Arsenal Must Fix the Pace of Their Game Before West Bromwich Albion Clash

There has been a lot of discussion of tactics in the build-up to Arsenal's decisive end of season encounter with West Brom on Sunday. Yet the single most important thing Arsenal need to do is play quicker. It really is that simple for Arsene Wenger's team.

The biggest problem Arsenal have had during a mediocre run, which has claimed just three points from 12, is the slow pace of their play. Two root causes underlie this lethargy.

Gunners' players have been guilty of dwelling on the ball, looking for the perfect opening, instead of keeping things simple and efficient. The second issue concerns a severe lack of movement off the ball.

This is by far the most troubling of the two issues. At its best, Arsenal's game is defined by two things: speed of thought and fluidity of movement.

Yet too often, an Arsenal player has brought the ball forward from deep, only to stop and throw his arms in the air, pleading with teammates to give him an option. This increasingly familiar sad sight is often followed by the player in possession turning his back on the forward areas and passing backwards to a member of the defense.

It's perhaps easy to explain how this disturbing malady has infected Arsenal's usually expansive style. Confidence when in possession fluctuates wildly between different members of the squad.

Aaron Ramsey is the prime example. He has been brutally victimised by a fanbase sadly too eager to identify a scapegoat as the symbol of all the team's shortcomings. The result is an otherwise talented and creative passer who is too often scared to attempt anything other than a safe, negative pass.

At the other end of the spectrum is Alex Song, a player who seems disgusted by the idea of a simple pass. The consequence is that Song frequently ignores teammates in close proximity and tries to fashion an opening for a "Hollywood pass."

In fairness, players are often so static that the man in possession rarely has a sensible target to aim for. This lack of movement is encapsulated by the baffling sight of Tomas Rosicky, a central, attacking midfielder, standing alongside left-sided midfielder Yossi Benayoun.

Rosicky should occupy the middle and move towards the man in possession. Wenger should spend between now and Sunday shouting the following refrains at this players: "Pass and move, pass and move!" and "Do not stand still!"

The solution to the problem is to get back to the simple elegance that defines Wenger's mode of playing. Quick one- and two-touch passing in short areas, moving for the return ball and linking up with the pace in the forwards areas, is what Arsenal can still do better than most.

It is the surest way to defeating West Brom and guaranteeing UEFA Champions League football next season.