I have had this thought in my mind for a long while – to create a comprehensive list of weaknesses of Arsenal as identified by fans, pundits, and others.
This list is not a judgement on the club, manager, or the players. All the criticisms in this list aren’t necessarily valid. I believe most of these arguments don’t hold water upon closer inspection but want to avoid a debate on the merits of each, at least for the time being. Since everyone has their favourite gripes against the club and those working for it, such a debate will go out of control in no time.
I just want to put down everything in one place and see how the opinions compare to it over the course of the season. If time permits I will also try to see how other teams fare against this list. I think it will provide us a good benchmark and some interesting discussion points over the course of the season. So please help me in building this list by mentioning any supposed weaknesses that I miss out on (There are so many complaints that I am sure to forget a fair few of them).
I have broadly classified this into criticisms of Players, Manager, and Board.
Players
- Strikers (and others in general) are not clinical enough
- Club lacks a 20 goal a season striker
- Big stars were never replaced
- Players lack a winning mentality
- Players lack leadership
- Central defenders don’t command their area
- There is no organizer in the team
- Full-backs can’t cross
- Full-backs can’t block crosses
- Very few players can attack balls put in the box
- Players can’t defend set-pieces
- Can’t defend long balls
- Attacking set-pieces are wasted
- No consistent free-kick taker
- Club lacks a world class goalkeeper
- Don’t shoot from outside the box often enough
- Not physical (big,tall) enough for the Premier League
- Lack grit and determination
- Some players are lazy
- Some players lack commitment
- Get injured on a regular basis
- Cannot hold on to leads
- Cannot counter-attack at pace
Wenger (and staff)
- Tactically – Anywhere from weak to utterly clueless
- Defensive coaching is poor
- Playing style lacks balance
- Lack of a plan B
- Blind to obvious problems
- No/Poor training on attacking and defending set-pieces
- Reluctant to spend money
- Arrogant
- Stubborn
- Gives ridiculous interviews/ Makes excuses
- Rewards underperforming players
- Happy to finish fourth – lacks winning mentality
- Prefers tika-taka football and ignores the other needs of the team (many points mentioned under players)
- No 2 and others are ‘Yes Men’
- Medical staff cannot keep players injury free
Board/Owners/Management
- Greedy
- Happy with fourth as long as Champions League money is coming in
- Don’t care about fans
- New owner(s) just want to make money
- Not interested in investing in the club
- Sold the club short on commercial deals
- New commercial team has not performed
That’s all I can think for now. Please add to it based on what you’ve read over the last season or two. I realize there is a bit of redundancy but I want to err on the side of excess rather than leave something out.
Just so no one gets me wrong, I want to reiterate this is not a list of weaknesses/problems that I agree with. It’s just a collection of top criticisms that I have heard or read in the past two years. Some of these concerns are valid, some are partially valid and others are just a result of the fans’ frustration or borne from the creative minds of anti-Arsenal hacks and pundits.
Of course, if we take some distance and look at this list, it is startling at the very least. How can a team with 23 issues (can increase based on your suggestions) of such magnitude with an additional 15 against the manager and his staff come in the top four of the Premier League with such consistency? Surely others who have spent hundreds of millions must finish above such an Arsenal side, no? It took Man City more than half a billion pounds and three years just to finish three points above the Gunners with so many issues? Why haven’t the Tiny Totts overtaken the Gunners despite doing what many Gooners have been asking for (sacking managers, selling and buying players in bulk)?
As I said I don’t want to judge anyone or discuss any of these points so will leave you with these observations and those questions. I will return to this post tomorrow with an interesting comparison and then again during the course of the season when something relevant turns up.
Desi Gunner 
looking forward to seeing a list of the strengths of the club.positive article would be great
That’s a very interesting suggestion. A general list of strengths would be hard to make, I can only write my own opinion.
I hope this isn’t coming across as a negative piece because that’s not the intention. Quite the opposite. Hence the double disclaimer. I know it’s easy to think that way given the general mood and tone of many articles on the Arsenalsphere.
The reason I mentioned those questions at the end is that those who really believe in the above points have to explain how Arsenal have stayed in the top four and what the strengths of the team are.
Most of the times people pick a few of the above mentioned issues to criticize the club/Wenger/players. Based on the flavour of the month I guess. But when we put it all together it really is staggering.
in Singapore, there’s a joke that’s the number 1 hobby here is complain, complain, complain .. hahaha, guess the same can be said for most gooners …
Anyway, i agree with one of the comment that this article is unusual for your blog standard. I would suggest however, (if i may & to build up the point above) to take a look on each 1st eleven position and its cover of Arsenal and compare it with our top 4 rivals. Likely we’ll see some of the myths that some people mentioned don’t hold at all and some of the key areas that we likely need to be strengthen.
For instance, in CB we have TV & DJ as starter with Kos & Jenkinson/Squilacci/Bartley as cover. Is it good enough? Do we need to keep throwing names like Cahill and Samba as if we have defense like Blackpool?
In comparison, for DMC, we have Alex song with Denilson /Frimpong as cover. Honestly, i am more worry on this part.
And how bout those position compare to MU, Chelsea & MC?
Whoa man didn’t expect you of all people to come out with such an article. I personally don’t agree with most of the above, however some weaknesses are blindingly obvious.
Wenger just stated that we don’t need any more defenders, so the most gooners can hope for is for our youngsters to shine through. Lets hope its a breakthrough season for the likes of bartley, gibbs/traore and vela.
May I ask what you mean by “such an article”?
The reason I am asking is that my intention was to collect all the criticisms in one place without sounding too negative. That’s the reason I wrote the clarification twice. But if it’s still coming across as negative I don’t really know what else to do. Any suggestions?
What i meant was that you usually present hard facts or analysis. This article seems more of a frustration-venting exercise.
There’s enough negativity in the blogosphere already, that’s all, Sorry if i came across as overly critical, but i guess its natural for a gooner to be a little touchy during transfer season. 😉
Don’t bother. Even if you’d put the clarification in bold and double the font size some dunderheads would have missed it. These are people who read the headline, scan a couple of lines from the article and form an opinion.
@steve
I have taken your comment as a suggestion and put it in bold.
@adi
I can see why you might feel that way but I think this is important because this way we have a reference point for the future. It also puts a lot of the criticism in perspective.
Honestly I like what you have put down,its somethings that I have been sayn for awhile now..very good observation..my fellow gunner..
ha ha ha Jesus TF Christ! Desi, maybe you should print your disclaimer on real banners and send it to the readers! Hows that for a suggestion!
A Nice positive article to lead the new Season in with…..
No wonder the atmosphere is so poor, when before a ball has been kicked, the team are slammed with this crap from an apparent supporter.
Last season started the same, but as the team performed the snipping dropped off…. only to be magnified when something went wrong due to clowns like you writing with the intention to inflame.
You say not to judge you with this article, but then why print it if you don’t agree? What exactly are you trying to achieve?
Propaganda, wind the fans up before the season begins…. now that’s really going to help the team.
Mate,
Desi didn’t say don’t judge him. He said he is not judging anyone.
Take a deep breath and read the article again. You’ve missed the point and your ill-conceived rant doesn’t help the atmosphere now, does it?
Are you new here?
Great stuff desi…..hope all these weaknesses are addressed in due time before the season kicks off.
LOL… what a list. Having suffered from many such pointless criticisms for a long time, I can see the need for putting it all together.
You forgot
1) Not enough English players
2) Awful PR from the club
3) Usmanov’s cash not being used
4) Money being spent on real estate projects and not on the squad
Will add if I recall something.
It bothers me that half of the people who have posted comments seem to have missed the disclaimer and intention of the article….Let’s assume that they did not read the whole post cause, i cant find another explanation. I for one think that this is a good write up and something that we can look back at when the new season comes to an end….I believe this season we will deliver… as much as many of you would bash me for saying this … I think that we are close.
Desi … always enjoy your posts…keep up the good work
It’s funny in life everyone understands and looks at things differently! Desi was not complaining but he put down negative criticisms aimed at the club from a minority of gooners! That’s why he asked a QN why is that a team with lots of weakneses finishes above people who spend big money year after year
We will deliver the next season, we are mature from the experience of last season,
oh, we have heard that before, have not we!
AND we’ve also heard plenty of poof-fans like you saying: “we’ve heard that before, have not we!.”
Tell me you were not impressed and happy when we beat Barcelona at the Emirates last year and I’ll say you know little about football and about ARSENAL.
We are a club that finishes 4th every year at least.. but we are at least a team that can beat anyone… and have struggled with consistency, and getting morally crushed at the end of every season. Resillience and not giving away points against lower ranked teams… not giving away the lead is another REAL problem.. these are all PLAYER related problems and collective team mentality. It is down to the players at the end of the day…
Maradona was terrible in his first world cup in 82… he was sent off in one game. Messi and Argentina were the favorites to win the Copa at home this summer but Uruguay had the spirit.
I am one that believes our team has spirit… I remember the faces of the players when they lost in the Carling Cup final last year to Birmingham at the ceremony and I see how this is experience you can never get in training… they were all so stung and they are a group of players that have been together for a long time in comparison to most clubs… the average age has risen ONE YEAR.
Let’s get em gunners…. Starting with NEWCASTLE. WE ARE THE SONS OF TODAY!
Sounds depressing ain’t it? Dessi I always enjoy your articles. I’m going to take the liberty and add your point view about the aformentioned problems. In short, you asked. How can a club with million problems stay near the mountain top? Because smart, schred, and calculating Bastards run the club. They put in place a business model ( buy young and talented )that works for them and has an identity. Arsenal is a big successful club. We the fans want! (Check that) need to see that success translated into trouphies and bragging rights. They the money making ( chance to shine and develop) giving bastards hope the same. But they stick to their principles because that is their identity and it works for them. Nonetheless, the Smart Bastards that run our beloved club hope that most of your percieved list of weaknesses will go away. By winning the CCup atleast. So we the fans and others grow frustrated and hope that they change their identity! Time will tell, but I will leave it here before I (foolishgooner) self- destruct. Looking forward to a discussion of what makes a big club big? Financial strenght? Trophies? Staying relative and some what successful? A pure unfounded claim? History and past glory? Cheers gooners.
Good article……………. Truly identified………..
Arsenal is just a profit making business.
This is not a great Football club anymore.
U also left out continuity desi. No team goes through the changes we go through on a seasonal basis. Look at our defense post invincible era…kolo toure big Sol then it was kolo and senderos later it metamorphosed into toure and gallas. Then gallas and verm, verm koshielny, kos djorou and so on. In that same period the manscum and chavski have had a stable back four. The mid field is something else…by 2008 we had the best mid field in europe…fab hleb TR7 and the FLAMSTER..that mid field bossed the milan team of the same era and it was no mean feat. The next season flamini left was replaced by diarra who got replaced by denilson who got replaced by song…now from that 2008 mid field the only survivor may be TR7….isn’t it crazy. We bought samir to replace hleb now he too wants to leave. Our mid field this year may have a new look. Do the attack and u will see where am coming from. We at arsenal change annually more than lady gaga does costume!
We have had the bulk of this current team together for a long time now. I’m not sure where you get the idea that we are suffering from drastic change in the squad.
If anything, the reason why Wenger is insistent in keeping Nasri (and hopefully Fab) for at least another season at the risk of 13m loss (on Nasri) is because he realises the value of consistency with playing staff as oppose to wholesale change and intergration issues.
Do remember we hit the ground running at start of season with CL qualifier and a string of important away games to big teams.
You only need to look to the fortunes of Liverpool to see how drastic change could effect a team.
http://www.arsenalreport.com/2011/07/arsenal-sign-gervinho-from-lille/
Strengths and weakness of Gervinho . A good read !!!
As you said, some are valid, some are partially valid and some are jus utter excuses.
Here would be my list of issues which i think are valid from the list you gave:-
Players-
Big stars were never replaced properly.
Some players lack a winning mentality
Players lack leadership.
Central defenders don’t command their area
There is no organizer in the team
Full-backs can’t cross
Full-backs can’t block crosses.
Very few players can attack balls put in thebox
Players can’t defend set-pieces.
Attacking set-pieces are wasted
No consistent free-kick taker
Don’t shoot from outside the box often enough.
Lack physicality for EPL (not physical attributes but physicality in the sense of playing style)
Some lack grit and determination
Some players are lazy
Some players lack commitment
Get injured on a regular basis.
Also want to add-
Defence cant handle extreme pressure from opponents.
And the last 10 min, the team has a lack of concentration.
Wenger (and staff)-
Defensive coaching is poor
Playing style lacks balance
Lack of a plan B
Sometimes Blind to obvious problems
Poor training on attacking and defending set-pieces
Reluctant to spend money
Stubborn
Rewards underperforming players
Happy to finish fourth – lacks winning mentality
Sometimes prefers tika-taka football and ignores the other needs of the team (many points mentioned under players)
Medical staff cannot keep players injury free
Board/Owners/Management-
Not interested in investing in the club.
The new commercial team has yet to perform.
These can be labelled toward most clubs.
I know you have written this article to show how some points are absolutely baseless . But there is already too much negativity on the net and most of the fans who have made comments above have got frustrated by the huge amounts of negativity floating around the club . So please if you can write an article about the strengths as suggested by others above it will be nice. I am adding another link which blasts those whoo feel Arsenal will plunge into crisis if both our star players leave . Hope u guys like it
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/iain_macintosh/07/13/arsenal.crisis/index.html#ixzz1S648G1Rn
Under Wenger/Staff, related to your number 15, I would add something to the effect that the strength and conditioning program at Arsenal is not as good as they seem to think it is – thus all the injuries.
Funnily enough, despite the glaring weaknesses that we all admit to having, whether few or a list, its a fact we have problems. Arsenal football club’s value keeps rising, in the latest Forbes listing of sports teams, we are valued at number 7. despite the lack of silverware the clubs value is rising, well this club must be run by some very smart “idiots”, and our suffering as fans will not change their ways, as evidently on the money front they are doing it well, damn right. jeez!
Better to be in a position to compete financially and on the pitch.
We have been in CL footy for 14 years straight.
It requires :
1) performance on the pitch. The board I am sure is fully aware this goes hand in hand with profit and the longevity of our stay in the CL.
2) good financial sense without which we will not be able to keep up with the clubs that are willing to run up debt to finance their campaigns. Cue housing market analogy.
BUT we must also realise that the playing field is more competitive now then when Wenger took over.
Many teams challenging are now more savy about the markets Wenger use to exploit and have the means to beat us to top signatures.
Having said that, that we have remained competitive despite these developments and the obvious weaknesses of our young but growing squad is a testament to the fact that we are still punching above our weight.
I do not see the point of this article. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? Your disclaimer is meaningless since you are sending out a message that Arsenal have many problems and the fans know better that the professionals what should be done. I so wish that Arsenal bloggers would stop this kind of bull-shit in their efforts to draw visitors to their sites. It divides in stead of uniting the fans.
It’s worth a discussion. Some criticism are not warranted whilst others may hold water. What’s the problem?:P
Arsenal Baord s of Directors, Arsene Wenger are you people readind this? foolish…….. The whole world no what you are capable of doing is stinginess, have broadly classified this into criticisms of Players, Manager, and Board.
Players
Strikers (and others in general) are not clinical enough
Club lacks a 20 goal a season striker
Big stars were never replaced
Players lack a winning mentality
Players lack leadership
Central defenders don’t command their area
There is no organizer in the team
Full-backs can’t cross
Full-backs can’t block crosses
Very few players can attack balls put in the box
Players can’t defend set-pieces
Can’t defend long balls
Attacking set-pieces are wasted
No consistent free-kick taker
Club lacks a world class goalkeeper
Don’t shoot from outside the box often enough
Not physical (big,tall) enough for the Premier League
Lack grit and determination
Some players are lazy
Some players lack commitment
Get injured on a regular basis
Cannot hold on to leads
Cannot counter-attack at pace
Wenger (and staff)
Tactically – Anywhere from weak to utterly clueless
Defensive coaching is poor
Playing style lacks balance
Lack of a plan B
Blind to obvious problems
No/Poor training on attacking and defending set-pieces
Reluctant to spend money
Arrogant
Stubborn
Gives ridiculous interviews/ Makes excuses
Rewards underperforming players
Happy to finish fourth – lacks winning mentality
Prefers tika-taka football and ignores the other needs of the team (many points mentioned under players)
No 2 and others are ‘Yes Men’
Medical staff cannot keep players injury free
Board/Owners/Management
Greedy
Happy with fourth as long as Champions League money is coming in
Don’t care about fans
New owner(s) just want to make money
Not interested in investing in the club
Sold the club short on commercial deals
New commercial team has not performed
He mentioned that he did not necesaarily agree with them. It’s just a list of common complains some justifiable some maybe not.
Good grief.:D
Its an interesting read however, Arsenal fans in Nigeria are tired of the tunts from Man u and Chelski fans. How can Wenger not buy a defender like Samba that would help marshal our defence. The truth is that if he doesn’t get a big strong defender then Man City would not be scared of us this season like they were last season. I realy pray that he changes his mind pretty soon cos its no longer funny. Koscielny is not consistent, Vermealen has had injury problem and we can’t trust the medical staff to keep him fit. Djourou has the same problems, how are we gonna challenge 4 d title without adding a strong imposing defender that won’t be scared of Drogba and people like him. You guys in London should beg Mr. Wenger. If I were him, I’ll sign SAmba and Cahil or Mertasacker.
I’m tired of this Samba nonsense.
He isn’t avialable in the first place. Cahill is overated and over priced.
There is plenty of value beyond these oft quoted media manufactured darlings.
And the way the market works, you start to see true bargain for quality toward the end of the window when the big spenders have had their frenzy.
As an example, IF Chelsea move for a new Cback, Alex may come available. he would be half the price of a Cahill.
Strong in the air, cannon of a shot, grit and experience, a real brasilian, better Samba IMO. @29 He will afford the younger defenders in Djourou/Kos room to grow.
Arsenal Baord s of Directors, Arsene Wenger are you people readind this comment ? foolish…….. The whole world no what you are capable of doing is stinginess, have broadly classified this into criticisms of Players, Manager, and Board. Exertly the issue
Players
Strikers (and others in general) are not clinical enough
Club lacks a 20 goal a season striker
Big stars were never replaced
Players lack a winning mentality
Players lack leadership
Central defenders don’t command their area
There is no organizer in the team
Full-backs can’t cross
Full-backs can’t block crosses
Very few players can attack balls put in the box
Players can’t defend set-pieces
Can’t defend long balls
Attacking set-pieces are wasted
No consistent free-kick taker
Club lacks a world class goalkeeper
Don’t shoot from outside the box often enough
Not physical (big,tall) enough for the Premier League
Lack grit and determination
Some players are lazy
Some players lack commitment
Get injured on a regular basis
Cannot hold on to leads
Cannot counter-attack at pace
Wenger (and staff)
Tactically – Anywhere from weak to utterly clueless
Defensive coaching is poor
Playing style lacks balance
Lack of a plan B
Blind to obvious problems
No/Poor training on attacking and defending set-pieces
Reluctant to spend money
Arrogant
Stubborn
Gives ridiculous interviews/ Makes excuses
Rewards underperforming players
Happy to finish fourth – lacks winning mentality
Prefers tika-taka football and ignores the other needs of the team (many points mentioned under players)
No 2 and others are ‘Yes Men’
Medical staff cannot keep players injury free
Board/Owners/Management
Greedy
Happy with fourth as long as Champions League money is coming in
Don’t care about fans
New owner(s) just want to make money
Not interested in investing in the club
Sold the club short on commercial deals
New commercial team has not performed
Greedy Board.
I don’t know about that. We just had Wenger insisting on keeping Nasri at the expense of 12-13m loss to player next season on a Bosman.
If the board were so thouroughly consummed with sheer profit, they would have put their foot down on it.
I think it is good that the board is interested in profit. But they also realise that the fanbase is the ‘profit’. Therefore decisions are made in that context but not at the expense of wild spending today, nothing tommorow. Sensible enough IMO.
The problem is -at the end of last season-when we won only 3 games in the last 3 months-some of these criticisms were valid. At other times, criticisms were exaggerated. The defensive weaknesses are by far the most significant ones.
Perhaps genuine fans would not be so critical if they perceived the club actually address the defensive weaknesses they have referred to in public statements at the end of each of the last 2 seasons.
The criticism regarding our defence is valid.
I think, Despite the list that we are not as far away as the list may suggest take a look as you mentioned we have qualified for the top four every year and also maintained a title challenge which i believe is down to our ticky-tack football it does work were just nowhere near clinical enough. But you have to add the unfortunate things that happen to arsenal year on year as well to make this list complete (even though there are only a few)
1. Referee’s: we always seem to get a fair share of extremely poor refereeing decisions go against us as a list we have games against Sunderland x2, Spurs at shite heart lane, Always against man u, Liverpool home, Newcastle away, Wigan away to name a few. some impartiality needed from the man in the middle.
2. injuries: i have never seen a team with such bad luck with injuries and always to our best players before big games not because of their physical condition mostly its down so getting pole axed when a away on dreaded international friendly weeks this is just down to bad luck i am afraid and not even the best physio, doctor, spiritual healer or witch doctor can do anything to stop it.
3. Lady Luck has leaves us Hanging on our third date just before we get to third base (titles): i don’t care what you say we are the unluckiest team on the planet the little things don’t go for us as they do at old trafford or stamford bridge and that’s the way it is, its about time we started to make our own luck in this world instead of waiting for something to happen.
4. SUPPORT: the support at the emirates is awful, quite, cold and uninspiring i read a artical that 5000 fans have refused to buy a season tickets GOOD hopefully the guys who sit in their place raise the noise level at our home. no wonder the players look prostrate at home when they play in front of load of mutes. take a look at stoke they are brilliant and liverpool the emirates in no where near intimidating enough especially if were a goal down we need to create a lot more noise for the boys were as much to blame as them
The support can be found wanting particularly when the team needs them most.
i’ve never read such RUBBISH and DRIVEL. You obviously have no clue about football.
Yes Arsenal are not the perfect football team or back ground operation. However no club in the world is. Last season Man U were admonished for having a weak midfield and being in huge debt. Chelsea have problems with an ageing squad and a lack of quality squad players. Man City were critisised for not being attractive to watch and lacking width.
We are bloody lucky to support Arsenal as they play some of the best football around and are nearly there in all competitions. Our squad might not be the best, but you don’t get the front page headlines that all the other sides attract.
I’m proud to support Arsenal and just feel that with a few tweaks that we will be winning competions for a long time.
Keep the faith
Therein lies the problem Charlie. It seems noone is willing to make these so called ‘few tweaks’. I dont think anyone is calling for any radical changes. You dont get into the top 4 every year by being crap. BUT the problem is that we are always making the same mistakes. Lessons never seem to be learnt!
I think most of the criticisms of Arsenal are borne of frustration at the same mistakes being made over and over again! ‘So near yet so far’ is the statement that comes to mind. It actually doesnt surprise me that a team that has consistently come so close has so many criticisms. These criticisms explain Arsenal’s minboggling annual implosions.
I’d reserve judgement on Wenger till end of transfer window.
But I do agree that some of these tweaks can be made now with not much cost to us.
eg. LBack : Whilst Gibbs continues to impress, I would hedge just in case he fails to materialise a Wilshere season (ditto Traore).
Bastos @ Lyon won’t cost anymore than Gervinho. If Gibbs steps up, Bastos easily slots into LW/RW for us (as he does with Lyon). If not, we have a proper back up rather than using our best Cback (TV) out of position.
Agree with what you say but all we need is Mourinio and all that would change. Interesting that Arsenal won’t pay high wages and transfer fees but would allow a player who wants to leave stay in the squad for 1 year and sacrifice £25 million. then he gets rewarded with a fat wage as the next club won’t have to pay Arsenal anything. Nasri will go to Barcelona on a free transfer.
Nasri :
20-25m is a speculated price and potential income.
We bought him for 12-13m which is the amount we are prepared to sacrifice.
Considering selling him on at this stage might :
1) Add to morale problems. Wenger has little control on the Nasri situation beyond putting the foot down. If he lets him go, there may be a knock on effect on Fabregas who could force a transfer as a result. By keeping Nas, Wenger is playing psychological warfare with Fab demonstrating our intent (beyond the profit/loss books) and throwing the ball firmly into his court to commit mentally (we of course still have the contract veto but I would expect there is some agreement between gaffer and player that if cesc wants to leave, Wenger will not block him this season….proviso of course Barca meets minimum valuation)
Thanks alot. You are spot on . Truth is always bitter. Any reasonable manager would straight away see that. However, Wenger’s interest lies elsewhere: That’s why,instead of strengthening the team with the lacking and much needed experience, he is stiil wasting the little scarce resources on the teenager players, a policy that has failed the club for 6 years. His major interests are:
1. Make profits for the greedy Board
2. Safegaurd the French players ie that’s why he does’t want to replace the calamity duo French central defenders.
3.Its a high time Wenger stopped taking fans for fools.
4. Fans, if we dont come up strongly against these ills, our club will soon be part of history. Lets abandon Wenger’s matches if he doesn’t become reasonably active in the transfer window.
There are only 5 french players in the first 25 (Traore, Kos, Sagna, Diaby and Nasri). That’s the same amount as the Brits (Walcott, jenkinson, Jack, Ramsey and Gibbs)
I am discouting Squillaci because he should be let go, only not because he is French but because he is out of depth.
French players have been solid and gritty enough for us. Remember Flamini, Viera, Henry, Petit? Utter nonsense on your part.
One you could add is that Wenger is too inflexible with formation and approach. (Ferguson used many different approaches during the season and during games). By contrast we are rigid.
This is not necessarily my opinion but has been stated in the papers.
We just saw it today against a spirited Chinese side.
What concerns me is that we lack that flexibility and Wenger is too stubborn to explore other approaches (although to his credit he did throw in 4-4-1-1 late on in several matches at end of season when we were chasing with mix results)
4-4-1-1 will afford us the extra body in the box to finish and break down teams sittting deep (particularly as RVP tends to drift out of position)
I don’t expect anything to change IF we retain the same coaching staff that is unable to call the emperor’s new clothes (or old clothes if you like)
I won’t speak about the “issues” regarding the manager and the board, because I believe that AW is one of the best managers in the gameand I don’t have enough info to judge the board.
But on the footbal side of things I totally agree with point 1 (players not clinical enough, remember RVP against Liverpool at home…), point 13 (yes, we’re not good at taking advantage of the very few free kicks on the edge of the area that the refs are giving us and we waste most of the corners), point 14 (I’m trying to remember the last time when RVP was dangerous with one of his free kicks) and point 19 (laziness – Denilson’s jogging, Diaby walking onto the pitch, Arshavin, although I really like the little Russian, Rosicky – can’t remember a winning tackle from the Czech, Bendtner, no matter his position on the pitch).
I’m not sure about RVP not being clinical enough being that he delivered 18 goals in half a season.
I take your point about free kicks. We have been a tad lame with them in recent vintage. This was an area Denilson could have developed a specialty for but alas.
With regards laziness, I think that is somewhat unfounded. We are an attacking team (often encamped in the opponents half)and that leaves a lot of room to cover at the back.
AA has been workmen in his attitude. I can remember several instances when he motored his short legs back to make important tackles last season (and indeed recently against the Chinese team). AA’s problem is his pace. He is older and strugglingout wide.
Diaby has been improving in defensive form but remains inconsistent.
All of the mentioned regarding Wenger and co. are correct. Give this team to Pep and see the difference for yourself.
This team can potentially win anything, anywhere.
Just needs a proper manager not a business man’s tout…
+ a Messi and a Xavi and a Pique…
you hit the nail on the head but left one out. Wenger lost the players after Barca fiasco. He lost the locker room. When this happens a coach is about as helpful as a screen door on a submarine. Maybe a fart in church. The soluiton fire Wenger. I have been writing this since mid March 2011.
In order to balance things, you should write a list of excuses presented by the manager and some other deluded fans, who just love Wenger, can’t see fault in his methods, think sun shines through his every orifice, never been to stadium and spent hard earned cash on the team and if been to the stadium, never made noise.
Here is starter for 10
1. Opposition did not want to play the football the way arsenal want to play.
2. They had only one shot of the goal and scored, while we had 70% possession but could not find the goal
3. Opposition was too physical and stopped us playing
4. We don’t have money to sign good players
5. There are not any good players out there who can add to the quality player we have here at Arsenal
6. The referee conspired against us
7. Our 117 million wage bill is not big enough
8. We have too many injuries
9. Opposition parked the bus
10. ManU and Chelsea keep on wiinning
11. We were in hunt for all trophies in February, shame they did not finish season at that time and insisted on playing till May
12. We have too many injuries
13. We are very good defensively even though we consistently conceded leads and turn victories into draws and losses
14. We have world class goalkeeper in Almunia for last 6 years
15. We don’t have the mentality to cope with pressure in big games
16. Players were scared
17. Our fans can’t pay inflated prices to watch us not winning anything
18. We have a young team
19. We lack experience
20. We are maturing with every season
21. Other big clubs trying to poach our players because they can guarantee winning trophies
22. Other clubs are not following the fianancial fair play rules
23. They are doing financial doping
24. During pre season, if some one points out problem areas, the reply is wait till season starts, this is just a pre season friendly
25. When same problems occur at the start of the season, they say, wait before this team matures and gels together
26. By Deember time, same old problems, wait till January transfer window and we will buy players who will improve us
27. In February, we are competing on all fronts and playing every 3 days
28. March time, players are too tired and can’t get over the disappointment of going out of 2-3 competitions
29. In May, when finishing empty handed, at least we are still in top 4 and we were competitive in all 4 trophies
30. We will buy new players to rectify the problem areas
31. We are investing in youth
Nothing happens and same old cycle starts again. We want our fans to support us, play inflated prices so that club can post big profits, we will give tippy tappy football for once in a while, why do you boo and complain.
Oh forgot to mention,
The pitch was bad
None of this matters.
What does is :
1) Coaching needs to be rectified to suit our weaknesses. I am not sure if we see this being done as yet.
2) We need quality signings but only in specific positions. Currently namely Cback and Lback(cover). Again, as yet, nothing done.
I may agree with Wenger that we don’t need a major overhaul but I do think he really has to look into the issues on hand and perform the necessary surgery. Otherwise we will suffer from the same issue and consequently the same litany of excuses.
on behalf of the all the supposed “readers”. id like to apologise for their stupidity in not understanding what you intended to write about Desi. My sincerest Apologies. Another complaint i hear is that Arsenal are inconsistent. We beat a big team and it seems like the high of the win affects us in our next matches, as if the game will be handed to us.
complacency
Desi why do u need to point out perennial losers like tiny totts or city time and again , give excuses for our failings why not Manure or Chelski or other successful clubs …..thats what u call ambition eh?? so why do Nasri or Cesc want to leave and next year u may see RVP and Theo….doing the same
We are the Arsenal with one of the highest revenues in the world fans deserve more ……..understood ur sarcastic post….I beg not to compare our selves with tinty totts who have one feck all int he last 30 years or so….
Same manager + same players + same attitudes + same philosophies + same problems = THE SAME RESULTS
completely agree with you mate, only one to add,
same excuses
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