Benjamin Cullen
“Arsenal with the manager there, the way they play and develop players to play the game the right way, I think they are the ideal choice." The words of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s father to Sky Sports News are a reflection of the excellent reputation that Arsene Wenger has built for nurturing and developing young players. Wenger is also known to be fiercely protective of his players, often facing criticism from fans and press alike for defending his under-performing players, or for stringing out the old ‘I didn’t see it line’ whenever they’ve stepped out of line. Wenger even admitted recently in a press conference that he’s gone so far as to lie to the public in order to protect his players.
Samir Nasri, Denilson, Fabianski, Alex Song and Johan Djourou have all joined Vermaelen in the treatment room recently and next week’s Barcelona tie is just one of 7 important fixtures in February, (having already played 9 in January). Perhaps on this occasion, it was not an alibi, moral support or encouragement that his young squad needed most but actual physical support instead. In hindsight maybe back-up for those areas where cover is slim, and another pair of legs to help bear the load would have been more greatly appreciated.
Because now injuries to Song and Djourou leave Arsenal dangerously short for cover in defensive areas just when they can least afford to be. You could put that down to just sheer bad luck but most Arsenal fans would argue that the writing was clearly on the wall for those injuries, in fact Wenger himself seemed to spray paint them on there -
Wenger on Djourou (December 2010)
“You know, he has been out for a year. As you have noticed, I rotate him a little bit because we do not want to lose him”
Wenger (January 17 2011)
“The plan with the three centre-backs – we were all right because we could rotate. But that has all gone now. It is always the same two so let's hope we get through.”
Fortunately for Wenger and Arsenal it seems that this time, Djourou has suffered only bruising and if all goes well could be back in contention for tomorrow. However, you have to ask if it’s wise for a player who’s suffered a knock to a previous injury to be rushed back into action. But then again, if he’s not brought back Saturday, Barcelona at home is hardly an ideal game to be making a comeback in either: and Song of course faces a similar situation. Wenger probably reasoned that Squillaci would provide the respite that Djourou and Koscielny would no doubt need. Unfortunately though, so poor has his form been, that Arsene Wenger must now be at pains to use him at all. Certainly not alongside Koscielny at any rate.
Arsene also made the case that with Abou Diaby back he could use Song as cover at centre back if or when needed. But that was also a big gamble to take when you analyse it. For even though Abou Diaby seems to have all the attributes needed (except perhaps temperament – as we’ve seen last weekend) to cover for Alex Song, there are, of course, still massive doubts over his ability to stay fit over any reasonable length of time.
And if he were to come in to the side and Alex Song drop into defence as Wenger suggested, well that really only means the risk factor being hot potatoed on to Song, who would continue clocking up the minutes (before his injury, Alex Song had already played 1899 minutes of Premier League action: in the Arsenal squad only Clichy had put in more with 1980). Of course Wenger might believe that Denilson is also a valid option to cover in Song’s absence, but as I mentioned in the article entitled ’One Song’, the evidence on the pitch strongly suggests otherwise. That’s not to write Denilson off, but I would argue that he competes more with Jack Wilshere for his role, than with Song who he lacks the height, strength and pace to properly replace.
Many blame the inflationary fees paid by the likes of Chelsea for David Luiz (or demanded by Bolton and Everton for Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka respectively) for Arsenal’s inactivity in the transfer market. But I’m not sure that argument holds up completely, after all Song’s ability to drop into defence meant Wenger had at least three ways in which he could have provided back up the areas where the squad was thinnest. He could have signed a straight-out centre back obviously, and I think it was there that his efforts were frustrated. But he could also have looked at players similar to say, Jack Rodwell, or Marouane Fellaini, who - like Alex Song - can do a job in both central defence and midfield if necessary.
Failing that, direct cover for the defensive midfield position could have been sought to lighten the load on Song and not have to rely so heavily on Abou Diaby, who many beleve to be more of an attacking midfielder anyway. No matter how expensive the market, it’s hard to believe that with 10-20 million pounds to spend, that none of those options were available.
But there you have it, there’s not much that Arsenal can do about it now other than cross their fingers and hope Song , Djourou & Vermaelen return to fitness quickly, or that Squillaci has a sudden upturn in form at least. But the irony is that Arsene Wenger so often urges us not to forget how young his squad are and how remarkable their achievements are for it. Which they are of course. But this time round, it seems it was he who forgot that that Song (23) and Djourou (24) were also young players in need of his protection and support.
Arsene might also have forgotten that the failure to sign a re-enforcement forward in January 2010 was a significant factor in the wheels falling off Arsenal’s title charge in that campaign. Or that - as Andres Iniesta’s comments suggest - a certain other young Arsenal player may only have remained at the club so he “could lift the title as captain during his last season”! Now whilst Song and Djourou etc rub their sore limbs, Arsene Wenger must hope not to get a sore reminder.
Twitter:@benvenceremos
