Arsenal Bottle It Up Again Against Watford: Fans Blame It On Wenger

In our earlier post, we cautioned against Arsenal being caught in two minds by looking ahead at the challenge in the shape of Chelsea away at Stamford bridge and failing to devout necessary resources at Watford who lay before them. In what has now become a habit, a shambolic first half display at the Emirates left Arsenal trailing by two goals from as early as the 15th minute.

Arsenal fans on twitter blamed the poor start on Ramsey who hobbled of midway through the half with another muscular injury. His replacement, Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain took a while to settle in and Arsenal's worst half ever at the Emirates persisted. At this point, Arsenal fans on twitter lamented not knowing that they would be playing Bayern Munich today.

Piers Morgan wanted to die. So embarrassing a half it was. No one was spared. Even the usual empathy for Alexis whose toiling and 'carrying the team on his shoulder' routine spares him from criticism when Arsenal is misfiring, was absent.

Goodbye Title, Welcome Fourth Place Trophy

One of football's been-round-the-block maxims is: Don't change a winning side. |But just like all things life, there are only two absolutes: death and taxes. Once again,Wenger ballsed up in his team selection. Further more, he chose his own executor in his dithering at making the changes early enough. I know many of you will agree with my conclusion: The title is lost!

This time of the season is all about momentum. Look around us and smell whats cooking. Chelsea have found that extra gear. Mourinho's men have dug in just a little bit more. Liverpool have dug deeper and have chosen to out score the opposition if that is what it takes. For city, well Agurero is back and if they taste glory tomorrow, you can guess the knock on effect.

We did just about enough in our traditional worst month, February, but now, surely, are we placing our bet on beating Bayern to get that fire burning in our belly again? Bullocks!

For Christ-sake, why didn't Wenger utilize Alex Chamberlain's pace, trickery and form? What took him so long to realize the team's flat affect. What about Gnabry? Yes, he is still learning the curve, but I thought it was about dimension. About having the right mix of solutions to a problem. Just look at what Januzaj has done to the shambolic United campaign.

Dennis 'god' Bergkamp At Hand To Pass The Baton, Mesut Ozil MIA

I was up for a six, but in the end it was three points, a three goal difference gained and three different scorers in a 4-1 mauling of Sunderland at the Emirates. To be honest I expected more of the black cats, something close to the verve of their display in the first twenty minutes or so of the second half.

The flying Dutchman. Image BBC/PA

A lot of positives from this game, first to mind is the consistency we have shown, now in two consecutive games, to impose ourselves early on.  For huge swatches of this season, we have been stronger as the game wore on the.

This ‘patient play’ approach has done some obvious good, but as Liverpool (we were on the receiving end here), the Bayern Munich game (where we had the ‘best team in the world’ on the ropes) and Southampton (an example of the most lethargic of starts to a game) illustrated, a controlled gung-ho approach is an important arsenal in one’s armory.

What was most pleasing is that this high energy start came in the heels of energy sapping 50+ minutes of chasing shadows against Bayern in midweek. The choice of the starting cast (finally some squad rotation- another plus) against Sunderland played its hand with Arteta stealing the show acting as the sinoatrial node, setting the pace for a pulsating attack.

Jack was at his best with archetypal thrusts from deep, to hug the edge of the Sunderland box and be available for that decisive, extra, deft touch. (a)Santi Cazorla, his usual self, putting a thorough attack and defense shift on the right, you only can thank him. Little Mozart strum the strings with so much gusto allowing Wenger to conclude that his number 10 display was the closest Arsenal had witnessed since the now immortalized Dennis ‘god’ Bergkamp.

As It Happened, West Ham 0 : 3 Arsenal

Arsenal saw off West Ham 3-0 at Upton Park. Relief for Arsenal after a mini goal drought that saw Arsenal only score once in three games. For Avram Grant, many think this could be the end.

Match Preview 

• Looking At Arsenal away At West Ham : Is Portman Road, The Road That  Leads To Glory! Glory!Glory!?

0' Arsenal kick off the game: passing the ball towards their half. Van Persie and Fabregas at the center circle
1' Eboue at right back posses an early attacking threat: when his his cross towards the back post is nicked off the Arsenal captain's head by West ham right back Faubert.

The best form of Defence is Attack? Arsenal's Defensive woes prove otherwise

It is no secret the unfortunate disease that Arsene Wenger's team face. It is not a new concern either. The manager at the end of another botched attempt at silverware in 2009/2010 season said that there was no chance in hell for a side conceding as many goals as his side could win the premiership. It emerged then that the priority area for the gunners this season was to be more defensively astute,.Thus, it is no surprise that this department has undergone the most changes over the pre-season period.

William Galllas, Mikael Silvestre, Phillipe Senderos, Sol Campbell -all central defenders have left the club in one way or another. Anyone can tell that these group of players are not only vastly experienced defenders, but also worthy internationals who otherwise could have been expected to steady the ship at the back, to allow for Arsenal's brand of attacking football to flourish.

On the flip-side, a largely untried but hugely bright prospect, Laurent Koscielny, has been the only addition to aid the impressive, tried and tested Thomas Varmaelen and the recovering young Swiss defender Johan Djourou, whose knee injury at some point threatened to end his career. This makes it only three recognized center-backs for Arsenal's first team so far. Wenger has been quick to point out that he doesn't feel like he is short talent-wise but is concerned about the numbers.

Going by pre season outings, it is hard to disagree with Wenger albeit, the easy goals [ a worrying 3 in two games] that Arsenal let in over the just concluded Emirates Cup left the fans with the bitter taste of dejavu especially considering the manner in which the goals were scored.
Despite Arsenal's dominance with their attack play that keeps opponents Pundits often point to the following defensive frailties that are largely credited with Arsenal's lack of silverware in what now seems like an eternity:

• Shambolic, at times naive defending at set pieces
• Attacking with too much verve and getting carried away, leaving the team exposed to counter attacks.
• The post David Seaman syndrome:- Only Lehman came close to being a decent keeper while the other successors have largely failed to impress. Almunia, Fabianski, the names on top of the goalkeeping pecking order are synonymous with blunder after blander. None it is said to be worthy of the number 1 jersey of at top side like Arsenal. 

The Goalkeeping Question at Arsenal :: Why We Shouldn't really Sign A New Goalkeeper
A good keeper should reign over the six yard area as a tiger in its lair, should be commanding in the air as they are at stopping shots and should organize the defense to plug in gaps that opponents exploit. However, in spite of the calls from fans to Wenger make true the stories that have been making the rounds in the media concerning the pending transfer of the Australian of German descent- Fulham's veteran stopper Mark Schwatser, it is prudent that it is noted that just like a striker a goalkeeper is part of a team despite being not part of the 'out-feild' 11 players.

When a lone striker is employed and fails to impress, fans,pundits and all those that lie in between are quick to point out that the striker is isolated and the other players need to supply the ball more while offering necessary support. With a goalkeeper it should be no less different. Those qualities of a keeper described above are only demonstrable if the goalkeeper and the defensive make up are in concert, in partnership, in unison.

When the fullback overlaps, the central defender or one of the midfield players should be aware of this and provide adequate cover as others support the play. The central defenders should be aware of each others style of play , positioning and attributes more than the opposing striker. It should be clear how high a defensive line should be held and who marks where, what and whom.It should not be just a simple case of the goalkeeper being placed between the posts and a set of players positioned ahead of him.

The Key to this, lies in top notch communicating. Communication is based on trust. Trust comes with getting used with each other. The newbie Koscielny, speaking to the official Arsenal site seems aware of this

| Thomas and I help each other a lot on the pitch...The job demands a lot of communication being in defense....communication is fluent on the pitch, and slowly it will come. It will get better and better.|

On Mertesacker and Emir Spahic Transfers

Wender Bremen have come out saying that the German international is still part of their plans. A man, whose career was almost washed by the swinging chairs at Real Madrid, he did good to add to his reputation as the cleanest solid defender in the game [This defender hardly gives out fouls], with his stellar performances for Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

I see why rumors are doing the mills, but I doubt if he will be the needed 1 or 2 center backs Wenger is  talking about considering the previous dealing in the transfer market. But he could add the extra height, composure and organization at the back, besides I am pretty sure Wenger had a good look at him at the finals were he was working for the french media. If it happens, probably a late sweep Gallas or Andrei Arshavin style.

Emir looks like the more typical Arsenal signing. Experienced at the age of 30 years and as the Bosnia and Herzegovina captain , he has the needed height .Currently with Montpeiller, I trust this could be the more likely transfer. Not much of him is available [Kind of like Koscielny] but I have more faith in him being the perfect player for us as Wenger's french scouting contacts hardly get it wrong [think of Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna, Marouane Chamakh, Koscielny etc]. The B& Hez man had this to say concerning the transfer according to various media reports.

| 'The most important thing is that so far the negotiations go as planned and that the transfer could be completed soon. 'Arsenal is a great club. I'm an admirer of Arsene Wenger and I hope that Montpeiller will cooperate|

Verdict?

The problem is not so much our attacking game or lack of big money and big name signings. Arsenal is just less of a team defending than when attacking . Trust Wenger when he says that we are not investing in the team the Manchester City way, but investing in our qualities as a team, our talents as individuals and keeping an eye on our goal which is always to improve. This he adds, is not a team on the decline but one just turning the corner. Success, favors the brave.