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| The spotlight is on... Arsene Wenger |
This
is Arsenal’s most important season, ever.
If
that sounds like hyperbole, it really isn’t.
Without
a trophy in eight years, Arsenal supporters are increasingly desperate for silverware.
And with the rest of the top four – Manchester United, Manchester City
Logic
dictates that this is a window of opportunity for Arsenal to build on their
stability and steal a march on opponents that are in respective transition
periods.
However,
with the clock rapidly counting down to the season’s kick-off, this optimistic
view is fading somewhat.
At
the time of writing Arsenal were still to complete the signing of Luiz Gustavo
meaning Arsenal’s only notable addition has been the capture of France Under-20
striker, Yaya Sanogo, on a free transfer from Auxerre.
Worrying.
Arsenal’s
needs
I. Luiz Gustavo
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| Midfield anchor needed... Luiz Gustavo |
It
seems, despite the talk of a new super-striker, Bayern Munich’s Luiz Gustavo
will be Arsenal’s first major signing. If completed, the signing of the
Brazilian anchorman would represent a quality addition and the filling of
pressing a need.
Gustavo
is just the defensive midfielder – with high tactical nous and supreme physical
capabilities – Arsenal needs.
Arsenal’s
need for this type of player is due to their style of play.
Arsenal
rely greatly on their fullbacks on offence. Arsenal’s fullbacks routinely push
up to provide width in the final third as the wide attacking players – be it
Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott or Santi Cazorla – move infield, as is their
preference.
Without
an athletic anchorman to cover space, the result has been a major weakness in
transition and the brutal exposure of Arsenal’s two centre-backs. Exhibit A:
Michu’s brace for Swansea
Exhibit
B: Andreas Weimann’s equaliser for Aston Villa, also at the Emirates.
Mikel
Arteta did a commendable job at the base of the midfield, but his lack of
physicality and speed was exposed on occasion. Arteta, by trade, is a creative
midfielder and isn’t naturally versed in the defensive aspects of the game.
This
is where Gustavo – with his astute tactical positioning and covering, exhibited
at the Confederations Cup with Brazil
Last
season Gustavo attempted 81 tackles in 26 appearances for Bayern, an impressive
rate of a tackle every 17.4 minutes. He also managed 44 interceptions, one
every 32 minutes. And, in keeping with Arsenal tradition, Gustavo is also
excellent in possession boasting a pass completion rate of 89% last season.
This
is one area of need, addressed or otherwise, that could well define Arsenal’s
season.
II. A clinical finisher
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| Off to Napoli... Gonzalo Higuain |
It’s
simplistic to say Arsenal haven’t recovered from losing Robin van Persie; any
team would miss his goals. In the 2011/12 season Van Persie’s scored 30 of
Arsenal’s 74 league goals. However, Arsenal haven’t had adequate contingencies
for the Dutchman’s loss.
(I.e.
when Henry left, Adebayor took over; when Adebayor left, van Persie took the
baton.)
Olivier
Giroud had a decent first season scoring 11 league goals in 24 starts. Podolski
and Cazorla chipped in with 11 and 12 goals, and Walcott top scored with 14.
But,
none of Arsenal’s strikers were the consistent, clinical force in front of goal
required to reach the top. For example, Giroud had a shooting accuracy of 43%;
he converted just 13% of his chances and put-away only 17% of his clear-cut
chances.
The
upshot: Arsenal only scored five goals in six games against fellow top four
teams.
The Replacements: Olivier Giroud and Lukas
Podolski Stats
It
was no surprise, then, Arsenal were linked with a host of big-name forwards as
soon as the transfer window opened.
However,
the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Stevan Jovetic, Edinson Cavani and Roberto
Soldado have since moved elsewhere while there’s little movement on Luis Suarez
or Wayne Rooney.
Failure
to sign a top-class striker before the window closes would represent a
disappointment given the club’s very public declarations of vast transfer funds
available to Arsene Wenger this season.
Prospects
for the season
It’s
difficult to effectively predict how Arsenal will fare this season because of
the eternal unknowns when it comes to Wenger’s team.
On
paper Arsenal have a manageable start to the 2012/13 campaign playing five
teams (Aston Villa, Fulham, Sunderland, Stoke and Norwich )
that finished in the bottom half last season as well as newly-promoted Crystal Palace Liverpool – are both at home.
All
the same, in order to challenge, Arsenal have to improve drastically in several
areas.
One
is their performances against other top teams.
Arsenal
were winless against Manchester United, Manchester
City and Chelsea
2012/13 Top Four Head-to-Head
Matches
|
Won
|
Drawn
|
Lost
|
Points Won
|
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
10
from 18
|
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
11
from 18
|
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
10
from 18
|
|
Arsenal
|
6
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
2
from 18
|
Widening
the scope to encompass the top seven clubs (adding Tottenham, Everton and
Liverpool), Arsenal won only two of 12 games – against ten-man Spurs at the
Emirates and Liverpool.
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| Time to step it up... Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott |
Arsenal
have supreme talent; Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are magical
footballers.
They
are the reason Arsenal, on their day, can beat anyone, the reason why Wenger
remains confident of a trophy as he enters the final year of his contract and
the hope Arsenal fans cling onto in what is a critical season.
But,
without any significant additions to the squad, it seems Arsenal’s target once
again is just to make it into the top four.
Pity.
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