Kevin Whitcher
I haven’t seen any coverage of Arsene Wenger’s post match comments after yesterday evening’s scoreless game at West Ham, but to me it demonstrated his team has run out of ideas. Fresh impetus is needed.
After a disappointing performance at Southampton, the manager tried to provide this by ringing the changes. Out went three at the back, as Mertesacker was sacrificed. The biggest surprise was the selection of right-footed Ainsley Maitland-Niles instead of the benched Sead Kolasinac on the left side. In came Jack Wilshere as Aaron Ramsey was injured. The extra player up front was Alex Iwobi, with Olivier Giroud replacing Alexandre Lacazette at centre forward.
Arsenal dominated possession and territory, their hosts often putting nine outfield players behind the ball. Wenger’s team played into their hands, with more crab football than a Ray Wilkins highlights reel. Frankly, it was deathly dull, although the Gunners did try to provide some excitement by allowing the Hammers the odd chance at the other end, although fortunately when David Moyes’ side did score, it was flagged offside. In the first half, Arsenal, in spite of their having most of the ball, registered a solitary shot on target, a tame effort from Alexis Sanchez.
The Chilean did not have a good night, his passes often going astray, or his shots blocked. There is a view that he is playing more for himself than the team, but has he really changed? The brightest moments came from Jack Wilshere, who at least attempted to burst through the West Ham lines. Playing Giroud should have meant more success with crosses into the box, but he was well-martialed and often there was not another player close enough to him to benefit from knock downs.
The rain poured down in the second half, to reflect the cold, damp squib of a game. Arsenal got into danger areas, but generally fired their efforts high or wide, an Alexis free-kick the closest they got to scoring. He was subbed eventually, and didn’t seem too bothered. The passion has gone. And the same could be said of the team generally of late. Nice easy wins against Huddersfield and Bate Borisov should not deflect from the reality that when the team face credible resistance, they struggle. There seems a lack of wit or invention to overcome more committed opposition. Leicester beat Southampton at St Mary's 4-1, where Arsenal laboured for most of the game to score a solitary goal.
It’s end of days stuff we are watching here. There are decent players in the squad, but few are playing to anywhere near their potential. They do what Arsene tells them to – keep ball, work the angles, try and break through the lines with incisive passing – and more often than not, frustration results. The away end has apparently been fairly mooted this season. They go, out of habit, but have already given up. The only saving grace of this match was that, for most, the trip home would not have been as lengthy as some.
It’s difficult to see any justification for allowing the manager to oversee more of the same next season. With the recent changes, it would not be too much of a surprise to learn that a new first team coach is already being lined up for 2018-19. On current form, Arsenal will struggle to make the top four, and their chances of winning the Europa League will surely fall apart once they draw a team with a decent manager who knows how to play two-legged result football. Arsene will receive his final year’s salary as pay-off and a new coach will arrive to re-invigorate the players that remain and, critically, the new arrivals scouted by Sven Mislintat and bought by Raul Sanllehi. The latter won’t start work until after the January transfer window, but this season’s gone already, as most people who watched Arsenal the previous campaign could have predicted. The club needs one more change before they can start the job of meaningful re-building. Hindsight tells us this process should have begun in 2009, but better late than never.
For most of the second half yesterday, Arsene Wenger, unlike in the first, remained rooted to the bench, some 30 metres away from the touchline. When interviewed for one of the books on his Arsenal that I co-wrote with Alex Fynn, he was asked why he preferred to sit at pitch level, when he could see much more from a higher pew. He responded to the effect that he could not bear the separation from his players. The second half yesterday suggested the separation is now terminal. As his players have given up on him and his stale approach, the manager has given up himself. He tried a couple of late subs in the form of Welbeck and Lacazette but it made no difference.
West Ham celebrated the 0-0 wildly at the full time whistle. Arsenal fans were dejected. It’s all about perspective I guess. In their position, every point is precious.
I’ll leave you with something to enjoy more than last night’s match. On Sunday Doktor Schneide sent me a text after watching the Southampton game. I responded to say I wasn’t doing the editorial on it, but would use it in future. I didn’t have to wait long. His take on things…
Arsenal: Guilty of possession with little intent to supply
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