The 4 Problems at Arsenal
26. Nov, 2006 
19 Comments
The Loss
It was a crushing defeat at Bolton over the weekend. It never really looked like we were going to win this match but there were a couple of flashes of brilliance that made it seem like a draw was possible. It was a decent team performance with flat-out poor finishing. The side still has trouble capitalizing on opportunities and when we give the opposing side just one opportunity they know how to finish.
We went down, again, within the first ten minutes. We gave a striker too much space, again, and a brilliant strike shocked the team. We dominated possession and created opportunities, again, but failed to put the ball in the back of the net. Truly disappointing.
1. The Referee
One of Bolton’s players, Kevin Davies, pushed Eboue down in the 20th minute. It was an offensive and potentially injury-resulting action and it should have resulted in a red card. The ref, who had a clear line of sight, felt that a yellow was enough.
Let’s think about how an Arsenal player would take this. First, Bolton has basically assaulted one of your fellow teammates. Then, the match official completely fails to gain control of the situation and penalize the player accordingly. From this point onwards, every Arsenal player now had to look out for themselves’ even more than normal because the ref had set a precedent that this behavior was acceptable. Thus, the entire mindset of the team was shattered. Not only did we have to win, now we had to protect ourselves, and be just as offensive back. Bolton pulled us down to their level, and the ref just let it happen.
Aside from this match, refereeing has affected our game on too many occasions. The team needs to move on after these appalling situations, no matter how hard it is. It’s one thing to lose a match and later point at bad decisions, but it’s another to let these decision negatively impact the play and morale of the team.
2. Leadership
In this match, more than any other, I noticed a serious lack of leadership and coordination. I’m starting to question both Henry and Gilberto in this role, as I have never really seen either of them pumping up the squad and pulling the team together. After a well defended play or good chance on goal, someone needs to be clapping, yelling, and egging the team on. Instead we have someone that is either silent with their head down or yelling negatively.
I don’t see how the team can get over our current problems and low-morale without a strong leadership presence on the field. We definitely have one on the side of the pitch and in the locker room in Arsene Wenger, but we have truly missed a ‘Viera-like’ role.
Not only is this role important in controlling and dominating play in the center of the pitch, but it also helps to keep the team copasetic. I hope Henry can start to do more of this, but it’s hard to imagine a striker filling this role. And just a couple of weeks ago I was praising Henry during these times of doubt… now I’m just not sure.
Can Cesc develop into this player more quickly than anyone has thought? He is quickly becoming the dominant force in our squad by controlling the flow of play, kick-starting the offense, and dictating the terms of the match. At 19 though he is no leader yet and his temper still gets in the way.
3. Rotating Players
Without Van Persie, Henry, Gallas, and Rosicky, the team looked like it was struggling to be recognized as the good old Arsenal. Rosicky, who is clearly going to be a pick over Ljungberg after his recent injuries and poor performances, could have added quite a bit to this match. And don’t get me started on Adebayor up front, who looked as lost as the kids from the Blair Witch Project up front. With Van Persie or Henry you at least see some confidence and well-thought passing.
Gallas will need to find a spot on the first squad, but I’ve no idea where that is. Perhaps he can play in the left or right-back positions depending on Clichy and Eboue’s performance. Senderos and Toure are great together, and when Lauren comes back then I think those four could be a dominant back line. Don’t get me wrong, Clichy and Eboue are hard-workers with plenty of skill, but they have momentary lapses that provide the opponent with too many opportunities.
We need to get over this injury slump so that a full squad is available for Arsene. I’d be so much more confident in our side if we had a similar-looking line-up day-in and day-out. Thank god we have a deep bench, but at this point there is little reasoning in calling it that, as our bench players see just as much time as the starters. If the team can recover from it’s current injuries and prevent any new ones we’ll be a revitalized and stronger side.
4. Finishing
We had 14 shots to Bolton’s 10. 7 of those shots were on goal, to Bolton’s 8. We had 4 more corners with 11 in all. We also maintained possession 55% of the match. But we lost. In looking at the stats, you’d have to assume that Arsenal won this match, but unfortunately that just wasn’t the case.
Every week that we lose our stats look the same. We dominate the game, we have more shots on/off goal, and we end up losing. How? To me, it comes down to finishing. In my mind, we really played a good game on Saturday. We just gave Bolton 3 chances that we shouldn’t have. Then, we didn’t capitalize on 3 shots that hit the post. These shots have to go in the net for these stats to back-up the match.
Everyone talks about Arsenal ‘playing their game’, which involves precise and quick passing. I don’t know that the style of game is failing us so much as it is the lack of finishing. Every opportunity on net needs to count. It didn’t take Bolton a whole lot of effort to capitalize on the few chances they had. With world class players on our side, we need to get better about making sure every shot counts.
Staying Positive
Now that all that is out of the way, I’m looking forward to see how things pan out. We’ve got a match at Craven Cottage on Wednesday against a beleaguered Fulham side. We’ll have a stronger team available and I’m sure more than one gunner will be looking for some vengeance. During last season’s stream of losses it was hard to be a gunner, but as always it’s worth it in the end. We’ve just got to stay positive and hope the team can pull things together.
As to whether or not we are out of the title race, I think it’s a moot point. In one hand, Arsene has ruled it out, thus the will to win might dip a bit. But at the same time this might make the team want to prove him wrong! It’s always possible for Chelsea or United to fall apart. It’s also always possible for Arsenal to start winning regularly. I don’t think it’s worth speculating beyond that.
Come on Arsenal!
Yeah, I think we need to be patient as fans. Maybe it’s the weight of the expectations and not reality that we’re using to egg our team on. Manchester United was beaten at home by Arsenal; they drew with Chelsea yesterday, the latter dominating them in the second half. Chelsea hasn’t looked dominant this season, no team has really. You could make a case for Man Utd, but see above. Portsmouth lost to Newcastle, so they dropped points too.
As much as it is a cliche, we have to just focus on the next game. You never know how things are going to turn out. Arsene’s comments about the title race is bound to irk the players and maybe that’s what they need to do–get mad and play with an “us against the world” mentality.
I know it’s unrealistic to talk about the title, but it’s ain’t over till it’s over. Let’s hope our players realise that and keep fighting. It’s too early to give up.
Please, A. Wenger, try to have one great stricker who can play with Henry(tity). In addition you need to have one left back player. Above all you need to have expireanced plarers on your bench.
What a joke Saturday was, AGAIN
Why does Wenger moan about the defence all the time Adebeyor missed a chance before Bolton got their first, If that had gone in it would have been a different matter.
Bendtner scored again Adebeyor missed again, Instead of giving him a try Wenger is letting him stay at Brum while we get left with Adebeyor who looks to be as effective as those great Arsenal center Forwards of the past namely John Hawley, Ray Hankin and Lee Chapman.
The rest of the team Bar TH14 have no goals in them, losing Pires and Reyes , Bergkamp in one go has cost the team poss 30 goals a season, Would Wenger give Pires 2 years now?
THE RIGID PSYCHOLOGY OF ARSENAL PLAYERS
I’ve come to the conclusion that Arsenal players although young and creative, they have a seriously rigid mentality which prevents them from scoring goals at the best of times. The passing game which is a strength we excel in so well, is turning out to be our greatest weakness. It is a paradox to me, that such a young creative team can be so rigid in the way they treat their scoring opportunities. Even when in the box, the first instinct is to pass not shoot. Arsenal players needs to be decisive minded and selfish when the opportunity presents itself. We need to balance shooting from distance and walking the ball into the net. At the moment, there’s much more of the latter and nothing to show for it in terms of points. We need to restore our confidence in dealing with set pieces. Above all we need luck! What is the use of having tons of possession and blistering pace if at the end of it all, it comes down to wanting to walk the ball into the net? Your first chance is always the best. The Arsenal mindset needs to adapt to this reality.
Henri needs to mentor young Walcott. It is clear from his game at the Reebok on Saturday that he is still inexperienced. In certain instances, he had one touch too many on the ball and ended up losing it when he could have taken his chances early. When in the box, it is far better to be closed down by defenders whilst taking a shot at goal than passing to a team-mate (in the box).
Arsene Wenger needs to make early decisions when it comes to substitutions. Hleb should have come in much earlier.
The January transfer window should be used more effectively in signing on three or more physical players so that we have the depth to match when we confront Fat Sam’s side next time around.
Good article, especially the conclusion which rings true especially for me. The last couple fo weeks have been very frustrating but there’s so much negativity on so many of these blogs that while we have to be critical, we also have to look on the bright side. The bright sides are this: This time next year, we’ll have just wrapped up our fifth game in the champions league, and Bolton… well, they’ll still be Bolton :’) The other bright side is: No two ways about it, we have an excellent team with massive potential. There’s no doubt in my mind Wenger has laid the foundations for a team that will win the prem within the next few years as long as the team stays together and believes in itself. The problem is the youth and inexperience, but this will develop and improve, and it will do so on a weekly basis.
But then there’s being critical. It is pretty hard because Arsenal have dominated almost every half of football hey’ve played this year (with lapses, like first half at west hame, first half against Hamburg, and particularly first against Bolton which was one of the worst I’ve seen in a loooooong long time). Consistency is paramount, but with a young team, it’s rare, but this will change. Eboue and Clichy for example are great Arsenal players, they give everything for the team every week and have great belief in their abilities, yet for every pulsating drive forward they make silly errors. The occasional dodgy cross or slack give away of the ball. Does that mean we should give up on them? Absolutely not, but they need to be made aware of these problems (and I’m sure they are) and fix their game up so that they no longer become a major issue. Gilberto I think deserves the vice captaincy at the very least. He is a legend of the team and such a fantastic player and I really think he has leadership potential, judging it on the basis of the Bolton game alone is a bit unfair all things considered, I think. He at least led his team to a second half fight back with the 1st half injury time goal.
Your point about the ref was fair, of course a sending off for a push seems a bit tame when you talk about it but refs should be as consistent as players are expected to be.
Your point about leadership, well, yeah, some valid points but if you ask me it’s way too early to judge Henry’s effectiveness as a leader, let’s wait til the end of the season and see how he goes before we jump on the ‘give Toure the captaincy’ bandwagon (and some gunners on the internet saying we need to sell Henry… that’s just ridiculous). Henry has changed and adapted his game before and I’m sure he can do it again.
Rotating players point is fair, a couple of weeks ago I remember Arsene saying he on’t buy anyone in Jan. At the time (I think this was just after we beat Reading 4-0… my my weren’t those the days) I would have completely agreed with him but now, I’m not so sure. A talented and experienced winger would be a good idea and for me, at some stage, Ribery would be an excellent value signing, although our midield is really packed with quality at the moment, injured or not. Ribery coached by Wenger though could be a very effective tool. I don’t really have any other signing ideas, maybe bring some playes back from loan but they’re so young.
As for the finshing, yeah, it’s really not good enough. I mean if a couple of things went our way, a bit more luck, a bit more spin on the shots, a slightly wider goal, we could have been neck and neck with Chelsea by now. The problem is conceding the first goal because obviously the pressure is on the players to finish well but you can’t create that many chances and just not score. The fact that far lesser teams make one good chance and take it is just infuriating and unacceptable. Here though, I have to give credit to our defence, some teams have tried to coutner and make a second and it barely eventuates into anything thanks to the defence who just stifle the counter immediately, just a shame they can’t do it at the start of the match when we concede the inevitable early goal. Neverthless, it’s only a matter of time before we start scoring with a bit more consistency, I reckon. You can’t just thrash teams like Liverpool, Sheffield United, Watford, Reading, Porto (margin could have been bigger, mind) and then all of a sudden lose your scoring edge.
Ah well, patience is the key, as annoying as that is. I don’t like to say we’re out of the title race either, let the media focus on that crap and let’s just focus on winning every match. The way I see it, there’s no way that a team that loses to Southend (!), FC Kopenhagen and Celtic can’t cock up in the prem some time sooner or later, and Chelsea, while a great team, are not unbeatable. Hell, if Boro and Spurs can beat them I don’t see why we, or any other team in the prem, can’t nick a few results for them. Let’s wait until Jan before we talk about being out of the title race. Although it is interesting to not, on Arsenal.com Wenger said the result this weekend had no impact on the title race but then afterwards said it was a big blow. Interesting that he changed his mind, possibly to motivate the team, or maybe to get the media a bit more off our back over the December/Jan period?
Frustrating at the moment but I sense good times ahead.
everyone talks potential..why? potential should be the reserve team not the first team.
The problem and it is obvious to all, we have no goal scorers other than Henry.
Why get carried away on pocession? the fact that we have so much and play so slowly is causing a problem. When you play slowly then you need players of Pires Bergkamp quality around the box.
You also need a brave centre forward
Lets look at Adebeyor
for around the same money we could have bought
Ashton
Beni Macarthy
Anelka
Andy Johnson
Given that list who would have taken Adebeyor?
Name one side with perhaps the that would have Adebeyor in their starting line up?
Good article
After the bolton result i was pretty pessimistic
This brought me to see if we were doing better than this time last season….
This time last season, we had lost more games, but had 26 points on board (after 13 games). However, we also had 26 points after 16 games. Obviously this points to our drawing at home, rather than winning, but given our current 22 points, 6 or 7 points from our next 3 games and we will be back on track!
How many strikers has AW signed in his time?
The problem is he signs players who are not out and out striker,eg Reyes,RVP Titi(exception),Wiltord .These are just some of the names.
Oh and we have Jeffers.
Only a striker’s instinct would have coneverted some of the chances created.His job is to score goals. Maybe what AW wants is for some players to be multi functional.
So you have a jack of all trades and I believe that’s w hat affecting the gunners.
I believe the issue is down to the formation, over the years we have been successful with the 4-4-2 formation. one brilliant 451 does not permit a sudden change in the whole system. ( RE: FA cup win against United). If AW was going to flood the mid field and lose then it is not justified. I understand the need to protect Fabregas but he also needs room to express himself as he is constantly crowded in 451 formation and the creativity suffers. I believe if we stick to 4-4-2 then we can point at individual errors, at the moment 4-5-1 gives you no culprit except the manager in decision to play negative and show respect for opponents who show you none by player 433. ( bolton). We need to stick wit hwhat we know. Hleb should have started , freddie on the bench, baptista and walcott up front, flamini and Adebayo on the bench. Picturing this will assure you at least a draw.
I am a die hard Arsenal fan and I must remain positive, but I do hope we get it right and stick with a winning formula.
Our captain for the day got our only goal – how much more motivation outside of setting the example do you want????
Fans have just stereotyped Henry as strikers are not meant to be captains….had he not been given this position do you really think he’d still be an Arsenal player??
To have a captain who’s also just won the Ballon D’Or is something ALL fans should be extremely proud of. Also, don’t forget to ask how mane other strikers rush back and harry the opposition when the balls not in our possession, which again sets an example in itself. Look at the influence he has on the team – our turn around of the Newcastle game which we could’ve lost without his 2nd half input to galvanise the team.
Fans are just way too fickle to remember contribution and only try and pick holes all the time, even though we’re sooooo near the finished article once we have the old style defending back with some first time quality finishing from all the team………
My only regret is that our Manager didn’t pick up Anelka before Bolton as no matter what anyone says, he’d have actually loved to gain forgiveness from the club and its fans who first brought him to major league.
Well said, 5am! Agreed with everything you said, apart from the Anelka bit.
That little shit slated our club, back in 99! The club that made him!
And what’s he gone on, to do since leaving us?
(n’ before anyone says, won the C.L. with Madrid, he hardly contributed to it by scoring 4 goals for ‘em, did he?).
He’s been nothing but a disappointment to every single club he’s been to and trust me, it will all end in tears, at the Reebok too when he walks out, next summer!
WIN, LOSE OR DRAW, GOONER ‘TILL I DIE…!
HOPE YOU LOT FEEL THE SAME!!!
It was a tough physical game and that’s the way the gunners don’t like it.
We need to believe in Henry, he can definitely do the job. If he would just be a bit more vocal it would make a huge difference.
We should not overlook the fact that we conceded 3 goals for the first time in ages. I may be wrong, but I thought that Toure, a player I normally consider outstanding, was at fault for all 3. He let Faye run for the 1st, and was slow to close down Anelka for the second and third. Was it just an off day? Was he tired? Was he unnerved by playing with Senderos rather than Gallas?
More generally, I think our problem is largely down to poor finishing. Our goals to chances ratio this season is pathetic. A lot of that must be down to bad luck – but also the fact that we are missing Pires’ goals – particularly slotting home rebounds. Ditto Ljungberg from 3-4 years ago. Hleb and Rosicky while great ball players are not in the same class at finishing (and I would argue that Hleb is not in the same class for assists either). And Henry is off-form.
It will come – but have to acknowledge that an inexperienced team will be less resilient. Chelsea play badly and win. We play well and lose or draw.
Hey ho.
Hey it’s about time all the Wenger crap about how much potential this side has is ignored and the fact is that he has assembled a cut price imitation of a team who have a lightweight midfield who tip tap around with next to no thrust, an ineffective attack who can only finish against teams who come out of defence, and a defence who are exposed because of the weak midfield. A 5 man midfield at Bolton comprised of players who between them couldn;t muster a hard tackle in a week let alone in a 90min game. I predicted 3 years ago that if Wenger didn’t replace the likes of Bergkamp, Pires and Vieira, plus get a top class striker who can head goals (not the average adebeyor type) then we would sink back into the pack along with Liverpool….and that friends is exactly what has happened !!!! And Liverpool have been trying for over 10 years to get back to the top…how long before our board realise this and replace Wenger with someone who can make things happen like Martin O’Neill!!!!! And to those of you who will berate me for these heretical comments sorry guys reality hurts….but at some stage you have to face it or you end up becoming like Sp*rs!!!!!!!
Well Goonagain, I recognise that depressing diatribe. That is your opinion and although I agree with 50%, I think doing all you suggest is like cutting off ones nose to etc. etc.
Although Arsene has said he will NOT buy in January because he is happy with his squad. I think he must go for a natural striker and top creative midfeilder who can slo defend.
For a long time now i I have suggested that AW is getting shortsighted ie; he has the players but cannot seem to pick them in positions that would make us very strong . If for instance he picked Kolo as our Makelele and Baptista as our back up forward playing in BergKamps old spot. We suddenly have bite midpark and up front. Henry may like being potrayed as a one man forward line, but poor teams who come to defend only do not fear him now.
If AW does not fancy Kolo in the middle why not try Gallas. This would enable us to play the swiss paring of Senderos & Djurou with Ebuoe & Kolo as the back four. I cant imagine anyone fancying going past Gallas then meeting that lot. Stop giving away goals and you are guaranteed points every game.
With Gallas as minder, the
mid three could then create more and faster. So my team to re- boot our season would be. 4-1-3-2
Lehmann
Eboue Senderos Djurou Toure ( or Gallas)
Gallas (or Kolo)
Fabrigas Baptista Rosicky
Walcott ( or VP) Henry.
Subs= Almunia, Hleb, Clichy, Adebajor, VP or Walcott.
It is time also for Fred + Flamini+ Aliadierre +lauren to be sold to pay for a great striker and a UK top goalie.
Sorry gunnerpete, your reliance on players who so far have failed to impress will only lead to the same old thing and thats saying wenger makes the changes that you think will improve things, which I seriously doubt he will do!
Baptista for me has yet to prove that he is anything other than a player with an overblown reputation, he was poor at Real Madrid every time he played and has failed to impress here so far although he hasn’t had much playing time that is true. if we play with the team you propose we still will have the same fundemental fault in that teams will pack the defence because we have no alternative way to attack and with only Henry and Walcott upfront(who is not a goal poacher or renowend for his scoring) we would be back to the punchless problem (remember too that the midfield players you have chosen are not known for being goalscorers so where will the goals come from??? No sorry I forsee the same problems occuring no matter what combination is used from the current ‘crop’.
Good site!!!
This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title The 4 Problems at Arsenal. Thanks for informative article
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