Sunday 15 May 2011

Clinical Bent punishes usual Arsenal failings

It pains me to see us lose again but I sense that a lot of the reaction is going to lack context, perspective and common sense. In my humble opinion the defeat today against Villa was nothing to with a lack of effort, despite what some will say, the game was lost for a complex blend of reasons.

Credit must go to Villa who started excellently and their clinical approach saw us two down before we had even left the blocks. Opponents frequently play five in the midfield against at the Emirates and our 4-3-3 system has simply not worked against this approach. Squillaci was caught sleeping for the first, bent finished superbly. Sagna and Squillaci were both at fault for the second, Bent finished well despite being just offside.

We improved as the half wore on but the sad fact was that our tactical approach had been found sadly wanting again at home. The system gave no defensive support to our full backs, Rvp was also far too isolated up front, the effectiveness of the 4-4-2 in the second half showed this perfectly. Arshavin looks a sad shadow of his former self, a player who no longer looks a threat and who I no longer think is good enough for an Arsenal shirt, just like the hapless and day dreaming Squillaci.

The referee bottled a key decision when Ramsey was hacked down while clean through on goal, Dunne should have walked, instead the young official completely choked it, no red card and no penalty, Dunne was nowhere near the ball despite his stupid and ignorant post match comments.

The second half saw us hammer Villa, reverting to the 4-4-2 eith rvp/chamakh up top helped, as did the later replacement of our ineffective Russian with our young Dane. We had countless chances which came and went, there was some poor finishing and some bad luck, also some top Friedel keeping. There was also time for the useless ref to disallow a perfectly good chamakh goal, while petrov should have walked for a clear second yellow offence.

The chamakh goal may well have seen us get something out if the game, maybe even a win, but it was not to be, sadly. Overall it was another cruel blow, a very harsh defeat. We were punished for some bad defending and a tactical setup that has simply not consistently delivered at home this season.

The manager needs to sit down and go back to drawing board, back to the basics, we're not miles off, but changes are need both in terms of the playing staff and our variation of tactics to deal with different scenarios.

Do not listen do the doom sayers who will rage in in vitriolic terms about mentality and effort. Our failure is far more marginal and complex than this, the baby should not be thrown out with the bath water, a sense if perspective and a pragmatism is required to build again, not demolish everything naively.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

We battered Villa in the 2nd half did we?How many saves did Friedal actually make.Was he MOTM.No.We were awful for 45 mins and average for the 2nd half.Villa contained us easily.This was just another Bolton and Stoke.Wenger hasnt a clue.4th place here we come.

Anonymous said...

Stop on, loved the article. It is a fine line, and maybe who knows, next season we might be on the other side of it!

1979gooner said...

Nonsense, deluded nonsense in fact.

There were several chances, clear cut ones and one on ones.

Overall something like 24 attempts from us to their 8.

Your distorted overly negative twisting of events is exactly what I predicted, how apt!

1979gooner said...

Nonsense, deluded nonsense in fact.

There were several chances, clear cut ones and one on ones.

Overall something like 24 attempts from us to their 8.

Your distorted overly negative twisting of events is exactly what I predicted, how apt!

Anonymous said...

HOW MUCH LONGER TO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ALL THE EXCUSES. IT PAINS ME TO BE AN ARSENAL SUPPORTER.NEXT SEASON HAS TO BE THE LAST FOR WENGER IF HE DOES NOT MAKE BIG CHNAGES IN THE SUMMER. i HAVE A REALLY BAD FEELING THAT WE WILL LOSE THE QUALIFYING CHMAPIONS LEAGUE GAME.

Anonymous said...

Lets see we spend £10mill on Walcott and at he same time could have bought Ashley Young for a cheaper amount.

Anonymous said...

I am amazed by optimism. Were you watching the same game. Battered villa in the second half ?. How many clear cut chances did we create. Its sad to see Wenger suffering like this. Its like he is ageing before our eyes. All is failings are coming home to roost. The cheap signings, experimenting on youth, playing players out of position,refusal to strengthen in transfer window ,goalkeeping fiasco, poor tactics etc etc. His failed philosophy has been laid bare. I respect what wenger has achieved .His teams have played a brand of football that I don't think will ever be surpassed, he also gave us the invincibles. These are the memories I want to hold on to, not the frustrated,forlorn figure we saw yesterday and for a large part of this season. He doesn't deserve this and it is not good for his health. Time to go Arsene, taxi is waiting.

Anonymous said...

Anon 909

See my previous comment that answers your deluded negativity.

We hammered them second half, with decent finishing it could have been five.

1979gooner

Shubham Goel said...

Yesterday was a poor poor day.3 wins since the cup defeat.Surely there's problem deeply rooted as the same happened last season.Really cheap goals.But good to see verminator back.
There are questions I'd like to ask from fellow gooners:
http://delhigunner.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/we-were-better-with-chamakh-on-the-pitch/

Anonymous said...

You are speaking the sober truth. Unfortunately it seems this Arsenal team drives many to the bottle and the points you make get lost.

What I don't get is why people talk about a change in 'philosophy' being required. What is this philosophy. As I see it, it is to spend within our means, and to play possession based, passing football. I can see how there may be problems in the implementation of that philosophy, such as set pieces, too many sideways passes, poor finishing, and yes, perhaps needing a tweak in the spending and wage structures seeing that the club has moved on financially in the last few years. But to call for a change in philosophy and manager is highly reactionary, and in my view would be a backward step destroying all our club (not just the manager) has built.

Wyszukiwarka firm said...

Is Fabregas will leave Arsenal?