What a disastrous month March was for Arsenal fans!
Consecutive draws with Birmingham, Aston Villa, Wigan, Middlesbrough and a defeat to Chelsea has seen them drop a massive 11 points, resulting in a lowly third place (six points behind Manchester United).
With a triple clash with Liverpool this week, it is going to be tough for Arsenal as that will take a lot out of their already exhausted squad. Especially when Wenger has to focus on both the Champions League and EPL while Benitez will solely focus on the Champions League. Lets not forget Rafa’s prowess in the Champions League.
With a tough Champions League tie and equally hard domestic matches to come, Arsenal’s season is effectively all but over.
On the other hand, Man Utd have emerged as favorites in both competitions. The EPL is United’s to lose while the Champions League clash with Roma looks certain to see United progress.
It is interesting to note that both United and Arsenal have several key players injured. United have Carrick, Silvestre, Giggs, Fletcher, Saha, Neville and Van Der Sar injured while Arsenal have Sagna, Van Persie, Eduardo, Rosicky, Diaby and Denilson.
Yet United can easily come up with replacements (Brown for Neville, Nani for Giggs, Hargreaves for Carrick etc.) and remain consistent while Arsenal struggle whenever injuries kick in.
The reason — United’s squad possess depth while Arsenal’s small squad is too vulnerable to injuries. It seems that Wenger has forgotten the basics to winning the League — winning when you are not on top form (or when you have key players injured), NOT winning when you are in top form.
Which is why Arsenal has dropped 11 points in five games. The mistake here is clear — Wenger paid the price for not buying players in the summer and January transfer window.
If Arsenal is serious about being champions next season, they better learn from how United beat Derby (1-0) and Bolton (2-0) with lacklustre performances.
While youthful Arsenal looks unlikely to win the EPL, they surprised soccer fans by doing so well in the EPL. Lets not forget that they were tipped to finish 5th behind Tottenham at the start of the season.
But that’s not the point. Arsenal could have consolidated their chance to win the League. But they failed to do so, simply because their young squad do not have the experience and mental strength needed for the title run-in during the period Sir Alex Ferguson calls “squeaky bum time.”
Arsenal’s lack of mental strength meant that they are unable to put up with the immense pressure. We saw that from how their inept captain, William Gallas lost the plot after the 2-2 draw with Birmingham (the match Eduardo suffered a horror tackle from Taylor).
What “great” leadership it was from Gallas for the young Gunners to look up to. We all knew what happened after that – four consecutive draws and a defeat.
Could the same have happened to United? Unlikely. Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes would never have committed such “great” acts.
We have to ask ourselves this question: Why didn’t Arsene Wenger do the necessary? The answer is simple: Wenger is not capable of doing so. His Arsenal team is always fragile.
The poor run during the 02-03 title run-in, after the Battle of Old Trafford and after the 2006 Champions League Final proves that. Would Sir Alex had allowed United to fumble during this “squeaky bum time” if the same had happened to United? A definite No.
I am not trying to say that Arsene Wenger is a poor manager. He has done remarkably well in nurturing young players and deploying fluid attacking football. He is even the best in the world in that aspect.
But attacking football doesn’t mean perfect football. Yes, attacking football is entertaining and unpredictable but Wenger’s insistence on attacking football at all times makes them predictable. Mediocre teams like Middlesbrough and Birmingham seemed to have come up with a remedy to stop Arsenal.
Credit has to be given to Ferguson for combining attacking football with pragmatism. He has repeatedly dropped Carlos Tevez in key matches in order to have 5 in the midfield to control the game. Which explains United’s outstanding record against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool this season.
Attacking football doesn’t necessarily mean a poor defence. Consider Manchester United: Their deadly attack comes with an impregnable defence.
While attack is the best form of defence, defence is also the best form of attack. A strong defence is imperative to how United won when they are not on form. This is what I mentioned earlier as a prerequisite for winning a title.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of Arsenal. Arsenal would still be the most entertaining side in the English Premier League, but that could be at the cost of silverware.
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3 months ago
This is the most half-witted, lazy, poorly-edited excuse for football journalism I've ever seen in my life. I shudder to think what will happen when Tan Kang Jing actually sees a game of top-flight football. By this standard, he'll simply get it more wrong.
It's ManU-philia of the worst kind. They've been lucky with injuries, Arsenal haven't. They've had backups for injured players, Arsenal haven't. Arsenal have spent a tiny fraction of a close-to-equal transfer fund and still find themselves in the hunt. Doesn't that mean anything?
Simply saying that the winners won because they're the winners won't do. Anybody who doesn't live under Old Trafford could have told you that.
from 3 months ago
Its actually a quite well written article. This dude just glorifies United a lil too much. Although, i must agree that United have outclassed Arsenal. They've outclassed everyone this season, although it remains to be seen whether they can dispose of Chelsea aswell.
from 3 months ago
By remaining anonymous, i assume that u know your argument is flawed. Let me tell u this - your argument is self-contradictory. It doesnt make any sense at all to blame ManU for spending more $$$ wisely and being ahead of Arsenal. Besides, u have inadvertently agreed Tan's contention that Arsenal made a mistake in the summer transfer window. Why are u criticising him then? Are u stupid or dumb?
3 months ago
in reply to the guy before, why do u have to be a jerk, he is new here, if u have any comments let them bet nice.. in regards to the article, summarise it, its a bit too long, good effort though... about utd-roma, u cant just say that they are throught the semis, they have a good chance, but are no where in the semis.....
3 months ago
Let the guy say his piece Anonymous, and to every Anonymous, take a stand, OK you do that but you hide around that Anonymous name it is second rate.
Arsenal don't have the squad they don't have the depth of seasoned players like Utd, apart from playing reasons simply Man Utd have in reserve seasoned backups who can hold their own, and it tells around this time of year. Arsenal just scarped the barrel when things got tough.
I think of Arsenal in two seasons time (although next season with additions they will be stronger for sure) having the routes and depth (they certainly have the talent) to being a very strong outift who manage to compete in all competetions year in year out. They must keep Wenger...
3 months ago
if you ask me the oft quoted excuse of having a small squad is a poor excuse for bad performance. A team manager has to ensure that he has enough replacements for injured players. Arsenal fans always brag about their cheaply assembled squad. When you look at the forgone prize money just how cheap is their experiment.
3 months ago
I think that the potential banana skin for these two teams lies in what results Chelsea can grind out, and if any suprise results come their way. I was not expecting Aston Villa to win on saturday, but I did not expect bolton to go 2-0 up. Having said that, Chelsea's 1-0 win was hardly indicative of a team playing with much confidence - or indeed, enough confidence to be champions.
3 months ago
arsenal are a young team just developing and should have had the league wrapped up, however this time next year the gunners will be a different outfit who will be able to win matches playing ugly like man u. The guns are only warming up wait to you see them firing!!!!!
3 months ago
Hey, Anonymous, you're a clown. Grow up or post elsewhere.
3 months ago
anonymous u gotta be kidding me. who posts these discouraging comments like that? If u dont agree with the writer's opinion, just say your opinion, back it up and more importantly to launch personal attacks on the author. what is with you...
3 months ago
Even if u want to launch personalattacks, pls find more logical arguments to attack Tan. The points u made are just Stupid
3 months ago
Is there any point suggesting my opinion at the end of the day he is a man u fan no matter what i say it will be disgarded! All Man u fans hate to see another team playing good football and would rather eat shit than say anything positive about the gunners!! I'm outta ere u's need to start playing more football then your opinion will matter!!!!1
3 months ago
Anonymous, im a staunch man u fan, but i will be the first to give credit where credit is due. arsenal played a near perfect game against ac milan, and rightly won. the problem is that they struggle to reproduce that kind of form, and thats difference.
3 months ago
huh... man utd fans dont credit arsenal? rubbish. we all know u guys play beautiful football. but not CONSISTENT beautiful football. that is the reason for your recent goal drought. and ofcourse another major reason is not spending enough in the transfer market. so yes, u play good football but you are still not good enough to win anything
3 months ago
Wow a lot of hate flapping around here. As well as a lot of bs.
First things first I would like to put it out there that I am one of the biggest Man U fans out there. Plain and simple they play the most pleasing form of soccer/football in the world. Arsenal are flashy and quick yes, but how many times have we seen a simple pass gone out the window just because everyone on that team thinks they can carry the ball all the way through? Arsenal, make the easy passes, slow the game down a bit.
To the last Anonymous, Arsenal played a near perfect game against AC Milan?? You sure you were watching the same game? The Champions League game right? This year? 2008? Arsenal were lucky to get a result against a defense that was more choking than anything. Milan just stopped playing for a result. Plain and simple. Arsenal have time and again proven that they have relied on luck more than anything [or maybe I should say more in the post-Henry era].
To the initial Anonymous, don't act like Tan is the only person who has a bit of team-philia. He just glorified United a little too much....with good reason. I beg to differ on his take on United's defense, which i believe has a LOT to improve, and will only keep improving. Van der Sar is a pivot on that defense...and he doesn't even play outside the box...[remember the Howard-Barthez days? where was our 'awesome' defense then?]
What everyone has failed to point out is the fact that the ONE person who has made United a superpower, aka Sir Alex Ferguson, has kept to his formula and has a canny sense of timing and knowledge of the game and the players. I was one of the many bitching as to why he never played Ronaldo enough...this season I, like many of you i am sure, realize why... Ferguson and United see what other teams are doing and just improve the areas that is of a concern.
The problem with Arsenal is not their manager. It's not their "great" captain [Tan I wouldn't poke sarcastic jibes..its quite amateurish]..and its most definitely not their fan base. It is their mentality on the field.
Flashy football does not win you games.
3 months ago
Arsenal are off-form, and Wenger's "obsession" revealed this week, indicates that Arsenal's focus is on the CL.
3 months ago
If I had a dime for every time I hear someone saying that Arsenal is a young team in building and to expect more inn a couple of seasons' time... I think Tan hit is spot on and he has backed up his article with clear examples. Yes, I admit to being a fan of Manchester United and it feels great to see football played so sweetly all over the pitch!
3 months ago
I believe Arsenal will be a top team in the future, but i have to agree with what Tan said - Arsenal will be entertaining, but they have quite a lot of work to do to be a top European team
3 months ago
I think anonymous should stop being such a mouse and stand up for what he says. This I believe is a really well written piece with much critical analysis. Even being an Arsenal fan, i think this article gives one an objective view
3 months ago
Finally someone writes the painfully obvious truth.
The problem with Wenger is that he wants to shine, even if it costs championships to the team.
I don't understand how everyone sees that , but Wenger.
I remember my astonishment reading Wenger's comments after Chelsea's game. He said the team dominated the game and played well. I think I watched a different game then.
3 months ago
I am going to start by admitting that i am a man utd fan, its no secret... Arsenal Problem is their consistancy which is a key to winning the EPL... Arsenal had a good start of the year but later stumbled and dropped a lot of points where they shouldn't ( no need to point out the birmigham game,last minute penalty)... I have to agree that SIr Alex Fergusson is probably the main reason why UTd are so good. the guy is a genius... Add to that he has A Great Team. filled with brillaint youth, very talented. and Very Experienced players.... this goes to prove that you can't have a whole squad of youth players like arsenal, you have to mix things up... oh and to one of the anonymous who said that utd play ugly.. i beg to differ... utd play the game in a very beautifull way... arsenal play it also but as i said before they aren't consistent....
3 months ago
Anonymous, what the heck are u Writing !!!! U r writing crap!!! u dun even check ur bloody facts before u write !!!! Let me tell u this ManUtd had MORE players injured than Arsenal. Arsenal only had 5 players injured -Sagna, Van Persie, Eduardo, Rosicky, and Denilson. ManUtd had MORE than 5 - Foster, Van der Sar, Gary Neville, Mikael silvestre, Darren Fletcher , Louis Saha and Owen Hargreaves
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