What’s been frustrating of late, has been watching us look out of ideas with no real ‘Plan B’, looking predictable and so unable to penetrate the oppositions defence with our passing, for all Van persie’s great attributes, being an aerial threat isn’t one of them and if we are to really challenge for silverware next season we are going to have to have answers for these types of situations, (I’m thinking Wolves at home, Sunderland away, QPR away, Wigan home) and by answers yes I mean a target man. What we need isn’t only a target man but in a sense a complete striker, like a Dider Drogba if you like, a striker who with his physical presence can cause the opposition

Two very disappointing games on the trot, very unlike us. It is frustrating playing a team that decides a win isn’t worthwhile and a point will do, can you imagine supporting your team playing everyone behind the ball for 90mins waiting for a break?  The only thing that can cheer me up after such a game is what happened over a Loftus Road, sp*rs lost 1-0 to QPR as their implosion continues with them settling snugly into 5^th place. Wilshere placed a bet we’d finish ahead of them this season during our time of turbulence, many sp*ds laughed and I can assure you aren’t laughing any more.

Moving on to performance against Chelsea, our passing never seemed to get going and find its fluency, and what stood out conspicuously was the need for a deep lying midfielder, a Mikel Arteta in other words. His positioning, calming influence, link up play and defensive discipline were so crucially missed against both Wigan and Chelsea, especially now Song has taken up a more advanced position, personally I couldn’t seem to understand why Song didn’t play deep and Ramsey further forward, guess it’s a case of Arsene knowing more than us. On that note, it’s certainly worth pointing out, that yesterday Aaron Ramsey did have a good game, mostly in the second half, I would argue the best CM on the pitch and all that’s needed of him is to learn to release the ball quicker and to stop dabbling on the ball for so long so as to get caught in position. His performance today reminded me of his comeback roughly same time last year, same sunny day at home but against Manchester United, in a game where he turned out to be MOTM and scored the winner to secure a 1-0 victory, that game he also played in a deep role like today and excelled, could there be a call to play Ramsey in that deeper position? Wouldn’t be a bad call if you ask me. Let’s just hope he keeps up the good work.

What’s been frustrating of late, has been watching us look out of ideas with no real ‘Plan B’, looking predictable and so unable to penetrate the oppositions defence with our passing, for all Van persie’s great attributes, being an aerial threat isn’t one of them and if we are to really challenge for silverware next season we are going to have to have answers for these types of situations, (I’m thinking Wolves at home, Sunderland away, QPR away, Wigan home) and by answers yes I mean a target man. What we need isn’t only a target man but in a sense a complete striker, like a Dider Drogba if you like, a striker who with his physical presence can cause the opposition defence problems. Also, don’t want to get ahead of myself as I know Wilshere will hopefully be playing next season, but a CAM would really do us good, a playmaker like Erikson or Munain would really do the trick, however I very much doubt we’ll see any arrivals in that department in the summer,  surprises are very much welcomed Arsene!

This year hasn’t been the best for our wingers in truth, Theo hasn’t had the best of seasons, Arshavin has probably had his worst and Gervinho has been inconsistent. I must put it across, I’m not Theo’s biggest fan when he’s on the wing but I do really feel for him. I recall the sizeable Dane being played on the right wing, putting in poor performances, but all seemed to understand that he was a striker being played out of position, and so we should remember with Walcott too. What makes me feel for Theo most is since he arrived here, he’s been promised by Arsene that one day he’d play centrally and since then has only started there on one occasion I can remember against Slavia prague I think it was where he scored two goals and his other appearance as a CF against Sunderland away where he came on as sub this year in the FA cup. It is something Arsene has a habit of doing, he believes part of the evolution of a striker requires playing on the wing, we’ve seen this done with Theirry and with Van persie and look where they’ve turned out, so maybe it is what Theo needs, but I’d argue he needs to play centrally a little more now, maybe play him centrally in the FA cup or the Carling cup against the lower teams? I remember reading an article about Walcott playing upfront in an England training session up where he scored 4 goals, and John Terry pointed out that he couldn’t understand why Theo hasn’t been given the opportunity to play upfront for his club. Theo is 23 now, and at an age where he needs to start showing what he’s made of, and right now I’d argue Arsene is holding him back, with the arrival of Lukas Podolski and maybe another forward will we ever get to see Walcott centrally?

Anyways, a long week ahead, next game is against Stoke…away, must admit not feeling very confident with Arteta out, and now Newcastle are in such form there is the chance they may steal 3^rd in clandestine fashion. Come on boys lets sort it out!

COYG!!!

Mean Lean’s Response

Cheers for the post and some very interesting points. It has taken me a little longer than expected to get your article on the site and Chelsea have just overcome Barcelona in that time. They are in the final now so it means that we just have to finish third otherwise we could be in for an almighty shock, but getting back to some of your points on the Arsenal v Chelsea game, I am not sure I agree with your view of the midfield positioning. There is a perception that our three midfielders have individual roles and if Alex Song pushes forward in hope of creating a chance then he is being ill-disciplined. In fact Arsene made a tactical change when Cesc Fabregas left the club. Cesc was the player always advanced of his midfield team mates and he would be the one to pull the strings, this made stopping Arsenal a little more straight forward, stop Cesc and cut off the supply. The change started in our 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates last season when we had a trio of Wilshere, Song and Ramsey moving and covering for each other.

Song is usually the sitter with Rosicky or Ramsey the furthest forward but all have plenty of licence to move into each others spaces.

The target man or plan b theory is interesting but it is somewhat of a red herring. You are essentially saying stop what you are good at but which hasn’t worked out today and do something completely different. I guess every case is different but many, many games are won late by playing the same way even if the game is locked at 0-0. At what point do you make a conscious effort to ignore that ball player who has drifted into space to then whack the ball into a crowded penalty area with two or three tall defenders.

Watching Barcelona hit a brick wall last night, I couldn’t imagine them sending on Peter Crouch with 10 minutes to go and start pumping balls in the box in search of a goal and scrapping the one-twos around the penalty area. I guess it is a case of finding the right balance with your football. Personally I don’t believe in a plan b, your plan should be to win football matches in which your team is most capable of. In our case, I want us to stick with plan a but improve plan a by passing quicker, sharper and more consistently.

It kind of brings me onto Theo Walcott as a center forward. Playing him in the position that van Persie plays in is a little like stopping your passing game and opting for crosses to Walcott’s head. Look at the Chelsea game and how many players Chelsea had behind van Persie when he got the ball. Can you imagine Theo killing a fizzed pass into his feet, jinking past a defender and then finding the defence splitting pass? or beating a couple of men and find space for a shot? Theo could never play the role that van Persie plays in.

Even if we played a 4-4-2 or a formation to that effect, Theo being the furthest forward would find the same issues. The last time I watched a game and wished Theo was playing as a center forward was Blackpool away last season. They played a very high line and did not put pressure on Cesc and the midfield. Robin had a field day spinning in behind and receiving passes from Cesc. At the Emirates that hardly ever happens. Theo has a hell of a lot more freedom on the right and often moves into those central roles without having someone stuck on him.

He is a great finisher, I have always believed that. He has unrivaled speed but at Arsenal, I don’t believe that he will ever get a run of games as a central striker unless a) our formation changes and b) his technique makes an improvement that we have never seen before.

I may well be wrong, in fact I would be bloody chuffed to be wrong because it would mean that Theo is coming along nicely.