A case for the defence

Arsenal are in a quandrary...Personally I think from day 1 they expected Sol to sign on again. I really believe it. Up until his confirmed departure to Newcastle whilst Wenger acknowledged that nothing was certain and reinforcements may be required. Now we're in a hole.

We need to sign a minimum of two Centre Backs, but the real problem is everyone knows it. Add a couple of million (at least)on the price tag of every defender that a rumour sprouts about. It also leaves us with a severe lack of Premiership experience in central defence. Vermaelen has only completed one season and Djourou has never completed a season due to injury. Koscielny naturally is the newbie and will look to them for advice, player information and general tips.

We really need to sign an experienced Premier League defender, at least one. Its not a want, or a wish, nor a thought borne out of too much Football Manager, its a NEED. We need someone who can just drop in and play from Day 1, like the Verminator was able to do because he had Gallas and a bit later on Sol to talk to him and guide him. I'm not going to start throwing names at you. We all know who Arsenal are linked with now and in the past, I have my favourites and I'll hold them close to my chest for now. IWBIWISI (I will believe it when I see it) will keep me from any unnecessary disappointment.

I'm looking forward to the games this weekend, I'll be watching Arsenal v Celtic in glorious 3D at my local watering hole, so that should be a laff :)

Til next time Gooners.

oh, check out my other blog

http://fitfornowt.blogspot.com

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Affirmation? A formation...? Meh.

...apologies, its an awful title for the article.

Onwards gentle reader, to the crux of the article. Namely Formations, the way Arsenal should line up next season. With regards to football, its formations, combinations, personalities and evil machinations that make up matches.

Everyone who plays Football Manager, or its bastard love-child Championship Manager (I know you people are out there....cross over from the dark side, its warm and we have cookies!!) will know their favourite formation. I tend to adjust my formation, tweak if you will, for each opponent. whilst taking into account squad availability and balance and its clear that Arsene does this to a point.

Arsenal, for the majority of last season played 4-3-2-1, with Song dropping off the two central midfielders to cover when we were under pressure. It provides 5 bodies across the middle of the park when we are without the ball and 5 to defend when attacking (leaving Song and our defence to cover).

I believe that the Striker absences (much mentioned by all) caused us serious problems last season. Not necessarily for the absent goals but the extra pressure it put on Arshavin and other players to step up and save us in games. I'm not convinced that the battering Arshavin took trying to play the lone front man didn't have an effect on him when the run in began, he looked exhaused in the last 5 games of the season.

The one problem with 4-3-2-1 is that you sacrifice a striker for a holding midfielder, so you lose a bit up front, you can't pressure as high up the pitch and you rely on your midfield stemming the tide. Against a mid-table side I think it worked well, against the top sides we didn't ask enough questions. We fought, we never surrendered but we certainly never played the Arsene way and didn't once stamp any authority on the games.

I don't argue at all with 4-3-2-1 when we are playing away against the top sides. To go all out would be foolish (although unexpected) and we would stand a chance of nicking a result on the counter. Playing away at Bolton, Blackburn and other places very close to my current home doesn't warrant this kind of security. We need to get our fear factor back. We need to go out and annihalate a few teams this season and I think we could achieve this by going 4-2-4. This would consist of Nasri and Arsha on the flanks, RVP and Chamakh in the middle, Fab4 and Song in the middle and a stern word with Clichy and Sagna to be a bit more disciplined to keep the home fires burning.

When teams park the bus and trying to get at us, we should not be afraid of them. We can't molly-coddle our defence in games like this. We always seem to lose to a crappy set piece...so don't give them the chance. Play 4-2-4, play for 80 mins in their half and make them make the mistakes. Trust me, a few teams will stop thinking about "Getting up them" if they're worried about getting smashed 4 or 5 to nil. Remember, the best form of defence is attack and with the versatility of players we have we could turn it into 4-2-3-1, 4-3-2-1 or even 4-5-1 if we wanted to defend a decent lead but we have to get one first.

Certainly modifying formations during a game will provide a tactical surprise if nothing else, if a player pops up where the opposition don't expect, that will give him at least a few seconds head start on anyone trying to mark him.

Just a few thoughts on a Wednesday.

WG

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Its 2010, shouldn't No really mean No?

"Arsenal will not sit down to negotiate with us," she said. "There is a lack of will...they just don't want to negotiate." - Barcelona board spokeswoman Toni Freixa

I wonder if someone kept pestering her for sex whether she'd be as understanding as Arsenal are being. Clearly we keep politely saying "No, Arsenal are not interested in talking to you about it" and they just do not take it in.

In a time when "No" rightly means "No", why don't Barca go and pull someone else's plonker...I'm so sick of it I'm writing about it.

Its time Barca faced facts, Arsenal have stated they do not want to sell him. They have categorically stated he will be an Arsenal player next season. Arsenal cannot now sell him. They just can't. They would look weak and easily bullied. No player would be able to be kept to the terms of their contracts. Its a situation that has been created by both sides conducting the discussions in the media. If Barca had kept their mouths shut and just talked to Arsenal, a deal might have been struck, should they have met Arsenal's valuation. Now Arsenal can't let it happen.

Its time Barcelona got the hint. It really is. The never-ending statements coming from their management, their secretaries, the manager and the players is merely making them look daft in the eyes of the media. They asked for Fabregas, Arsenal said No and now they're practically begging.

Its sad, hugely unprofessional and demeaning for all Barcelona players and management to behave in this manner.

Post to follow tomorrow after the friendly tonight.

WG.

..my apologies, I hate rehashing the news, but that quote was just too much.

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Pre-season is such a tease!

I endure a love/hate relationship with pre-season. When I was playing, it would be hard work followed by tough games against better opposition to sharpen us up for the start of the season.

Arsene does it differently, as do most top managers. Even the much-celebrated Emirates Cup is little more than a training match which boosts revenue and showcases this seasons new talent. This raises up expectations and hopes as you see players like Wilshire that practically won the cup by himself last year.

It raises belief and arrogance and sometimes I think the players believe their own press a bit. You can see it in their faces, they expect to walk some games and it cannot ever be like that. You have to be hungry, you have to want it.

I guess we'll see in 5 games whether we have a shot at silverware this season. I still think we need a big mean ball winner although I do think song has the component parts for it should he become more focussed. By way of an explanation, I think Song's a bit easy going, with a bit more focus and intensity he could be a stunning player.

I want Arsenal to be back on top where we belong, we have some of the best support in the world. Let's have the best team.


WG

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Statement from Eduardo - a sign of class

Click here to read his statement on Arsenal.Com

Undeniable class from a class player.

Gone but not forgotten Dudu.

WG

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You wouldn't like me when I'm angry...

...and other such threatening thoughts pass through my mind after reading this excerpt that I snagged from the Daily mail today;

"Flop Gunner! Eduardo was a big shot joining Arsenal...now he's their latest striking failure
By LEO SPALL

Eduardo da Silva joined Arsenal with a big reputation after heading Steve McClaren towards the sack as England manager. But four years on from his goal for Croatia in that Euro 2008 qualifier in Zagreb, he is leaving the Emirates like many before him: with his name almost as badly shattered as the bones in the ankle he infamously broke at Birmingham.
Eduardo, 27, has completed a £6million move to Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in a four-year deal worth £50,000 a week that brings to an end three difficult seasons at Arsenal and extends the list of strikers who have failed to make their mark under Arsene Wenger. "

Firstly, I'd like to state that if someone broke my leg to the point that I nearly lost it alltogether, I might think twice about jumping in two footed for a challenge. Leo Spall, you're a sensationalist hack with no brains. To compare his name and reputation to a horrific football injury is at best daft and I think you've done yourself no credit with this article.

Secondly and perhaps more importantly, 22 goals in 67 games isnt a bad return. Its not great but for anyone with a memory worth keeping his 9 goals from 9 1-on-1 attempts (before his horrific injury-least I think it was 9...someone correct me!) were stunning, a great finisher and his Arsenal career was cut short well before time.

As I said yesterday, the change in the Arsenal formation was really the death knell for Dudu but I just wonder if he hadn't have got injured whether we would have won some silverware that season and Wenger would have stuck with a successful 4-4-2 formation? 4-2-3-1 was never going to work for a striker who is quite short, not overly quick and not very strong. Dudu's attributes are all designed for great work in and around the box, similar to Jermain Defoe. Stick Defoe up front by himself and watch him struggle for goals.

All-in-all, I'm pleased Eduardo's got a new club that will play him where he needs, sometimes its easy to forget that despite being paid high wages (not their fault, I don't blame anyone for asking for the money, its the clubs that choose to pay it) footballers are people too, just like you or me. Though its fair to say they are considerably richer than I.

Good luck Dudu, find those goals and prove people like Spall wrong (though he'll probably still call you an Arsenal failure, because he's an idiot).

WG

Player-coach...really?

Mark Schwarzer is being touted as a player-coach prospect. That would be a first, I'm sure Arsene would prefer his players to be focussed on playing and performing, not training up his players.

I think we are really looking at someone a bit more left field, the oft-mentioned Stekelenberg from Ajax would be a good signing, but his age presents a problem, at 25 he is clearly blocking Fabianski's route to the #1 jersey, so its a question of who Wenger wants more.

Personally, I think there would be more weight to the Schwarzer-deal who will hopefully play well for a season or two til our other players are ready. However, this isn't a tactic that has worked in the past. Lehmann leaving left a Almunia and Fabianski and neither of them has stepped up to the plate with little significant impact other than to make the odd glaring cock-up.

I would love to Arsenal to sign a goalie who would garner a bit of excitement. Lehmann I was actually excited about as I'd seen him play for Dortmund and rated him. Almunia does not excite me. Fabianski I like but his composure lets him down, a lot. I feel his mentality is like Senderos, he cares too much. Mannone hasn't really had much of a crack at it, but perhaps he will get a shot at the Carling Cup, unless Chesney stays with us this season, if he does I expect him to play.

I mentioned the other week about heroes, I'm excited to see what happens between now and September 1st.

Blog at you soon..

WG