Arsenal FC: Not Moving on from Cesc Fabregas Is Arsene Wenger's Biggest Mistake

Arsene Wenger's biggest failing this season has been the inability to adapt both his team and himself to the loss of influential playmaker Cesc Fabregas. The indecision regarding how best to replace Fabregas is the single biggest factor behind Arsenal's poor start to the campaign.

Arsenal are still playing a system designed to maximise the talents of Fabregas, but without a player of similar ability or consistency. This shortcoming has blighted every aspect of Arsenal's season—from transfer business to team structure and style of play on the pitch.

Defensive ineptitude has certainly contributed to the calamities regularly witnessed by Gunners fans so far this season. But the defensive frailties existed when Fabregas was present and are a separate issue. Truth be told, in Wenger's attack-minded approach to every game, defensive solidity is always a bonus.

The main problem for Arsenal is that they are missing their flair and creative swagger. The free-flowing style, which was exuded via the clever mind and quick feet of Fabregas, is at the heart of both Wenger's footballing philosophy and the psyche of his team.

Without this craft and guile, Arsenal are lost. Players are too far away from one another on the pitch, and their play has become dysfunctional, hurried and forced. But this is a problem that should have been anticipated, and an alternative solution should have been conceived.

It is clear that Wenger wanted to keep Fabregas, but the scenario of him moving to Barcelona had as good as become reality back in May. Samir Nasri was mistakenly deemed the natural successor. Yet it was clear by mid-June that Nasri was either reticent or simply downright unwilling to re-sign and was holding out for a bigger offer.

Arsenal have been trying to force players into the Fabregas role ever since, and the responsibility is an unfair burden on young and still developing players like Aaron Ramsey. Wenger needs to take the opportunity to adapt his team to a modified style in the hope of settling on a much-needed new identity.

The Gunners boss should encourage a less intricate style of play that maximises the biggest asset of this team and that is speed. Theo Walcott, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all have pace in abundance, and Robin van Persie is deceptively quick.

Wenger needs to prompt his players to play closer together and move the ball quickly and in a more direct manner. Midfielders should be looking to release early long passes to take advantage of the speedy runs of a super fast forward line.

If it means going 4-4-2, sacrificing the sacred "holding role" and taking still more chances defensively, then so be it.

Arsenal's style no longer holds the fear factor for opposing teams. The Gunners must find a way of putting the opposition back on the heels for a change, instead of trying to absorb body blows they are not built to take.

This is not a call for a complete overhaul of the fluid passing Arsenal have become famous for under Wenger.  It should be noted that the unbeaten team of 2003/04 moved the ball quicker and played at high speed, either via the fleet footed pace of Thierry Henry, the grace of Robert Pires or the long-striding power of Patrick Vieira.

All is not lost for Arsenal, but this team needs an identity and style of its own. Until this is achieved, inconsistency and mediocrity will continue to be the hallmarks of the Gunners' season.