Kevin Whitcher
There have been a fair number of late winners in Arsenal’s time at the new stadium, although time will tell whether Nicklas Bendtner’s will prove to be the most significant of them all. It was hugely ironic that Theo Walcott, having been missing chances all game, finally found the net in injury time, when it mattered slightly less.
It was a game of largely one-way traffic, in which Arsenal were often guilty of their old habit of overplaying it when they reached the opposition penalty area. This is a tendency which fans had begun to see far less of, but for some reason (Podolski playing as the forward instead of Giroud?) it returned last night. It has to be stamped out forthwith. Shoot, force saves, pounce on rebounds. Sometimes, the beautiful game needs to be left on the training ground. Goals like that Jack Wilshere scored against Norwich are collectors’ items. You can’t rely on those to win titles.
Once again, conditions in North London were not conducive to controlled football. Another wet windy night in which a good number of the crowd in the lower tiers got as much of a soaking as the players, especially in the North Bank. It was a convincing argument for summer football.
Podolski had a fairly quiet match at forward, and occasionally swapped positions with Jack Wilshere. I do not recall his spell in the position being a great success in his first season at the club, although he has been cited as an alternative to Giroud, along with Walcott, throughout the current campaign. I think it’s fair to say that the team missed Giroud last night. Chances were created, but none that could be described as gilt-edged, at least until substitutions were made some way into the second half. Podolski and Flamini were removed, to be replaced by Bendtner and Rosicky, and the home team suddenly looked more dangerous.
Pressure created two excellent set piece chances for Mertesacker, but he failed to find the target. Cardiff clung on, but Bendnter’s presence in the middle made the use of width far more effective, and the goal eventually came from a cross that was met by Sagna, with the great Dane snapping up the rebound, injuring his ankle in the process. Relief isn’t the word, with Manchester City having won earlier and Chelsea leading comfortably at Southampton. In the few remaining minutes, Theo scored one of those dinked over the keeper goals that have become his trademark.
It was a difficult afternoon not because Cardiff posed any threat, but because they were so belligerent and hard to break down. They deserve some credit for that, but no points. As entertainment, it wasn’t much of a spectacle, but no-one cares how the points are won any more. If the team are going to challenge for the title in the coming months, more of the old-style Arsenal will be required. Narrow wins by hook or by crook, based on defensive resilience.
The team are a different proposition now because Arsene Wenger – and credit to him for seeing the light – has changed his ways. Now the average age of the team is far higher than it was. The blend of younger players and experienced heads is far better, with the latter now balling out their colleagues for errors on the pitch and making sure that when mistakes are made, it is not a case of heads dropping but an immediate enquiry as to what went wrong. So leaders like Mertesacker and Flamini are calling a spade a spade and harmony is achieved after the required result, but not during the 90 minutes. This process began after the 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford in August 2011 and the sudden switch in purchasing policy that brought five new faces into the squad overnight, all of them over 25. The following summer, established players – Podolski, Cazorla and Giroud – were bought. Monreal, Flamini and Ozil have joined since. Project Youth is a distant memory, although some of the youngsters who suffered whilst it was being attempted have become experienced campaigners simply by surviving it. One also assumes that the promotion of Steve Bould to assistant coach is a factor in improved defensive habits.
What this unit of players now needs to do is prove they are winners. In a warped sense, the wild celebrations over making 4th place at the end of last season are significant in this light. The team beat the odds to achieve that with an incredible sequence of wins that proved something to themselves. Certainly, although the race for a the notorious 4th place trophy was old news that failed to capture the imagination of many frustrated Gooners, the 2012-13 version was achieved against long odds after the early March loss at Tottenham, and specifically its nature. And, taking the home Villa defeat as an aberration, the consistency demonstrated was carried over into the early part of the current season, which is why Arsenal are top of the league going into 2014.
Equally important has been the demonstration that the team can recover from reverses, which for many seasons has not always been the case. The Villa defeat, the Old Trafford loss and the Manchester City trouncing this season have not been followed by lengthy spells of dropped points. The last three matches specifically have demonstrated that Arsenal are capable of winning in different ways, sometimes in adverse circumstances. It is the stuff of title winners if they can keep it going and either rely on challengers dropping cheap points, or meet them head to head and do better than they have done of late.
Bendtner’s injury, with concerns about Giroud, focuses matters on the striker position. The team cannot get away with playing either Podolski or Walcott there for long. Yaya Sanogo may be Nicolas Anelka circa 1998, but I wouldn’t bet on it and frankly, when is he going to be fit anyway? Park Chu-Young anyone? Arsenal are making active enquiries about Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa and they certainly have the funds to secure him. Atletico’s continued involvement in the Champions League may make this a difficult proposition, but everyone is available at the right price. The other name I have heard being bandied around is Olympiacos striker Konstantinos Mitroglou, although I have no idea whether he is regarded as a serious option, which apparently, Costa is.
Ultimately, it boils down to this. How long will Giroud be out for? Can he be relied upon to play for the remainder of the season at the same level he has achieved so far once he does return? Will he get injured again? Is Bendtner good enough to come in and do a job if he does? All a bit of a gamble, but the signing of a major striker would be a statement of intent. Manchester City have Aguero, Negredo and Dzeko. Chelsea have Torres, Eto’o and Ba. Arsenal have Giroud, Bendtner and Sanogo. And even with rose-tinted spectacles, when will any of them be next available for selection? The January transfer window is open now…
The current issue of The Gooner featuring a free 2014 ‘Wow Signings’ calendar will be on sale at the FA Cup home match against Spurs, as well as away at Villa. It can also be bought online here.
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