13 Sep 2014 04:19:16
I feel there is a bit of a ball rolling on the issue of our 'weak' midfield against teams like City and Chelsea, so I just wanted to counter a few points. Not attacking anyone about it, it's just how we see the game in the end.

There is the idea that we needed a player brought in to take up the role of defensive midfielder; in the sense that he's a physical unit, won't be bullied or intimidated, in fact taking that to the opposition, and will allow our forwards to express themselves without restraint. I have problems with this in that there is a lot of fear and negativity floating around about our prospects without this person, and a lot of anger towards Wenger and the management for not signing this person.

First things are that I followed all the stories about targets for this position, and come the end of the window I was left wondering who we should have signed? Schneiderlin was blocked, Rabiot was not a defensive player and not first team anyway, Carvalho was in a sense untried, and damn expensive, Bender was not moving, Pogba/Vidal never moved and were really expensive if they had, Khedira was a huge saga, and that was proved a wise decision with his obvious fitness struggles. I think we all wanted a player in, but then even this list is full of very different types of footballers, so what did we actually want? When Khedira seemed likely the talk was about how we could run two box to box guys with Rambo/Wilshire. We were excited that Carvalho was a beast. Looking at the midfielders who did move, are there any that we'd have wished for retrospectively? Sandro, Fernando, Colback, Besic, Medel, Song?

What do we think Wenger wants here? I've said it before, but I think Arteta is almost perfect. He is unfortunately not a naturally physical footballer, and his age is not a positive. In games though, he makes interceptions, is quick into the tackle from the back of a recieving player, has a strong competitive edge and drive, and in possession he is neat, clever and accurate. On the down side he struggles to dominate in the air, and is a liability once he is turned. Most of his game though suits what we want our style to be as I see it. He's always behind the play, giving options for forwards under pressure, and efficiently moving the ball on from a defensive area. Not many players around can add to Arteta's physical faults without taking away from his technical skills. I think in the end there just wasn't a good buy on the market.

Looking back on our frailties in our big losses last summer, the one thing I don't see mentioned enough is how awful our passing was. Possession conceded cheaply in really dangerous positions, which was punished clinically on the most part. Its accepted that Mertesacker and Arteta in particular are strongest when facing the play, and in these games reckless team play cost them position which exposed them. These are not bad players, but our team didn't play enough to its own strengths, and faultered too much on its weaknesses. We weren't good in these games, but we weren't helped by problems with injury and form higher up the pitch for sure. We've got the potential to become the best passing team in the country again this season, and if we can our worries about the size and shape of certain players will disappear I expect. We'll know a bit more after the game tomorrow, but even so I'm excited about our potential to improve all the way through till winter with this team. We've got a happy squad by all the evidence, and an ethos that shows faith in the players we've got, and those rising through the ranks. that's a delicate thing, and one we'd all miss immediately if it was eroded.

Finally, as its hard not to get involved; even if Wilshire doesn't become our best midfielder, he'd still be a superior squad player to what most teams could put out, and he's Arsenal through and through. How can it be bad?

1.) 13 Sep 2014
Well said :)

2.) 13 Sep 2014
Could have got your point across with 1 paragraph,
It took a you too long mate lol

3.) 13 Sep 2014
13 Sep 2014 08:44:49
I agree - we need crisper passing and movement to create options plus attack with a little more venom
Arteta is great and I just want a CDM like him but younger and slightly more physical plus want him now to get bedded in for hen Arteta retires by rotating or partnering with Arteta this season

4.) 13 Sep 2014
You make a valid point GN. A DM has two key roles in a team. Firstly the tackling and defensive cover, but perhaps just as key is distribution, as the DM is the player with the responsibility of bringing the ball forward from the CD and starting each move. If the DM was a defensive Titan but who couldn't pass they would very quickly get exposed in the premiership and would start giving the ball away in some very dangerous areas. Looking at how Liverpool are using Gerrard it seems as perhaps managers want passing ability to be the main priority for their DM or base midfielder rather than tackling? Wenger perhaps also sees it this way which is why he is sticking with Arteta in this role?