leaves us with 2 players short.

I literally can’t get my head round it listening to Mr. Wenger at the Champions League press conference before the BVB game when he was questioned about the defensive situation being stretched, he replied “The Debuchy injury puts us in a position where we do not want more (injuries)”. So basically we are relying on our luck with injuries rather than buying an extra player to cover our injury crisis. He went on to say, “Chambers can play in different positions and Monreal can play centre-back and we have as well Bellerin, who I think is now ready to play”. Monreal can play centre-back is basically a guess isn’t it? And Bellerin well even the Dortmund German to English translator had problems pronouncing his name so basically he was never so close to the 1st team than he is now. I’m all for giving youth a chance but not for just throw them in a big match vs BVB.

What has changed within a month when at the start of August following the sale of Vermalean, Wenger was confident of replacing him and now we are in a situation where we have to rely on the luck factor and Monreal at CB!!! This is not proper planning is it? This is just taking a wild guess that a player can cover CB just because he can and the other day I watched Nacho Monreal’s interview on Arsenal Player saying he has never played in that position anytime in his career. So, we are relying on a player who has never played as a CB and Luck factor in our defensive position.

To see a planned summer transfer window, as much as it pains me to admit this but just have a look at Chelsea’s activity. They had gaps in their team a Striker, a Box to Box Midfielder to replace Lampard and a Left Back to replace Cole and they identified their targets and got them early and ready to play in the pre-season to bed them in the team.

Wenger has not changed. He is still looking for a value in a transfer market where in 2014 players are sold for (S#@T) loads of money. And even after you sell Vermalean, you have 20-25 days before the transfer window closes and you still can’t find a 3rd or 4th choice centre back??? It really baffles me how Mr. Wenger operates in terms of managing transfers. And when you question him why you couldn’t sign a player, he goes on about his routine speech “We are only in for signing a TOP TOP class player and they are in shortage”. Come on Arsene we don’t need a TOP TOP 3rd or 4th choice centre back do we??? We just needed an extra body who can cover for Per and KOS and may be give them a bit of rest for the Mickey Mouse cup.

Well, in defense of Arsene I can say that the only amicable reason of not signing a 3rdor 4th choice centre back is perhaps Arsene telling the player “We are signing you but you will be a deputy to Per and KOS and will not play regularly” Well that’s being fair to the player and he may stay at his current club rather than come over to a bigger club like Arsenal and sit on bench all and rumor has it that’s what happened with Winston Reid of West Ham.

Guillem Balague the Spanish LaLiga Sky Pundit claimed on deadline day that Arsenal were looking for a versatile player who can play as a CDM and effortlessly perform as a centre-back if and when needed, we all know Wenger loves these versatile players and may be yet again he didn’t find to quote his words a “TOP TOP Player” who can perform both the positions with ease in the market.

I have no doubt that we have improved from last year in terms of personnel and numbers upfront but to think this current team are ready to put down a marker by challenging for the League title is a statement too bold to make for any sensible Arsenal fan.

A Guest blog Written by Sidd.

10 Reasons why we will beat Dortmund+ my starting 11

6 Replies

1) After praising Szczesny in the ’10 reasons’ this season he goes and has a less than average game against Man City, hopefully that will be the little kick up the bum he will always need to remain focused.

2) Debuchy and Monreal out, Chambers 50/50 but who needs defenders when we have 6 players who can all play at no 10

3) Wenger is saying Bellerin is now ready, the young Barcalona born defender wont get a better chance to get a run of games at ours, like Ashley Cole (given his chance when the 2 LB’s infront of him were both out) he must hit the ground running.

4) Jack was back to normal against Man City, with Ramsey’s form being a bit hit and miss this season he needs to take control tonight.

5) Alexis, he will continue to get better and better the more he plays, his goal against Man City was pure class and nice to see some proper passion in a celebration.

6) Welbeck, I have seen worse debut’s. unlucky not to score early doors and works hard, tonight will suit him and he’s plenty of experience in the Champions League.

7) Flamini now becomes one of our most important players, being able to cover all the defensive positions on the pitch, so expect him to start on the bench to prevent him getting a yellow card early on.

8) We always seem to get out of the group stages, this season maybe Wenger has at last has worked out if you finish top you miss one of the big boys in the 1st knock out rounds.

9) Dortmund have several injury problems themselves with Mats Hummels, Nuri Şahin, İlkay Gündoğan, Jakub Błaszczykowski, Oliver Kirc, Ji Dong-won and, Marco Reus all likely to be missing

10) Wenger knows after 17 years and only 1 final and 1 semi final that this is the competition where he’s always been upstaged, maybe just maybe this year he will finally get it right … (?)

My Starting 11 – Chesney, Bellerin, Kos, BFG, Gibbs, Jack, Ramsey, Ozil (free role), Alexis,Ox Welbeck