Previous names: Dial Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich Arsenal
Google
 

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Six changes Wenger made this season are propelling Arsenal to the title. Last Part


By 1970’s Gooner

Back in May of this year when Arsenal were stumbling to fourth place in the Premier League I felt the need to write an article on what Arsenal needed to do to challenge for the coming season.

It was written in frustration of the so many things that Arsene Wenger needed to fix that to me and many other fellow gooners were so obviously apparent.

In that article all Arsenal’s weaknesses were deemed to be correctable as a lot of the changes needed involved a change of attitude or better coaching and organisation on the pitch rather than radical surgery in the personnel.

So what has changed from last season to this?

- The defence has tightened up
- Learned how to break up packed defenses
- Now kill teams off when on top
- Have become more physical and learned how to win ugly
- Hit the ground running
- Goals are shared round

In an earlier posting I dealt with the first three changes that have transformed Arsenal this season. This posting can be found by clicking here.

This is the second and last part dealing with the last three changes.

4. Have become more physical and learned how to win ugly

Arsenal have adopted a more physical approach to their game. An approach that says : “if you play football we will play football. If you want to rough it up a bit we will do the same. We will not be intimidated”

This started as early as pre season at the Amsterdam Tournament where Ajax of all teams tried it on but to their surprise found that the young guns could dish it back. It continued against Sparta Prague in the Champions League.


Arsenal have shown this season that when the team is not playing well, when things are not going according to plan that they can summon the guts, determination and tenacity to turn negatives into positives and win ugly or get a positive result if required.

Prime examples are of course the two come backs against Liverpool and Manchester United as well as the victories over Bolton, Fulham, West Ham and the unlucky draw at Blackburn.

The ultimate example of course is the victory over a very strong Aston Villa side.

5. Hit the ground running

Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have made the point that starting the season on the right foot sets the tone for the remainder.

It allows the team to get more confidence to see themselves up there at the top with the other protagonists and to be talked about as possible contenders for the Championship.

It’s almost a confidence trick but nevertheless significant when the team consists mainly of young and relatively inexperienced kids.

And Arsenal have certainly done that. Granted, the fixture list has been kind and the postponement of the tough Newcastle away game early in the season removed a possible banana skin so early in the campaign.

Now with confidence high this fixture doesn’t look so difficult as it may have looked back in August.

6. Goals are shared round

The absence of Henry not only forced the rest of the players to take responsibility for themselves it also resulted in the goals being shared around. The team was creating chances by the handful last season but the conversion rate was abysmal.

This season Arsenal are the top scorers in the League with the 31 goals scored by 10 players. But only 13 of those goals have been scored by the two forwards Adebayor (8) and Van Persie (5).

This sharing around has meant that the midfielders are getting on the score sheet. In fact the midfielders have scored one more goal than the forwards.


Fabregas already has 6, Rosicky 3, Flamini 2 and even Hleb who last year was afraid to try his luck has 2. Diaby has also scored.


Epilogue

There is one change however that Arsene Wenger is not responsible for. At least not directly.

And this concerns the vast improvement in all the players, young and not so young, who with more exposure and experience in the Premier League have grown more mature and battle ready.

This is most epitomised with the resurgence of Alexander Hleb who has this season been a revelation.


Inexperience is something which characterises Wenger’s teams throughout his tenure at Arsenal.

That is why we have witnessed in the past the fluctuations in the quality of the performance levels between games and also during games themselves.

But now they have achieved more consistency and maturity, they are producing scintillating, dare we say it, Brazilian type football. Football that will be “untouchable”.

Again.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its all those things plus the improvement in all the players. This is a squad that will dominate in England and in Europe for years to come.

Anonymous said...

A very good article. I think Flamini should also get a mention as prob the most improved player

Anonymous said...

It was a great win at VP and an outstanding display by Flamini.And now to AW greatest rival.
This rno has said Arsenal will falter.I have been following soccer since the 70s and I haven't come across any manager making remarks about other teams.
Well I have news for him The rd will reach the A and cl final only to beaten.

Wrighty7 said...

Great article 1970's! I enjoy reading you're articles, keep it up! At the moment things are looking great for Arsenal, lets hope that we turn all the great potential we have into trophies. I feel that this squad WILL produce the goods and we will be seeing great times ahead as Gooners! We all know Wenger is building fantasic things at Arsenal and the football is at times, UNTOUCHABLE!

Indian Gooner said...

A very good article and i agree completely with you. But the one thing which is different from last season in the belief in the players that we will score a goal even when its second half injury time(man utd match). There never-say-die attitude till the final minute is just incredible.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Indian Gooner one thing that is noticeable is that the kids never loose their composure even if they go behind or time is running out. They play knowing that eventually they will score.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Wrighty7. I think they may also score in evry game this season too!

Anonymous said...

You've vaguely suggested it, but let me put it in black and white: the reason we're scoring more goals this year is that we've started heading in corners and crosses. That's a marked change from the old Arsenal.

Anonymous said...

ugg boots ugg bootsuggs uggsugg sale ugg saleaustralia ugg bootswomens uggs boots womens uggs bootsmens uggs boots mens uggs bootskids uggs boots kids uggs bootsUGG Boots Accessories UGG Boots Accessoriesbailey button ugg boots bailey button ugg bootsnightfall ugg boots nightfall ugg bootssundance ii ugg boots sundance ii ugg bootsultra tall ugg boots ultra tall ugg bootsultra short ugg boots ultra short ugg bootsclassic tall ugg boots classic tall ugg bootsclassic short ugg boots classic short ugg bootsclassic cardy ugg boots classic cardy ugg bootsclassic mini ugg boots classic mini ugg bootsmetallic ugg boots metallic ugg boots As Seen On TV As Seen On TV As Seen On TV Discounts As Seen On TV Discounts As Seen On TV Promotions As Seen On TV Promotions As Seen On TV Store As Seen On TV Store As Seen On TV Products As Seen On TV Products As Seen On TV Infomercials As Seen On TV Infomercials TV Household TV Household TV Health TV Health TV Auto TV Auto TV Pets TV Pets TV Video TV Video TV Gifts TV Gifts TV Electronics TV Electronics TV Kids TV Kids

Anonymous said...

To be a upright lenient being is to have a make of openness to the in the seventh heaven, an gift to trust undeterminable things beyond your own control, that can front you to be shattered in uncommonly exceptional circumstances for which you were not to blame. That says something very weighty with the condition of the righteous passion: that it is based on a corporation in the uncertain and on a willingness to be exposed; it's based on being more like a weed than like a sparkler, something somewhat tenuous, but whose very particular beauty is inseparable from that fragility.