Kevin Whitcher
Looking back over the last four months, Arsenal’s season seems to be characterized by good runs of four or five decent results coming to an end with blips. Since the Monaco debacle, the team have won four out of four, including the FA Cup game at Old Trafford. There is optimism, with Manchester City’s slump in form, that second place is achievable.
Such a finish would undoubtedly indicate progress, but with a hint of frustration that the ground lost at the start of the season could have been avoided with a better summer transfer window. It certainly appears that Arsenal win more matches with a genuine defensive midfielder (such as Coquelin) rather than those who do not fulfill the role as naturally (Arteta and Flamini). Yesterday, against West Ham, Coquelin was partnered by Aaron Ramsey, as Santi Cazorla was rested. It will give the manager a decision to make on Tuesday night in France, as Ramsey was Arsenal’s standout player.
The player is still working to regain the pace he had in the first half of last season, but, as was pointed out on TV last night, he is the kind of runner that Ozil needs to make the number 11 more effective in Arsenal’s line-up. I kept a close eye on Ozil during yesterday’s match, to see what exactly he does when he is perceived to be lacking influence. He drifts around in space, sometimes waiting to receive the ball, but not too often working hard to make sure an easy pass is on. He is certainly an intelligent footballer, and can read what is ahead during a move in terms of his options and other players’ movements, but it would appear he preserves his physical energy. There were times when he could have dropped deeper to influence more, or made a five yard sprint to provide an option, but chose to wait for the play to develop. Whether this is right or wrong is one for debate, but most fans would prefer an Arsenal player of his ability to be hungrier to influence, which is why Alexis is so popular, with desire in spades. The latter’s problem is that he tries too hard to do it all himself sometimes, to the detriment of the team.
When Ozil did get involved yesterday, often, possibilities opened up. His part in the first goal was overshadowed by the combination between Ramsey and Giroud, but it was Ozil’s pass that set the wheels in motion. He shot with his right foot straight at the keeper later, with Walcott missing his third decent chance of the half from the rebound. Theo’s first, arguably a penalty, should have been a shot before the defender got near enough to challenge, but the number 14’s hesitation was criminal.
Regardless, the opposition seemed fairly unambitious about going forward except for some forays which exposed Calum Chambers at right back. When Arsenal scored just before the interval, I was thankful because I believed we might see a football match break out in the second half. But it wasn’t to be. West Ham were very poor and looked content to avoid a bad defeat. They have slipped away very badly since the turn of the year, and if Sam Allardyce’s contract does expire this summer, as I believe is the case, it will be intriguing to see whether they stick with him for the final season at Upton Park. Perhaps the likelihood he would keep them in the Premier League for that vital first campaign in the Olympic Stadium might see him retained. West Ham can’t really afford to take chances with that on the horizon. The fans though, would undoubtedly welcome change.
So the second half saw more of the same, although at least with a couple of meaningful Hammers’ chances. But the pattern was largely as before, with Arsenal controlling the match to the degree that there were less nerves than normal about a one goal lead. Eventually, an excellent combination between Giroud and Ramsey saw a second goal, and shortly after a move involving Giroud and the three subs saw Flamini make it a very comfortable afternoon. A word for Giroud. He has banished any demons that the Monaco match might have left with good performances and goals since. There is a huge debate about whether he is good enough to turn Arsenal into genuine title contenders. My view is this. In Arsenal’s current formation, in which he is the pivotal striker, he will not score enough goals to do that. I think the answer is either to play 4-4-2 so he can share the scoring burden with another, or buy better and use him as back up. Unfortunately, his lack of pace is a weakness, and Arsenal will be a nearly team unless the forward issue is resolved. That is not to criticize Giroud as a footballer – he never hides. But he was bought for £12 million, and it’s a case of you get what you pay for.
To finish on Ozil, he had a decent chance on his left foot to score in the second half at 1-0, but amazingly chose to cross to Walcott across the box, with a ball that, maybe Giroud could have made something of, but Theo could not. The German’s shot shy approach got a lot of moans from the crowd, which I could only agree with. He loves an assist, but this was a great chance to score, with bodies in the box for a rebound if he failed to beat the keeper. Overall, the conclusion would be, great talent, but needs to be more assertive.
Looking at Tuesday evening at Monaco, all the Gunners need to do is repeat yesterday’s scoreline and look forward to the quarter final draw on Friday. Simple, eh?
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
The current issue of The Gooner can be bought online here. It will also be on sale at the away games at Monaco and Newcastle.
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Further Reading
A sequel to Arsènal – The Making of a Modern Superclub and entitled Arsène and Arsenal The Quest to Rediscover Past Glories has been written by myself and co-author Alex Fynn. It takes up the story of the club from the last update of the previous book, and can be bought online here. Use the promo code ‘Gooner’ to get 10% off the publisher’s price of £8.99.
