Manchester United no longer have the fear factor

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On Sunday, Arsenal travel to Manchester United looking for their first victory at Old Trafford since 2006. It is the 1st time Arsenal would have played Manchester United since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. It will be the first time Arsenal would have been to Old Trafford since the fear factor of the ground was no more.

I am a cricket fan (despite this, please read on). For a long time in cricket, there was something called the ‘Shane Warne Theory’. The basics of it were that legendary Australian bowler Shane Warne could take wickets by being just Shane Warne. He did not need to bowl great, he did not need to spin it round corners, he could bowl slow and straight and take a wicket, because he was Shane Warne. A slow straight ball could get someone out, and his victim would be adamant that the ball span. Shane Warne had a physiological edge over opponent batsmen.

Batsmen would be beaten before they had faced a ball. They would be beaten before they walked to the crease. They lost their wicket in the dressing room, where they were fearful of facing Shane Warne. Fearful of how far he would spin it. Fearful that he was the greatest bowler of all time and that he would add their scalp to his collection. When they finally got to the crease, they looked forward, the fear was in their eyes. They were like a deer in headlights. And before you know it, Warne had bowled a tame, straight delivery, and the batsman was heading back to the pavilion. He had been beaten, not by the ball, but by the bowler. The fear factory of Shane Warne.

Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson also had this. Like with a cricketer playing the bowler, rather than playing the ball, teams went to Old Trafford and became scared. This was Old Trafford. This was Sir Alex’s Manchester United. Winners of 13 of the last 21 titles. They did not play the 11 players on the pitch, they played the club, the manager, they played Shane Warne.

Teams were beaten before they kicked off at Old Trafford. They were beaten before they got to the changing rooms. They were beaten before they travelled to the game. They were beaten on their own training pitch, when they accepted that Manchester United were so much better than them. Their manager would bash into them to defend, defend, defend, that a point is a good result, that Manchester United were brilliant. How can you beat a side when you know all the players facing you are superior. And superior by miles. They were beaten not by the physical aspect of playing Manchester United at Old Trafford, but the physiological aspect.

Of course Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling & Wes Brown are brilliant defenders, they play for Manchester United. Danny Welbeck, David Bellion, Bebe, top class striker, they must be, they play for Manchester United. Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, a 41 year old Ryan Giggs, these have to be top central midfielder’s, they play for Manchester United. And with that, you were physiologically beaten.

The amount of times I watched Manchester United play another Premier League side and that side throw the game away. Run scared. Change the way they play, and end up defeated. I have seen sides put in a heroic performances against Arsenal to snatch a draw, or win, to then next week, play with fear. It is as if they were a different side. And defeat followed.

In the 2010/11 season, Manchester United won the league title. The key behind their success was home form. They won 18 out of 19 games. Now this was not a vintage Manchester United team. There were no Ronaldo’s, Giggs (before he became a pensioner), Cantona’s, Keane’s or Beckham’s. No, they had this record with a very average squad. Owen, Anderson, Smalling, Park, Hernandez, Carrick, Nani, Fabio, Rafael, O’Shea, Fletcher, Valencia, Obertan, Macheda, Gibson & Bebe all played a part.

Read those names again, take out the fact they play for Manchester United, and you will realise they are all fairly average. How did they win 18 of 19 games at home? The fear factor.

With Sir Alex Ferguson leaving, the fear factor has left as well. David Moyes is an ordinary manager, and suddenly, teams are not looking at Manchester United like a world class team full of world class players, they are looking at them for what they are, a mid table side with distinctively average players.

Bar Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie, they have no world beaters. An average goal keeper. A defence which will either contain aged, past it players, or young, naive players (Smalling – The English Senderos), full backs which can be got at, a slow, uncreative midfield and little width. The fact is Manchester United are not very good. Yet they are no different from last year, when they were Champions. What has changed? The fear factor have gone. Side are now playing the 11 players on the field, not Manchester United the club.

Of their 5 homes games this season, they have only won 2 of those. A 3-2 victory over Southampton and a 2-0 win over bottom placed Crystal Palace. Not exactly convincing!

The fear factor has certainly gone with Manchester United. And with Arsenal unbeaten away for over 260 days, the psychological aspect of the game could be turning. They should be fearing us now.

Manchester are there for the taking. Play without fear and we win.

Keenos

The Arsenal and Me – Dan’s Story

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So… Where to begin, all the family are Arsenal, Mum was born in Elwood Street, I grew up in Borehamwood. 1983 (I think), my first game at home to Luton. It pissed down so we stood under the North Bank as opposed to the schoolboys in front of the West Stand. We lost. Our Morris Marina then broke down, leaving us double parked in Drayton Park waiting for the AA for hours.

When we finally got home, I thought “that’s for me”. Despite the trial and tribulations and the defeat, I loved it. A few bad years followed going to the odd game then in 86, me and dad went to Highbury during the school holidays and as a surprise he bought us season tickets mine was £39 quid standing in the junior gunners. £39 for a season ticket!Tickets

In 1987, we made a Cup Final. A ticket for the final cost just £6.

What a day Wembley my 1st visit was, and a win (Liverpool never lose when rush scores 1st). I remember the flags the Scousers were carrying on Wembley Way. I was 11 and it was mind blowing.

The following year was back to reality as we lost to Luton!

1989, What a year. May 26th will live with me forever, more so for the way The Arsenal gave flowers to the Anfield crowd before kick off. I was ball boy at Highbury (we played either Newcastle or Everton) the day of the Hillsborough disaster and I watched it live in the players lounge at half time. I wasnt sure what to make of it at that age

When we won the league that Friday, the whole family went up to Highbury dad let me have a beer, the streets were going mad.

Onto my first European excursion, and what an introduction to watching an English team abroad, it was lively to say the least. 1-0 to the Arsenal was born at half time and by now I was going with my pals and getting into a few scrapes here and there but this was on another level.

And so to Copenhagen 1994. What a night. I cried like a baby when we won! The whole day in Copenhagen was magical, being there with your close pals, a 1-0 win when we should have lost by 4….

Lens away, another great night. To say I was there even though it took hours to get in as loads of Gooners tried to blag it. We all know what happened here, the result didn’t matter at the end of the day, I’m still not sure if it was a good day out or a bad day out.

I’ve met loads of great people over Highbury during the years, people who i could rely on when needed, and this was a day we all came together. The next few years me and the old man spent in the East Lower, doubles were won, unreal football was played….I was there at Old Trafford when Wiltord scored and, at the Lane when we won the league.

I have so many great memories and some shitty ones too. Chelsea in the Champions league when Wayne Bridge scored being one of the worst. I physically felt sick after that game. And then onto Paris 2006.

A great trip with some pals and meeting up at the Frog and Rosbeef for one of the biggest sessions ever, the only memory is before the game outside the ground dancing to take me out by Franz Ferdinand!!!

I went to Aston Villa, the 1st game at the Emirates still as a ST holder but it wasn’t for me, it’s soulless and it didn’t mean anything to lots of people around me. My Season tickets are now being used by a pal. I still get up there to the big games and took the missus v Spurs this season, hopefully the prices will come down and I can take my daughter when she’s old enough.

The Arsenals in the blood it hurts when they lose, it hurts when people slag us off. Although I like us being the underdogs ala 89 ….

Remember we are not Arsenal we are “The Arsenal”. Stay safe….

Dan

If you would like to tell your Arsenal story, click here

Five right backs to replace Bacary Sagna

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An unsung hero from the victory over Liverpool was Bacary Sagna. To say Sagna ‘rolled back the years’ would be disrespectful for the Frenchman, who is still just 30.

Sagna’s performance highlighted a couple of things. Firstly we need to get him signed up to a new deal. Secondly, if he does not sign a deal, we need to get in a replacement.

On the first point, he has proved this season that he is still very much our best right back. Whilst at times his crossing is very much to be desired, he is still amongst the best defensive right back in the league. With only perhaps Branislav Ivanovic and Pablo Zabaleta as equals.

Whilst the likes of Kyle Walker, Glen Johnson and our own Carl Jenkinson are better going forward, Sagna does a lot more defensively to be above these kind of players. Add to the fact that Sagna is our 4th choice centre back, Bacary Sagna clearly still has an important part to play in our squad.

Personally, I would offer him a 3 year deal, knowing that for the next 2, at least, he has the ability and legs to be 1st choice centre back, and after that, could go on for many more years as a 4th choice centre back and back up full back.

If, however, Bacary Sagna fails to agree a deal, whether due to us not meeting his demands, or PSG or Monaco coming in with a big money ‘retirement’ offer which we can not compete with, we will have to look at replacements. Whilst I like Carl Jenkinson, both as a player and a person, he is not ready for 1st choice duty over a 38 game campaign.

He has the ability to be Arsenal’s back up full back for his career, mirroring what the likes of Phil Neville and Wes Brown did at Manchester United. However his positional sense and decision making is what is currently holding him back. If Sagna does leave, we will have to look at a new righ back in the summer. what are our options?

Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan)

The extremely talented full back is currently playing out of position for AC Milan. Naturally a right back, found himself playing left back for AC Milan due to the presence of Ignazio Abate. De Sciglio picked up a knee injury in pre-season which left him with a tear to the cartilage in the knee, requiring him to go under the knife. He made his come back last week against Lazio.

Brilliant and graceful in defence, he is far superior to Carl Jenkinson, who is the same age, 21. He also has pace to burn and a quality cross. If he gets clear of his injury, he will become one of the best all round right backs in world football. The big sticking point is whether he will leave AC Milan, who he has been with since 10 years old. A promise of 1st team football, in his favoured position, and a salary which AC Milan will struggle to match could put a move on the cards. If Di Sciglio decides to stay, and becomes 1st choice right back, it could mean that team mate Ignazio Abate comes available.

Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund are Arsenal 8 years ago. A Lot of talented players, but unable to pay the wages to keep them at the club. In 2012, the Dortmund wage bill was €80 million, compared to Bayern’s €158 million. As a comparator, Dortmund’s wage bill would be 7th highest in the Premier League, between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. whilst they have done well over the years competing with Bayern Munich, they are now losing players every summer. Their situation is very similar to Arsenal, who competed with Manchester United in the early 2000’s, but were unable to competed for wages from 2005 onwards, leaving players to leave.

Dortmund have lost, over the last couple of years, Nuri Sahin to Madrid (2011), Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United (2012) and Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich (2013). With Robert Lewandowski already set to leave in 2014, Dortmund are a team who could well of peaked. Previously they have only lost 1 star a season, but like with Arsenal in 2011/12, they will break, and will lose 2 or 3 top players over the course of a transfer window (Arsenal sold Clichy, Nasri & Cesc that year, with Song & RVP leaving the next). For me, next summer could be that year for Dortmund. And that leads me to Lukasz Piszczek.

At 28, and with Arsenal being able to comfortable double his wages, his head would not be too hard to turn. Piszczek is in very similar mould to Sagna. More defensive then attacking, he would be a solid addition to the side. He is perhaps the best defensive right back in Europe right now. He has decent pace and is good going forward, but he would be seen as a like for like replacement for Sagna. The only concern is that he turns 29 in June, and, at just 2 years younger than Sagna, would not be a long term replacement. Would Arsenal invest £15+milllion on a short term replacement? Maybe not. Then again, we need to change our mindset. Get the best player available now, not who has potential. A cheaper option from the Bundesliga could be Atsuto Uchida.

Seamus Coleman (Everton)

If Arsenal want a proven Premier League performer, they could do a lot worse than signing Seamus Coleman from Everton. He might not get the praise and column inches that Leighton Baines gets, but he is a solid, proven performer. He might not be exceptional, he is certainly not a Dani Alves, but he is a very, very good right back.

He reminds me a lot of Gary Neville. An unsung hero. He might not raid down the right like Kyle Walker or Glen Johnsen, but when on the edge of the opponents area, he can put in a cross as good, if not better than those two. Coming into the Premier League at the ripe age of 22, he has gone on to play 90 Premier League games in just over 3 seasons (including an injury in 2011/12). He is certainly a proven performer. Whether he would have the XFactor and is capable of performing on a European stage would be questionable, but if we are looking for a reliable, Premier League proven replacement for Bacary Sagna, he is the one. If Everton are unwilling to sell, a younger option could be Nathaniel Clyne.

Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa)

Sime Vrsaljko is someone who has come onto Arsenal’s radar recently. The 21 year old only signed for Genoa this summer. The Croatian full back has drawn comparisons to Croatian captain and record cap holder, Darijo Srna. I know very little about him, as I am not a footballing hipster who claims to watch Eastern European or Scandinavian football, and with Genoa being one of the unfashionable sides in Italy, they are rarely on the screens. Few can claim to know much about the right back, but according to reports, Arsene Wenger’s scouting team are continually watching him every game. He has previously played on the right win for both Zagreb and Genoa (according to the internet!) so clearly has some ability going forward.

He averages more tackles and interceptions per game for Genoa than Carl Jenkinson  or Bacary Sagna, which should not come as a surprise taking into account both teams fortunes this season. Going forward his statistics are interesting, with him completing 3 times as many crosses as Sagna or Jenkinson. His statistics indicate he is very similar to Gael Clichy in defence, preferring to intercept then tackle, and similar to Leighton Baines in attack, with a similar amount of cross’s attempted and crosses completed per game as the Everton left back. He would be someone we would know little about when signing, however we know Wenger has previously bought players off statistics (such as Sagna) so if he joins, we will know the club have done their homework. Another out of left field who could come in as an unknown quantity would be Ricardo van Rhijn of Ajax.

Sam Byram (Leeds United)

If Arsene Wenger decides Carl Jenkinson does have the talent to at least compete with a fellow right back for a 1st team place, he will end up looking for cheaper options than those above to compete with him. One of these is Sam Byram of Leeds United. The youngster has been heavily linked with Arsenal over the last couple of years, and only his preference of playing 1st team football over reserve football stopped him joining our youth set up.

Reports are all the top sides in the Premier League are keeping an eye on him. Capable of playing right back and right wing, he won Leeds United’s Player of the Year Award, Young Player of the Year Award, Players Player of the Year Award and Supporters Club Player of the Year Award in 2012/13. Powerful running from deep and brilliant delivery has led to comparisons to Gareth Bale. His signing may well raise a few issues. His price tag will be high, for someone who is not as proven as Carl Jenkinson, and a hip injury suffered in the summer is still niggling in the background. If Arsenal wish to have someone to compete with Jenkinson rather than be 1st choice ahead, they might be best off promoting within and giving Hector Berlin, who has been training with the 1st team this season, a chance.

Keenos