Three Defeats In Eleven: What's Wrong With Arsenal?

Samir Nasri’s early goal, following a sweeping move, against West Brom welcomed in the 2008/09 season at the Emirates.  And so the fans’ expectations for the season were set.  But that game was to provide a snapshot of Arsenal’s first 11 Premier League games; moments of form displayed consistently by last season’s team, outweighed by long periods of ponderous possession and defensive frailty. 

It’s hard to deny that the defence needs addressing.  The Toure/Gallas partnership clearly isn’t working, and it’s difficult to understand why this wasn’t dealt with in the summer by Wenger who indeed admitted a tall, commanding centre back was required to deal with the “long ball down the middle”.   

The problem is that Wenger’s beliefs in the way football should be played is not restricted to the attacking style.  Even having acknowledged the defensive weakness, he still neglected it.  Rather, he continues to pick players who are experts at playing a high defensive line, using his their ability to play the offside trap at every opportunity, ignoring their susceptibility to the long ball .  Wenger will justify his methods by countering that the high defensive line allows Arsenal to pin teams back so effectively.  It’s hard to argue with, but the combination of players brings frailties which are costing the team success. 

Tall, quick, and aggressive, Johan Djourou could be the answer.  It could be argued that both Toure and Gallas perform best when paired with a taller, more aggressive centre back; looking back to Gallas’ partnership with John Terry at Chelsea or Toure’s with Sol Campbell goes some way to prove that.  By pairing Djourou with Gallas (who I think is better than Toure at what they are both excellent at), a similar partnership to those above could be formed.  It’s something that’s got to be tried.  By making such a decision, Wenger would be sacrificing, initially, such a well drilled defensive partnership on which Arsenal’s defensive tactics are built, but he would be adding someone who could help defend better those “long, high, balls”. 

The summer departure of Flamini has affected the team more than Wenger expected.  Whilst Denilson, at just 20, is an improving player, he’s not at the same level that Flamini was last season.  Flamini was full of energy and aggression allowing Fabregas to dictate play further up the pitch.  Denilson looks confused, he doesn’t seem to know whether he wants to be Fabregas’ understudy or Flamini’s replacement and he’s getting neither right.  It’s hard to blame Denilson as Wenger has put him into a role in the team he clearly isn’t ready for.  But having not replaced Flamini sufficiently, a greater defensive burden has been placed on Fabregas and his influence has faded this season. 

Walcott’s importance to the team is highlighted every time he doesn’t play.  The reliance on his pace, though, is a worry.  Walcott will be a fine player but he’s still not at a high enough level consistently to have become so integral to the team.  For all of the intricate passing and ability to keep the ball, there is a lack of cutting edge to this team.  For the moment, Arsenal do not look like a team that can adopt the gung-ho mentality of “if you score two we’ll score three” if their defence lets them down. 

The recent criticism is justified.  A team cannot lose to Fulham, Hull, and Stoke and expect to achieve.  The manner of those defeats were as disappointing as the results.  A change in defensive setup and some “one nil’s” to the Arsenal would not go amiss right now.