Arsenal’s recent form has been that of a championship side, but it’s largely based around the form of one injury prone striker. What does 2012 hold for the Gunners?

Overview

Back in my university days, when work consisted of three hours in the middle of the afternoon on four days of the week offset by a lot of six-a-side football, the group of lads I hung around with would spend Sundays and the majority of week day evenings lounged in the upstairs bar of a pub called the West End. This was an odd establishment, run by two middle aged gay men and decorated by the company that also put together the set of The Munsters, that was populated entirely by the same five or six friends of the landlords and our group of five or six and nobody else. When we left university the landlords realised the gravy train had left town for the final time and promptly closed the pub and emigrated to Greece.

Within that group of West End regulars there were supporters of Ipswich, West Ham, QPR of course, Tottenham and Arsenal – one of the latter we’ll be hearing from shortly. Now we would gather in the pub regardless of who was playing to the point where the landlords would throw us the remote control as we walked in through the door and allow us to choose the matches ourselves – this after a full and frank exchange of views about whether we could have the sound on for Ipswich v Southampton in the FA Youth Cup. When a match kicked off at 11am the pub opened early for us, it was that sort of place.

But it was when one of our teams played on the television that things would get interesting. Of course when QPR were playing I was at the game, and the others would gather and watch our televised game in my absence and pity me. More often than not it was Arsenal, for this was the era of the invincibles who went through the entire 2003/04 season unbeaten in the league and won the championship at an absolute canter. They won the FA Cup as we watched on from our usual stools as well, and reached the final of the Champions League. The Arsenal fans in our midst would writhe in mental agony if they dared to only draw at home to Fulham – which I pointed out at the time, as Edwin van der Sar produced a goalkeeping masterclass, seemed awfully ungrateful when QPR were doing silly things like losing LDV Vans Trophy matches 3-0 to Yeovil. Anyway, then we left university, the pub closed, and Arsenal haven’t won a damn thing since and have made rather an art form of dropping points to all and sundry in games they should win with ease. Time moves on.

Time has moved on without Arsenal to a certain extent and I mention our days watching the Invincibles in the West End because I think certain things that we saw regularly back then are missing now and that offers a clue as to why Arsenal are approaching the seventh anniversary of their last trophy collection.

It’s easy to forget, for example, that at that time Arsenal were considered a dirty team. Martin Keown, Tony Adams, Patrick Viera, Emmanuel Petit and others all roamed the pristine Arsenal playing surfaceduring Wenger’s early years like nightclub bouncers, intimidating anybody who tried to do likewise to the likes of Bergkamp, Overmars and Henry. This was not a side to be messed with, by the end of 2004/05 which was their last trophy winning campaign they’d amassed 60 red cards since Arsene Wenger’s appointment as manager in September 1996 – comfortably more than anybody else in the league.

That is no longer the case. Arsenal topped the Fair Play League in 2004, 2005 and 2010 and finished in the top four in all of the intervening years. These days where Wenger once stood in post match interviews defending his team’s discipline and claiming not to have seen the incident he moans about the physical approach towards his team from clubs like Wolves, Blackburn, Stoke and Bolton. These are clubs the invincibles would have beaten regardless without changing out of their club suits.

Against all the best sides in the Premiership it’s the physicality of the players that strikes me most when they walk out onto the Loftus Road pitch – Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea seemed like a team of monsters to me compared to our meagre lot. That used to be Arsenal, brilliant to watch but tough as teak as well.

Wenger is most widely criticised for his point blank refusal to compete with teams in the transfer market as well as on the pitch. While clubs like Chelsea, Man City and now, most embarrassingly for the team from N5, Spurs have gone out and purchased scores of players and overtaken the Gunners Arsenal have been a selling club more than a purchasing one. Man City have picked three of their first teamers up themselves, Chelsea took Ashley Cole as well.

But for me it’s not Wenger’s refusal to throw millions of pounds at problems that is an issue, in fact it’s an admirable stance and one that doesn’t seem to have done Manchester United much harm in recent seasons with Alex Ferguson bemoaning a lack of value in the market since City and Chelsea started being silly about things. No, it’s the way he has allowed that all conquering team he had here to turn into a team of unprotected midgets. The average height of his team shrunk three inches from 2005 to 2009 and there is a big difference between a team of players 6ft 2ins tall and a team made up of guys standing 5ft 9ins. Moaning to the fourth official and slagging off Tony Pulis in post match press conferences isn’t quite the same as having Patrick Viera out there on the pitch enforcing.

There aren’t enough what Ian Holloway might have called piano carriers in this team, just lots of musicians waiting on the stage for the instrument to arrive by itself and then moaning when people like Ryan Shawcross and Chris Samba haul it off in another direction. When Wenger does enter the transfer market it’s rarely for a giant Tony Adams type centre back, or a ball breaking Patrick Viera like midfield player, or a proper old fashioned centre forward - more often than not it’s yet another tippy tappy attacking midfielder he wants. Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomas Rosicky, Yossi Benayoun, Andrei Arshavin – how can one club possibly need this many players who aren’t quite strikers, aren’t really wingers and are too slight to play in the middle of the park? Why, when Wenger enjoyed his finest hour with a team of one kind that was by no means unattractive to watch, has he gone off in this totally different direction and continued down that road despite years of failure?

Why has Wenger allowed a myriad of players who would have improved Arsenal no end move to other clubs at reasonable fees (Shay Given is one who should have been at the Emirates years ago) creating a situation where he had to rush out at the end of the latest transfer window and pick up sub-standard players like Per Mertesacker at the last moment to arrest an alarming decline?

Missing out on that lucrative Champions League place for the first time in a decade, a very real possibility as we sit here at the turn of the year, will turn these questions into a full on inquest. At the moment they rely largely on the fitness one genuinely world class player they have left; Robin van Persie.

Interview

Arsenal fan David Hatchard is another former team mate of mine, which means he’s somebody else who spent a good period of his life trying to play football while I shouted at him. Still, he hasn’t held that against me, and agreed to take time out during his Christmas holidays to chat about his team with LoftforWords and for this we thank him.

Have you been disappointed with Arsenal so far this season? What are your hopes for the rest of the season?

Yes I have been disappointed but considering the start they made to the season it has been a great recovery. It could have been much worse. The objective must now be to finish in the top four. Progress in the Champions League and FA Cup is not essential but would provide much needed confidence for the team and the fans.

What do you put the much talked about trophy drought, and drop down the league this season, down to?

Manchester City and Tottenham have improved greatly over the last couple of seasons and I think it was inevitable that at some stage they would challenge for the title. Rather than the old 'big four' there are now six quality sides that when on form look like they could challenge for the title. What it will come down to is consistency and squad depth. Man City obviously have the best depth but Spurs seem to have improved on this over the past year. They have managed to keep their world class players whereas Arsenal simply haven't been able to. Arsenal were actually very close to winning the league last season and should have won the League Cup only for a dramatic loss of form and confidence to end the season poorly. That would suggest it’s only a matter of time before the trophy drought is ended. Big question marks remain, however, after losing two great players and with so many strong teams around them making it harder than ever to win a trophy.

What do Arsenal need to do to become title challengers again, or even win a trophy? Do you see this happening?

I don't think Arsenal are too far away from challenging for the title and believe the press have overacted to the 'crisis' they have had this season. Losing Fabregas and Nasri at the start of the season was a huge blow to the team and I would question whether any other team in the league could have coped well after losing two world class players with such little time to replace them.

Having said that, they rely far too much on Robin Van Persie and need another quality striker who knows how to finish. As soon as Van Persie gets injured, which he undoubtedly will looking at his fitness record, there is no adequate replacement. Surely one of Wenger's top objectives should be to purchase another striker as well as persuade Van Persie to sign an extension to his contract. It would be a great statement of the ambition of the club if he were to show his commitment to the future of Arsenal. To become a title challenging team again, Arsenal will need to keep their world class players as well adding one or two more. The defence is also something I think Wenger has neglected over the last five or so years. When he was first appointed he inherited a brilliant, albeit ageing, back four. Vermaelen is the sort of quality that Arsenal have missed in defence in the last year (having played very few games due to injury) and he will certainly help sure up a defence that has struggled this season.

Are you still behind Arsene Wenger as manager? If no who else would you want? If yes does he need to change what he's doing?

A few months ago, there were a growing number of Arsenal fans calling for Wenger's head but I was not one of them. This was not because I have a blind faith in Wenger. Far from it. I think Wenger has made a fair number of mistakes over the years and sometimes find his stubbornness in the transfer market frustrating. However, what would be the good of sacking him now? What manager could replace him and do a better job? I'm not convinced there is a better man for the job at present. He has the patience not to overact to situations which the press are quick to play up. I just hope he signs the defender and striker he is looking for as quickly as he can, as the current squad could do with some reinforcements.

Will Arsenal make the top four this season? Does it depend almost entirely on Robin Van Persie being fit?

If Van Persie is injured and no additional strikers are bought in the transfer window then I cannot see Arsenal finishing in the top four. However, if he does remain fit I think there is a 50:50 chance they will make it. The two Manchester clubs seem certain to finish as the top two and as much as it pains me to say it, Spurs are looking a good bet for third. Chelsea appear to be Arsenal's main threat for fourth and I can see it being very close between these two. Wilshere should soon come back in to the team after a long spell on the sidelines and could provide a lift to the team in the second half of the season when full use of the squad will be essential.

Who are the unsung heroes in the Arsenal team? Who are the weak links?

Gervinho is a player who I think could have a great future at the club. Arsenal look much more threatening with him in the team although I still feel there is much more to come from him. His finishing has been awful and I can only hope that his confidence improves in this area because he creates himself so many opportunities. Szczesny has had an exceptional year and I think Arsenal would have had an even worse start to this season if he wasn't in goal. Walcott, despite occasional games where he is brilliant, remains far too inconsistent. From what I have seen of Chamberlain, it won't be long before he is getting into the first team on the right wing ahead of Walcott. Due to the injury problems in defence for Arsenal, Djourou and Squillaci have been getting a lot of game time this season. Too much game time! Admittedly there is little choice at the moment. The left back position is of the most concern for me. Gibbs is injured more often than not and Santos seems to more of an attacking midfielder than a defender. But if I was an opposition striker, I would certainly be looking forward to taking on Djourou, Squilacci and Mertesacker. Can we borrow Traore back off you please?!

Manager

But for all of that, criticising Arsene Wenger for his work at Arsenal is like criticising Winston Churchill for not winning the war quicker. When you look at the club he arrived at in 1996 and compare it to the Arsenal of today it’s scarcely recognisable – and almost everything has changed for the better.

Wenger was a mediocre footballer in his day, retiring early after six years at Strasbourg to complete his studies at the city’s university. Initially he wasn’t much cop as a manager either, relegated with Nancy-Lorraine in 1987, but he made his name at Monaco in the early 1990s by guiding them to a league title, three runners up spots and the Cup Winners Cup final. It would have been better, had their main rivals of the time Marseille not been beating them to titles and cups by way of bribes and illegal financial payments. In Japan he won the League Cup and Super Cup with Grampus and was named J League Manager of the Year before moving to Arsenal in 1996.

His appointment at Highbury was a curious one. Few had ever really heard of him but Arsenal were so keen to get their man they waited several months while he completed his duties in the Far East and he only arrived in September of the 1996/97 season. He had become friends with the chairman David Dein, apparently after meeting first of all at a match between Arsenal and QPR in 1988, and between them they changed the entire direction and ethos of a famous but somewhat tired old club.

Arsenal won a league title under George Graham 1991, famously beating Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield with a crucial last minute Michael Thomas goal to seal it, but they’d since been left behind by Manchester United and others as the new Premiership era dawned. Graham became involved in dodgy transfer practises, taking back handers from agent Rune Hauge in exchange for signing his clients like John Jensen, and in the 1994-95 season they lost 3-1 twice to Queens Park Rangers. While United signed Andrei Kanchelskis, Eric Cantona and others Arsenal signed John Hartson and Chris Kiwomya. Despite memorable runs in the European Cup Winners Cup (winners in 1994, finalists in 1995) they were unmistakably also-rans in the league.

Wenger changed everything: attitude, diet, style of play, mentality, the training ground, the stadium and the ethos. He changed the British game in many ways as other clubs sought to instil his methods and ideals in their own squads. When Wenger arrived in the UK managers like Peter Reid had top flight jobs, now even the likes of Sam Allardyce have turned to sports science and vast backroom staffs to support their teams. The days of light ales on Thursday nights, fried breakfasts on Saturday mornings and screaming in players’ faces if things weren’t going well was over.

Arsenal won the league title in 1998, 2002 and 2004 – the latter was achieved with an unbeaten 38 game season. They were runners up in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2005. Wenger has won the FA Cup four times and been to the finals of the UEFA Cup and Champions League. He took players like Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry from foreign reserve teams at bargain prices and made them international stars. He not only prolonged the careers of the ageing pros he found at Highbury such as Tony Adams but he made them better players – 20 year veterans somehow found an extra level of performance under Wenger. That it needed a Frenchman to come in and suggest to the English players that perhaps ten pints and a nose full of coke wasn’t ideal pre-match preparation is ludicrous, but sadly true. He is rightly hailed as one of the all time great managers, of both Arsenal and in English football in general. Arsenal, a club that was managed by Bruce Rioch and regularly selected Andy Linighan and Glenn Helder to a club that has made the Champions League for ten consecutive seasons.

But now Wenger himself needs to adapt. We live in an era of a billion pound team at Manchester City and while Alex Ferguson has been able to adapt at Manchester United and keep pace with all except Barcelona Arsenal have been left behind to such an extent that they haven’t won a trophy for six years and are a Robin Van Persie injury away from missing out on the Champions League this season. Wenger seems to crave the Barcelona style of football, but even the Catalan giants find room in their all conquering team for enforcers like Puyol and Yaya Toure and at the end of each successful season, like Liverpool in the 1980s, they go out and spend money on their best opponent – Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal in the summer just gone, David Villa from Valencia the summer before, probably Thiago Silva from Milan next year. Wenger refuses to enter the transfer market with the same gusto, and has built a squad full of 5ft 5in tall attacking midfielders who tip and tap around the edge of the area and are frequently bullied from games by teams of vastly inferior ability.

It’s time for The Professor to learn a few new lessons of his own.

Scout Report

So, apparently this fella Van Persie can play a bit. He needs two to equal Alan Shearer’s record of 36 Premiership goals in a calendar year and has already registered Arsenal’s fastest ever goal when he scored after 29 seconds against Sunderland when I watched them earlier this season.

The difficult thing about the Dutchman is he is a scorer of all kinds of goals – tap ins, long range shots, poacher’s efforts, individual pieces of brilliance and so on. Les Ferdinand was very much like this in his prime, scoring as many from 33 yards as he did from three, and it makes a defender’s life impossible. Go close and he’ll turn you with pace, stand off and he’ll skin you with tricks, keep him to shooting from long range and he’ll probably score anyway.

The only possible advice the QPR defenders can take into this game is to concentrate hard for the full 90 minutes. Van Persie is always moving, always thinking, always plotting – even when the ball is dead Van Persie’s cogs are turning and against Sunderland, time and again the visitors were caught napping while Van Persie and Mikel Arteta worked a quick set piece routine. Another method may be targeting Arteta himself and trying to stop Arsenal at source – the Spaniard fulfils the Fabregas role of collecting the ball short from the defence and picking the direction of the attack from there.

Arsenal have become famed in recent years for their lack of headed goals from set pieces but with Mertesacker in the team at centre back they do at least pose an aerial threat. Quite often when I’ve seen them this season they’ve hung corners up high to the back post where Gervinho likes to sneak in late and direct headers back into the goalmouth. Again, concentration and organisation is the key.

It’s fair to say though that Mertesacker has not been a roaring success since arriving at the end of the summer transfer window from Werder Bremen. This is a man with the thick end of 80 German caps remember but you’d scarcely know it from his performances. At Norwich he was caught allowing a routine ball to bounce near his own area by Steve Morrison who stole it from him and scored. Against Sunderland I repeatedly noted that he and Koscielny looked vulnerable to any ball played in behind them, in another tape I studied against Marseille in the Champions League I again found myself repeatedly noting that any sort of speed in behind or ball into the channel was causing them a problem – on that occasion I felt Koscielny actually covered Mertesacker and got him out of jail a few times in what was otherwise a fine team performance and notable victory.

In defence of the defence, it’s not been helped by a chronic problem at full back. Only Arsene Wenger will know why he allowed Armand Traore to leave and be replaced by a worse player in Santos – he’s been laughably poor whenever I’ve seen him this season, including in a 5-3 win at Chelsea when he actually managed to score one of the goals. But he is injured now, as is Kieron Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson and Johan Djourou leaving them very short in the full back area. I wonder, with all these defensive issues considered, whether Neil Warnock may be well served using Jamie Mackie with Shaun Wright-Phillips either side of Heidar Helguson and looking to use their pace and work rate in the channels and against Metersacker in particular.

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Northernr added 17:28 - Dec 30 Apologies for the headline, couldn't resist.
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DylanP added 17:59 - Dec 30 Great article as ever Clive. Thanks.
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