I often bemoan the brainfarts that individual players tend to suffer. According to Opta, if goals from individual errors were removed from the entire Premier League last season, Arsenal would have been champions. Maybe somebody told the players this on Sunday as what we saw was as disciplined a defensive display as we have for many a year. As discussed, Tottenham had much of the ball but couldn’t penetrate a backline marshalled admirably by the returning Laurent Koscielny. Anything that did sneak through was dealt with by Szczesny, but it wasn’t just the defence that deserves praise.
Giroud Awakening
One of the criticisms Giroud faced during his first season at the club was not so much a lack of goals but rather his lack of so-called ‘big’ goals. In 10 games against the other teams in the top six, Our Olivier only scored twice. In his defence, his performances in these matches were often judged against the man he replaced – a player who had no trouble finding the back of the net against the likes of Liverpool, United and of course, Tottenham. After Giroud’s flying start to this season, he passed his first big test against a potential rival with flying colours. His deft near post finish was all that separated the two sides on the day and there’s certainly a lot to be said for a player who can be the difference in big games as well as small. Here’s to it continuing for the rest of the season.
Re-Possessed
A rare thing happened yesterday. Arsenal finished a home game having had less of the ball than the opposition. The possession based game that we (sometimes wrongly) pride ourselves on was sacrificed for a more patient approach that allowed to Spurs to have more of the ball in order to hit them on the counter when we won it back. An effective tactic that saw Arsenal, using the pace of Walcott and the trickery of Cazorla, create much the better chances despite appearing to be playing on the back foot. The strategy has often been employed by visiting teams much to our frustration but served to remind us all that it isn’t always about having the most possession, but rather what you with it that counts. Simply holding onto the ball and passing without a purpose can often be utterly fruitless – something to bear in mind going forward.
New approach reminds us of old times
I often bemoan the brainfarts that individual players tend to suffer. According to Opta, if goals from individual errors were removed from the entire Premier League last season, Arsenal would have been champions. Maybe somebody told the players this on Sunday as what we saw was as disciplined a defensive display as we have for many a year. As discussed, Tottenham had much of the ball but couldn’t penetrate a backline marshalled admirably by the returning Laurent Koscielny. Anything that did sneak through was dealt with by Szczesny, but it wasn’t just the defence that deserves praise. This apparent conservative counter attacking approach can only really work if the whole team keep their concentration. Our midfielders were always quick to get behind the ball when not in possession and special kudos is also due to the advanced players such as Walcott and Giroud who took responsibility by dropping back and filling to assist defenders when required. It was like watching an Arsenal of a bygone era.
Phoenix from the Flam(es)
As the game demonstrated, defending is just not about having defenders. A key factor in our successful rear-guard performance was the return of the prodigal Mathieu Flamini. Upon replacing the unwell Jack Wilshere in the first half, the Frenchman announced himself within minutes by putting in the kind of scything tackle on a Spurs player that we would go spare about if an opposition player committed on one of ours, but cannot pretend we didn’t love to see. He was rightfully booked but the tackle seemed to set the tone for the rest of his game as he proved a constant thorn in their side, snapping at their heels whenever they had the ball. It wasn’t just his tenacity, his also assumed the role of leader as he was constantly shouting and instructing the rest of the team right up until the final whistle.
“To err is human, to forgive, devine”
Much to everybody’s delight, Flamini’s display seems to suggest he can pick up where he left off when he left the club initially in 2008. After a somewhat acrimonious departure, his welcome return has shown either how short some memories can be or how fickle we are as fans. If I can digress momentarily, I can’t help but genuinely ask, if he can be forgiven so easily, would the door necessarily be shut to returns for the likes of Nasri, Adebayor and Cole?
Teams win matches, squads win prizes.
Whether the decision pays off remains to be seen but we can thank our lucky stars it was one the deals we did manage to complete before the dying moments of the transfer window. If Flamini hadn’t been brought in last week, Jack’s withdrawal would have been all the more costly as there would have been no adequate replacements on the bench. Our problems were further highlighted by the fact we ended the game with four full backs on the pitch. This had nothing to do with tactics, nor, as intimated by Andre Villas-Boas, because Spurs’ “dominated”, but rather because of the paucity of alternative options.
Eleven v eleven, I had no doubt we would win yesterday. None. In the build-up, Spurs were praised for their summer business. Not, as many believe, because all their signings are world beaters, but instead because now they have options and squad depth – something we (at the time of writing) lack with a long, hard season in front of us. The Boss’ comments in the morning papers about having a squad of about ‘17 or 18’ senior players were a tad worrying. To challenge on four fronts (as we should be striving to), a top squad clearly needs more substance. Gone are the days when you rely simply on a strong, defined first XI. Modern football dictates that the best sides should be able to be flexible depending on the situation. Your best team for a home game against Southampton isn’t necessary your best team for an away game against CSKA Moscow. I’m writing this at about 9am on deadline day, so this paragraph will hopefully be dated by the time you read it.
UTA
P.S. Santi got closer with his two free kicks at the start than Walcott ever has. More of this, please.
EXAMPLE OF AD POSITION
