Arsenal FC: 10 Positives to Take Away from the 2010-11 Season
At the start of the season, not many expected Arsenal to be second in the league. Chelsea looked invincible, and it looked like Manchester United was still a bit better than the Gunners.
But at one point, Arsenal had the opportunity to achieve an unprecedented but realistically impossible quadruple. A shocking loss to Birmingham City in the finals of the Carling Cup, a match witch the Gunners in reality should have won, proved to be the turning point in the Gunners’ season as they were then eliminated from the Champions League and FA Cup by Barcelona and Manchester United.
They are currently second in the league, seven points behind Manchester United, having a game in hand and they can still win it.
Many have launched a scathing criticism of Arsene Wenger and his side and have even labeled Arsenal’s season a complete disaster.
Arsenal’s season if they don’t win the league, which mostly they won’t, will be disappointing no doubt, especially considering the high expectations we once had. But calling it a disaster would be stretching it. Disappointing surely, but no, not a disaster.
This season there have been several positives to take away from Arsenal. While nowadays many are talking about Wenger and his team’s downfall, it is time to also look at the positives that Arsenal can take away from this season.
Laurent Koscielny Shows Plenty of Promise
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Arsene Wenger is known for his knack of unearthing unknown talent and turning them into world class players. Players like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Kolo Toure are just a few of them.
During the summer, Arsenal lost William Gallas, Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre on free transfers. So Arsene Wenger signed Laurent Koscielny from Lorient and Sebastian Squillaci from Sevilla to plug the gap.
While Squillaci has proven to be poor and unimpressive, Koscielny has overcome a rocky start to become a really solid player.
He was sent off in his first match against Liverpool and endured poor games against Newcastle, Tottenham and West Brom.
But as the season progressed, he went from strength to strength and formed a formidable partnership with Johan Djourou. The duo together formed one of the league’s best defenses and performed well against the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea.
It is surprising to note that this is only Koscielny’s second season in the top flight of any league. He spent one season with Lorient before he moved to the Gunners and has slowly established himself as an integral part of the Arsenal team.
For a man spending just his first season in the Premier League it is remarkable that his best performance in an Arsenal jersey came against the mighty Barcelona.
Two seasons ago he was playing in the obscurity of the French Ligue 2 but on that day he put in a magnificent shift against the likes of Lionel Messi, David Villa and Xavi.
His biggest asset is his pace, something he uses very effectively. He is also blessed with a great header and relishes the physical aspect of the game. Koscielny has slowly adjusted to the pace of the league and has relished his battles against the likes of Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi.
Koscielny has surprised many with the way he bounced back, and he has the attributes of a top draw defender.
Johan Djourou’s Commendable Return From Injury
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Last season Johan Djourou featured in just the last 30 minutes of Arsenal’s season ending clash with Fulham after missing the entire season with a knee injury. He had shown promise in the previous seasons, but following a serious injury, nobody expected him to have this level of impact at Arsenal.
Whether it be with Squillaci or Koscielny, he formed a good partnership, but it was with the latter that he formed an especially deadly defense that conceded a mere two goals in nine games, one of which was a clearly offside goal.
At the start of the season he was rusty and understandably so, but as the season progressed, he slowly became the best defender Arsenal had and along with Laurent Koscielny minimized the impact of missing defensive leader, Thomas Vermaelen.
While the partnership of Squillaci and Koscielny has bordered on the brink of complete disaster, Djourou has added an element of stability to the Arsenal back line, and it is largely due to his brilliant performances that Arsenal are currently second in the number of goals conceded.
He has been an absolute beast at the back.
Arsenal’s defense has come under severe criticism, a large part of which I feel is harsh. Statistics show that the Gunners have one of the league’s best defenses and when you consider the lengthy absence of Vermaelen this season, the achievement becomes all the more impressive, and Djourou is one of the main reasons for that.
Arsenal Players on Loan Impressing
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Arsene Wenger’s focus has shifted to grooming young talent and integrating youngsters from the academy into the first team. So a team like Arsenal that focuses on developing talent rather than buying them will always have several youngsters at the club.
These youngsters too naturally want to receive a lot of playing time, so Wenger sends out some of his players on loan to other clubs, mainly in lower divisions in England and in other countries.
Some of these youngsters fail to impress and some of them do struggle to receive constant playing time like Craig Eastmond for instance but many do impress.
Ryo Miyaichi
The only Asian player at Arsenal was signed during the winter transfer window after being spotted by Arsenal’s comprehensive scouting department and was loaned out to Dutch side, Feyenoord. He has been extremely impressive at the Dutch club and has impressed a large deal. If Arsenal do manage to secure a work permit for the youngster, then in all possibilities he will be a part of the first team next season.
Kyle Bartley
Kyle Bartley was loaned out to Scottish giants Rangers this season and he has established himself as a no nonsense defender who is equally adept at switching over to left back. He has established himself as an integral part of Rangers and has already scored a goal for them, a goal which turned out to be the winner in that game.
Henri Lansbury
Henri Lansbury was at the club during the start of the season and even scored a goal in the Carling Cup. The goal incidentally came against arch rivals, Tottenham Hotspurs. What a way to score your first professional goal for the club. He has been impressive at Norwich City and will look to break into the Arsenal first team next season.
Vito Mannone
Last season during the absence of Almunia and Fabianski, Mannone performed admirably, with his best performance coming against Fulham, a match which he single handedly won for the Gunners. He has been impressive for Hull City this season and was brilliant for the second division side before injury curtailed his season.
The Rise of Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski
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Last season, it became evident that if Arsenal ever wanted to achieve success, they would have to sign a new top class goalkeeper. Plenty of goalkeepers were linked to the club including Mark Schwarzer, Shay Given and Martin Stekelenburg. The fans were demanding that Wenger sign a keeper, but Wenger as usual declined to sign a keeper and persisted with his current lot.
Manuel Almunia had a decent start to the season before disaster struck against West Brom. Then Fabianski was promoted as the first choice goalkeeper.
Much to the surprise and amazement of many, he was actually fantastic and except for the match against Newcastle, he was brilliant for the Gunners, saving them points against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton.
His handling and judgment was much improved, and he even started commanding his box much better. He dealt with crosses and long balls more confidently and was finally showing his potential.
But following his injury, Arsenal were left with just one keeper, Wojciech Szczesny. The 20-year-old, Polish shot stopper who before this had played just one competitive fixture for the Gunners.
He turned out to be a really talented player who lived up to the billing of being the next big thing. He showed why there was so much hype about him with some good performances including some against Barcelona and Manchester United.
Arsenal’s weak link was the goalkeeping position. But the two Polish shot stoppers have been on song this season and in all possibilities, Wenger will stick with these two players next season and rightfully so.
Samir Nasri: Arsenal’s Petit Prince Proves to be Arsenal’s Hero
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During the summer of 2008-09, Samir Nasri was signed by Arsenal from Marseille, to become Arsenal’s most expensive transfer. He always showed the potential that made Arsenal sign him but only in glimpses. As the season progressed last season, he was slowly improving.
But this season he has been monumental for the Gunners. While his start of the season has died down a bit as the season has progressed, his value to the team has sky rocketed this season.
During the first half of the season, he showed everyone why he is considered the next Zidane. Losing both Fabregas and van Persie is tough for any team to handle, but thanks to Nasri’s brilliance, their loss was minimized.
Nasri’s two goals against Fulham will go down as two of the best goals scored by an Arsenal player this season, and that was one match which he single-handedly won for the Gunners.
This season it is obvious that Nasri has matured as a player with him showing a level of consistency that he has never displayed in an Arsenal shirt before. He is easily the best dribbler of the ball in the Arsenal side and has shown a knack for goal, having scored 14 goals this season.
Fabregas’ future at the London club remains highly doubtful and if the move does materialize, then the Gunners can turn to the impressive, Nasri to handle the central midfield role for the Gunners.
If it doesn’t happen, he can move to the wings, where he has shown promise this season.
Theo Walcott is Finally Silencing His Critics
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When Sven-Goran Eriksson selected Theo Walcott for the 2006 World Cup, great things were expected of the English winger. His hat trick against Croatia in Zagreb only heightened those expectations, but the sailing has not been exceptionally smooth for the youngster.
Throughout his career, Walcott has been a victim of constant injuries and inconsistency. The constant pressure of being in the limelight and criticism from all sides has never helped him fulfill his promise.
Walcott has had to live with people like Chris Waddle making claims that he doesn’t possess a footballing brain and the likes of Alan Hansen criticizing him, even after scoring a hat trick against Blackpool. The criticism of Walcott has always been harsh and each of his performance is dissected and ripped apart by experts on most occasions.
Until this year, Walcott has been frustratingly inconsistent and there have been several question marks over his decision making.
But this season, we have been witness to a Walcott who has used his pace to great effect, a player who has worked on his game a lot and has added a whole new dimension to his game with his free kicks being the notable mention.
He has already scored 11 goals this season and has notched up 10 assists in all competitions. All these statistics become all the more interesting when you look at the amount of time he has actually spent on the pitch. He has been injured twice already this season, and both times he has missed quite a number of games.
His impact on the Arsenal side has been profound this season. His crossing has become much better and along with Fabregas and van Persie has formed a deadly partnership and is combining well with the other two. The goals against Blackpool and Wolves were a result of the three of them combining brilliantly.
He also performed admirably against Barcelona and was inspirational in Arsenal’s win over Chelsea. During his absence, the Arsenal team do suffer from the lack of his pace and having him on the team goes a long way in pinning the opposition back in their half.
There has been massive improvement by the Englishman, right from his finishing to his crossing, and he is finally overcoming the pressure to soar the great heights he looked destined to soar.
Jack Wilshere
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Jack Wilshere has epitomized consistency this season, something which few players in the Arsenal team can boast of. While Nasri might have got off to a flying start this season, it is only Wilshere who has truly sustained throughout the season, always pulling the strings of the Arsenal midfield.
If I was given a choice between Wilshere and Fabregas, I would choose Wilshere any day of the week, not because he is more talented, but because he shows the passion and commitment that is missing from Fabregas at times this season.
Jack Wilshere has oozed with class and confidence this season and has played with the panache of a player who is much beyond his age.
Following his loan spell with Owen Coyle’s Bolton Wanderers, many expected him to have a breakthrough season this year, but few could have imagined to such an extent. To say it is a pleasant surprise would be massively understating his rise.
The stats hardly do justice to the influence he has had on this Arsenal side. He has been the midfield orchestrator for the Gunners this season, racing forward with his brilliant runs as he leaves defenders bamboozled with his intricate footwork and brilliant dribbling skills.
His linkup play with the rest of the team is nothing short of fantastic and his reading of the game is close to unmatched in this Arsenal side.
Moreover, it is not just quality on the pitch he has showed, it’s his mentality that defines him as a standout performer for the Gunners. He rarely gives up and always keeps on trying, no matter how high the odds are stacked against him.
So it should hardly come as a surprise when we note that his best performances have come against Barcelona.
Wilshere’s work rate and enthusiasm are unmatched in this Arsenal side, and he has been without a doubt the most consistent performer of this Arsenal side.
The Wins Over Chelsea and Barcelona
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For a club like Arsenal, wins over two big clubs shouldn’t be big news, but considering their recent struggles against top opposition, this truly is commendable.
Last season, they lost twice to both Chelsea and Manchester United. Until the clash against Chelsea in December last year, they had not won a clash against Chelsea or United in 11 matches, with just one draw and 10 defeats.
So it was exceptional when the Gunners finally ended their string of defeats with a 3-1 win over Chelsea at the Emirates. But what was so pleasing was the manner of the win. Arsenal outplayed Chelsea without changing their approach and comprehensively beat their London rivals. Arsenal outpassed Chelsea and didn’t have any need to tweak their style of play, much like what many experts demanded.
While the victory over Barcelona wasn’t so comprehensive, it showed plenty of fight and spirit from the Arsenal players, to win after looking like they would end up on the losing side. This was a much better result from Arsenal considering the mauling they received last season.
They fought back thanks to goals from van Persie and the enigmatic, Andrei Arshavin. Their defending too was superb as they displayed great resilience and passion to concede just one goal.
These two wins showed that Arsenal are no pushovers against the elite and showed that Arsenal do have what it takes to overcome the mental barrier and beat the top sides despite not having to alter their approach to the game.
Fantastic Away Form
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Normally it is Arsenal’s away form that ends up costing them dearly, but this season they have had the best away form in the league while their home form has left a lot to be desired.
Currently Arsenal have the best away record in the league, picking up 29 points on the road while Chelsea and United come second having picked up just the 23 points. But at home Arsenal have picked up just 33 points, while United have picked up an amazing 46 points, having won all but one of their matches. Their home record is the fifth best in the league, behind that of Liverpool and Manchester City by just the point.
Arsenal’s away record has surprised many. It is extremely pleasing to see that Arsenal are playing with more confidence on the road, and their only two defeats came against Manchester United and Chelsea.
They have won on grounds like Goodison Park, St Andrews, Villa Park, something which other top teams have struggled to do this season.
Arsenal’s impressive away record combined with their improving home record should be pleasing for Arsenal fans who can hope that the team will continue their fine away record next season.
Robin Van Persie’s Goal Scoring Spree
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Arsenal have always been criticized for not having a player who could guarantee them 20 twenty goals a season. It was true, since their lynchpin Robin van Persie was injured half the time.
This season too he missed lengthy parts of the season until his return in December with his first start after his spell in the sidelines coming against Chelsea in the Premier League which Arsenal went on to win 3-1.
This season he has already scored 16 goals in all competitions including the first hat trick of his career against Wigan Athletic. This season he has outscored the likes of Rooney, Drogba and Fernando Torres and has provided eight assists for his team already.
When you look at the amount of time he has actually played, the goals and assists made by him highlights his effectiveness when on the pitch.
Van Persie is one of Arsenal’s most important players because his link up play and finishing are unmatched in the team. He has the knack of bringing the midfielders into play brilliantly and can help them get into scoring positions.
He has formed an incredible partnership with Walcott and Fabregas, a trio that truly entertains and one which has proven to be supremely effective.
Robin van Persie has shown that he has the necessary qualities to be the man who burdens the goalscoring responsibility for the Gunners, and his scoring streak might just tempt Wenger not to sign a striker this summer.
An Improbable 11th? The Premier League Crown
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Miracles have happened in football before, and despite the odds stacked against the Gunners, the title is still within the reach of the Gunners. They are seven points behind United, albeit with a game in hand.
With Arsenal still to play United at Emirates, the title is still possible if they win all of their remaining matches. Easier said than done.
But it is not all that impossible, and who knows. Maybe, we Arsenal fans will finally have a trophy to cheer about.
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