Kevin Whitcher
Arsenal go into the lead with excellent attacking play – check
Go gung ho chasing further goals as game is winding down – check
Makeshift centre-half done for strength when cross comes into the area – check
Manager uses word 'disappointing' a number of times in post-match interview - check
It’s becoming a little too familiar. The headline is taken from The Guardian’s live blog on the defeat at the Liberty Stadium, so credit where it is due for that. However, no credit to the team or the manager for managing to construe to give away three points from a winning position yesterday.
Swansea, similar to Anderlecht, were a passing side. The Gunners used to make light work of teams that tried to take them on at their own game. As on Tuesday night, they had a tricky left winger who tore Calum Chambers a new a-hole. Jeffersen Montero was too fast for the number 21, and a lot of Swansea’s attacks went through him. With pace an obvious difference between the two, and Hector Bellerin faster than Theo Walcott, might the Gunners have fared better with Monreal on the bench and Chambers partnering Mertesacker?
Not according to Arsene Wenger, who, aside from picking Flamini for the injured Arteta, fielded the same side that started v Anderlecht, presumably on the basis that they could put things right after the collapse on Tuesday. In fairness, they did start with a noticeably harder work ethic, with greater efforts to close the opposition down, especially in their own half. It is perhaps significant that the player who did this most before was schooled at Barcelona, including a first season under Pep Guardiola.
As the rain lashed down, it had that wet Wednesday in Wigan feel with the floodlights on and the players getting drenched. Most of the possession for the early part of the game was enjoyed by the home side, although credit for one thing to Wenger’s preparation – Sigurdsson, often the source of Swansea’s best moves in matches this season, was tightly marked. Chambers was fortunate not to conceded a penalty for pushing Montero in the back. Finally, as half-time neared, the Gunners fashioned a couple of decent chances, one of which Welbeck might have scored if he had chosen to place the ball the other side of Lukas Fabianski.
Finally, shortly after the hour, the breakthrough came with an excellent counter attack, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck and Alexis combining brilliantly. A hard fought lead which the team simply needed to protect. Other chances would come on the break and it would have been a good time to put Theo on for, say, Cazorla.
Chambers may have displayed inexperience at times, but when it came to disrupting Swansea momentum by lying prone on the floor with head injuries, he was very cute. However, such nous was far from evident in the build up to the equalizer, as Arsenal had two outfield players in their own half as Swansea broke. Gibbs had no choice but to make a cynical foul that led to a booking. Yet, by the time he made it, the free kick was in range and well converted by Sigurdsson.
Worse was to follow. Chambers, on a yellow card, allowed Montero to drift past him and get a cross in. Once again Nacho Monreal was done for strength as substitute Gomis easily converted a header. Monreal should not be playing where he is being asked to, a legacy of Wenger’s summer transfer window, compounded by the decision to leave a specialist right back on the bench.
It wasn’t so long ago – the run-in to the 2012-13 season to be precise – when results seemed to matter more. Arsenal played ten matches, won eight and drew two in a desperate, but ultimately successful, attempt to overhaul Spurs and make fourth spot. What has happened to that focus, that pragmatism, that will to – above anything else – win?
Interesting stat that I think I saw on Twitter – Arsenal have conceded six headed goals in the Premier League this season – only the bottom side, Burnley have let in more. Indefensible?
Once Wilshere and Walcott were introduced, Alexis played much deeper. Tactics or frustration? Either way, he was influencing play for the better, but could not do enough to get the required goal. Sanogo was brought on for injury time, whilst the scorer of many a late goal – Podolski – remained on the bench.
It has been suggested that a run of defeats would make Wenger call time on himself. Man Utd and Dortmund at home are followed by West Brom away and Southampton at home. On current form, you could certainly see Arsenal losing the first two, and who knows after that. But one thing is surely true. The Economist will not walk away from £20 million. Sadly, the board may feel they can’t afford to sack him, so I don’t see Wenger going anywhere soon, even though that is what the club desperately needs to happen. The irony is that the board can afford to sack him because of the unused transfer funds. The board pretend it’s £20 million, but in reality it is minimum £40 million and possibly more. The club could, with the knowledge of a new manager, recruit the two desperately needed bodies in January relatively cheaply just to get through the season and get more out of the current squad. These are not all bad players, they have just not been organized and coached as a team. If results are what are required, there may even be an argument to give Steve Bould the rest of the season.
Any time now, the board will meet to rubber stamp next summer’s price rises. The announcement will be delayed until the time is right and the team win a few matches. Although at the current rate, they might be forced to hang on until the middle of May.
Arsenal were winning these types of match last season. They’ve gone backwards since the early spring and those heavy defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea. The FA Cup win was down to fortune in the draw and even then, they came close to cocking it up.
Wenger in the post match interview – “It’s difficult to explain how we lost the game when we were in control.” Really? Anyone could tell you. The manager trusts his players to work it out for themselves, and is constantly disappointed. Should he be surprised? He has too many nice guys in the team. Mertesacker can see what’s wrong ahead of him, but won’t bawl anybody out to change it. Flamini will, but is let down by his own game, and leadership also needs to be done by example.
My only hope is that the club can recruit a decent manager before Alexis gets p***ed off and demands a move.
When Arsenal went 1-0 up, the first thing I did was put a in-play bet on at 3-1 on the result being a draw or home win. Such is my confidence in Arsenal 2014-15.
Incidentally, there is an excellent piece on the differences between Wenger and more tactical managers written by Matthew Whitehouse aka The Whitehouse Address. It can be read on his blog here.
I will be on the panel for this evening’s recording of The Gooner podcast, joined by Mike Francis and the Highbury Spy. Host is Marc Ollington. Please tweet any questions to @goonerpodcast or email them to [email protected]
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
