Kevin Whitcher
The manager’s email dropped into my inbox on Tuesday night. One line read, “We have to respond away at Wigan on Wednesday night in a game where we have to turn up and take points.”
Undoubtedly true. For those who read my briefer than I would have liked piece after Monday night’s game, I managed to get the flight and the place we are staying in has wi-fi in the reception area, enabling me to catch the Wigan game on a stream that behaved relatively well until the last 20 minutes. Fortunately, we have BBC1 in the apartment, so I was able to confirm a few things on Match of the Day later.
Arsene Wenger obviously feels that four matches in ten days is beyond his first choice eleven, although other managers – such as Carlo Ancelotti – evidently do not. What I would say is that if he was going to retain a central defender out of necessity, surely the in-form Johan Djourou would have been the obvious choice. Perhaps the manager knows something we don’t in respect of the danger of injury, maybe he is protecting him. Otherwise, the decision seems mystifying. On the note of injury-prone players, I have to confess I felt the team’s chances of success rocketed when Abou Diaby was replaced by Jack Wilshere with the team 1-0 down. The concession of the penalty was due to Arsenal’s full backs feeling their duty is to be an extra attacker rather than defend. All well and good if you have Gilberto in the team. Arsenal are always vulnerable to counter attacks if their possession football leaves the likes of Eboue, Clichy and Sagna stranded and so it proved once again at the DW Stadium.
The line-up had that Champions League ‘we’re as good as qualified’ group game feel to it. But credit to them for fashioning a lead with two well taken strikes before the interval. However, it couldn’t last. The second half provided a gilt-edged chance for Arshavin, but even seeing the opposition reduced to ten men was no guarantee that the points would all be taken. As with the concession of a goal against Chelsea, it was another set piece that undid Arsenal. Fabianski was in no man’s land and Squillaci was the wrong side of the guy he was marking. When the header beyond the far post came in, I lost count of the number of yellow shirts in the area, but only one blue one was apparent. It was enough.
After games like Monday evening’s, I often get AKBs coming out of the woodwork to ask why I do not believe the team can win the title. Then there are games like this when it is like tumbleweed city from the same people. I do not believe Arsenal can win the title because I do not think they are defensively strong enough to accumulate enough points. Simple as. The current situation demands that Djourou starts every game he can and that Szczesny returns to keep goal. These are two players willing to defend what is theirs. Assuming Vermaelen is out for the season (and surely he is) then a new centre back has to be bought in January, a more dominant and commanding one than either of the two players that started against Wigan.
Arsenal can play well enough to win this league, they just cannot do it consistently. And Wenger’s confidence in players that are clearly not quite good enough undermines the team’s chances when there are better options left on the bench. I could have lived with four changes to the Monday night team, but eight is too many. Granted, Arsenal were unfortunate in not being given a blatant penalty for handball at the death, but they should not have been in a position to need that decision to take the three points.
It’s not over yet, it’s far from over. In this of all seasons, we know that more points will be dropped by all teams. But Wenger must learn that he cannot change a starting line-up so dramatically and expect to gain all three points, especially away from home. The players enjoyed a two week gap between matches before the Chelsea game, and the sides they are playing face equally demanding fixtures over a similar period of time. So it’s honours even. Wigan are relegation candidates and as such should not provide a huge obstacle. But Arsenal seem to make a habit of struggling on visits there.
After the ecstacy of defeating Chelsea, it’s back to reality. Birmingham on Saturday. Do you think they might test Fabianski with some high balls knocked in at every opportunity? My, how I look forward to that…
* Classic line stolen from regular website contributor Ian Tanner, and the reason Liverpool failed to win the title in 2009 (and Man Utd may not in 2011 if AFC could sort their defence out!!!)
