Kevin Whitcher
Arsenal had not won a home league fixture since before February’s Carling Cup Final defeat to Birmingham. We are now in May. On their travels since that grey Wembley Sunday a total of one victory has been posted. If I started listing the missed opportunities to close the gap on yesterday’s opponents, I’d be here all morning. One win in seven matches will summarize it.
We all know Arsenal are capable of beating big teams at home. Chelsea, Barcelona and now United this season are all evidence of that. What was different about this time was that the pressure was off. A top four place was as good as guaranteed before kick off, given the gap to fifth place, although naturally the players would want to finish third to avoid a Champions League qualifier in August. The evidence of the win against United suggests they should hold off Man City’s challenge.
With no tension, little really at stake, Arsenal relaxed and played well. They made a United team who had been outstanding in Germany last week look quite ordinary. Perhaps fatigue might undo them. Certainly, Chelsea will go to Old Trafford next weekend without having played a midweek game and have more in the tank. And that could set up an interesting final two weekends for the Premier League. Arsenal might only be three points behind, and there will be more than a few ‘what ifs’ if they do end up losing the title by that margin. However, the manager will use it as evidence of how close his team is to glory, and there is a horrible fear we may endure more of the same next season.
It was interesting to see an Arsenal line-up with more industry and less flair in the midfield. Ultimately, although tidy, to me Wilshere and Ramsey are about more than creative ability, which tends to be seen in glimpses rather than being their trademark. Although I would be reluctant to label Alex Song a workhorse, his game is based on providing an anchor in midfield for the most part, and when on his game, can be efficient in possession, a vital cog in Arsenal’s possession game. But for me, Ramsey and Wilshere are more the kind of players I want to see Arsenal develop. They definitely have the manager’s much vaunted ‘technical ability’, and both are still developing as footballers. There are aspects to their game that need work, but both are incredibly young. Ideally, they would be surrounded by more experience, but nevertheless they did well enough yesterday to see off the Champions elect.
Perhaps it was a vision of the future. Cesc Fabregas was not risked due to a thigh strain (which I doubt would have happened if this game had meant anything to the home side) and Ramsey stepped in. It appeared to this observer that only Song really held, and that often both his midfield partners were in front of him, possibly with a view to pressing United. Perhaps this was the tactical innovation from the manager we have been crying out for, but it was appropriate for the conservatism of United’s own selection in the middle – solidity rather than creativity. Anyhow, Arsenal seemed to play a different kind of football. Less tip tap and more energetic, in the absence of Fabregas. Assuming Arsenal will never have the quality of players that Barcelona seem to develop, then rather than try and aspire to their heights through flair alone, work rate may assist the Gunners to win trophies again. One of the frustrations of fans when watching Arsenal in recent seasons is a perceived lack of effort. No danger of that when pairing Ramsey and Wilshere in the middle.
It was like a breath of fresh air. Suddenly, balls were coming in from wide and there were actual Arsenal players in the opposition penalty box. A eureka moment. If you put enough men in there, the other team find it less easy to cover the threat! Who’d have thought it? I think, aside from Ramsey, there were three other players in the United box when the goal was scored. Maybe four if Van Persie was inside the box at the time of his assist.
Credit to the team for finally finding their form, but the real question leading from yesterday’s win is why they need to count themselves out of title contention to produce it at this time of the season. Why do they habitually choke when given a real opportunity (through highly beatable opposition) to deliver the league title? Even Wenger’s own sports psychologist Jacques Crevoisier has stated the team are not mentally strong enough, in direct contrast to the manager’s tiresome mantra.
This issue has to be addressed in the close season. New faces are needed in the squad and on the backroom staff – the latter contributing to a change of approach in coaching. More emphasis needs to be placed on winning football matches by hook or by crook, as United have done a good number of times this season. It would amuse me if Ferguson’s team managed to end up potless, but that’s up to Chelsea. At London Colney there has to be less emphasis on technique, more on winning personal battles.
One thing that is often sold to us is how entertaining Arsenal’s football is, but in truth, I have only occasionally been entertained by the team this season. Certainly the tip tap football without penetration is dull viewing, and we have seen a lot of that over the last nine months. I actually enjoyed the fare I witnessed yesterday with a bit more industry and less emphasis on over-elaboration. United played their part too, as although they tended to favour counter attack, they never parked the proverbial bus, even if a draw would probably have been enough to secure them the title with games against Blackburn and Blackpool their final two fixtures.
So going forward, the team need to work harder and focus more on industry rather than technique. The grounding for possession football is there, but there is nothing wrong with a bit of drive to go with it. Less pontification and more penetration. ‘Fannying around the area’ is a phrase used to describe some of the Gunners’ football that was used a lot when I was younger, but it’s equally pertinent now. With the approach of Ramsey and Wilshere, there is more chance of winning football matches. And that is what Arsenal have not been doing enough at the key moments in recent seasons.
Let’s use that burgeoning transfer kitty and the £35 million for Cesc and buy experience, solidity and attitude in defence, some knowhow and drive in midfield and a forward to compliment Robin van Persie. Some of the obvious deadwood and failed experiments can be shipped out to fund it. This team is close, but they are chokers. Having failed season after season, a new approach is needed. Fresh faces, fresh ideas.
The new issue of The Gooner went on sale yesterday and can be bought online here. Subscribers should note that the issue was delivered to us late last Thursday, and due to the Royal Wedding, the Royal Mail took Friday off, so your copies could not be mailed until Saturday morning. If you are unhappy about this, please address your complaint to Prince William, Clarence House, Stable Yard Road, Westminster, London SW1A 1BA
