Arsenal: Nasri, Van Persie, Clichy and 10 Things We Learned and Player Ratings
Arsenal were left licking their wounds inflicted by Manchester United who capitalised on a woefully inept performance from the Gunners. David Seaman commented before the contest that the Gunners could beat any team on their day but if it is not their day, they can be beaten by anyone as well. The Red Devils must be credited for what was a thoroughly professional display which helped them earn the three points.
The Gunners were toothless, particularly in the first half and it was Manchester United who were stringing passes together and were efficient in their attacks.The only criticism that can be labeled against the Red Devils was their eagerness to test the rookie goalkeeper at every opportunity but Wojciech Szczesny remained unfazed and was confident. It was no surprise that Manchester United were the first to break the deadlock when Ji Sung Park looped it past Szczesny who could not be faulted for the goal.
In the second half, Manchester United had more clear cut chances to seal the victory as Clichy conceded a penalty, which Rooney sent to the stands and Nani blazed one over the bar when he was through on goal. The Gunners had the impressive Szczesny to thank when he blocked a certain goal from Anderson and clawed the ball away from an exquisite chip by Wayne Rooney which was heading to the goal.
Wenger brought on his big guns, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie but the duo could not produce any magic as the United defence held firm. The Frenchman also introduced impact substitute Theo Walcott for the ineffective Andrei Arshavin but he could not create anything special despite his pace and movement. As an Arsenal supporter, it pains me to say this but the Gunners deserved to lose as it was the Red Devils who were superior to them in every aspect.
It would be better for Wenger and his team to accept the fact that they deserved to lose on the day as it would be easier for them to identify the errors. Sir Alex Ferguson was correct with his tactics as he deployed a five man midfield in a bid to stifle Gunners and it worked for them. Wenger and his team lost to the better team but it would be too soon to claim that they have been defeated in the context of the title race.
Gael Clichy Should Not Start Against Manchester United If Kieran Gibbs Is Fit
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Gael Clichy is the longest serving Arsenal player at present and is a quality left back. He has good pace and his defensive skills are also good. But he has been rather unfortunate this season that most of his errors have led to goals and he has to shoulder the blame for making those mistakes.
Clichy had a horrendous game against Nani in their previous encounter where the Portuguese winger turned and twisted past him to deliver a superb ball which resulted in a goal courtesy of another error from Manuel Almunia. At that time, he had only recovered from his injuries and was still rusty but there could be no excuses for him this time around.
Nani tormented the French International and was given the space to deliver good crosses into the box. Clichy was fortunate not to concede two more goals as he gave away a penalty (which was a harsh decision) and was also responsible for letting Nani through on goal. It is clear that Clichy is not comfortable dealing with the pace and trickery of Nani and the effects of the last game was still playing on his mind.
In this scenario, it might not be a bad option to bench him for the second game of the season against Manchester United. Arsenal are fortunate to have a quality left back in Kieran Gibbs who deserves his chance. Gibbs has been extremely unlucky with injuries but should be fit for the game, Wenger must employ the young Englishman to deal with the threat of Nani.
Laurent Koscielny Will Be a Quality Defender in The Future Partnering Vermaelen
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Laurent Koscielny was signed by Arsene Wenger for a figure close to £10 million but his acquisition has drawn a lot of criticism. Koscielny is relatively inexperienced and started playing at the highest level very recently. He has had a meteoric rise to stardom and the weight of expectation has been a burden to him. But against Manchester United, he demonstrated the qualities because of which Wenger was interested in signing him.
He was tenacious and attacked the ball whenever it was in their half. He did win many aerial challenges but did not dominate, but that is to be expected considering his inexperience. On a number of occasions, he was responsible for cutting out the counter-attacks and won a number of scrappy 50-50 balls. He was ready to fight with the determination which is the key to success.
He demonstrated his ability to bring out from the back after the Gunners went behind as he brought out the ball with ease and spread play very well. It is tough to judge him so early in the season, but he has shown many good qualities but he needs an experienced faster defender to compliment him.
Thomas Vermaelen is an impressive defender who will command the defence and his presence is sorely missed. The Belgian's presence will lend confidence to the defence and his style of play will suit Koscielny. Koscielny is good at breaking up play and his understanding of the game is very good. He needs to bulk up physically but on the whole, Arsenal supporters will see the best of him when Vermaelen returns to full fitness.
Jack Wilshere Does Not Have Experience to Stamp His Authority On The Midfield
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Jack Wilshere is an individual who possesses excellent determination and will not back down from a challenge. By the time he was substituted for Cesc Fabregas, he had sustained a number of bruises and had impressed everyone with his tenacity and determination to succeed. Wilshere was one of the brighter players in what was a rather sorry performance.
Wilshere was not overawed by the occasions and was clinical in his passing and was easily the best player in midfield for the Gunners. However, he is not the finished product and should continue to learn under the tutelage of Wenger. He could not provide killer passes, though, you could also blame the forward line for not providing the movement to create the opportunity.
When the opposition employs three midfielders who possess good physical strength and decent aerial ability, it is very hard for the diminutive Englishman to stamp his authority on the pitch. Also, playing deep midfield makes it even harder for him to establish his mark in a crowded midfield. But with time, Arsenal supporters should and will see the best of Wilshere, who is undoubtedly crucial for the Gunners at present and in the future.
Robin Van Persie Needs To Start Regularly, As a Lone Striker Instead Of Chamakh
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Robin van Persie was introduced as a late substitute, and yet again failed to have an impact in the proceedings as the Gunners slumped to a defeat. As the game progressed, he moved deeper into midfield. He was ineffective playing in the hole as he has been for most of the season barring one or two moments like the sublime back-heel against Wigan to send Carlos Vela through on goal.
Though Marouane Chamakh works extremely hard for the team, he does not have the quality to finish clinically like Van Persie. Also, it was always expected that Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand would win the aerial battle and Chamakh was a peripheral player in the game providing short passes in the midfield to his more creative team-mates.
Robin van Persie looks a little rusty, but he will continue to be so if he does not get the chance to play as a lone striker. It is easy to see why he did very well in the early half of the last season. He would have the space to roam in the box and drift out of it when required. Any ball which finds him in the box is always going to be a threat to the opposition like his superb goal against Fulham.
He is not going to be a great attacking midfielder and should be employed as a striker instead of Chamakh. The Moroccan International has been an asset to the Gunners in terms of his work rate and his ability to notch important goals but Van Persie is the lethal striker that Arsenal need.
Wenger must believe in Van Persie's ability as a lone striker and he must realise that Arsenal's title challenge was not successful in the last season because of the loss of Van Persie, who was their main striker.
Wojciech Szczesny Is a Quality Goalkeeper and Is Surely The Future No.1
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Arsene Wenger did not buy a goalkeeper because he believed he had good talent at his disposal and when he installed Manuel Almunia as the no.1 goalkeeper for the season, supporters immediately knew he had made a mistake and so it proved to be as the Spaniard was one of the main reasons that Arsenal lost to West Bromwich Albion. Manuel Almunia was "injured" in that match and has been out of the reckoning for a long time till recently when he declared himself fit.
In his absence, Lukasz Fabianski took over the duties and supporters were not confident at all with him in goal because of his clangers in the previous season. He has proved that he has improved a lot and his confidence is getting better with every game. However, teams like to target him because his weaknesses in decision making are well documented and he is one of the first names that the opposition targets as a weak link.
Fabianski's injury meant that he was not fit enough to start the game against Manchester United though if injury was the reason, it is inexplicable why he was on the bench. Wojciech Szczesny was given his Premier League debut in such a huge occasion and the Pole seemed unfazed. His initial clearances showed he was slightly nervous but that is to be expected for someone making his debut. As the game progressed, he showed why he is rated so highly with some clean handling and impressive reflexive saves.
He is also alert always and Sagna's and came off his line quickly to clear under-hit back pass from danger. Though he let in his first goal for Arsenal, he proved to be very impressive and has presented a strong case for continuing as the first choice keeper. Fabianski had a disastrous game against Stoke City last season and they will target him with the long ball. Szczesny is a huge figure standing at 6' 5" and is capable of commanding his defence. In my opinion, the younger Pole should continue to be in goal and is the future of Arsenal.
Cesc Fabregas Is The Leader of Midfield and Remains The Most Important Player
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Arsenal's strength lies in the domination of the midfield and running opponents ragged in midfield with impeccable passing and creating opportunities through delightful through balls. However, in the game against Manchester United, they were completely dominated in midfield which is why Arsenal struggled to get a foothold in the game. In the game against Partizan and Fulham as well, they struggled to carve proper openings for a large part of the game.
Cesc Fabregas has had a rather poor season by his own lofty standards and Arsenal supporters have come to expect what he is capable of producing on a regular basis. The transfer rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona and his recurring hamstring injuries have not helped his cause and has struggled to find his form.
However, for Arsenal to beat the best teams in the Premiership and the Champions League, it is clear that Fabregas is the key to success. he must be given adequate time to find his fitness and form and rushing him back to the fray is the wrong option. He must be eased into the hardships of the Premier league and after his performances in the last few seasons, he deserves the support and encouragement from Arsenal supporters who should not question his effort for the Gunners' cause.
It is clear that he is not at his best and does not look even the half the brilliant midfielder of the last season but he looks to be under pressure. It is support and encouragement that he needs from the supporters instead of them doubting his loyalty to the team.
Andrei Arshavin Should Be Rested and Allowed Time to Regain His Sharpness
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Andrei Arshavin is another quality player who has been well below his best this season and he has to find his form soon for his own good. At his age, a new contract with the Gunners is not a formality and he might not find many other clubs willing to match his impressive pay if he continues to struggle. The diminutive Russian seems to have lost his devastating ability to create opportunities out of nothing and looks a pale shadow of the Arshavin that wrecked Liverpool for two successive seasons.
He has looked disinterested at times and drawn the ire of the supporters with his wasteful passing. Also, his work rate leaves much to be desired and he looks a tired man on the pitch. In this season, he had one excellent game against Aston Villa and the main reason for that was that he was rested for the trip to Braga which meant he looked fresh and energetic on the pitch.
He is not young and at 29, it might be that he is struggling to cope with three games a week because in his role, he is expected to do a lot of work and be sharp throughout the time he is on the pitch. It might be better if Wenger analyses why he is not playing to his potential and introduces a regime to suit him better.
Arsenal Need More Players To Stand Up As Nasri Cannot Be The Saviour Everytime
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Samir Nasri has been Arsenal's player of the season and has scored 12 goals this season in all competitions and has been the reason why Arsenal are still in contention for a trophy on all fronts. But it might turn out to be another poor season for the Gunners if the majority of the big Guns fail to step up to the occasion.
The Frenchman did not have a good game against Manchester United as he struggled to free himself from the close attentions of Ji Sung Park and Patrice Evra. However, he still tried his best to drift into the midfield and orchestrate play from the centre. Even when he does not have a good performance, it was his shot which was the closest to providing a goal for the Gunners and it shows the inability of the other players to provide him good support.
The team as a unit have lacked consistency and it is mainly due to the poor performances from a number of players in the team. Nasri was the saviour on many occasions in this season like the game against Fulham but he cannot do it on his own every time. It was clear that United had a clear plan to stifle him but the ineptness of the others played a huge role in the dull display by the Gunners.
Nasri's performances in this season are reminiscent of Fabregas' displays in the last season where he was the key to their title hopes, which faded after his injury. It is no point having quality players if they cannot play at their best when they are faced with adversity. There is a realistic danger that Nasri might be the lone player on whom the title challenge depends on and if that is the case, Arsenal do not stand a chance of winning the title.
Theo Walcott Should Get More Playing Time And Should Develop His Raw Potential
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Theo Walcott might be wondering what he should do to earn a regular starting berth in the team after he was left out of the team after an effervescent performance in the game against Partizan, where he ensured smooth progress for the Gunners after coming on as a substitute. He has scored 8 goals in this season only behind Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh and he has spent considerably lesser time on the pitch than the other two to score the goals.
Last season, he seemed incapable of being a prolific goalscorer but in this season, he has developed into a clinical finisher and deserves his chances. He has been hampered by lack of regular playing time which is understandable considering that he has to compete with Andrei Arshavin and Samir Nasri. However, Arshavin's form has not been good and young Walcott needs to play regularly.
Wenger could also play him in the centre for some matches considering he loves to get behind the defence and wreak havoc. Most Arsenal supporters, I hope, will agree that he was right when he stated that he wants to play regularly at the age of 21. It is the right age for him to play regularly and Arsene Wenger could also shift him to the left flank to allow him to cut in from the left and take more shots at goal.
If Walcott does not play regularly, it will not be too surprising if he decides to move on to develop his career and Arsenal would have lost one of its potential performers of the future. Walcott has been extremely professional with his conduct and in my opinion, he deserves the chance to realise his potential. Wenger should not judge him on the basis of a single game and give him a run of games to prove his credentials as a potential goalscoring threat from the wings.
Arsene Wenger Needs To Be Flexible and Should Spend The Money Required
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Arsene Wenger is a very good manager and is rightfully supported by a large majority of Arsenal supporters all around the world. However, with no trophies for his club in the last five years, there is a lot of pressure on the Frenchman who has experienced a lot of agony in that period. However, he has also been responsible in their trophy drought and should shoulder the blame for making some wrong decisions.
Gilberto Silva was the invisible wall which provided the necessary cover for the defence and was one of the most important members of the team. However, Wenger's rule of not providing two year contracts to players above 30 does not seem appropriate and he should decide it based on the quality and fitness of the player in my opinion.
He has to be flexible with his tactics and team selections and should take some bold decisions which can provide the impetus to the Gunners. His bold decision to play Szczesny ahead of Almunia was imperative to the Gunners only conceding one goal but his reluctance to drop the off-form Andrei Arshavin is costing the Gunners to a certain extent.
Theo Walcott turned in a performance, that anyone could be proud of, against Partizan and Arshavin was awful in the same game. However, while Walcott continuously finds himself on the bench, Arshavin continues to start on the basis of his quality and not his form.
Also, it is clear that the team needs a good experienced anchor in the holding midfield role but Wenger's reluctance to delve into the transfer funds in January might prove to be a costly move in the end. If Wenger had bought a quality striker in January this year, there is a good chance that Arsenal supporters might not have had to talk about the trophy drought in this season.
Player Ratings For The Gunners
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Wojciech Szczesny: 7.5
Bacary Sagna: 6
Laurent Koscielny: 7
Sebastien Squillaci: 7
Gael Clichy: 4.5
Alex Song: 5.5
Jack Wilshere: 6.5
Tomas Rosicky: 5.5
Samir Nasri: 6
Marouane Chamakh: 5.5
Andrei Arshavin: 4.5
Substitutes:
Cesc Fabregas: 5.5
Robin van Persie: 5
Theo Walcott: 6
