Arsenal - more speed please!
Something has materialized from Arsenals opening two games which smacks in the face of the traditional Arsenal sides that we have become used to.
We are slower.
From Ljungberg, Overmass, Pires and then Reyes, Arsenal went for wingers with speed, style and a deadly eye for goal. With Ljungberg considerably slower and Reyes seemingly wanting out where does that leave us? Hleb and Rosicky?
Rosicky for one looks good on the ball and got himself into a couple of good positions against City but his final ball was lacking. The wing is not his preferred position and you have to feel that he would need a little more time to adapt, but how much time and can we spare it?
What are the other options for left wing? Van Persie could do a job there but he isn’t that much faster than Rosicky and tends to be a little ball greedy!
On the right wing the answer has to be Walcott. Fast, deadly and skillful enough to make the position his own. But Wenger seems reluctant to start with him and give him a long run in the first team. Why? Because he is young? I seem to remember a young 17 year old given a run in midfield only to establish himself as one of the best creative midfielders in the world. You can’t have a youth policy and then be reluctant to play the youth.
In attack Adebayor gives us one option only. Someone willing to head the ball. Rare for Arsenal strikers but affective when we play the tougher teams like Bolton, Blackburn, United and Chelsea. Van Persie is one of my favorite players, like so many other Arsenal fans, but his time has come to shine. We demand 15 goals from him this season and to establish himself as the first choice strike partner to Henry.
It is such a pity we loaned out Bendtner because you feel this kid is the whole package. He is Henry, Adebayor and Van Persie all rolled into one! Steve Bruce is rubbing his hands together in glee as he watches this young kid take to the field week after week and do the business for him. At least his loan spell is only until January and hopefully he continues to bang in the goals for Birmingham and comes back to Arsenal in sublime form.
We have argued the midfield role Gilberto has played for two years now and still nothing has been done about it. He has no competition for his place and with Diaby seemingly out for most of this season what can we expect from Gilberto! Don’t get me wrong, he is a player that no doubt improves the squad and a good man to have.
But does he bring that steel to the midfield that Makelele brings to Chelsea. The answer is an emphatic no. He puts untold pressure on Fabregas with his inability to put his leg in to hard tackles and seemingly looses more 50/50 balls than actually wins. If we end up signing one more player this season then I pray it is a defensive midfielder that will let Fabregas play his natural attacking game.
Why, dear God why is it always our defense that seems hardest hit by injuries? Lauren, Senderos and Clichy. Three players we need and we need now. Eboue proved his inexperience against City and he will get better watching Lauren and challenging him for the RB position. Djourou is one for the future and will get more games this season but his partnership with Toure seems nervy at times. Let’s hope Senderos can shake of this latest injury and push through the rest of the season with no more problems.
If Cole stays will Wenger play him? Big question that needs answering now! Clichy will be first choice otherwise but another player that needs a long run free of injury.
We haven’t started well, but we have the squad to pull us through these hard times. If this proves one thing then it’s the depth factor. We have none!
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Individual players’ pace is a lot less important than the pace of the entire team as a unit. Hleb, Rosicky and Adebayor are hardly olympic sprinters, but like you noted, bring somethign to the team that can prove critical. Hleb and Rosicky’s skill on the ball, and Adebayor’s physical presence up front are vital in doing what is actually necessary: breaking at pace. We have enough pace to bomb forward: Henry, Clichy, Eboue, Walcott, van Persie and Fabregas all have shown that they can go forward at breakneck speed. Players like Hleb, Rosicky and Adebayor will be important as a hub for the speedy ‘uns.
In my opinion, worrying about the pace of individual players distracts from the main issue, which is that our team is not coming forward as a unit. A bit of fine-tuning and the most key feature in our style, a midfield general, are key to resolving that. Mascherano is no Vieira, Reo-Coker even less, but they can provide the necessary safety and support for the front unit to break at pace.
Like I said before, and always do when disagreeing with fellow gooners (and others) who criticize our style: The problem is not with our style, we went unbeaten with it, didn’t we?! The problem is with execution and lack of key personnel and backup.
Hey guys over there.
Some body better tell me sth. what’s going on Venger’s private pitch?The transfer window is about to be closed.For Gods sake, strenthen the squad with some more players.Why not with the use & throw ones which Liverpool is doin.
Tevez, Ribery, Mascherano,Gallas… goodness me, they’re all big names.But bring them in.That’s it.
Arsenal doesn’t seem to be playing for league title.The players seems to be a target of suicide bombing if they shoot.Shooooot, Shooot plz. Let the ball leave London & Land on the Ocean.Why not.
Oh my God the situation is so bitter to swallow.God help us.
I think Arsenal will be given a good run for the Champions League spot by the Spurs because of the Gunner’s inexperience and injury problems (and off-field issues) and of course champions League distractions. But I have a feeling that in 2-3 years time they will be a much better contender as the youngsters mature. I always praise Wenger because he is one of the very few coaches that really makes a “winning team” from nothing, I mean he “develops” players into winners; he doesn’t “buy titles” by affording the most expensive players available and to me that is a ‘true champion’ than say Roman Abromovich’s Chelsea, and what’s more you actually enjoy a typical Arsenal game filled with creativity and attack-minded flair. I’d rather watch attractive football than a boring game where the team is only there to do some business and get three points.
thanks for the comments. I agree whole heartedly with you Rocky.
There is time and if Arsenal click going forward with this team we can expect a lot of goals this season. We do however need a DM of really good quality and I am really praying that the stories linking us with the young Argentinian midfield are true because this is a player that will dramatically improve our squad!