Written by Subir Kumar Roy on Tuesday, 14 December 2010 08:17

What is it about teams like Man United and Chelsea that Arsenal have not won against them, both home and away, in the recent past? These teams have got such a stranglehold on us, that of late, let alone win; we have not even managed draws against them.

Arsenal’s playing pattern means a quick passing game, lots of possession concomitant with control of midfield, full backs pushing forward,  midfielders’ link up play with forward line, pressing the opposite team’s players, creating lots of chances and generally try and outscore the opposition. When some of this does not happen, it affects our game and ability to score. When all of this does not happen, we are extremely poor and more often than not we lose. Compounding all of this is poor refereeing, rotten luck etc.

For Szczesny it was baptism by fire, and boy didn’t he acquit himself well. But for him and Rooney’s poorly taken penalty, the score line would have embarrassed us. No flapping, no flailing, no punching, just plain shot stopping. His one on one save against Anderson and gathering the chipped ball from Rooney with outstretched arm provided the only bit of warmth in the chilly winter.   

Defensively we were very poor; Bacs and Kos were just about so so, Squillaci and Clichy disappointing. What in God’s name was Squill up to when he headed a ball in the path of Nani, only for the latter to miss?  As the game progressed Clichy at least tried to make up for it but it doesn’t help the defence’s cause if you are either backing away from Nani or not forcing him out wide, or winning the ball in a tackle only to quickly give it back.

Supposed to have some of the best midfield players, we never bossed the middle of the park. Rosicky was OK but not enough to influence the game; Song gave a poor account of himself with repeated fouls. Song is not blessed with speed. His role is crucial as a defensive midfielder, providing protection to the back four and breaking up play. Wilshere needs more games to develop his composure. Both were guilty of wild and misplaced passes.           

Chamakh works hard and provides an aerial threat in the box but as a lone striker he ain’t the Rooney or Drogba type. Arshavin needs to be more effective going forward. Nasri is presently our best player, was heavily marked and expecting him to score in every match is difficult.

Options: Change of formation to 4-4-2 at least in the big games? Starts for Djourou, Walcott and Bendtner?  Nasri playing central in absence of Cesc? Wilshere, Vela at home against teams in lower half of table?

Agreed that we have fewer injuries this year, but these are to key players like TV5, Fab4, RVP, etc which really hurt. Cracks and deficiencies are cruelly exposed in the big games, there needs to be a serious rethink on strategies, formations, tactics for at least getting draws, if not winning against the big teams. Can we redeem ourselves against the Chavs?

Gooner for life.

Mean Lean's Response

I am not sure if I agree with you on several points.

What I do share is the disappointment. The disappointment that we once again finish a match against our rivals with no points. Disappointment that a Manchester United side who are not that impressive have managed to do a job on us once again.

Where I disagree with you is in the manner of the defeat. I seem to be watching a different football game to many Gooners. What seems to be missed is that we changed our approach for the game. We usually push our team up the pitch, play with a defensive high line and press the opposition in their own half. Home or away, Wolves or Manchester United. We have been punished plenty of times on the break because of it so Wenger changed it.

I think the 'Defensively we were very poor' line is almost automatic for Gooners now but I didn't feel that was the case at all. Manchester United were restricted to a few chances. Manchester United always create plenty of chances at Old Trafford but we defended well. We were not perfect, had we have been then we would have kept them out.

The problem was the other end of the pitch. A team that is so used to playing in the opposition half looked as if they could not score with a new approach. We had Chamakh at the half way line or chasing down a full back.

We need to find a balance between keeping tight and creating chances against these lot.

Szczesny had a good game but I do get the sense that he is being a little hyped up because of the clamour to have a new goalkeeper in between the sticks. Newcastle mistake aside I don't think Fabianski has done much worse than that all season and was certainly better than that against the likes of Manchester City and even Wolves away

I agree 100% that our key players being out have hurt us. I am not looking for excuses, that is just a fact. Every team in the world regardless of how good their squad is will miss their best players because like I say.. they are their best players.

We may have still lost with Vermaelen, Cesc and Van Persie playing at their best but I sure would rather they were there.

The Chelsea game at the Emirates is now massive. We lose that, then clearly we need to figure out what the problem is. I believe we can beat them and will not get punished as we have done previously.

Only time will tell.

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Comments (17)

• 15-Dec-2010 22:52 | | jeffers
  

  I dont think the playing style is right. I hear alot about playing high up the pitch and pressurising, but rarely do I see this pressure.
  
  Our game, our build up and our execution are all too slow.
  Our passing rarely confuses or catches out the oppostion.
  We rely on patience and waiting for an opportunity to present itself rather than forcing one. Against a disciplined team, the opportunities dont arise.
  
  We lack a player who can both make and score his own goals in a tight situation.
  
  We lack an energy player who enjoys the tackle, enjoys the pyhsical side of things and likes a shot from distance.
  
  I like walcott, he's by no means world class, but he's direct and purposeful. He wants to take the ball towards the goal. One sucessful Walcott run can open a tight game more than Rosicky and nasris short passing.
  
  The sad thing is (as it has been for the last few years) is that we are only a couple of players and a more purposeful attitude away from a great team.

• 15-Dec-2010 23:00 | | GoonerEris  - Manchester United game- Reality check.
  

  You are spot on there, Mean Lean. My thoughts exactly. I felt the Manager bowed to the pressure to adapt to the opposition and minimize our usual failings in recent past meetings with our main rivals. Song was more disciplined playing in front of the back 4 than he has ever been this season; the whole team was poised to ensure the Arsenal goal wasn't breached, a very different approach to what they are used to. This was the crux of the matter on a night that we could have made things uncomfortable for United, had we played in our usual all-out attack/keep ball style. I believe a lesson has been learnt and look forward to the reverse fixtures with United and the game against Chelsea with belief.

• 15-Dec-2010 23:04 | | MeanLean
  

  Yup, same here. I look forward to the return matches at home where we should have better possession and if we can defend like we did at Old Trafford then I will be more than confident that we can win those games.

• 15-Dec-2010 23:05 | | adil  - think abt it...
  

  the last time we scored vs man utd was a deflected goal.. and prior to it was arshavins long range and cesc penalty in the champs league and also samir nasris shots from outside the box...
  
  
  the point i am making here is that against the likes of chelsea and man utd, we dont get into the box that often to make those wonderful plays so, in these kinda games, according to wengers playing techniques, we need long range shots to hit the goal and thats where we fail...
  
  They got a really good keeper who will save 9/10 long range shots plus our players dont wanna shoot at all... look at the game, apart from chamakhs really good chance, and walcotts last min volley, wat chances did we have?? none...
  
  
  i am not a football manager but i can tell you this much, we needed to play 4-4-2 with either van persie helping chamakh or bendtner, cross the ball in, if they clear it than fire a long range shot or something...
  
  trying to penetrate man utd will never work... never ever...

• 15-Dec-2010 23:12 | | Tom
  

  Arsenal are good, sometimes very good, but not good enough.
  
  On a good day we'll batter the likes of Braga and Blackpool, but our lack of variety and balance in attack coupled with our defensive shortcomings means that we fall short when it matters.
  
  We can't keep on blaming injuries either. We've been doing that for the last 4 years. Van Persie is rarely fit so citing his absence as pivotal is pointless - he should be regarded as a squad player, a nice luxury but no more.
  
  However, as we're only half way through the season we cannot expect major changes until the summer. If, as I suspect, we do our usual 'collapse in March' act, then there need to be significant changes over the summer. Certain players need to be sold off and new, hungry players need to be brought in. We have the money and the Emirates was built precisely so that we could, if necessary, throw our weight around in the transfer market.

• 15-Dec-2010 23:17 | | MeanLean
  

  Our position in the table and quality of squad tells me otherwise. Victory at places like Manchester City (Where Chelsea lost), Everton (Chelsea and Mancs both drew) tells me that we are a very good side.
  
  I believe we will get stronger as the season goes on. We haven't seen the best of so many players this season so I am very positive about the second half of the campaign.

• 15-Dec-2010 23:44 | | J  - Width
  

  The problem is this team lacks width. The crossing of Sagna and Clichy is not up to scratch. Forcing the opposition deeper when you have no width makes life difficult when a team is very disciplined like Man U or Chelski.

• 15-Dec-2010 23:53 | | Jeffrey Yong  - playing style
  

  I agree with Jeffers .The gunners patient approach coupled with the slow build up gives time for defenders to regroup and foil the guuners.We should force a shot and not dither around the box by passing all over the pitch.
  I hve watched other teams and to me the gunners overplay with so many passes. Why not reduce the number of passes and if the opportunity is there,shoot instead of looking for the perfect opening.
  Yeah the gunners play the best football in the whole world with patteren weaving and interchanging.But at what cost .They getting beaten all the time by the red faced cunt and Chelsea.As someone said Holland the best soccer in 74 and 78. Did they win the wc. No. Are they remembered? no
  After ten games Wenger must be crazy if he thinks his all out attack will scare the big two.I expect another beating by Chelsea if Wenger plays the same way . The God help Arsenal by asking this guy to play his bewitching soccer in France.

• 16-Dec-2010 00:02 | | supergunner14
  

  We need another cdm to parnter song like de rossi or melo.play 4-2-3-1 against utd and chelsea and better teams!it makes me so angry that the defence is shocking we need english steel in a cb to partner TV like Jagielka or Cahill.utd and chelsea both have one bulk of a cb thats english in both there sides and you can safely say there watertight.also the team need to start shooting outside the box,just wack one in the more than capable to do it so why don't they?am not woried about the GK's either as i feel they have done a top notch job when called upon.everyone can see whats needed why doesn't wenger?were just a few players shy of a world class team!!i dont expect wenger to buy in january its nothing new.i can see fabregas or vp staying for long tbh there both no the team aint good enough.its the same thing every season,wenger buying cheap bargain basement players when the moneys there to but quailty.i know people moan well some players are well to expensive but i think its worth showing a bit of intent to the fans and players that we mean buisness!

• 16-Dec-2010 01:03 | | Wilsheres dad
  

  Man U basically parked the bus & let us attack, intending to hit us on the break and/or with long balls. We were more cautious than usual to counter this which meant we were not very creative going forward.
  Even lesser teams (Newcastle,Braga..& almost West Ham) beat us in this way, let alone Man U at home.
  Yes, they had more chances than us but games are no more won by chances created than amount of possession. Their goal involved huge portions of luck. 99 times out of 100 Parks header wouldn't even have been on target.
  They were firm favourites to win.Everyone is disappointed because we always hope, but no one should really be surprised & or so critical. It was a poor game, but we wer'nt that bad.

• 16-Dec-2010 03:24 | | jameltra  - Outfoxed by Fergie before a ball was kicked
  

  I agree with Wenger's remarks regarding the condition of the pitch and agree that it was a big factor in our poor first half display. I was at the game and have rarely seen us start so poorly. We just couldnt seem to get going our passing together and our usual fluency was just not there, yes they pressed us all over the pitch and gave us little time or space. When we trooped off after the warm up Fergie had the pitch watered and I think this more than everything else that contributed to our poor start and lack of fluidity.

• 17-Dec-2010 17:15 | | Man United Killa  - Man you are fantastic...just my thoughts
  

  Very true points you make..its like you read my mind.Our players are too indirect...very shameful behavior.its like they lack the confidence.the only players who actually consistently attack a defense are Walcott which you just mentioned.Walcott might not be world class but I love the lad for that.the passing passing game is not very useful for us these days because we are too darn slow.arggh!!
  Arshavin is also another player capable of doing that but he is painfully inconsistent and lax around the box.
  At this point,I have to say Nasri is the only one who does that with any success and I love him for that but we need more of those..
  Honestly,I cant stand Chamakh.He is more of a defender than a striker.He is always looking to give a back pass instead of doing his job as a striker and attacking the defense.Well,that is what you get for not wanting to spend on the quality you really need...its a shame and until we really add to the squad and change the way we play we wont win a thing.No one shoots,too much passing in the box and opposition covers their tracks,poor defense,terrible crossing,too predictable way of playing...there are problems in the team and these need to be resolved..NOW!

• 17-Dec-2010 17:20 | | Man United Killa  - thanks for reading my thoughts
  

  Exactly brother...I agree with all that you said..also,sometimes, it looks as if we feel like losers before we step on the field.
  Do you think that it's pure coincidence that we have lost consistently to them in the past couple of years?
  Do you think it's pure coincidence that Evra ran his mouth before the game and they did exactly what he said?
  I am not manager either but if Wenger is the manager he claims to be,he has to turn things around and stop talking about having good players and all...the team is not complete.-both mentally and physically and in terms of quality.

• 17-Dec-2010 22:43 | | tr7
  

  before arsenal went 4-3-3 last year 4-4-2 was wengers favoured formation for a decade and I thought it worked quite well. We used to generally win the big teams but struggle against the smaller ones, ie the opposite of what's happening now with the 4-3-3. The 2008 team came the closest since to winning the title (the final season where we used 4-4-2, before rosicky and eduardo got injured) and I always felt that Wenger was too quick to dismantle that team of 2008. We had a team of men with a good balance, flamini (or gilberto) was our CDM, fabregas was our creator. hleb was the dribbler on the right and rosicky was given a free role from the left that worked very well (he looked like he was going to be our new pires, up until he was injured that is). The 'four musketeers' were broken up too fast tho for my liking, and I cant help but feel what if we had kept the same system and players for another year or two. Thats life I suppose. Before his injury rosicky in particular would be constantly finding himself at the end of crosses, perfectly timing his bursts into the box. He was so dynamic and had one hell of a shot on him. Unfortunately since he came back, while he remains a fine player we just aren't seeing that aspect of his play anymore, he doesn't venture into the box nearly as often and is much more reluctant to shoot. Eduardo, similar story of demise. In all, I cant help but wonder what if...

• 18-Dec-2010 07:41 | | Joblow  - Who can change it?
  

  Very interesting what u said about scoring against man u and shooting from range. Of this team currently only a few players are confidently capable of shooting from range and wud trouble man u. From distance Denilson is the only player on this team, in open play, can hit the target accurately and confidently from all of 25 yards. Rosicky use to be up for such shots but now seems totally afraid to attempt/think of taking a shot on goal with power. Just outside the 18 Ashavin/Nasri can do this with opposing players around and in front of them. In the box V. Persie can work some magic with his control and skill to get us a goal.
  
  It is not like the others can't score as anyone can score a goal but to do it confidently and consistently, i believe these are the players. No, i have not forgotten about Cesc, Walcott, Bendtner and Vela. They can all score and just like the others from different positions especially Cesc, but this usually occurs with good inter-change passing and getting freed, which does not really happen against man u as our passing isn't as strong and accurate like b4 for some reason.
  
  All in all i still rate this Arsenal team and believe whole heartedly they will win not just one but 2 trophies this season and make us proud. The manager will soon realize certain players need to be rested and others given the opportunity to play more than one game in a row.
  
  Gunners forever!!!

• 18-Dec-2010 08:01 | | Joblow
  

  So wats wrong with denilson playing DM? And Djourou playing CB? Why anytime arsenal lose a game we need to buy new players!
  
  Last season when fabregas was out early in the season Song, Denilson and Diaby played brilliant, with Denilson scoring and giving plenty assists up until he collapse in that game. After that his stamina and speed has come into question but he is still very discipline defensively.
  
  Thought at old trafford he should have started with Song with Wilshere on the bench. Wilshere, though good on the ball, in terms of scoring has nothing on Denilson. Denilson also tackles better. In and around the box Wilshere's vision and touch will lead too opportunities unfortunately he does not get that close a look against man u but with Denilson's ability to light them up from distance taps in can happen very quickly.
  
  Djourou has not been bad this season, growing in every game in my opinion. Seriously of the 3 CB currently being played i believe Squillaci is the weakest right now. The others tend to look worse off as i believe them to always having to pick up for him and they end up looking bad.
  
  But heyy that's Just me anyway!!!!

• 04-Mar-2011 16:10 | | lucky  - hi
  

  hi arsenal i think i like 222 ply my football in arsenal so pls gave me a lag 22 ply my football and make till the word i can do it thanks wones mor god bless uuu...................

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