Kevin Whitcher
Home to Villa and away to Fenerbahce. Who, on paper, could have predicted the contrast between these two matches? Having looked so porous and unfocussed on Saturday, last night’s victory was confirmation that with Arsenal, you just never know what you are going to get. And that inconsistency looked, for a short while, as if it could be eroded as the Gunners put together the run that took then to this qualifier at the conclusion of last season.
If Arsenal could play like this every week…
Even in the microcosm of the last ten days, we have seen quality performances against Manchester City and last night, sandwiching the horror of Saturday. Were Fenerbahce so poor they made Arsenal look like world beaters? They certainly allowed the visitors to control the game for all but the briefest of spells. In fairness, they did call on Szczesny to start rebuilding his reputation with a couple of excellent saves, although by that time, Arsenal had secured their key goals.
The injury that removed Laurent Koscielny from the fray meant Bacary Sagna once again switched to central defence, and his performances there have looked good enough for the idea of a long term new contract to be offered to the player. As a utility defender, he would be a big loss next summer. Arsenal certainly looked no weaker with him playing there instead of Kos.
The midfield axis of Wilshere and Ramsey looked better than it did against Villa, although they were rarely tested as they had been four days earlier. It helped that the players seemed to be more up for this match, challenging early and not allowing the Turkish side any time on the ball. The mark of many a successful European side in recent years. The question is why this kind of hunger to compete often seems lacking in domestic games, as if it is felt unnecessary.
Aaron Ramsey played exceptionally well and has unquestionably grown as a player since being given a run in the side in his natural position. It was interesting to see that the first goal was the creation of a triangle of British players – Ramsey, Walcott and Gibbs.
That came in the second half. The first had seen plenty of possession, but a lack of cutting edge. But after the interval, Walcott really started to give the Turks’ left back some problems, with two of the three goals the consequence. One thing to note was that, when I noticed the possession stats, they looked fairly similar to the Villa game. However, last night, the difference was that the Gunners finally broke through. My conclusion is that if Fenerbahce hasd offered the style of resistance that Villa did, they would have ended the game with eight men. So in that sense, Europe suits Arsenal better. They can play their football with greater protection from the referee, which will see them progress until they meet a team that is simply better at producing possession football, and get exposed.
One unfortunate message that last night sends out, which will frustrate those wishing the club to push on, is that fourth place does look good enough to secure Champions League group stage qualification (and access to the big pot of money). It has ever since the new stadium and has realistically, become the height of the club’s ambition, looking at the prudence in the transfer market. Were Arsenal eliminated at this stage, the assumption that you will get rewarded (financially) even if you do not overhaul one of the big three would be blown to pieces. As it is, expectations will continue to be managed if Arsenal start lagging behind in the league, although it will be a harder job to convince people that the club is unable to compete after the proclamations of spending power this summer, borne out by independent analysis.
The club always goes on about how marvelous the away support is. It is a shame that they would not run a trip to this tie simply because they would not make any money from it. As a consequence, of the small contingent that were in the stadium to witness this performance, less than 50 were from the UK, having had to make their own arrangements to get there at the height of the holiday season. That the club would not help out fans by running a trip is a reflection on their true feelings about the supporters. If they can’t make money from them, then they aren’t so important after all.
Back in June, Ivan Gazidis stated that the club did not need to wait until the Champions League group stage before splashing the cash in the transfer market, however, who knows if the manager felt the same. Certainly, there is a long history of money not being spent before the club are certain of their share of the CL pot of silver. Wenger will laud his players for their win last night, but they were largely the same individuals who stiffed against Villa. At least the next ten days looks a bit less intensive than they did. Focus will be required next Tuesday, but energies can be conserved to an element, with the most effort required in the matches with Fulham and Tottenham. The referees in those matches will allow a lot more foul play without any real disincentive than a continental one, and this is something the Gunners will have to learn to cope with as Villa have shown it can be a successful tactic.
However, as for Europe, Arsene Wenger has another year to brag about continuous qualification. Just a shame he cannot produce a team that will win the damned trophy.
To end on a lighter note, a classic text message received from Doktor Schneide last night…
It has just been said that Laurent Koscielny is still being stitched up in the dressing room. Give it another eight years and he’ll know what it feels like to be a Gooner…
That’s even better than Saturday’s ‘Buy no-one, get 1-3’
This season’s first issue of The Gooner (with exclusive material unavailable elsewhere) can be bought outside the stadium before the matches against Fenerbahce and Spurs. Also outside Fulham next Saturday. It can also be mailed to you if you wish to buy it online.
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