Arsenal Thread 2013/14

[Ronuja]

The reason you get torn apart in your important away games is your back four get minimal protection. A Fernandinho type was who you needed, not Ozil.

I have sunk many hours into pondering why we've performed so shamefully in some of those big away games. Although player selection has been an important part of it, I think the basic problem was always mental rather than personnel-related, which is considerably more worrying since that's not a problem that can be fixed though a transfer window. I feel that mentally we just don't prepare well enough for these games away: there's no reason why we should beat Liverpool at home 2-0 and then get humiliated like we did at Anfield. Same applies with Chelsea. I count the game at the Etihad as a different category, because although we were well outplayed by you guys, it was at least a competition for a decent part of the match. It was not a total humiliation against a truly excellent side.

Besides the mental preparation aspect I think there's also been a tactical failure on the part of the manager going into these games. More than exposing the back four I think the problem is how much license our full-backs are given to bomb forward. Time and again we've seen how that enables top-class opposition like Liverpool and Chelsea to hit us on the break and create four-on-two situations leaving our center-backs helpless, a little bit like your goal the other day: it was the center backs who were hung out to dry. I think with more defensive discipline and positional awareness from Gibbs and Sagna -- who otherwise our excellent players, I think that could happen a lot less. Who knows, maybe they're doing it Wenger's urging, but then I'd hope that he would learn to adjust for those harder games, because all though it works fine against weaker teams, its like Kamikaze against top-class opposition.

The exposure of the center-backs in that way is partially attributable to Mikel Arteta losing much of his pace compared to last year (when he was our main CDM), but I would argue that Flamini is just that defensive anchor we need in the midfield ( which was why it was disappointing to see him on the bench against Chelsea). I'm not absolutely sure about the role Fernandinho plays in the City team, but from what I understand he takes over more of the defensive responsibilities, allowing Toure to rampage, is that correct? Flamini's steeliness, energy, and aggression- bordering on overzealous at times - makes him, in my opinion, the best player to take up that kind of role, if he were given the opportunity. Some of our best performances this season have come when Arteta and Flamini have been paried together in a more stable defensive midfield platform like in our home win against Napoli.

Tactically Wenger has been very poor and naive in the big games. Leaving the team completely exposed. It's not a problem when you have a team with the quality of Barcelona, but Arsenal are not Barcelona. At least for the City game he set up the team with more balance and got a better result despite missing a number of first team regulars.

We're mooted as a possession based team but the days when we could keep the ball almost interminably are long gone. Barcelona, on the rare occasions when they loose the ball do very well to get back quickly. I think the failure to do this is what has cost us the most in the big games, in addition to poor tactical set-up and team selection.

 

[Gillespie]

Our possession game only works when we create space in midfield mixed with pace.

Teams play a high line against now because we have no pace up front. Losing Theo has had a huge impact. Had he remained fit, teams would be punished by playing a high line and by defending deeper space is created in midfield for our attacking midfielders. Failing to buy pace in January after Theo's injury was criminal negligence.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Our possession game only works when we create space in midfield mixed with pace.

Teams play a high line against now because we have no pace up front. Losing Theo has had a huge impact. Had he remained fit, teams would be punished by playing a high line and by defending deeper space is created in midfield for our attacking midfielders. Failing to buy pace in January after Theo's injury was criminal negligence.

Why not use the Ox in that role, he looks pacey.

 

[supercity88]

Arsenal's failures have been a combination of bad luck with injuries to key players and poor management ahead of crucial games. Arsenal's record in lunchtime kick offs is dreadful and Wenger needs to be slapping his players into gear. You cannot go to Liverpool and be thrashed and then play the exact same way against Chelsea. Arsenal are a possession team at home, and can play that way in the majority of away games but top teams are smart to their game plan and really get at them. Arsenal can play possession football but cannot commit so many men forward that they are completely overrun when they lose the ball. I don't blame Wenger for being positive and looking to win the big games away from home but there needs to be some acceptance that you need to play a little more conservatively.

 

[Ronuja]

Our possession game only works when we create space in midfield mixed with pace.

Teams play a high line against now because we have no pace up front. Losing Theo has had a huge impact. Had he remained fit, teams would be punished by playing a high line and by defending deeper space is created in midfield for our attacking midfielders. Failing to buy pace in January after Theo's injury was criminal negligence.

Why not use the Ox in that role, he looks pacey.

We have looked more threatening with the Ox in at right-wing, particularly against Liverpool in the FA cup. He's a very promising talent but he still needs to grow, as we saw in the performance against Chelsea. True, Wenger used him in the central midfield position, which may not be the best place for him right ( although that's where Wenger sees him shifting to in the long-run), but he was absolute rubbish on the day. He'll learn from that though, and as a young playerhe still needs time. Walcott is to a large extent irreplaceable. Possibly the fastest player in the league, he was showing signs of having matured and reaching the heights Arsenal fans had been anticipating for so long just when the injury hit.

 

[City Raider]

The reason you get torn apart in your important away games is your back four get minimal protection. A Fernandinho type was who you needed, not Ozil.

I have sunk many hours into pondering why we've performed so shamefully in some of those big away games. Although player selection has been an important part of it, I think the basic problem was always mental rather than personnel-related, which is considerably more worrying since that's not a problem that can be fixed though a transfer window. I feel that mentally we just don't prepare well enough for these games away: there's no reason why we should beat Liverpool at home 2-0 and then get humiliated like we did at Anfield. Same applies with Chelsea. I count the game at the Etihad as a different category, because although we were well outplayed by you guys, it was at least a competition for a decent part of the match. It was not a total humiliation against a truly excellent side.

Besides the mental preparation aspect I think there's also been a tactical failure on the part of the manager going into these games. More than exposing the back four I think the problem is how much license our full-backs are given to bomb forward. Time and again we've seen how that enables top-class opposition like Liverpool and Chelsea to hit us on the break and create four-on-two situations leaving our center-backs helpless, a little bit like your goal the other day: it was the center backs who were hung out to dry. I think with more defensive discipline and positional awareness from Gibbs and Sagna -- who otherwise our excellent players, I think that could happen a lot less. Who knows, maybe they're doing it Wenger's urging, but then I'd hope that he would learn to adjust for those harder games, because all though it works fine against weaker teams, its like Kamikaze against top-class opposition.

The exposure of the center-backs in that way is partially attributable to Mikel Arteta losing much of his pace compared to last year (when he was our main CDM), but I would argue that Flamini is just that defensive anchor we need in the midfield ( which was why it was disappointing to see him on the bench against Chelsea). I'm not absolutely sure about the role Fernandinho plays in the City team, but from what I understand he takes over more of the defensive responsibilities, allowing Toure to rampage, is that correct? Flamini's steeliness, energy, and aggression- bordering on overzealous at times - makes him, in my opinion, the best player to take up that kind of role, if he were given the opportunity. Some of our best performances this season have come when Arteta and Flamini have been paried together in a more stable defensive midfield platform like in our home win against Napoli.

Tactically Wenger has been very poor and naive in the big games. Leaving the team completely exposed. It's not a problem when you have a team with the quality of Barcelona, but Arsenal are not Barcelona. At least for the City game he set up the team with more balance and got a better result despite missing a number of first team regulars.

We're mooted as a possession based team but the days when we could keep the ball almost interminably are long gone. Barcelona, on the rare occasions when they loose the ball do very well to get back quickly. I think the failure to do this is what has cost us the most in the big games, in addition to poor tactical set-up and team selection.

That's the whole point, Fernandinho allows Zabba and Kolarov to get forward, he provides cover. You don't have a CM that provides this for Sagna and Gibbs but they still bomb forward.

 

[Ronuja]

The reason you get torn apart in your important away games is your back four get minimal protection. A Fernandinho type was who you needed, not Ozil.

I have sunk many hours into pondering why we've performed so shamefully in some of those big away games. Although player selection has been an important part of it, I think the basic problem was always mental rather than personnel-related, which is considerably more worrying since that's not a problem that can be fixed though a transfer window. I feel that mentally we just don't prepare well enough for these games away: there's no reason why we should beat Liverpool at home 2-0 and then get humiliated like we did at Anfield. Same applies with Chelsea. I count the game at the Etihad as a different category, because although we were well outplayed by you guys, it was at least a competition for a decent part of the match. It was not a total humiliation against a truly excellent side.

Besides the mental preparation aspect I think there's also been a tactical failure on the part of the manager going into these games. More than exposing the back four I think the problem is how much license our full-backs are given to bomb forward. Time and again we've seen how that enables top-class opposition like Liverpool and Chelsea to hit us on the break and create four-on-two situations leaving our center-backs helpless, a little bit like your goal the other day: it was the center backs who were hung out to dry. I think with more defensive discipline and positional awareness from Gibbs and Sagna -- who otherwise our excellent players, I think that could happen a lot less. Who knows, maybe they're doing it Wenger's urging, but then I'd hope that he would learn to adjust for those harder games, because all though it works fine against weaker teams, its like Kamikaze against top-class opposition.

The exposure of the center-backs in that way is partially attributable to Mikel Arteta losing much of his pace compared to last year (when he was our main CDM), but I would argue that Flamini is just that defensive anchor we need in the midfield ( which was why it was disappointing to see him on the bench against Chelsea). I'm not absolutely sure about the role Fernandinho plays in the City team, but from what I understand he takes over more of the defensive responsibilities, allowing Toure to rampage, is that correct? Flamini's steeliness, energy, and aggression- bordering on overzealous at times - makes him, in my opinion, the best player to take up that kind of role, if he were given the opportunity. Some of our best performances this season have come when Arteta and Flamini have been paried together in a more stable defensive midfield platform like in our home win against Napoli.

Tactically Wenger has been very poor and naive in the big games. Leaving the team completely exposed. It's not a problem when you have a team with the quality of Barcelona, but Arsenal are not Barcelona. At least for the City game he set up the team with more balance and got a better result despite missing a number of first team regulars.

We're mooted as a possession based team but the days when we could keep the ball almost interminably are long gone. Barcelona, on the rare occasions when they loose the ball do very well to get back quickly. I think the failure to do this is what has cost us the most in the big games, in addition to poor tactical set-up and team selection.

That's the whole point, Fernandinho allows Zabba and Kolarov to get forward, he provides cover. You don't have a CM that provides this for Sagna and Gibbs but they still bomb forward.

I agree that right now none of our central midfielders are providing this. However, if he were specifically given that task, I think Flamini could do it quite well, perhaps there's a lapse in management there- or more likely I'm talking out of my ass because the managers knows much more about his players than I do. The other solution of course is to go out and buy someone.

 

[more lazy than useless]

If Everton beat Arsenal to 4th then I think it proves that Arsene Wenger isn't good enough (or even if they don't). I'm not saying he's useless, but he has made so many mistakes and strategic errors that it's all his own fault. There is no excuse for not having a good enough squad, no matter what excuses he comes out with or who else he tries to blame. He has failed to have a realistic long term plan, and substituted it with vague philosophy about 'youth', 'finance', 'style' and so on.

I understood the need to take a chance when they needed money for the new stadium, and rode their luck with Levi holding Spurs back, but he has no excuse that I can fathom for this season in particular and it looks like his failings have come home to roost. He has his head up his own arse and seems to like the view.

Now it looks like it will cost them financially and in the delights of Thursday/Sunday football.

 

[Malty]

Arsene when he first came to England was about innovation with all his scouts all over the world etc.. now other teams have catched up and Arsene can no longer find the hidden gems..

He's a legend, but Arsenal need a modern football forward tinker man.

 

[supercrystal7]

Arsene when he first came to England was about innovation with all his scouts all over the world etc.. now other teams have catched up and Arsene can no longer find the hidden gems..

He's a legend, but Arsenal need a modern football forward tinker man.

He may not be able to find 'hidden gems', but he has found more than enough world class/great players in recent years. The problem has been keeping them. In the last 10 years he has had Ramsey, WIlshere, Walcott, Chamberlain, Nasri, Clichy, Adebayor, RVP, Song, Fabregas and Hleb. He has continued to find and nurture talent including a few world class players like Fabregas and RVP.

Wenger's biggest problems in my opinion in this order are:
1. Lack/Refusal to spend proper funds on buying/.wages to keep/buy top players.
2. Lack of experience and leadership in the dressing room.
3. Poor tactics.