Building the New Arsenal

We are a club who are stuck in the belief that we somehow play better than other people.

Well, after Barcelona’s lesson and a long Premier League season, it is quite clear that we are deluding ourselves.
Perhaps we occasionally smash a lesser team, and we all feel good, but we are an impotent attacking force.

We are a team stuck in perpetual apathy; the belief that we are better than we are. This is partly due to nostalgia in the fans, but mostly, nostalgia in the manager.

Look across the Premier League and what do you see; all the long time managers are being undone. Ferguson hasn’t built a decent squad, Benitez hasn’t built a decent squad, and Wenger to some extent hasn’t either.

The root of our problems, in my opinion, lie in our entrenched tactics. Wenger wants to perform them at Barca’s level, but even Barca don’t mess it about as much as we do. They always play with purpose; we rarely do. We do not have players that know how to play this formation; nobody gets into the box, nobody makes runs. They all just stand around flat-footed!

And yet most of them are trained at the Club for years, so really, is the training we are giving them leading them astray? It would seem so.

The overhaul of the team has to come primarily in the tactics. We have to get rid of this TERRIBLE 4-3-3/4-5-1 which we are awful at, and go back to the 4-4-2 or maybe a 5-3-2. Look at what Man City are playing with a 4-4-2 at the moment; it’s entertaining and successful.

Build a team around van Persie, he is a man amongst boys – literally and metaphorically. We have one of the best players in the world, in my list of top 5 strikers, and we don’t make the most of him.

Our signings this summer have to be angled at changing the tactics. I will F##king shoot myself if we start signing little boys who are sharp with the ball at their feet in a tight spot. We need men with thinking brains, who can read and understand the game. Guys who can play like Pirlo, Xavi, Xabi Alonso etc.

If we continue trying to play this STUPID way, then it wouldn’t matter who we sign. The TACTICS HAVE TO CHANGE; they undermine us completely. Whether or not this means the manager has to change? I’ll leave that question hanging.

Ferguson is soon on his bike, Benitez too. Wenger, you can’t be stubborn in this game, you either adapt and grow or we have to find somebody else.

Dont forget to join us on the forum and have your say on this and more ( HERE )

arsenalaction.com/board/

By admin · April 14, 2010 · 63 comments

About admin

Comments

redordead says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:41 pm

Campbell deserved MOM that says it all
spit yo game says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:44 pm

The best article written in almost 5 years well said …..
derek burke says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:45 pm

I totally agree. The tactics have to change.
MistaKen says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:47 pm

Spot on about needing men with thinking brains. Bekamp, Fabregas and Van-Persi brains.
BigL says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:49 pm

I’m trying to be optimistic but… what summer signings? We say the same thing every year and hardly dip into the transfer market.

We need a new manager, wenger is not going to change his philosophy and buy several players.
tyler says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:49 pm

Tactics are 75% of the problem. The way we play does not work, even Barcelona would struggle to score with the way we play. The other two problems are firstly, a total lack of composure in big games, and secondly, sub-par players that will NEVER be good enough; I’m looking at you Almunia and Denilson. By the way, we’ve conceded more goals than Sp*rs, who never have their first choice back line. All this is due to Wenger, he’s antiquated; he needs to leave.
Nick says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:51 pm

Did you really write “We have one of the best players in the world, in my list of top 5 strikers, and we don’t make the most of him.”???

LMFAO! You’re right, of course. Wenger hasn’t used Robin for six months, the wanker. he didn’t play Nasri or Cesc today, either.

This is one of the most ignorant and arrogant posts I have ever seen. Typical of the true whining spoiled brat supporters, not one word of concern for Vermalen — just a loud ranting pout.

Grow up.
Gooner J says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:51 pm

Laugh at this article at the end of next season.
Wenger knows.
really though? says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:52 pm

arguably…this was the worst column i’ve ever read.
you can’t build a team around a player whose injured for over half the season.
why would you model a team after a team that finishes under you in the table and spends at least 5 times as you do currently?
then you talk about not signing “little” boys and then say we should sign somebody like 5’7” xavi. not to mention that hes one of the best players in the world and finding one equal to him at any price would be tough.
we ran a 442 last season and almost didn’t make the top 4.
this whole article was just trash.
herdee string says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:52 pm

wenger needs to go. he’s underachieved again. that is the worse arsenal performance in a north london derby that i can remember. besides van persie and campbell, not one of those players deserves to wear the red and white.
Leon says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:54 pm

Build a team around Van Persie ? You noticed that the bastard is always injured ? Arsenal need a total re vamp of the squad as only Fabregas (who will be gone soon anyway) vermaelin and song have any value to the team. Arshavin is too lazy and outspoken, Nasri is a school boy, Walcott is an Olympic sprinter trapped in the body of a footballer, Van Persie is injured all the time as is Rosicky, Bendtner is just awful but is pele next to Almunia, Clichy and Sagna cannot defend and Silvestre and Campbell are washed up.
jamesb says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:55 pm

well said

yes we have been unlucky with injuries this year. and if rvp hadnt got injured things probably would have been different. but yet again at the end of the season we are saying “what if” and saying wenger needs to do something and maybe next year.

we need change, 4-3-3 is only good for song and cesc, we dont get the best out of our attackers, as its like 4-5-1 and main striker finds it hard to get into game and wingers cant cross the ball that well , if it were 4-4-2 i feel we would get better out of theo,arshavin,vela,dudu because they can play off a main striker like rvp,bendy and probs chamakh next year. and hopefully we get new keeper and another cb
Alan says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:55 pm

Take a bow Martin Tyler after your description of the ‘Sit Down You Paedophile’ chant as ‘Vibrant’
victor solomon says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:58 pm

I could not believe the pathetic and absymal performance by those donuts who wear the arsenal shirts until van persie came into the fray. No shot on target for 70 mins when we needed to win is a joke. I agree with your observation about the football we are trying to play ala barca but it aint gonna happen with this kids. get rid rosicky, diaby, silvestre. rosicky passes not incisive enought, diaby my god what a waste of space he hogs the ball too much when he should be releasing and silvestre should be playing for the likes of wigan or wolves. Arsene’s dissapointed a lot of gooners with his lack of foresight regarding the whole season, how can tottenham have gomes and we almunia ? and doesnt he train the boys to shoot, my gosh am gutted
christophe says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:59 pm

If you play nearly a whole game with Campbell and Silvestre as your two cenrehalves what do you expect? This year we have got what we deserve …nothing. A few injuries and this is what we are down to. At least this result tonight will hopefully at last shut up all those cretins who have been telling everybody who voiced real concerns with regard to weknesses in the squad to fuck off and support the Spuds.
Either we buy a proper spine to ur squad with strong players not so easily “injured” like our present fairies or we are going nowhere. In the Good Book it says “You sow therefore you reap” Birds have come home to roost.
LAStly I will be a Gooner until the day I die but I am not a proud Gooner tonight. This is not the rsenal way.
derek burke says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:59 pm

442 is the only option. when arsenal went on the long unbeaten run it was 442. a few years ago with eduardo in super form it was 442. vela and bendtner are very good up front together. they have a great understanding together. arsene has not shown enought faith in eduardo or vela. he needs to start playin marida and vela and eduardo soon. he also needs to sing some experienced players and selling some other players.

frey
van der wiell subotic vermaelen clichy

arshavin fabregas song silva

villa v.persie
Leon says:

April 14, 2010 at 9:59 pm

Wenger is finished – five years is enough – time to fuck of back to Japan and save them millions in not signing any players – wenger is a loser through and through
MistaKen says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:01 pm

This was the Spurs which only had 2 days to recover from a semi final in which they played 120mins and they had more energy than us. Very telling…
jimmy grimble says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:04 pm

Agree with everything in the article and every comment underneath. But if wenger goes, realistically who would they get to replace him?
Clive Peach says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:09 pm

Am I the only one who thinks we should be happy with third?
We could be Liverpool. Dried tonight.
PTangYangKipperBang says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:10 pm

Leon for goodness sake! You have just slaughtered virtually the whole team and the manager. We were pretty awful tonight and considering the weight of the outcome very dissappointing. I think there will be some ins and outs in the summer but to out all the players you mention would be suicidal. Its not championship manager.
tyler says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:12 pm

You can’t have the requisite motivation when you get an undeserved contract at 20 that rewards you for what kind of player you MIGHT become in five years. Our pay structure is absolutely fucked. I’m glad the money I give to the club creates a no-pressure utopia for these coddled fucking babies.
James says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:12 pm

Diaby was fucking shite tonight and Denilson. Two fucking hopeless players that any normal manager would just dump, but Wenger refuses to because he wants to wait forever to be proved right. Well no more waiting; this should be his last summer – get it right, or at least try to fucking get it right, or go.
Leon says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:14 pm

The ONLY reason Van Persie made a difference is because he has his fitness to prove for the world cup and that’s it. Unless you want to build a team around the treatment table then I would find someone stupid enough to spend 20 million on him and get someone in who can go through a season without getting injured. The truth of the matter is that foreign mercenaries like him and Arshavin cannot understand what an honour it is to play for the club hence why their attitudes are so poor – get rid of the lot of them.
tyler says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:16 pm

Please stop with the Wenger knows shit, Citeh signed Given for 5 million last season. How many more points would we have, if Wenger hadn’t persisted with a keeper who every person in football knows is shit.
iluvafc says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:20 pm

The loss to the scum today made me sick. However there are positives that we can take from this match, that If Wenger can realize & admit to the following from the match & correct them accordingly next year might just be our year.
1.We try to press high like Barca, but our midfield is made up of passive players without the will nor the skill to win the ball back, which puts the backline under constant pressure.
2.When we have possession, we waste chance after chance thru over elaborate yet predictable passing or excessive dribbling that leads to nothing.
3.We keep trying to swing the ball in from out wide thru our fullbacks who are terrible crossers & into the box where our aerial threat is virtually non-existent.
4.Half the team needs to brush up on the tactical aspects of the game, esp players like Diaby, Eboue & Walcott, despite their obvious physical talents, are in real need of some football brains.
5.We have no real quality on the bench, as evidenced by the fact that we actually have to resort to fielding the likes of Silvestre, Almunia & Denilson.
6.Our defending is a joke at times. Campbell was our most commanding presence at the back. That in itself speaks volumes on the state of affairs in our defence. & I don’t even want to start on the jester of a goalkeeper that we have.
7.There are too many delicate pansies on the team, we need to buy players with the will to battle & the desire to win. I’ll gladly sacrifice technical ability for physical strength, with the way things are.
PTangYangKipperBang says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:23 pm

Personally I would like to see Hugo Loriss, Sessignon/Rodallega, 1 or 2 decent CB aswell as Chamack. I reckon that would make us pretty awesome. I think Silestre, Eduardo and maybe 1 other to go. Almunia is an ok Number 2 imo.
Leon says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:25 pm

I don’t want to be harsh – i want to say what a talented bunch if players but how can I when you see that ? Almunia, Denilson, Bendtner and Diaby are just plain terrible and quite frankly Nasri, Walcott, Clichy and Rosicky are not much better. We could have done with Wilshere tonight but apparently bolton have greater need of him – is playing in the first team of Bolton more condusive to success than playing in the first team of Arsenal ?
Leon says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:29 pm

Subotic would be a great centre half but he costs more than £12.50 so wenger won’t even look at him – it will be someone for a free transfer or very low fee – wenger is cheap and certainly does not know best.
Andy says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:31 pm

We dont have players with bottle,5mins to go 2-1 down&nasri is playing 5 yard balls to clichy in his own half?? Bring back flamini,get defour,sign capel&chamakh get some players with HEART! Diaby,eboue,nasri were a disgrace!
PTangYangKipperBang says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:33 pm

I would’ve thought that if you agree to let a manager have a player (Wilshere) for a set period then decency would point to sticking to the agreement. Also, too much pressure for 1 so young to be dramatically rushed back to save our season. I feel the pain of tonight too. Quite frankly we lost any chance of the title with a whimper tonight. I wonder if the nature of our defeat to Barca has done some of their heads in a bit. They didn’t seem to have the stomach for it somehow. I believe we will have some real activity this summer. I sense that AW really has had enough of this now.
molencamp says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:49 pm

Besides Vermaelen, Song and Fabregas, this is not a team built for cups and titles. The spine of this team does not even come close to Chelsea and Manu. The players are all variations on the same type and they looked pathetic trying to dribble past three or four players and then drop an errant pass to the sidelines or to a Spud player who was impatiently waiting for the inevitable. I do not see Rosicky, Diaby, Denilson, Eboue, Sylvestre, or Aluminum in the same class as their counterparts on good teams.

As for tactics and formations, you need good players for a 442 and we lack in that department. Perhaps if we had someone on the sidelines that managed during the game instead before and after the game, players could be slotted where they could do some damage and adjustments could be made during the game (see Guus Hiddink, Jose, SAF and increasingly Harry who inherited this talent and gave them shape, purpose and belief). Berating officials and crying foul incessantly just smells like desperation (see other lower team managers for more examples).

This act is getting tired. We have a major implosion one week every year where all hope disappears, followed by hints of big changes to come and then finishing with the same somewhat older bunch of underachievers and slackers after assertions that we have a war chest that would be the envy of 80% of the world’s nations and that is available to us for the right talent.

Time for a change – keep Song, Fabregas, Vermaelen and build around them. Find a strong tactician to fight with Arsene on the sidelines or find a tactical manager. This act is not going to change because it is too comfortable, the players are too secure, the profits are too rich and the goals are wrong (it should be to win not this ridiculous crusade to make football more beautiful at all costs or to maximize profits).

There feel better now. See you all next August when my faith will be back up where it should be……
Markymark2203 says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:51 pm

I was at the game tonight in the scum end because I couldn’t get a seat in the arsenal section. Worst night of my life, if half the team had played with the conviction of sol and clichy we would have been fine. RVP is a special player who nearly changed the game tonight, but fair play to gomes he matched him with some world class saves!
Hugo says:

April 14, 2010 at 10:59 pm

Hang on, are these the tactics that have turned a side struggling for top 4 last year into title challengers this year? These are the tactics you want to change? And back to the 442 we struggles with before? Also, you’re bang on, Arsene hasn’t made the most of van Persie recently. I wonder why that’s been…

Football analysis isn’t really your thing is it genius?
kron says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:12 pm

All Arsenal fans deserve better than wat we currently getting,wenger needs to go,He is what is fundanentally wrong with Arsenal,he aint bigger than the club n smn should come up with a pettition for all Arsenal fans asking him to graciously leave,he got shit tactics,shit players like Diaby n Almunia,n rememba he let Diara go!!! shit transfer policy,shit concern for what we all think about the running of the club! Note this For an approximate 2,000 days we have failed to win a single trophy from 35 potential trophies,digest that. Wenger has taken us as far as he can.
harryo says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:13 pm

i watched willshire last night playing with passion grit skill and heart for fukin bolton, how we could have done with him tonite after watching that cowardly display, i hope rvp and sol went into that dressing room and told that bunch of cowardly pansies wat us supporters think of them. wenger and his fairy boys out. enough pampering
harryo says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:15 pm

fuk off hugo and bend over for arsene
kron says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:17 pm

Ur Article is spot on n who thinks diff is either seriously deluded or a Wenger’s minnion masquerading as an Arsenal fan! LOL n they need to stop burryin there thick heads in tha sand.
Curt.B says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:22 pm

You are blinkered for failing to see that even before the injury we have failed to build around van Perise, our bets player.

We surround his genius with tentative guys who don’t know where to run or where to be. None of our players no how to play him properly; it was the same at the STRAT of this season and its the same now.

Don’t you get it? The formation hasn’t changed at all. Have any of you ACTUALLY been entertained by our ‘beautiful’ passing over the last 8 months? Its a bad joke. Build a team for van persie with players with brains.
Curt.B says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:24 pm

Little boys doesn’t refer to their size, its referes to their immaturity and age. We sign 20 year old spoilt brats with a ridiculous sent of self-entitlement. Xavi’s being small isn’t what I’m getting at, I’m talking about his unbelievable experience and ability to read a game.

‘Little boys’ refers to our teenagers wandering about like headless chickens. And when they’re not wondering, they’re standing still, jsut thinking of the next back pass they can make.
Curt.B says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:27 pm

On the fucking money.
Curt.B says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:28 pm

Hugo you are fucking out of line to accuse van persie of not loving this club. You can tell he is with us in heart and body. He is one of the few real leaders at the club, he plays with his heart on his sleeve for us.
Curt.B says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:29 pm

Again, Hugo, you are a bit emotional at the moment. nasri is a great player and he will get better. We need to change the SYSTEM to suit the PLAYERS, not change the players to suit the system.
Curt.B says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:31 pm

This is a funny but tasteless joke. Yeah, we were challenging for the title this season, whatever helps you get to sleep tonight.

Just see where we are at the end, and THEN you can say we were challenging for the league.

I hear Portsmotuh were challenging for the League at some point too?
Curt.B says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:32 pm

And would that be the 4-4-2 we won the double with?

Boy did we struggle.
PTangYangKipperBang says:

April 14, 2010 at 11:37 pm

Who to replace Wenger then?
Curt.B says:

April 15, 2010 at 12:01 am

Do you think guys like Denilson and Diaby, amongst others who really need to shape the hell up (Rosicky….) are players who bring the best out of van Persie?

Messi is the best player in the world due a combination fo talent and being surrounded by players who compliment him with their own brilliance; he gets fed the ball by Xavi, Iniesta etc, he gets protected by Busquets, Toure and so on.
Curt.B says:

April 15, 2010 at 12:03 am

“why would you model a team after a team that finishes under you in the table and spends at least 5 times as you do currently?”

I have no idea what you are talking about here.
Curt.B says:

April 15, 2010 at 12:05 am

Did you guys see us just standing around, ten players standing still, doing nothing for the guy with the ball,as though its just going to magically turn into a goalscoring chance.

It was pathetic, I was actually appalled.

We crossed all day and msot of the time there was nobody with the effort/energy/passion to even make a run into the fucking box.
Curt.B says:

April 15, 2010 at 12:09 am

That team is really over the top with expensive signings.

Building the New Arsenal

Comments

Speak Your Mind

Sponsors

Facebook

Babe of the Week

Social Network

Recent Highlights

League Position

Links

Betting

Arsenal Sites

Arsenal.com

SkySports

Featured On