Neil A. Fry, Arsenal Audit
This review of September was finished late because of work pressures and submitted shortly before the Swansea City match.
Captaincy and leadership
Ahead of the PSG match and following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s move to Manchester United, Monsieur Wenger noted that PSG had “lost more than a player … He was the leader, the captain, a charismatic carrier of the ambition of the club and it’s always difficult to measure when you lose a player of that stature, how big the damage is.” The irony of having recently appointed a Captain with a long term injury and little apparent future at the Club seemed entirely lost on Arsenal’s manager. The difference between Ibrahimovic and Arsenal’s triumvirate of absentee Captains appointed or retained despite injuries and losses of form could hardly be more palpable.
With the new de facto Captain Laurent Koscielny another preferring to lead quietly by example, the more vocal and organisational contributions of Shkodran Mustafi are very welcome. Similarly, along with Petr Cech, perhaps Granit Xhaka can also add much needed leadership to the spine of the team.
Substitutions
Substitutions were less of an issue with four of the matches pretty much won early. Struggling against Southampton, the first two came early in the customary range at 62 mins. At PSG, with Arsenal somewhat over-run, Olivier Giroud came on after 63 minutes and did offer a useful outlet – at least until his petulant antics drew another Champions League red card. Then Granit Xhaka came on in a straight swap for Francis Coquelin at 71 minutes. 7 minutes after the equaliser, Mohamed Elneny came on for Mesut Ozil to safeguard the point. Surely, Arsenal's richer defensive/ central midfield resources could have been juggled faster and to better effect?
Rotation
The decision to return to rotating goalkeepers in the Champions League after last season’s Olympiacos home debacle, not least in the Group’s most challenging fixture (on paper: Arsenal’s home fixtures are arguably of more concern), smacked of the total arrogance of an unaccountable manager that had almost become the Club. Nevertheless, whilst David Ospina did have an outstanding match at PSG, it seems a remarkable approach to Europe’s premier competition. Monsieur Wenger explained that he has two world class goalkeepers and the arrangement was designed to keep him with the Club. Whilst the Columbian international did have a very good Copa America in the summer, Arsenal Audit is surely far from alone in disagreeing with that status. Having brutally cast Joe Hart aside, we can only wonder of what Pep Guardiola would make of the diminutive goalkeeper’s weaknesses over crosses and lack of command of the penalty beyond the 6-yard line, let alone his remarkably short kicking range and poor distribution. Nevertheless, having elected to go down that route, the Champions League may be the most logical competition in which to play. He is less likely to be tested by crosses and high balls than in the Premier League (albeit he is likely to face even worse in the FA Cup if drawn against lower league sides). Secondly, even if Arsenal finally managed to progress beyond Round 16 for once, there is little realistic chance of winning the competition.
With a squad finally assembled that appears fit for purpose, stronger down the spine and with no significant gaps, longstanding weaknesses have been filled. There are richer resources at centre-back (5 established in that position, not 3) and apart from the new incumbent Alexis at centre-forward, there is also Lucas Perez, Danny Welbeck (when fit) and Olivier Giroud to choose from. It is however, at defensive / central midfield where the options have been scarcest / negligible/ nil. Now in addition to Francis Coquelin (who has been strong) and Santi Carzola, Arsenal can call upon Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny – a far cry from the ageing and usually injured Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta.
The triple goalkeeping rotation apart, Monsieur Wenger has (domestic Cups excepted), so far, continued his longstanding reluctance to rotate. At PSG Granit Xhaka would have added physicality and Mohamed Elneny, energy, pace and movement between the lines that was sorely missed. There is also the worry that Arsenal are risking the traditional pivots being over-relied upon and suffering serious injuries again, particularly with the physical demands of successfully executing the contre-presser. Apart from sensible small-scale rotation enabling positive tactical nuances, they also foster unpredictability and make it more difficult for the opposition to set up.
Tactical approaches
Arsenal started the season with a new tactical approach. Unfortunately, the gegen-press quickly evaporated against Liverpool and Arsenal Audit was sceptical that a team that have historically lacked the requisite discipline could successfully implement it. Arsenal were vulnerable in the month’s opening fixture against Southampton, yet the high press increasingly bedded in and was seen to great effect against Chelsea and Basel. Against both, once the damage was done, with a tactic that benefits from measured application, not 90 minutes every match of the season, the hand-brake was sensibly applied.
Offensively, pace, fluidity and penetration have largely replaced last season’s often laboured lateral fare. In the false 9 position, Alexis’s movement drags defenders out of position and frees up space for Theo Walcott to race into the corridor of uncertainty between full back and centre back. And with Alex Iwobi, adding further fluidity and movement, his eye for a pass has led to him over-taking Mesut Ozil as the Clubs chief Premier League provider (3 assists to 0).
Defensively, and certainly since Shkodran Mustafi made his debut at the beginning of the month, Arsenal have also looked much stronger than last season at centre-back. A goal in each of the first three matches was followed by three September clean sheets (albeit Rob Holding and Gabriel Armando de Abreu were partly responsible for one of them). Mustafi, possessing both pace and aggression, appears comfortable on the front foot attacking the ball and getting in interceptions early and, by the end of the month, the first choice centre-backs seem to have formed a good understanding.
There must be question marks over the future of two long established players who seem to lack the requisite pace for Arsenal’s contre-presser: Captain Mertesacker (once he returns from injury) and Olivier Giroud.
Whilst having made an unfavourable reference to Per Mertesacker lumbering towards the touchline to allow Delli Ali to set up Harry Kane’s goal in the draw at Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal Audit has, nevertheless, regarded the retired 104 cap German international more positively than many. By the time he returns from injury the 32-year-old will have just months left on his contract. It is hard to begin to imagine him operating in a high-press and whereas he has been a focal point for moving the ball out from defence, Shkodran Mustafi is very good at stepping out himself, and faster, and also has the pace to recover. And, above all, he has pace and aggression in applying the press and getting quick challenges in higher up the pitch.
With his customary harrying of defenders roaming from the left, Alexis’s high energy combative game is a natural for the pressing game. As an internal solution for the problematic recruitment of a world-class centre-forward, it was something many supporters wanted to revisit. Many wanted to give up early. Some remain unconvinced, but it seems increasingly viable. Monsieur Wenger’s comments about the internet and social media age we live in smacked of more arrogance; but perhaps recalling his patience over his remodelling of an initially stuttering Thierry Henry he had a point? Many had long since given up on the much maligned Olivier Giroud and it seems Monsieur Wenger’s has joined them. Certainly, Lucas Perez and, when he returns from injury, Danny Welbeck seem far better suited to the new tactical approach. Nevertheless, once recovered from his toe ailment, his 3 substitute appearances (and just a total 51 minutes for the season so far) suggest could still be a useful plan B or C.
British core
Evidence of unsuccessful transfer activity has emerged this month from two intended targets. One (the other was Riyad Mahrez), full back Djibril Sidebe was intended to principally to cover the left-back position, but preferred the right and feared he wouldn’t get enough games. Kieron Gibbs appears to have no such qualms and has yet to start a Premier League match. Nevertheless, he had a decent match at Hull and has done a good job when called on as a substitute.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain was been taken off in all three Premier League starts, and again at PSG. In his 8 appearances in all competitions, totalling 433 minutes, he has a return of 2 goals and an assist. This actually betters his return for the whole of last season (1 goal and 2 assists) from 32 appearances, but he seems no closer to being any more than a squad player.
Of course it was Theo Walcott, who has become an automatic starter, that has grabbed the most September headlines. In the first Arsenal Audit published on this site, Theo Walcott’s poor season was cited to highlight both the evermore fading ideal of Monsieur Wenger’s British core becoming the loyal future of the Club and the enduring physical brittleness of Arsenal. Walcott hurdling over Younes Kabul’s tackle when potentially in on goal in what was a perceived must win match was used to highlight the stark contrast with Leicester City’s willingness to put their bodies on the line.
Monsieur Wenger publicly outing him Jose Mourhino-style as a defensive liability on the wing and not starting him, in the absence of many options, at centre-forward had suggested his time was up.
Those words and being left out of England’s Euro 2016 squad seem to have brought about a change in attitude and application. Perhaps Arsenal’s pursuit of the hard-working Jamie Vardy and a realisation that with a game that relies almost entirely on pace, at 27, he hasn’t that long left in the game at the top level added to that. Of course, it begs the question of why Walcott didn’t head off to the gym more and apply himself previously and why Monsieur Wenger indulged him so? Nevertheless, when he came to Arsenal 10 years ago the pressing tactic was yet to emerge from Germany and no one expected Thierry Henry to track back. And Walcott’s was not alone in his lack of application as England colleague Daniel Sturridge’s difficulties in applying himself to Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpress and team ethos at Liverpool has shown. But, no matter how much he used to crave the centre forward position, Theo will never become another Thierry Henry.
His forceful run and headed first goal of his two against Basel demonstrated the improvement in application in attack, it his defensive contributions that have raised most eyebrows. Remarkably, he made more tackles (12) in his first six Premier League appearances this season than he managed in the last two seasons combined (11). Alexis has led the way with his work-rate and harrying of the opposition ever since joining the Club. Their comparative Premier League stats, from 7 matches and similar game-time, are revealing: Walcott 13 tackles compared to Alexis’s 6; 4 clearances to 0; 6 interceptions to 2; and 25 recoveries to 13. The big test for Theo is to keep doing his talking on the pitch, rather than the interview room. Nevertheless, Arsenal Audit’s abiding memory of his contribution so far this season was the block against Chelsea that seemed right out of Leicester’s (last season) text book.
Arsenal’s prospects for the remaining season
With some help from the Premier Leagues only unbeaten team, second placed Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal’s good month has closed the gap on leaders Manchester City to 2 points and largely overcome the poor start of season preparation. Liverpool have also started well, whereas it has taken a while for the new managers at Manchester United and Chelsea to bed in. It still looks like being a very difficult and very competitive season. The contre-presser has started to show signs that an old dog can learn new tricks after all and for Arsenal Audit the adoption, at last, of a more modern tactical new approach is very welcome. Theo Walcott has been good, so far. The use of Alexis as a false 9 is looking increasingly worthwhile. Alex Iwobi’s emergence has continued apace and Arsenal are no longer so reliant on Mesut Ozil. The new signing Shkodran Mustafi has bolstered the defence. The spine and squad are the best for many many seasons. Substitutions remain a concern, but the biggest worry is that opportunities for small scale sensible rotation continue to be missed and apart from the tactical benefits this may exacerbate Arsenal’s historically poor record with injuries. The draw at PSG and commanding win over Basel suggest that maybe Arsenal may make it beyond R16 in the Champions League for once. After a bad and then good two months, it is too early to say if Arsenal look any more likely to finish any higher than the Club’s comfort zone Premier League fourth place - the first two League fixtures next month will offer a better indication. Before then Arsenal need to mind the banana skins and keep their good form going in a series of very winnable fixtures.
