Written by hazzaboy21 on Wednesday, 06 April 2011 11:47

“We need x, we need y.” Many fans right now are looking at our recent run of form and arguing we need signings, have no leaders, have no pace etc. I agree on the whole but recently have noticed a few tactical issues which if addressed I feel could make a huge difference. Now I should make it clear that I am no tactical genius and I’m not going to list every tactical problem I have noticed (there are quite a few!) but I feel that my time playing football and watching more games than the average fan from different leagues have given me a decent insight into that part of the beautiful game.

There can be little debate that Barcelona is currently the best team in the world. I, like many Gooners, was devastated when we crashed out of the Champions League at their hands. Many excuses were offered up in the wake of that loss but ultimately we were outplayed. Journalists took joy in stating the fact that Barca beat ‘Barca-lite’. It is this lazy journalism that bugs me. The more I think about this name, the more I dispute it. For I feel we actually have little in common with Barcelona. Sure, we play some nice stuff but so do many other teams. In fact this season, using the double-pivot in midfield, we don’t even have the same shape as them anymore.

In this post I’m going to focus on the issues I like to call the 3 Ps: Pressing, possession and penetration.

Pressing

Okay, so we ARE trying to be a bit like Barca! Why not? This seems to be the most obvious trait we have tried to take from them in the last year. As Mean Lean has frequently said, when we press the opposition high and as a unit we are some force to be reckoned with. You will recall the game at home to Chelsea this season as a game that encapsulates this belief. We suffocated them and got our just reward. Yet for whatever reason we don’t do this all the time. Why is this? Do we just press when we feel like it or are there different instructions game to game? Do we not have the necessary fitness to implement it throughout the high tempo season of the Premier League? I would love to know the reason we press intermittently as it does no favours to the defence.

As a central defender myself I can say that a lot of the pressure is taken off the defence if you press high. This much is obvious. I can also imagine that our inconsistent pressing does no favours for the central defenders’ mindset. “Do I move up or hold my position?” they must constantly ask themselves. How many times have the opposition scored off a simple long ball over our high line when there has been no pressure on the ball. It isn’t a coincidence. The sooner we decide to press in every game the better.

Possession

I hear many of you wondering “What is he going on about? We have loads of possession every game.” And you would be right. However, I ask you to think of these games where we have a lot of possession. It’s often because the opposition say “there you go Arsenal, there’s the ball. Now try and do something with it while we reverse our Megabus in front of the goal.” Whenever a team presses us high and ‘has a go’ we seem to have problems keeping the ball. This is despite us having very technically-able players. So why is this? Emmanuel Petit said this in a recent interview:

"Players are playing against their nature a bit. Barca play exceptional football and from an early age they teach the boys the same way. That's not the case with Arsenal. There are players we've known for a while who are playing against their nature. I'm thinking of lads like Abou Diaby, whose physical impact is a bit less. There are players who try to play in the image of Cesc Fabregas when they don't have the same qualities."

I do disagree with the bit about Arsenal not teaching the boys to play the same way as that has changed since Arsene joined. The latest batch of boys from Hale End led by the emergence of Wilshere is seeking to address that. However, with the rest he’s spot on. The likes of Diaby and Song weren’t playing tiki-taka at La Masia at the age of 8. While they have good technique we cannot expect them to play like Xavi or Fabregas. They have their own qualities and these haven’t been utilised enough in my opinion. This brings me on to the final P.

Penetration

With the amount of possession we have most games we really should be scoring more. This is sometimes due to poor finishing, occasionally wrong decisions and sometimes (rarely though) failing to create sufficient chances. Football is a low scoring game so naturally there will be times when you fail to score. But there are occasions when many an Arsenal fan will shout “SHOOT” for the player to then try and find a teammate.

Sometimes the outcome can be glorious and we have scored a large proportion of goals in recent years by literally walking the ball into the net. But more often than not, the chance goes with no player taking responsibility. Cristiano Ronaldo takes more shots than most players and though most don’t go in, the sheer quantity of shots he takes means that he has a greater chance of scoring. It’s simple maths really!

The use of our fullbacks is another issue that has irritated me for some time. Like Dani Alves, our full backs get forward a lot (though not to the same ridiculous extent!). However, that is where the similarities end. Why do we just aimlessly toss the ball into the box? Why don’t we play to our strengths and play quick one-twos on the edge of the box before cutting the ball back? It would help our attacking play no end.

My final issue regarding penetration is about dribbling. RVP, Nasri, Arshavin, Wilshere, Theo and Diaby all have the ability to run directly at opponents, making them commit and potentially taking them out of the game. Yet they don’t do it enough (with the exception of Wilshere) and if they do it’s on the flanks. Meanwhile, over at Barca, often Messi or Iniesta will drop off into a central area and run with the ball at the heart of the defence. The defenders then have to commit and if beaten a shot or pass can be made in a very dangerous area of the pitch.

Abou Diaby is much maligned and it is true that he often slows up our play. However, it is of no coincidence that his best games have been when played in an advanced central role where he can use his physique and dribbling qualities to the benefit of the team. Yet he is often played in a deeper role where crisper passing and a greater speed of thought is required to link our play at a high tempo. This is just one example but I feel it illustrates my point that we don’t play to our strengths enough and merely put players in a predesigned template regardless of their qualities.

So what I’ve been trying to say is we’re not ‘Barca-lite’ but maybe to really start winning things again we should try and be a little bit more like them.

You can follow me on twitter @hazzaboy21

Mean Lean's Response

Thank you Hazzaboy, while reading through your points I got the sense that I could have written much of it myself such was the similarity in the questions about our system and personnel.

I agree about the lazy views calling us Barca lite, having said that I do not expect many journalists to know the difference between the styles of two teams unless it was Stoke City vs Brazil, only then would they be able to work out the differences.

Onto the 3 Ps as you very well put it. I think if I was to ask Arsene Wenger one question about our style of play then it could well be about how the players win the ball back. What does he see as the pros and cons of winning the ball back early and why it is not a standard part of his template as say the pass and move philosophy is.

Without looking at the statistics, I am sure we are more efficient both in terms of attacking and defending when the players implement the pressing game although I am sure energy levels must suffer and perhaps we would collect more injuries over the course of the season but I believe it would make every member of the squad better including the much maligned Denilson and Diaby.

As much as I dislike the arrogance of Barcelona as a club, I cannot help but admire their work off the ball. The way they squeezed us in the Camp Nou this season was quite remarkable and that was against probably the best ball possession side in the Premier League. If we defended like that against inferior technical teams then I would love to know how they would deal with that.

Although I appreciate that pressing intensely every week in La Liga is different from doing so in the Premier League.

As for possession I often feel we can be a little too patient for our own good. I have heard Arsene Wenger comment about the players needing to remain patient and keep playing their game and I am sure that has paid off many times with late goals but we are often a much more dangerous side when we move the ball quicker and are more direct in our play. By direct I do not mean the Stoke City school of direct but the quicker and sharper forward passes along the floor.

In your final section about penetration you brought up two points that I have often wondered about. Firstly the use of our fullbacks, well more our right back now as it seems that Arsene has lifted the handbrake a little on Clichy when Arshavin is ahead of him. It is no surprise that Bacary Sagna has had the most amount of assists for a right back for at least the last two years. However that position could be utilised so much more against teams at the Emirates who only have the intention of sitting back ahead of their penalty area and stopping us playing. Sagna is often the attacking spare man and with a more adventurous player in that role in those types of games I am sure we could get a greater reward. Alves is often the spare man on the right for Barcelona and whilst his crossing often makes Gael Clichy's look like David Beckham's his ability to beat his man and get beyond the opposition's last defenders gives broke back Barca so many options. Emmanuel Eboue and Bacary Sagna rotated very well in those types of games well last season and I am not quite sure why that has stopped completely.

Lastly the dribbling option is something that I find very interesting. I often wonder why when we are finding it difficult to pass through stubborn defences, the likes of Samir Nasri who is a gifted dribbler doesn't use his strengths as much as perhaps he could. The likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Nani, Bale and co make so much space by taking away at least two defenders.

It will be interesting to see what Arsene does if and when Ryo Miyaichi makes it to Arsenal or if he follows his interest in Eden Hazard or a similar type of player.

This being said, we have so much going right for us and the management have got us in a great position both short term and long term. Wenger is regularly tweaking his team to fix any technical problems we have and our league finishes over the last year have been 4th, 3rd and very possibly more than that if we can get back on track.

While we are all in tears at the thought of the players shooting themselves in the foot over the last few weeks, we are not all that far away.

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Comments (59)

• 07-Apr-2011 09:20 | | Iskandar  - Diaby
  

  Fully agree with you about the need to run at defenders. Diaby will cause panic if he goes straight at defenders who will back off. Space will be freed. If he takes a shot and it ricochets,a fellow gunner could be on hand to score.

• 07-Apr-2011 09:20 | | angelicbeardy
  

  I think the problem is that Arsenal needs a manager which can motivate the players to go out and play 100%. At the moment we are stuck in a rut with the players seemingly going through the motions after being knocked out of 3 cups in a fortnight. I sky+ the Arsenal game against Blackburn as i couldn't get to the game due to other commitments and ended up fast forwarding most of the game as it was so dour and dull. I think Arsenal need a new manager with a strong personality to come in a blow a few cobwebs off the players and tell them to get off their asses and earn their money. Thats just my opinion anyway.

• 07-Apr-2011 09:38 | | adrian  - lack of a spine
  

  what the club has needed from the start of the season is a strong spine to the team. A top class goalie, top class central defender, a holding midfield player and consistent strike capable of scoring 20 goals a season. They also need as a group of players a strong captain capable of leading the team on the field under all conditions like tony adams did.

• 07-Apr-2011 10:04 | | steve
  

  We badly need a real Captain in the mould of TA Frankie Mac Pat Rice
  THESE ARE REAL CAPTAINS & not the best player who we are trying to keep @ the club like Henry great player shit capt Cesc great player shit capt RVP ETC

• 07-Apr-2011 10:07 | | Andya
  

  What's wrong with Arsenal - Answer: Wenger

• 07-Apr-2011 10:25 | | Class of 79  - That's my lot
  

  The trouble is all the real supporters have left long ago. There are a few groups of old school still around but now mainly middle class fans with their Arsene Knows rubbish.
  Look around the ground now, large groups of students, office workers, women, Japenese tourists…and the ground is the quietest in the Premier League.
  They all sit there and say “Yeah Arsene knows”…4-0 up to 4-4, 2-0 up v Spurs and lose 2-3, a 42 year old back up goalie that was dropped in place of Spain’s 7th choice goalie over 3 years ago, Nicholas Bendtner who wanders around the pitch chewing his gum looking like a total knob jockey where once the great Thierry Henry once was.
  Denilson, Diaby, Song, Clichy, Rosicky …5 players who really should just give up football full stop (six if you include B52).
  Pat Rice (what does he do?) sitting there looking gormless all game saying nothing….. our manager waving his arms around frantically looking like a total fool….a team full of weak individuals with a weak minded manager…yeah Arsene knows.
  Five years in the ground and with relative small debt and they still won’t buy suitable players in key areas, never mind, £5 for a hotdog anyone?
  A PA system making you call the players surnames out like all fans are twelve years of age.
  “Can we have your £1000 by June 1st please?” No not this time, give it to Jeremy or Miles from Surrey, they can sit there reading their programme during the game next season in total silence with the same team yet again falling short.

• 07-Apr-2011 10:26 | | SAB  - Think before speaking
  

  Andya - you don't know what you're talking about. Tell me who's better (and available)... there's nobody. He's the best we've ever had and should stay until he chooses to leave.

• 07-Apr-2011 10:50 | | Tom
  

  Hazzaboy/Mean
  
  A very good analysis of our problems.
  
  The point by Petit about players being asked to play in positions/in a manner alien to them is particularly interesting.
  
  The likes of Song, Diaby, Walcott, Arshavin are definitely underused in our current system which over emphasises pure technique at the expense of speed and power.
  
  The other problem is an unhealthy over reliance on Fabregas. The whole system is built around his ability to dictate play in an advanced midfield position between Van Persie and the midfield. While this is understandable it negatively impacts on Arshavin and Diaby both of whom may be better suited to the 'hanging forward' role.
  
  Mean - your point about Sagna is a good one but I often feel that his crossing is better than people give him credit for. The real problem is our reluctance to flood the penalty area - Van Persie is often the only player that attacks the penalty area and unless the cross is pinpoint accurate, its too easy for the opposition to clear their lines.
  
  The FA Cup game against Man Utd was a case in point - Sagna put in 5 or 6 decent crosses into dangerous areas but with only Van Persie to aim for against 4/5 defensive players, the odds were stacked against him. Contrast that with Man Utd who often turn average crosses into goals simply by committing 3-4 players into the penalty area. It's no wonder they them to force so many own goals.

• 07-Apr-2011 10:54 | | CHGooner
  

  To Andya and Class of 79.
  
  Correct.

• 07-Apr-2011 11:32 | | Waiting-list
  

  Good, I'll have your season ticket off you, seeing as you can't bear to be in the same stadium as a middle-class person like me. Maybe you could make a comment relating to the article rather than just ranting about your favourite subject.

• 07-Apr-2011 11:50 | | Eagleye
  

  Werent people saying the same about Michael Thomas, Alan Smith, John Lukic and Perry Groves? And what did they manage in 89?
  
  Grow up and be proud of who you support and get behind those players instead of getting on their backs at every opportunity!

• 07-Apr-2011 12:37 | | hazzaboy21
  

  Completely agree Tom. Like you said this system we have used the last couple of years has been put in place simply for Cesc. Not a bad decision to build a formation around your best player as was shown especially last year with Cesc's best tally in terms of goals and assists. My problem is that when Cesc is not in the team, which has become increasingly common due to his hamstring problems, we don't adapt.
  
  I also agree with your point about Sagna to a degree. Some of the crosses he puts into the box are good and if we had numbers in the box we could take more advantage of them. However, I feel we don't simply because of the mentality of our players. We don't have enough who live to put the ball into the net. Ask the majority of our team where they want to play and they'll tell you it's behind the striker. They take greater joy in assisting others it appears. Whether this can be changed is open to debate. Nasri has certainly added goals to his game this year but still needs to improve in this area as do others.

• 07-Apr-2011 14:25 | | Woolwich Arsenal  - Quality
  

  Totally agree Class of 79, most of the supporters don't even understand the game, probably played good ol' rugger at Uni. Pimms anyone?

• 07-Apr-2011 17:05 | | Nkem Ogonsiegbe  - What is wrong with Arsenal.
  

  Arsene Wenger.

• 07-Apr-2011 17:27 | | Warya  - Players
  

  I miss old arsenal. we have no world class defernders. ever since
  Martin Keon and co left. Cesc is half hearted catalan. Nasri wants more money, diaby is slow, Denilson is confused. Rosicky is lazy, No Good keepers. who are are two new french defenders? what was silvestere doing last season. what is lehman doing now? and the danish fella with number 52? I even dont wanna mention his name. this is NOT Arsenal. we need people who love this club. we need people who love the fans, we need owner who will invest in this club. EVERYTHING is wrong with the arsenal of TODAY- a heartbroken, sad, trophyless gooner fan

• 08-Apr-2011 00:04 | | richie  - On the right tract
  

  Great thought provocing read and just like ML I feel I could've penned a lot of it. The important thing is to ask the right questions as hazzaboy does.
  My thoughts have always been along the same lines. At the moment we are still second, if we don't win it and finish second will that be a total disaster of a season? Not for me.
  
  2nd isn't 1st but the league doesn't lie, it will mean that 2010-11 we were second best in the league. I don't think all this nonsense about we'll never have a better opportunity because the other teams are weak at the moment holds any water at all. We are second having blown a lot of games stupidly. I come back to the one simple truth, that should be self evident to all "We the Arse aren't that far away".
  
  I don't see this season as one of doom & gloom. Our progress may not be in leaps and bounds but I keep seeing progress.

• 08-Apr-2011 00:21 | | richie  - Old Arsenal vs the best defensive record
  

  The defence built by Arsene Wenger is our clubs most successful try to remember it went 49 games without loss, Keown played in only 8 of the 49. The Sol / Toure partnership was magnificient. The only other part of your blog I'll answer is ownership.
  The last thing Arsenal FC needs is a sugar daddy owner. All we need is to carry on as we are for a few more years and the Emirates stadium we be paid off. Then we won't need anybody, we'll be able to generate our own funds. A consortium of owners without anyone having an overall majority control would suit us well for our future,

• 08-Apr-2011 00:33 | | richie
  

  To waiting-list and Eagle Eye
  Totally and utterly correct.
  Well said!

• 08-Apr-2011 04:02 | | Anonymous
  

  Great article! In my view the current squad at arsenal are caught between playing a system similar to Barca and playing a system similar to Chelsea. On the whole our current crop of players are much more suited to playing a high pressing, short passing system akin to Barca (with the exception of our forwards (minus Walcott) who seem to refuse to make attacking off the ball runs) rather that the physical approach of Chelsea (very similar to the arsene's formaitive arsenal side!). But until one style of play or the other is fully adopted and appropriate players occupy roles in that system we will continue to witness the same exciting yet frustrating Arsenal of recent years! That said true fans will stick by Arsenal through thick or thin.

• 08-Apr-2011 08:57 | | gonnabegood  - THE ARSENAL TEAM OF LATE IS TOO PREDICTABLE.
  

  this team is very predictable ,even before they come on the pitch you already know how they are going to play.
  
  so other teams have found a way to play against our kind of football.
  
  2. there are certain players that need changing,some players there are not good enough for the mighty arsenal fc,the manager needs to address this issue.
  
  3.the team has reached a point were it needs proper investment .
  this is the area the club needs to sort out next season,there needs to be a major clear out of the deadwood at arsenal and bring some players whom will add steel to the team.
  
  4.we have too many french players,(i don't mean any harm with this statement but it is true.)the mixture in the team is not balanced.we need more english players in our team.
  
  5.the manager needs to take a hard look at what is going on,understand that we the fans are not happy,and we will not stand for the same shiite next season ,we have endured enough.the team needs proper investment next season.we have too many similar players,we have players with no heart,injury prone players, and if the manager doesn't do anything to change or add steel to this team ,he planning his early retirement.
  
  WE NEED INVESTMENT ON NEW PLAYERS. WITH HEART AND WE NEED MORE ENGLISH PLAYERS IN THIS TEAM OR THE NEXT. COS THESE LOT ARE GOOD BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE WEARING THE RED AND WHITE OF NORTH LONDON.

• 08-Apr-2011 10:38 | | dkgooner  - Arsenal to buy Bolton Wanderers shock!
  

  We're being linked with so many Bolton players at the moment that I fully expect the board announcment to be that we have bought Bolton Wanderers.

• 08-Apr-2011 10:48 | | dkgooner
  

  Yawn.
  English players are wonderful. That's why England have been so successful in the European Championships and the World Cup in recent years.
  How many of the current England squad would get into a World squad?
  Rooney - maybe. And who does Rooney have around him at his club?
  Nani, Valencia, Hernandez, Berbatov, Park.
  Even Man U's defence only has 1 English player in it.
  Good players are good players - nationality has nothing to do with it.
  Keep this "Buy English" rhetoric for BNP meetings.

• 08-Apr-2011 12:25 | | richie  - Ah Music DKG
  

  All this bloody xenophobia! Don't all those who call for the English core or the British spine know that they only reveal themselves for who they are politically? If not BNP then UKIP. Everybody has moved on from the days when it was generally believed that Black players didn't play with enough grit, or that only Brits had the bottle for the fight that was the premiership.
  
  All you buy British, British is best proponents have lost the arguement long ago. A certain Frenchman of our own should have disproved that idea for all time. Our Mr Vieria. I've said before, that its not the type or breed of dog in the fight that counts, its the fight in the dog. Patrick had more fight to win in him than any player I've ever seen (Including our own Mr Arsenal TA) and I've seen a few willing to bleed for the Arse over the years. This is now a redundant arguement its not worth continuing with it.

• 08-Apr-2011 12:47 | | MeanLean
  

  Bloody eck,
  
  has anyone heard Wenger's press conference? He has come out swinging. Never heard him so dismissive of other people.
  
  Great viewing.

• 08-Apr-2011 14:40 | | richie  - Too tired to finish last night.
  

  If our tactic's are our only down fall ? Then we mustn't be too far away. I don't mean that we are 2nd in the league, I mean from putting together a team capable of playing entertaining football and winning.
  
  The Arse-Barca comparison. We should all understand pressing in the prem and pressing in La Liga is not the same thing. La Liga's pace is generally slow allowing for individual skills to be fully shown, so pressing as Barca do works really well. If we all think back to last years home fixture against Barca then we'll all remember (somewhat painfully) that for the first 45mins we were handed a footballing lesson (A game of 2 halves).
  
  That first 45 was played at a pace that Barca don't usually play at in La Liga, hence for the 2nd half everything about their game dropped. Yes we improved but they dropped from fatigue having played their fast passing game at breakneck pace.
  They caught us out tactically much as Manu'er did 2nd half. We all went forward and got caught on the break. To remind everyone of an even more painfull memory it was the samething against the Tiny Tots when we got caught out all forward by Bale's through ball.
  
  This is a consequence of playing the patient possession game that tactically we are engaged in. It seems to me that this is the tactic that doesn't work well for us. Other teams are playing against us in the same way we used to play against them. With either Anelka or Henry we were "The Fast Breaking Team". Now we're not!
  If anything we are really slow and very ponderous in possession.
  If we take this years home game against Barca then our second goal shows our play at its best. Wiltshire's quick ball into Cesc- Cesc's one touch to Nasri - Nasri's forward run and cut back to Shava one touch goal. Seconds.
  
  Which leads on to my one and only constant criticism of Arsene. Players played out of their natural position. We sign Chamakh and play him as an out and out center forward, and he does really well.
  Holds up long balls to him (like Smudger used to) and waits to bing in our fast arriving midfield. RvP comes back and Chamakh is moved, and no one understands why he's no longer effective in a different role. (Please! its obvious) RvP is a great player but he's at his very best (where Holland use him) when linking midfield to attack 2nd striker. We've all seen where Chamakh plays best.
  
  Next up Diaby. Never anything else other than an Attacking Midfielder. Give him the ball and let him run at defenders and he looks the part. Play him alongside Denilson as a holding mid and
  he looks terrible, not only that but he's expected to play that role coming back from injury. In other words learn a new (un-natural) position in an important prem game when hardly match fit. Is it really any surprise when it doesn't work?
  
  Arsene has in the past had great success changing players from one thing to another. Petit from defender to midfielder though both lefthand side. Toure from Midfield to defence. Henry from forward to winger and back again. But I feel if we could only decide on the way we are going to play (For me it should be fast attacking football) and then like you say let our players play in the positions natural to them we'd be almost immediatly be back to playing great attractive football and winning.
  
  One smallish previso to play fast attacking football the forwards have to have confidence in their defense.

• 08-Apr-2011 14:49 | | mike mcdonald  - I'm not baffled
  

  Mean Lean… Thanks for taking the time each day to blog. It means so much to me to have a guy on the inside when I live on the outside (Tennessee)!!
  My mail is long but it is many years of thoughts based on my ridiculous dream of ‘what would I do if I had 2 hours with the first team?’
  
  I’m not baffled
  
  I'm an Arsenal fan in the US. I love to read some Arsenal blogs, yours included. So many bloggers and fans talk in generics. You don't and that is why I have decided to post this on your site. I don't want to sound arrogant and I don't feel smart but simply observant.
  
  I have believed for 5 and a half years that Arsenal's biggest issue is not defending but attacking. Arsenal have mastered what most teams at all levels spend too much time on... passing and moving. From the top of the 18 to the top of their 18, we are the best team in England and the second best in Europe at keeping possesion of a football.
  We could afford one Almunia blooper per game if our 60+% posession would be counteracted by more clear cut chances. Football is a simple game. If we are not great defensively but have the ability to out possess MUtd on their own patch then we should be creating far more. The team who scores the most wins. Most weeks Arsenal should be winning AT LEAST 3-1. I'd be cool with this!! The example is Barca. They out play every team, every week but are far more effective in the final third. Look at their results. 3-0, 4-1, 4-0 etc....
  I know we are not as good but we don't have to be as good to win the EPL as they play in Spain.
  
  Tactical issues..
  
  1)Pro active movement in the box.
  A defender would never be allowed to tell his coach that he is not clearing many balls because they don't cross the ball to where I'm standing!!!
  A forward is normally 1 or 2 vs 5 in the box. Arsenal are 1 or 2 vs 8 as they delay crossing. The crossing is generally poor anyway (Sagna has improved some) but to compound this, the Arsenal players rarely attack the ball. So, statistically we have almost no chance of scoring from a cross.
  
  2) Spreading the defenders.
  Arsenal DO NOT need to buy a 'fox in the box!'
  Scoring from 5 yards is not hard. Defending Arsenal when crossing is easy. If you do not have a player who understands that a huge percentage of goals in football are scored in the 6 yard box and a coach who must put tacks in this area at Colney, then you miss out on 20 goals a season.
  Tactically, if one player attacks the 6 yard box then at least one and probably two defenders have to see him as their primary concern. This leaves the slews off Arsenal players who are standing still on the penalty spot or outside the box to have a clear passing angle if we choose to cut it back.
  Arsenal's way is not intelligent or effective.
  
  3) Clichy and Sagna
  Sagna is a wonderful defender. Clichy is wonderful at anticipation and has bags of energy.
  For 5 years these two have been told to leave their defenders exposed (perhaps why we concede many counter goals?)in order to get forward and put in a selection of miserable crosses to one stationarry player who is normally RVP who is not great in the air in the first place.
  I could complain that this is not logical but that is obvious. Why do we do this? It is because Wenger has players are are not happy to play solely on the wing. We have Nasri, AA, Walcott etc.. who see themselves as central players. Wenger placates them and builds a formation so that they have 'freedom of movement.' This way they stay at AFC.
  
  4) What are wings for?
  In my opinion wings were not made for possession.
  You watch... when Sagna appears on the wing, Nasri comes within 5 yards, bringing a defender with him.
  Wings are for dribbling at the defender of crossing NOT another area of the field where we get to show the importance of shifting the opponent to create space!!
  
  5) Not using your best ability
  There are many players at Arsenal that underachieve. Wenger is often the reason why they are so technically good and also the reason why they under achieve.
  If Nasri played on my team I would tell him that I think he is the hardest player to tackle in the league, has unreal balance, super dribbling ability and so his role in my team would be to run at their defenders and beat them NOT to join in the horizontal play that the others like so much.
  Whilst on on this soapbox, have you ever wondered why Messi and Ronaldo are considered to be the best? I think it's because their coaches give them freedom to dribble and do not make them feel gulity if they lose it!
  Nasri could that too, but he won't under Wenger because it's not collective.
  Why did we sign AA? We saw him in the Euros running at players from deep positions at speed so Wenger changes his game.
  Chamakh has to realize that he signed for the wrong team. He has to. He could go almost anywhere else and get better service. He was rated as the most deadly aerial threat in the Champions League last year. Now Clichy is serving him and he is not allowed in the 6 yard box.
  When Jack came on the scene I thought I was seeing the new Messi. What a dribbler!
  If I had one hour with him on the training field I would encourage him to play between the lines, turn and dribble at the defenders and shoot. Why? BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HE IS BEST AT!!!
  Folks think he's good now! Just wait until he leaves (because he will)and another coach encourages him to do what he is best at.
  Walcott should play CF. He would attack crosses. You can't be that quick and that static can you? I've also wondered many times whether Walcott's crossing is that poor or is it because when he looks up he sees lego men? Another player playing on the wrong team.
  I worry for Miyachi. He will get Arsenalized. He is joining the wrong coach.
  
  5) Overlapping on counter attacks!!
  I kid you not. I've seen it. RVP is more gulity than others. 5 mins to go. About to throw away your league advantage. Arsenal counter attack with only RVP ahead of the ball. Nasri on the left running at speed and RVP making this loop around his shoulder in order to keep posession (I suppose)?!? Not one player in the box and two on the left!
  I wish I had Wenger's email because I need an answer.
  
  6) Free Kicks
  Why do Arsenal have a collection of some of the most technically gifted players in England and yet we never score direct free kicks?
  
  7) Corners
  Why do I feel that a great time to find 45 seconds and go to the loo is when we have a corner? I hope you don’t think I’m kidding.
  
  Counter attacks
  Why have Arsenal over the last 18 months decided that it is a better tactic to have their CF come towards the ball on a counter attack and pass it backwards?
  The opposition love that one! Two more opponents get back behind the ball
  
  9)Shooting
  Why is our most confident player (jack) afraid to shoot?
  
  10) Formation
  Why don't we sacrifice a defender during games where teams park the bus?
  If we played three solid defender... Sagna, Verm, DJ and they stayed back to take care of their 1 forward and played 3-2-3-2 surely we would save full backs that are not suited to attacking from doing so, play with real wide men who can cross and have one extra player in the box? Why? Why??
  
  11) Signings vs Youth
  Wenger hasn't signed experience leaders because he doesn't want to stop his youngsters from coming through. Ok. You mean, JET, Eastmond, Afobe, Randall. If they are so good why are they not even starting for Championship, Div 1 and 2 teams? If you go to youngguns blog after the weekends games to get the run down of who played how long, it's a little embarrassing.
  
  Conclusion...
  Firstly, I am sorry that this is so long. If you lived in Tennessee with no other Arsenal fans you would have years of build up too!!
  
  I am very grateful to Arsene for the huge impact he has had on Arsenal, English football and the game in general.
  
  After supporting Arsenal for 33 years I now see a team that is predictable, easy to play against, physically scared of conflict on the field, not using their best ability, bizarrely inept in the final third for a team so good elsewhere and an obvious lack of leadership.
  
  My support will not change but I wish my coach would.

• 08-Apr-2011 15:03 | | MeanLean
  

  Some great points in the comments.
  
  I haven't been able to respond properly as yet but I shall do so this evening as I am heading back home now.
  
  The sun looks nice and bright in London this afternoon so I am about to enjoy that.
  
  Back later.

• 09-Apr-2011 00:01 | | MeanLean
  

  Thank you for the message Mike, apologies for the delayed response.
  
  You make many very good points, much I agree with. Some I do not.
  
  Firstly, I also agree that our issues are offensively and I have thought this way all season. I think we have the third best defensive record in the league and the Djourou & Koscielny partnership has been fantastic whenever they have featured together.
  
  We are built and set up as an attacking side, a side that is supposed to play in the opponents third of the pitch. We have usually had the most amount of the ball, most shots on/off target. Even in the games we have dropped points in.
  
  I fully agree that our movement is not good enough in the final third. We have acquired a squad that want to play behind the striker. They want to play the final pass but often we do not have the players who want to spin off their marker and get the ball played into them.
  
  Nasri, Cesc, Van Persie, Rosicky and co all want to run towards the ball and have the ball played into their feet so they can spin and find another player or played it straight back.
  
  Theo Walcott is technically not our best player but he is vital to our team because he wants to make diagonal runs behind the full back and get into the box. If Theo had been fit all season then I am sure we would be top right now and this is including whatever problems we have faced this season.
  
  As for scoring from crosses. I think it is the same problem. Chamakh and Bendtner apart, the rest of our players are not hungry enough or have the instinct to throw their heads at a cross. Van Persie has a few this season but he is still not natural at doing that.
  
  Looking at the Mancs, when Nani, Valencia, Giggs or Evra have the ball out wide, you see a whole host of players looking to get into the box to attack the cross. I am surprised that they do not get caught on the counter more often with the amount of players they commit forward in those attacks.
  
  Same again with our players. Half strikers, playmakers want the ball on the edge of the box they want it into feet so it is reversed behind the full back to Sagna or Theo who cross to no team mates in the penalty area.
  
  The point about our full backs is a good one. Usually Sagna is the spare man and to be fair he has contributed to his fair share of goals from good crosses but the poor guy does not have a huge selection to choose from in the box. Partly to do with our 4-2-3-1 system I reckon. It may be slightly different if we went 4-4-2 and had 2 or 3 targets in the penalty box.
  
  I am not so sure that the wings are only areas for dribbling as it has created many a space for other players in the past. However I would like to see players other than Walcott trying to get past his marker and drive into the box instead of crossing high over everyone's head and out for a throw on the other side.
  
  I miss our players getting to the byline and cutting it back for an attacking player to place past the keeper.
  
  I think Jack often gets the chance to stride forward and beat players. He usually beats two and either plays a one-two or finds a team mate in the box. The older he gets the more confident he will be at doing it at the top level.
  
  I see absolutely no reason why you think Jack Wilshere will leave. He has been with us since he was 9 years old. Has now established himself as a first choice player and is having a blinding first season. He will become the best English midfielder in the Premier League at Arsenal.
  
  I also have big doubts about Theo Walcott playing as center forward right now. It may be different if we reverted to a 4-4-2 or even a 4-4-1-1 with Robin playing as a half striker but the reason why Robin is doing so well in his position is because of his superior link up play. Teams would be incredibly stupid to play a high line against Theo Walcott so it would be likely that he would struggle to find space in behind. He gets more of that from the wing because it is easier to find it running from wide instead of being marshaled by two central defenders. Moves would continuously break down around him when we get to the edge of the opposition penalty area. Perhaps when/if that side of his game develops sufficiently would it be time to move Theo as a center forward. Well that is my opinion.
  
  Free kicks and corners? Yes I agree, we need to improve in both areas. Corner kicks really do feel like a wasted opportunity. I suppose it goes back to the type of player we have. We do not have a collection of Chris Samba's, John Terry's (urgh!), Andy Carroll's etc who naturally love attacking the ball in the air. Vermaelen does but he is not available. Chamakh does but he is not first choice as with Bendtner.
  
  Van Persie has not scored from a direct free kick in sometime. I don't know why this is. He used to be so dangerous from them. Hopefully they will be like buses and when one comes along... you know the rest.
  
  Jack Wilshere will start shooting and scoring as he gets experience, don't worry about that. The same criticism was levelled at Cesc and his scoring record last season was fantastic.
  
  I think playing three defenders in games is asking for trouble. It would be a better argument to sacrifice a midfield player for another forward in certain games (Blackburn home for example) Imagine the abuse Wenger would get if he played three defenders and we got caught on the break.
  
  "Wenger hasn't signed experience leaders because he doesn't want to stop his youngsters from coming through. Ok. You mean, JET, Eastmond, Afobe, Randall. If they are so good why are they not even starting for Championship, Div 1 and 2 teams?"
  
  I would say more like Gareth Barry = Jack Wilshere or Gary Cahill = Johan Djourou or Mark Schwarzer = Wojciech Szczesny.
  
  Arsene will have his opinion on which players are close to coming through and which ones are not. Instead of playing the likes of Bartley or Miquel he bought Koscielny. Instead of JET he got Chamakh on a free. If Wenger likes and can get that player he will.
  
  I bet if Wenger bought Mark Schwarzer then Chesney would have not signed a new deal. He would have been slaughtered for that.
  
  I agree with much of what you say but can it be 'inept' when we have scored so many goals and are sitting in second? We all know we are better than Sunderland, Blackburn and West Brom so we really should be top right now.
  
  The squad have areas to improve upon but given the fact that our average age is around 23 I would say that it is a good chance that the players will improve in many of those areas, if not then Wenger will sign certain players to improve certain weaknesses.
  
  You make many interesting points though. Thanks for putting them across.

• 09-Apr-2011 00:07 | | MeanLean
  

  Hey Richie, as usual I agree with you.
  
  It is not where the player is from but the type of character he has.
  
  Vieira, Petit, Ljungberg, Lauren, Sagna are fighters. Would you say that Matthew Upson, Francis Jeffers or even David Platt where leaders or fighters?
  
  dkgooner makes a super point about all this English grit not winning a World cup or European championship since 1966 and that just says it all.
  
  If I was to call for a certain type of player then very possibly it would be a Gooner through and through, Whether that be a Ghanaian/Englishman in Frimpong or Szczesny (Polish) it doesn't matter. I wouldn't mind someone brought through the system and has developed the love for the club or better still had it from birth.
  
  But the location of where their parents conceived means very little to me.

• 09-Apr-2011 00:15 | | MeanLean
  

  I would actually say it is the opposite.
  
  The hardcore Gooners have been through the tough times when they hadn't seen a league title from 1971 to 1989. Much of that time was complete dross with poor football. The old school Gooners now appreciate what they are seeing now.
  
  Much of the 'I want it now' crowd are actually the new supporter who only know Arsene Wenger and came in around the invincibles. Never heard it the way you suggest it is.

• 09-Apr-2011 00:17 | | MeanLean
  

  How in gods name can anyone argue against this from Arsene??
  
  ""I'm against superficial judgment, that's what I fight against," said the manager.
  
  "For example people ask 'why don't you buy central defenders?'. We have a better defence than Man United if you look at the numbers, but nobody mentions that. And should we kick Vermaelen, Djourou and Szczesny out? What for?
  
  "We've done well for our age as we're second in the league. Is that a disaster for you? There are teams who invest ten times more than us, one player cost more than the whole team and they're behind us. I don't understand the way people think.
  
  "Do you judge this season or the last four seasons? Some of the clubs behind us have done nothing for 20 years, yet suddenly they get a lot of praise. I don't understand.
  
  "We have eight games to go and are in a position to fight for the championship so let's give the maximum. If we're disappointed at the end then OK. Why do you say it's a disaster when we're second in the league? Do the 18 clubs behind us have a fantastic disaster?"
  
  http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-hits-out-against- superficial-judgment? utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal- news+%28News+Feed%29

• 09-Apr-2011 04:12 | | richie  - No real proper Gooner can disagree.
  

  No real Gooner can argue with Arsene's statement!
  I will be accused by some of being an AKB (Arsene Kiss Butt) for making that statement, but I firmly believe that only someone without Arsenal's best interests at heart can disagree with Arsene statement.
  
  I admit to being a mercenary Arsenal supporter. I'll back anyone who I think has my clubs long term best interests at heart. Thats why I still proudly say without fear "In Arsene I trust". If I didn't like the direction Arsene was taking us in I'd jump ship. I supported David Dein in his role at the club until the day he tried to stage a "coup de etat"
  
  At that moment I realised DD didn't have Arsenal's long term interests at heart. So I jumped ship. When It became obvious that Danny Fiszman wasn't thinking of either profit taking or putting the club in the hands someone who wasn't an Arsenal supporter (Usmanov) I then backed someone who previously I had no reason to think of as an Arse-man someone I'd thought of as no more than a rich (Diamond Merchant) invester.
  
  In the 15 years he's been at the helm I have only ever seen Arsene Wenger steer us in the right direction. He's worked tirelessly in the best interests of Arsenal FC. I contend that we have never in our clubs long and proud history, had a man thats done more on and off the field for Arsenal FC (including the great Herbert Chapman who first put us on the map) and until I seen different, I'm firmly on board through both good and bad weather until Arsene decides to tie up in port. So until I figure out the name of the man who can do a better job than Arsene I'll wear the AKB moniker with pride.

• 09-Apr-2011 05:16 | | mike mcdonald  - reply to Mean Lean
  

  Mean Lean... Thanks for taking so much time to read and respond to my thoughts. Very kind. Thanks again.
  
  In response to each of your points...
  
  Your view on the inbalance of the team is spot on. Because we have so many 'No 10's' we have to play infront of our opponent. This is why Theo makes such a difference as he is our only plan B in regards to this.
  This issue alone makes me strongly question Wenger's wisdom. How many current PL managers have had time to build an entire side, put into place there own philosophy and signed/raised every single player in the squad. Wenger and Fergie stand alone and the others just wish for such a chance.
  If I had built a team with no money/loads of money or somewhere in between like the current side I would be disappointed with myself as so many of the dots don't join.
  Eg; 1) Arsenal DO have a plan B. Chamakh and Bendtner are two of the best aerially in the league BUT our suppliers are useless (Clichy)and taken 5 years to be half decent (Sagna). So it looks like we don't have an aerial threat. Alongside this, I would understand the logic of B52 playing on the right if Clichy could cross. The theory (i'm guessing) is having a 6ft 4 in cf attacking the ball above their left def. It is very clever... if Clichy could cross.
  2) Sending full backs forward and leaving yourself open at the back is a gamble, but not if they are more effective than not.
  3) Having a multitude of good dribblers and not encouraging them to 'go solo.' Wilshire, Diaby, AA, Nasri, Fab. I understand your point on Wilshire sometimes attacking their defence, but my argument would be that it is easier to beat a player on the dribble rather than play a one two on the top of the box where the opponent is expecting it and the return pass is SO OFTEN won by the gk anticipating and smothering. The space is so limited.
  4) Signing players who were renowned for scoring from outside the box and not seeing the same product at Collective FC!! Rosicky, AA and Nasri were known for their long range shooting. Think back? No longer.
  
  I suppose that it boils down to this... Are we maximising the gifts of our players or nulifying them for the sake of all playing the Arsenal way?
  
  To your point of Theo playing upfront... I would only do this if he had a partner. I agree that he would struggle alone. If I was Capello I would play Theo and Carroll upfront for England. Totally different and would ask the defenders so many questions. For us... I like Bendtner. I would try him with Walcott. B52 has been given a raw deal. He is judged on his average of probably 30 mins per game this season,... as a right winger! Give him 10 games in his natural position and then our fans could tell us he is crap!
  
  To your point re; MUtd and crosses, I put a couple of thoughts to you....
  1) The more you throw in the box, the more they have to.
  If they counter you will still have a numerical advantage. If you send your 2 forwards and two center mids and a man at the far post, you still have 5 players behind the ball. They won't. They will have a max of three.
  2) On the flip side, what is the point of crossing AT ALL if you are 1 v 7?
  I tell my boys team that if we have a great crossing opportunity then we need to threaten a great scoring opportunity!! Otherwise I think the winger should go himself as he is 1 v 1 and the forward is 1 v 6 (with no proactive desire to attack space).
  
  I love your dream of a byline cross. Very effective but old fashioned. It will return because it works!
  
  I think Wilshire will leave as I believe that he wants to win more than the majority. His exposure to the national team will continue to expose him to others who have won many times over.
  Jack seems to really care if we lose.
  I think that he wants to win a trophy SO MUCH that this is why he wants to play for the U-21's this summer. He could say 'no' and no one could argue much.
  I really hope he is loyal as we have made him and he is succeeding individually but football being a team sport, I think he will figure out that he plays with exceptionally talented players who don't win trophies like they should and his desire for silverware will overtake his conscience.
  
  Corner kicks are a guarantee. Before we kick off we can conservatively estimate that we will have 5 corners. We cannot do the same with one on one opportunities, crosses and headers even direct free kicks. As a coach in a game that is a players game, you have an opportunity to know what this picture is going to look like pre-game.
  Although like you say, we don't have too many beasts attacking the ball, with some clever movement we could do much better. 13 years of watching what looks like a bunch of players just making it up and all running to the front post is cringeworthy to watch. I'll stay in the loo!
  
  Fair point about Jack and shooting but if ever a player has found Mr Wenger and his penchant for not correcting overplaying it is caught when watching Jack clean through. Jack glides through games both for us and the National Team with oodles of confidence for one so young, yet seems to show his 'Arsenalisation' when confronted with the GK!!
  
  Three defenders might sound nuts but it is essentially what we have now.
  When attacking we always have at least Clichy or Sagna in the attack, therefore leaving 3 at the back. My thought is to let the players play to their strengths and keep 3 true defenders back, shoot Clichy and pack him off to Ineffectiveville and have someone whose crossing ability encourages those in the box to believe that we are about to see the cross of a professional and not my Auntie Ruth!
  
  In my perfect 11 (in games where we have the majority of posession) I would play 3 true defenders, 2 DMids who sit behind the ball, two wide players who are more direct and can cross and sit Wilshire behind Walcott and B52/RVP. For your interest my 2 dMids would be Song and Koscielny. Kos is very good at the back , but I think he would be an outstanding DMid if you look at his best qualities?
  
  I would sign Lucio. Just the type of warrior and winner we need. I would attempt to get (as back up to a Pole) Friedel (if Villa go down) to be the experienced GK at the club with a view to a coaching role.
  I would also take less risk with my next two and get two established Prem players in Scott Parker and Ashley Young (now there is someone who can cross!!) Parker is currently a winner on a team that can't win.
  If Miyachi could not get his permit then Hazard would come in.
  I'd swap Chamakh with Cavani (whilst i'm in Fantasy Football world) and sign the extremley gifted and versatile Tresor Mputu to be our unknown quantity.
  I'd get rid of many.
  
  You nailed the point on the potential signings of Barry etc.. vs playing Wilshire. Fair play!
  
  I am with you that Schwarzer would have killed off two much improving Polish lads and that Scz would have gone elsewhere.
  I do not subscribe to the need for a new GK. Those two guys were very very good before they got injured. Their mistakes were magnified because of the frustrations of the masses in this department.
  
  Your last point brings me to mine.
  
  It kinda wraps up how I feel in general.
  
  We are not doing so bad. This is true. It seems worse because within two weeks we had the equivalent of being dumped by your girlfriend, losing your great gran and seeing your best friend move to Papa New Guinea!
  
  You cannot argue with Wenger's thought that others have spent soooo much more and achieved less, BUT I go back to my initial point....
  This is Wenger's team. He made it. It has too many uncorrected flaws that fans like me are fed up of seeing reoccur.
  We just want to show up/turn on the telly and see a spark! Something different. The opposition taken by surprise as Nasri threatens on the drtibble like Nani does every 5 mins. Those that can shoot very well.. SHOOT! Players attacking crosses and space like they know they are gonna score.
  Players being braver with their passing choices and not allowing the opposition to get set up and play this game like it's football and not basketball!!!
  
  I fully understand the Arsenal fans ire. Other teams fans whine too but they don't have what we have. Our fans see a group of players who, although most agree a few need to move on, are capable of winning either of the cups and the PL. Especially this season as the winner looks like it is going to be 'the team that throws it away the least' rather than Arsenal who should have won the League.
  We do need improvement but we are still good enough to be winning domestically.
  
  It's Wengers refusal to change what is repeatedly going wrong.
  
  So much of what fans complain about is biased infused anger but our frustration is very real and not exaggerated!
  
  I think there are now two groups....
  
  Arsene Knows
  
  Arsene Should Know

• 09-Apr-2011 08:36 | | CHGooner  - Disgraceful comment from Richie
  

  Richie, you have made this horrendous allegation once too often. You once accused me of being a BNP voter because I voiced an opinion that Wenger failed to recognise that having a core of domestic players was important. I despise racism with every bone of my body and I have long loved the fact that our club has been a bastion against racism. Comment by all means but do not make vile accusations against people who disagree with you.

• 09-Apr-2011 15:57 | | richie  - Spot on ML!
  

  Thats exactly what I've been saying for an age.
  Amongst the old guard I don't come across this "we must win something now or it will all be too late" attitude. Just as I've said and I sincerely mean it I don't come across "the Arsene out" brigade".
  
  From all those who were around in April 70 when we won our first something in 18 years, and all those who joined our ranks in the 18 years between Kennedy's May 71 header at the lane and Thomas May 89 right footer at anfield. I hear the same reframe "We've never played better" "We've never had better players" "If we keep going the trophe's will come" I know from all the "Older Hardened Criminals" that, they are patient. Nevertheless I do agree that the Emirates crowd has changed and I don't like what I see and hear (Or rather don't hear). Loads of the corporate bode's aren't Arsenal.
  
  The young mal contents who arrived because of Arsene Wengers success are the one's who lack patience and the proper perspective of our club I feel.

• 09-Apr-2011 16:09 | | Man United Killa  - yes Dismissive
  

  He is being dismissive because he has more more excuses.What a shame!

• 09-Apr-2011 16:19 | | Man United Killa  - a man who can do a better job than Wenger?
  

  I dont know what you talking about?I,maybe like you, was on the Arsenal bandwagon in the 70's era and 80's era when our football was not so good but say what you want a manager is paid to deliver.what did you expect? that the club kept struggling? and dont forget he inherited a ton of good players from GG.
  For AW to come out with such comments is shameful.Talking about not knowing who can do a better job that Wenger.I am not an advocate for the 'sack Wenger" movement but How did you know Wenger was going to do a good job. We took a risk...and how much did you know about Wenger before he took this position.For some of you Wenger can never do wrong and that is ridiculous,

• 09-Apr-2011 16:29 | | Man United Killa  - true
  

  I agree with you.It should not be the case that anyone who disagrees with someone be called names.Differences of opinion can either be creatively stimulating as well as a bone of.contention.Depends on how we deal with other's opinions.

• 09-Apr-2011 16:44 | | MeanLean
  

  There is a new My Vision article now live.
  
  Thanks

• 10-Apr-2011 02:07 | | richie  - CHG way off the mark
  

  CHG,
  I threw the corn but I never called any fowl. You've declared previously both that you are Not a BNP supporter and Not a racist. I have no reason to think you are lying and your either a closet member or secret racist. We've had that conversation I thought it was done and dusted.
  
  Nevertheless the fact that you gobbled up the corn I threw and swallowed it for me speaks volumes in itself. My comments above were for Goonerbegood who expressed the buy English English is best Nonsense. If not a racist statement? Then a Xenophobic statment at least. I wasn't even aware that you'd posted on this particular blog thread. I've just checked you hadn't.

• 10-Apr-2011 06:42 | | CHGooner
  

  Richie, I wasn't writing about me, I was making reference to YOUR accusation against another commentator. I made reference to the fact that you'd made similar stupid comments before in my direction. Just stop making silly statements that have no relevance. Domestic players are bLack and white, their race is utterly irrelevant. What matters is that they give a balance in terms of footballing culture and togetherness IMO.

• 10-Apr-2011 11:17 | | richie
  

  No CHG your silly comments are to continually criticsise Arsene Wenger for not following your xenophobic opinion that domestic is best. Something proven long ago not to hold water. Like you I made reference only to an opinion voiced as fact long ago (A racist opinion that black players didn't have enough fight).
  
  I never said either you or another commrntator were racist, after all both the BNP and UKIP claim not to be racists. Your stance as I understand is that Foreigners don't acclimatize well to London, often have problems with the language and also harbour ambitions to play either for Real Madrid or Barcalona.
  
  Your contention as I further understand it is that domestic (domestic IMO being xenophobic) players don't have those lofty ambitions (i.e. they lack ambition) I think the evidence is firmly against you. I would actually claim that poor Mr Wenger has had his fingers burnt more than once investing too much time on domestic players only for them to fly the coup at their very first opportunity. i.e. they lacked the loyalty shown by their foreign counterparts.
  
  Strange though that none of those "Domestic" players ever went on to forfill their full potential IMO.

• 10-Apr-2011 11:39 | | CHGooner
  

  Richie you are either an idiot or you can't read and understand English very well. Stop playing the racist card. It is NOT Xenophobic (fear or hatred of foreigners) to believe that an English club benefits from having British Isles players. I believe the same of French or German clubs. Stop your stupid bile. Wenger thought it was irrelevant like you and since Cole and Campbell went we have won nowt. Fact.

• 10-Apr-2011 13:06 | | richie
  

  Yeah your right again I can't understand your sophisticated English themes "Buy British" "A British Core" A British Spine" I'm probably not a true Brit either looking at me from Essex. All of us Highbury born, Islingtonian, Londoners are maybe a touch too cosmo for you? We might even believe we live in Europe, of all things.
  Buy the way as I recall it we won the last bit of silverwear with an solid English core of only Cashley. A want away Englishman. Could it be we ain't won anything since all the Foreigners left. Pires Bergy Henry Gilberto Toure Lauren Vieria Reyes Senderous Lehman that was the team that had the balls to beat MU on penalty's as I recall.

• 10-Apr-2011 15:06 | | CHGooner
  

  Shut up you prat. You know nothing about me, mr 'sophistication'. I have a view that is football based, and that is neither racist nor xenophobic. If you can't understand that then you really are a thicko

• 10-Apr-2011 22:43 | | MeanLean
  

  Come on guys, lets keep the discussions civilised.
  
  Thanks.

• 10-Apr-2011 23:56 | | richie
  

  You miss-spelt it you have a view that is football biased. Its based on your inability to recognize that your xenophobic views have been proved wrong.(move on) When this is pointed out to you your only recourse is to insult. Its childish! Like most of your views. Your favorite premiership player you've said was (a Manx) Cantona a foreighner.
  
  Yet you constantly argue for a core or spine of British players, not based on footballing ability, but on their suitability to live in London, and not to dream of ever moving on to take up a new challenge elsewhere. Another erroneous belief often spouted by you as your reason for wanting domestic's is British players are more loyal.
  
  All the facts we have at our disposal however show this to be wrong. Yet you offer no facts nothing except personal prejudice.

• 11-Apr-2011 00:30 | | richie
  

  I agree totally ML I'm not insulting anyone when I post. Only someone who loses the arguement in our discussions will resort to insults. Its childish as I've told CHG. Don't worry I'm not going to stoop to trading insults.
  
  Massive news concerning our clubs ownership. I had hoped for the consortium of buisnessmen to be the boards make up without any one having over all control. However this seems not be the case, the implications of all this is way too soon to predict. As an aside there was a great article in the Mail about the presure to qualify for CL and how the tiny totts Daniel Levy will have to cut squad numbers if they fail to qualify.

• 11-Apr-2011 09:53 | | CHGooner
  

  Richie You mis-spelt, mis-pelt.
  
  Aah Mr scantimonious Richie gets on his stupid high horse again. what a surprise. YOU started the stupid yah-boo insults Richie, because you clearly can't stand the fact that someone might have a view about having domestic players but is NOT racist or xenophobic. You just throw petty insults because YOU are childish. You talk about yourself as some sort of metropolitam sage. You are a joker mate.
  
  You don't even know your history very well either. in 2004 we had Keown, Campbell, Cole and Parlour. All except Campbell brought up through the 'old Arsenal'. My point is - and remains- that Wenger underestimated the importance of having those sort of players as the anchor on which you build the sides. He had those until he just didn't even try to replace them with similar. Not xenophobic, racist or cause to vote BNP or whatever idiotic accusation you want to levy. Just a view and a sincerely held one.

• 11-Apr-2011 10:56 | | CHGooner
  

  You also mis-spelt 'argument' as well. About as good at spelling as you are at constructing one (a decent argument that is) then. How long did it take you to learn how to spell 'xenophobia' as you are good at that word? Well done you...

• 11-Apr-2011 11:06 | | CHGooner
  

  Actually, having re-read your post it is littered with spelling mistakes and yet strangely - you chose to highlight the fact that I missed a 't' off a word, I thankfully hardly ever use. You are good at 'insult' words but not very good at 'normal' words it seems:
  
  i) 'Yeah your right again' . No Richie it is 'Yeah, you're right again..'
  ii) 'Buy the way' Laughable it is 'By the way...'
  iii) 'silverwear' What??!! Something you put around your neck or wrist? The word is 'silverware' Richie
  iv) Senderous. His name is Senderos.
  
  I'd employ a spell check if I was you Richie, you wouldn't want to look silly would you now...

• 18-Apr-2011 14:20 | | anonymous_gunner
  

  It's funny that you've mentioned about too many "french players" (I'd rather say "french-speekers").
  
  There was a rumour about Arshavin who once joked he felt sorry that he mistakenly learnt English while he'd rather should learn French.

• 19-Apr-2011 12:04 | | originalgunner  - How right you are!!!
  

  Class of 79: I simply could not have said what you wrote any better; it's EXACTLY how it is inside the Emirates these days; a world away from even what Highbury was like, and that got some stick as we know!!
  We've let AW just 'get on with it' and for the past 6 yrs he's just not been held to account.
  I'm so down about my club; what has happened to my beloved Arsenal?? I do think we'll now have to accept that we won't be able to compete at the top - we need to clear the Board, Manager, coaching staff and a lot of the squad out to start again.
  Change HAS to happen, although its a pipe dream really because this board will never get rid of AW, he'll never do the decent thing and resign and most of the fans only know AW so they won't say a thing either.

• 23-Apr-2011 10:08 | | Rambo
  

  holding onto the ball needs a high level of concentration, i feel something we don't do well at all is actually positional sence, in a defensive manor. we move the ball well, players pick up great positions going forward but the defenders/song don't pick up good positions to start to defend when we loose the ball. viera, sol, gilberto were really good at this

• 24-Apr-2011 05:27 | | colin  - what arsenal needs
  

  [4-1-2-1-2] Gk-szenecny , reserve fabianski . CB- vermaelen , djourou/ koscielny. (squillaci out) even sol campbell is better . LB-Gibbs . RB -sagna . eboue(out)sign a replacement . DM-song , (bench=diaby ) denilson(out) . cm/AMF - nasri , wilshere , ramsey , maybe gibbs? .. fabregas= probably out.. sign 1 quality midfield -eg, parker(good choice as arsenal lacks leaders .. etc.. CF- rvp , chamakh/theo . vela and bendther .
  out= squillaci eboue rosicky arshavin fabregas bendther(loan) clichy
  in = samba(blackburn) , parker(westham) , coleman( everton) baines(everton)
  szeneczsey
  sagna-samba-vermealen-baines
  song
  wilshere-parker
  nasri
  walcott-vanpersie
  
  BENCH= fabianski , diaby , coleman , koscielny , chamackh
  play more thru mid will be better as those negative teams come to emireates to defence and counter. CB will also be forced to def deeper as walcott can cut tru with the brilliance of parker , wilshere , nasri rvp . hence , allowing arsenal to dominate possesion and pile pressure . not working? plan B - chamackh in for walcott .

• 24-Apr-2011 05:31 | | colin  - i dont know
  

  we need to work more tru the middle . and please , rosicky sucks alr , denilson looks worse off than lucas of liverpool . arshavin , its over for him . as we now work towards kicking off wide players . the fullbacks will be very important then , so we need them to have good crossing skills. sagna is OK, baines is very good. clichy is ZZZZ .. let fabregas go , we still have massive attacking talents . parker will inject more steel to help song . nasri and wilshere also have more steel than fabregas. walcott would score 30 goals in a season..

• 03-Jan-2012 17:52 | | N1 Gooner  - Whats wrong with Arsenal?
  

  I agree with all of the points. But I think there a number of additional 'issues' affecting the mighty Gunners.
  1) Djourou, 2) Arshavin, 4) Chamakh. Here are three examples of players who are clearly not good enough to play for a premiership club competing for PL, FA Cup & CL. There are a few more duds but I expect every Gooner will have their own disputable list. What is undisputable is that our second team is mid to bottom table standard at best. Ask the board why we are not buying players like Samba, Mata or even Bent. Theo is clearly not a winger, bring him inside to run straight at defenders. The alternative is to keep him out there until he becomes disillusioned and then moves to MC. We are now bringing back Terry Henry. He is an AFC legend, however lest we forget, he left the club as a sulking diva. AW has been a legend for us so maybe we can offer him a seat upstairs. I'm looking forward to a future with O'Neal.

• 01-Feb-2012 03:38 | | ARSENE W
  

  I M AN ARSENAL FAN SINCE 1972. ARSENE WENGER IS CERTAIN THE COACH OF THE CENTURY. WHATS WRONG FOR ME IS THE DEFENSE. WITHOUT A GOOD DEFENSE, YOU CANT WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE.
  DJOUROU, KOLCIESNY MUST BE REPLACED. ITS OBVIOUS
  ARSHAVIN MUST PLAY MORE OFTEN.

• 23-Feb-2012 12:14 | | Andrie Gooners  - what Arsenal should do to improves..
  

  i definitely agree with all your thoughts in this article. it's the major problems that Arsenal had this season. we're too much lacking on everything. currently wenger is losing his scenarios & the players also lacking of ideas. seems like we're losing our playing identity & characters this season. every players has out of their basic track of playing. Song be more attacking, no strong & creative holder like Wilshere. ramsey & arteta still couldnt replace cesc's part & RvP got no sharpshooter mate upfront. we really stuck in major problems. even the board & owner didnt totally supporting. in my thoughts, Arsenal really need a major rebuild, if we couldnt say it as a REVOLUTION. i saw Wenger has too much complicated obsticles on his mind. he couldnt totally act what's he think is necessary. the main issue i catch is : we really lack of winning mentality. it caused us so many detail teechnical problems in it. we really need a major mental booster. it could represent on : huge transfer fund, top class signings, new spirit, passion & desire, kroenke's concrete supports, new developing mindsets & any basic things that we've been lacked of. it couldnt change if every part of the club didnt do their parts together. Arsenal really need a reconciliation, rejuvenation, rebuild, or a major REVOLUTION! greetings & regard from all Indonesian Gooners!

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