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