Kevin Whitcher
As visits to Anfield go, this was one Arsene Wenger needed to win more than most. With the club posting a net profit figure in the summer transfer window – of which more later – he will feel vindicated in his claims that his squad is strong enough to compete without using all the money available to him during the summer.
Let’s concentrate on the game and what it says about Arsenal 2012-13 for starters. Alan Smith claimed in commentary that his former colleague Steve Bould had been allowed to get his hands on the defence. For the sake of expediency, we will, for today, leave the yawning question of why we had to wait so long for an obvious deficiency to be addressed, and revel in the fact a more organized unit has posted three consecutive clean sheets at the start of the season. Key to this is the work of the midfield trio – all of whom seem clued up as to where they should be and what they should be doing when the opposition have the ball. In the case of Abou Diaby, this is a real revelation, as previously, this observer had always questioned his positional sense. Perhaps the tale of Steve Bould having grabbed Alex Song by the neck in pre-season for not following instruction says a lot. Maybe Diaby listened and allowed the manager to option of getting shot of Song, who thought he knew better.
Previously, Diaby had shown hints of the player he could be, but the constant and sometimes lengthy spells on the treatment table led to many, including myself, giving up on the number 2. Some went as far as resenting the salary being paid to him. However, if he remains fit, and Jack Wilshere ever returns to first team contention, Arsene Wenger will have the kind of headache managers dream about. Given Diaby’s history, it is a big if, and should he become injured again, there is a valid question to be asked about the non-use of transfer funds, but for now, with every match, the Frenchman looks a better player, one that can actually win games for the team. Arteta and Cazorla performed equally creditably alongside him, and playing a Liverpool side that tried to match Arsenal at their own game meant we were able to watch a 90 minutes very unlike the first two fixtures of the season.
On a couple of occasions, the visitors rode their luck in defence. The marking of Agger at an early corner would have had Steve Bould tearing his hair out were there any left, and Mertesacker was probably saved by Luis Suarez’ reputation for hitting the deck too easily when a second half penalty could have been awarded. But this is Anfield, of course Liverpool will create opportunities. That Arsenal weathered them should build confidence for other stern tests to come in the near future.
Up front, things clicked. Whether or not the inclusion of the Ox – a more industrious player – than Walcott or Gervinho was a factor in this is a point for debate, although my feeling is that the majority would prefer to see him starting in preference to the aforementioned duo. He seems less wasteful in possession and more aggressive when the opposition have the ball. Giroud missed his customary sitter, and hopefully, once he nets his first, more goals will follow. He won’t be the first imported forward to take a while to get off the mark, and it’s been acknowledged that the goals have to be shared around the team more. On that level, the other two new arrivals did their bit and combined well for both goals.
So, a commanding display at a venue where points are invariably hard won. Liverpool are themselves in the process of rebuilding, and with more new faces, are less far down the road than Arsenal. However, it should be remembered that Wenger’s team won at the same venue last season and still finished 19 points adrift of the leaders. One swallow does not make a summer. Having said that, there is no debate that the team – as a unit – is defending much, much better and that the new players will not hit the ground running. A home win against Southampton in the next fixture will set them up nicely for the matches with Manchester City and Chelsea. Most fans would have settled for five points from the first three games, given two of them were notoriously difficult away trips. Going forward, momentum is key and the new found defensive solidity can only breed confidence in the ability to get results. This looks like a meaner, more efficient Arsenal. There is still room for the passing football, but it is being done by players who seem more focused when it breaks down.
So good news, but the fact the club have spent less then they have earned in the transfer market, with the Arsenal Supporters Trust estimating there is £50 million unused in the player trading account suggests a lack of ambition on the part of the manager to close the gap on the teams that finished above Arsenal last season. No-one is pretending the Gunners can compete with Manchester City and Chelsea in the spending stakes, but one thing Manchester United have shown is that if you do use the money at your disposal it is possible to compete with bigger spending rivals. They swallowed the fee for Robin van Persie, and at the moment, it looks like money well spent.
Naturally, it is early days, but if loss of individual form or injury weakens Arsenal as it did last season, fans will have the right to question whether £50 million serves a football club better sitting in the bank or spent on strengthening the squad. If Arsene Wenger is able to turn around at the end of the campaign having proved you do not need to make the most of your resources to compete, then fair enough. I hope he can, and I hope my own belief that the club have not done their upmost to close the gap is proved incorrect.
Please do not get me wrong, I am delighted with the win yesterday. But just as I would not slam the club for a home draw against Sunderland, I am not going to think we are world beaters after an away win at Anfield – as stated earlier, we managed that in spring as well. The bigger picture is the season, all 38 games of it, and whether the club are in the mix come Easter 2013. The signs are good, principally due to the work of Steve Bould and the compromise of Project Youth. Let us hope they continue, as experience and a sound defence can carry a team a long, long way when they have off days.
Finally, a word about Arsene Wenger’s belief in his players, his protection and nurturing of them and loyalty. Theo Walcott remained on the bench yesterday, having rejected a generous deal to keep him at the club. Alex Song acted unprofessionally and would not knuckle down and do what was asked of him. Nasri and Fabregas departed because they did not believe staying at the club would serve their careers best. All young players that the manager believed, I am sure, ‘got’ the culture of the club and would be around for the long term. Finally, the reality check has hit home and he is now buying experience instead of potential, having been shown that potential is not going to stick around once it has become proven. He has admitted that there is more chance of young British talent remaining, so gradually, more have been given their chance.
So the balance at the club is changing. More experience, more concentration on what happens when possession is lost, more young native players rather than teenage imports. Project youth was an idealistic notion, but in truth, it would have been a first if it beat experience. In its execution, Wenger managed to retain Champions League involvement, but in the end, too many rats left a ship they could see was in danger of sinking. Now we have Captain Bould at the steering wheel, the course looks steadier, the leaks are being repaired. And any Arsenal fan of a particular vintage will tell you how much they love a clean sheet. Another 35 of those and we will all be smiling next May.
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