The FIVE things Wenger must now do to keep Arsenal’s season afloat
How quickly things change in top flight football; just a few weeks ago Arsenal were being hailed as potential title challengers as they leapfrogged Manchester United into second in the table. Their weaknesses were then exposed though and since then Arsenal only sit in fourth due to a last gasp Tim Howard penalty save against Tottenham. The last few weeks have shown us that Arsenal do not have the right team or mentality to mount the title chase the supporters want and Arsene Wenger’s reluctance to deal with his team’s problems will only inhibit the team. Wenger has to get past his stubbornness and improve the team and here’s how he can do so in five steps:
1. Sign at least two big, strong players to give the team a more physical edge. It’s an obvious weakness and Andrey Arshavin has already highlighted it to the world; Arsenal’s starting line-up against Stoke this weekend featured no player over six foot and, whilst the team won on this occasion, this can be a serious disadvantage – this was shown at Stoke last year for example. Whilst a big striker is always nice to have the two positions Arsenal most need a physical player in are in central defence and central midfield. A big man at the back is necessary to repel big, strong attackers like Didier Drogba. Shift Gallas to full back and play Vermaelen with the new boy. Brede Hangeland was linked with the club in the summer – he’d be perfect! And the midfielder? Arsenal’s best success came with Patrick Vieira, who stands at 6 foot 3, in the middle of the park dominating opponents. No current Arsenal midfielder compares in terms of on-field presence. It’s a link many Arsenal fans aren’t happy with but Yaya Toure would be a good option to boost the midfield if he does become available from Barcelona.
2. Sign a striker – one with proven goalscoring ability, not a youngster or a man who’s only succeeded in a weaker league like Eduardo did. Robin van Persie’s out for the season, who can replace him? Bendtner? No. Vela? No. Eduardo? No. Wenger’s always reluctant to splash out on players, particularly older ones, but a goalscorer is a necessity. Why not take a chance on an unwanted man like Ruud van Nistelrooy or Klass Jan Huntelaar? Van Nistelrooy’s got proven Premiership experience whilst Huntelaar’s scored goals in every league he’s played in. A new frontman is a must.
3. Learn to sit back and defend a lead – too often do Arsenal throw away leads because they’re eager to play their opponents off the field and they get careless – just look at the game against West Ham for proof! Defensive tactics should be employed in the latter stages of the game to prevent the opponents from stealing something from the game and Wenger must stress this. Bring on an extra midfielder for a winger or striker, just shore up the team to prevent mishaps.
4. Wenger himself needs to change his attitude – gone are the days when he protected every player with claims of “I didn’t see it” when a red card went against Arsenal. Wenger has been very critical of the team after a number of games this season and their poor results are due to his failings as a manager rather than the players’ inability to perform. Wenger has been brilliant for Arsenal but he’s becoming more stuck in his ways with age, he has to return to experimenting with different on-field options and actually inspiring his team. Nothing’s more morale-boosting to a team than your manager roaring you on rather than standing on the touchline with his arms folded.
5. Lastly, and we’re going back to the need for signings here, a goalkeeper has to be considered. Almunia’s well liked by a number of fans but the fact remains that he is a poor shot stopper. Look at Premiership statistics and you’ll see that Almunia’s saves made is considerably less than most other ‘keepers in the Premiership and often teams score from having one shot per game against him. Vito Mannone hasn’t looked awe-inspiring either so maybe it’s time to properly replace Lehmann now rather than keeping the faith with his, frankly not good-enough, deputy.
Arsenal in general have a squad capable of challenging for the title but there are these flaws. The fact that three of these weaknesses are in terms of players available to the squad is a damning indication of the weakness of Wenger’s dealings in the transfer market – as good as some acquisitions have been, it’s not enough and Wenger has to be willing to buy quality players more often like he did with Arshavin. The only way to keep up with teams who are spending big money on top players all the time is to buy some of your own. Wenger’s got to back down from his stubborn ways and do this or there’s no way forward under his guidance.
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Mark Greenwood, if Bendtner is so hopeless why did he score 15 goals last season!!!
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Andy Capp; he got 14 goals from 97 shots for Arsenal last year – that’s hardly the make of a good striker. I have friends in Denmark who don’t rate him and they’re usually quick to hail any Danish player who plays in a top league like the Premiership
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Bendtner got 15 goals in all compeitions last year. Very impressive for a 21-year-old who was used mainly as a substitute or out of position. He has his critics, mainly as a result of his massive ego, but I’m a big fan of his.
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Im definately not, the game against United at the Emirates was all I needed to see to know how poor he is. Positioning, awareness and first touch were all terrible!
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All of this NB52 bashing is a bit harsh methinks!! Take into consideration his age and the position he plays in. I can’t think of another player his age playing in a top team, in a top league, and that in itself speaks volumes.(I will most probably be chastised for this but hey what the hell?!). In the same way that goalkeepers don’t peak until late in their careers the same can be said of strikers. Time will tell!!! This boy can play!!!
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Whilst i agree that it is unfair to bash NB52 i,m afraid i don’t think he is what we need as a striker right now.
He might still be young, but Nicolas Anelka was only 18 when he was keeping Ian Wright out of the first team.
Unfortunately 4 Bendtner, Wenger places a heavy burden of expectation upon him when he uses his availability as an excuse not to buy a striker. This is turn manifests itself into resentment from supporters, the type of which is felt currently towards the likes of Denilson,not because he isn’t a good player but because he isn’t good enough to be a defensive midfielder for our first team. Neither BTW is Song, who was particularly poor against Chelsea & both the Manchester sides.
I think what Wenger has done for the club is truly remarkable. However as much a genius as i think he is i also think it is ridiculous to treat the slighest constructive criticism of him as an act of blasphemy.
The author makes some good points. Even our opponents (& i’m talking about the likes of Fulham, not Man u) say that they no longer feel intimidated by us like they were in recent years.
In fairness to Arsene, i think that the buy of the season has been the aqcuisition of Vermaelen, which proves he can still find ‘gems’.
However, like the author i think he needs 2 find a goalkeeper & defensive midfielder that ticks as many boxes in those positions as Tommy V does in defence.
I for one am not going to throw away my season ticket in a hurry; but this does not mean i have to like seeing us getting bitch slapped by Chelsea & Man U @ the business end of every season.
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What wenger needs to do is essenially find adequate reliable and talented replacements/backup for everyone of his first choice 11.
Goal keeper : dump almunia and splash the cash on either an experienced keeper like buffon or frey or get loris or neurer.
Full backs, get philip lahm and use sagna as his understudy.
Centre half, get sakho and someone like cevet or hangeland.
Winger: hazard, arda turan , nuri sahin.
Defensive mid: break the bank on this one for de rossi, or inler, toure etc…
And a striker : huntelaar is the man he needs him and rvp up front would be unstopable.
But he wont do anything of the sort, just some youngster from god knows where, who’ll promise the world and piss off when he doesnt get any first team football.
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