Wenger’s philosophy and tactics most to blame against Bayern

By 1970’s Gooner

We are all disappointed and frustrated to have witnessed once again the results of Arsenal’s demise over the last eight years.

A demise that coincided with the move to the new stadium, the financial constraints it imposed on the transfer policy, the loss of at least five world class players (some going to our main rivals) and their inadequate replacements.

The achievement of a top four position and qualification to the CL is seen as good enough achievement by the Board but not by us the fans of course.

But even this does not seem possible now with the addition to the teams fighting for these places of Tottenham. Next season you can add Liverpool to that list as I believe that Rodgers is setting the foundations for such a challenge.

Yet against Bayern Wenger did not help the cause at all by his team selection but more importantly the formation and tactics.

Instead of acknowledging Bayern’s superior quality and trying to combat that, he chose to play like he would always play against any average team playing at the Emirates.

He played an attacking formation last night ignoring the protection that the defence badly needed and choosing players that were too offensively minded.

Let me explain.

Arsenal’s formation last night included only truly defensive midfielder!!

                               

I will repeat that.

Arsenal’s formation last night included only truly defensive midfielder!!

The three midfielders were Arteta, who played in front of the defence and stack to his defensive duties as he always does.

Ramsey who is definitely not a defensive midfielder and is usually out of his depth for most games in the Premier League let alone against a top European team. He was in any case more often than not stuck further out on the wide side of midfield.

And Wilshere who did not sit back to protect the defence of course but was further up field organising the attacks.

The three more forward players if you like were Walcott, Podolski and Cazorla.

Cazorla did not play as an out and out winger of course but was coming inside more often than not.

But he also is not a defensive minded midfielder is he?

So we are playing against a top top team, who is up there with the Barcelona’s of this world and what formation and players does Wenger come out with?

WITH ONLY ONE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER SITTING IN FRONT OF THE DEFENCE.

No wonder our defenders looked fragile and harassed.

No wonder every time Bayern went forward they looked like scoring a goal.

Any defence of any team would really struggle with the kind of protection that Wenger offers to the Arsenal defenders.

It is not our defenders who are not good enough but the offensive minded tactics and formation that are to blame.

And that is why all Wenger’s teams will always be defensively frail.

And such a philosophy only works if you have world class players that can score you more goals than the opposition.

We haven’t. We sold them all.