Kevin Whitcher
Well, the African Cup of Nations can’t come a day too soon for me. To see the back of Gervinho and Chamakh at the same time will be like manna from heaven. After the QPR match, I wrote “…profligacy can be afforded against QPR, but it may undo the side as soon as the visit to Craven Cottage, to say nothing of the two legs against Milan to come in the Champions League.” I get zero joy from this piece of foresight, although my haters in the comments below will tell you otherwise. Just to respond to those that feel I should credit the manager for the meteoric rise to fifth place after the lows of August, it was precisely because of the Arsene Wenger’s refusal to do the necessary business before the season began that the team found itself languishing in 17th and in desperate need of a change in policy, which thankfully the 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford brought about. With experienced signings and a change in the approach to defensive coaching things have indeed improved. Credit to the manager for that, my only quibble would be why he didn’t see that was the way forward in 2007. Still, better four years late than never. In the interim, we saw Cesc Fabregas paired with Denilson and a clown between the sticks. Still, Arsène knows best.
His two significant pieces of business pre-season were to buy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who despite the price tag has been little used, and Gervinho. The latter came with a reputation for needing a lot of chances to score. I assume the manager saw something in the player that he thought he could improve. Sadly, it hasn’t worked out. With him on one flank and Theo Walcott on the other, you have to ask the question of how many goals Arsenal might score with a couple of decent attackers instead. We’d be top of the league. Gervinho was a gamble that hasn’t paid off, and Arsenal paid a heavy price at Craven Cottage in a game that should have been done and dusted by half time.
The side came out of the traps fast and performed very well in the first half, setting up a number of decent chances. But Koscielny’s was the only one converted and Fulham came back big time after the interval. Djourou was careless for his first yellow card and played into trouble by Mertesacker for the second. At home, he might have got away without being booked for the second offence, but not away. Arsenal were down to ten men and the entrance of Sebastien Squillaci merely proved how stretched the team are at the back. Having said that, Ignasi Miquel was on the bench, and there was surely an argument for bringing him on instead of the hapless Squillaci and switching Coquelin to right back.
As Arsenal tired, a man short, the Fulham goals were no surprise, given the amount of pressure. It was real backs to the wall stuff and the Gunners were not quite resilient enough to hold out. Szczesny made some fine saves in the game, but was guilty more than once of failing to take the ball and on the second occasion paid dear. Squillaci wasn’t strong enough for the winning goal when he had the opportunity to clear, but he has never adapted to the Premier League.
Fulham away is rarely a gimme and at the end of the Christmas period, I am sure no-one expected it to be. One does wonder why Thierry Henry was not at least on the bench. His ability to finish chances is surely better than either Walcott’s or Gervinho’s and the Gunners are rarely scoring many these days. We’ve only got the player for a matter of weeks, so – assuming all the paperwork is in order – the club should be making hay while the sun shines. Maybe he isn’t registered yet, but his return can’t come a moment too soon.
The team have a week’s break to regroup, and a number of the regulars will be rested for the FA Cup tie v Leeds. The visit to Swansea and the home game against Manchester United will provide stiff tests for a side that has struggled for results lately, mainly due to profligacy in front of goal. If Arsenal are to make a hallowed top four spot, this will need to be resolved, and perhaps a line-up featuring both Henry and Van Persie will prove to be the much-needed salvation. Looking ahead, if the manager can manage to find takers for Gervinho, Walcott and Chamakh in the summer, then I won’t be shedding too many tears.
One final note. I know Gary Neville highlighted Francis Coquelin as being one of the defenders at fault for Fulham’s winner, but overall, he had a very creditable game. He is one player that should remain in the team on form as I think his performances of late have earned him a run to show further consistency.
The current issue of the Gooner with a free 2012 calendar is available to buy online here. It will also be on sale outside the home match v Leeds and away at Swansea.
