January Reset Means Narrative Change

A lot has been going on since Arsenal went into Christmas top of the table. Both on and off the pitch. And I’m sure that we’d all agree that the Dubai break could not have come at a better time.

Not that we need reminding, but… a slightly unlucky defeat to West Ham, in a match that Arsenal dominated but couldn’t find the net, perhaps raised a few questions.  But the manner of the follow-up defeat at Fulham rung a number of alarm bells as the team looked tactically deficient against a side that, on paper, they ought to have seen off comfortably. Fulham had Arsenal exactly where they wanted them, exploiting the space out wide left by Arsenal’s inverted full backs to scythe them apart, and constantly channelling Arsenal’s forwards down blind alleys. Arsenal got exactly what they deserved from that game.

Against Liverpool in the FA Cup, it was an entirely different story. Starting with Havertz up front for a change, Arsenal carved Liverpool apart for the entire first half. A half-time score line of 6-1 would have been an entirely fair reflection of the way the half went; a missed header from close in by Havertz, in particular, may haunt me for the rest of my days if I dwell on how the home team squandered chance after chance. The German should actually have pocketed a first half hat-trick. But they went in scoreless. 

Adjustments by Klopp at half time made the second half more even, although the 0-2 final score was not a fair reflection of the way the game went. But that added up to three defeats in a row and - as we soon began to read - recriminations left, right and centre. The Arteta Out brigade, forever awaiting their opportunity to put the boot in, were suddenly all over our timelines. Ludicrous, frankly.

Of course, the stats made for painful reading at that juncture. Just three goals scored from Arsenal’s previous 80 shots. And 6 goals conceded from the previous 10 shots on target faced. But they are only stats; a small sample and not, surely, an underlying trend? To be fair, Arteta may possibly kill for a 20 goal a season number 9!!!

Thus leading to all the inevitable questions about the Transfer Window. Toney? Ohsimen? A flying winger? Central midfield or defensive cover? Or, as it’s beginning to look increasingly clear, nobody… In the current climate, and as both Everton and Forest have discovered, FFP is going to be a big factor in this Window. 

For me, a centre forward would definitely be helpful. Perhaps a bargain buy on the back of Newcastle’s FFP woes? Or an out-of-the-blue signing to match that or Reyes or Arshavin. But, at the end of the day, the club must stay within the guidelines.

The week or so in sunny Dubai really helped, as Arsenal came back reinvigorated against a Palace side that didn’t have the luxury of a break, and who are currently in pretty awful form. And the bare facts revealed a 5-0 hammering. Although…

Arsenal moved the ball around much more quickly than in previous games; sacrificing Arteta’s much-vaunted ‘control’ for more pace and verticality. Yet it took two well-worked set pieces to break the deadlock (more excellent work from Nicolas Jover); but nothing, by half time, on the ‘open play’ front. And the three goals that put a gloss on the performance were all breakaway goals. The first, a swift move following a Palace corner, was a beauty (props to David Raya, and Gabby Jesus, of course). 

And the final two nails in the Palace coffin were driven home with Henry-like precision by a reinvigorated Gabriel Martinelli.

So what can we read into that. Only that stats remain stats. Bigger tests loom on the horizon. And, if Declan Rice’s apparent hamstring pull requires a break of a few extra days, then let him miss the Forest game in order to be ready for Liverpool - an absolute Must Win - at the weekend. With Partey not quite back, we may have to rely on Jorginho in Nottingham, but that’s fine. Arsenal ought to be able to cope with Forest, for all that our record there is poor, and we saw on Gameday One how dangerous they can be on the counter attack. 

I’m hoping that we can soon see my ‘dream’ midfield of Partey, Rice and Odegaard; a midfield to match anything in World football, in my opinion. Tell me I’m wrong! Another month, maybe?

So it’s a big week. Liverpool is Massive. Most eggs need to go into that basket. And we don’t have to wait long to find out if reinforcements are on the horizon. With Salah out, it’s an opportunity. Not that Klopp doesn’t have plenty of alternatives available to replace him: Jota on the bench, anyone?…

Talking of Klopp, it was a surprise to read of his announcement last week. He’s elite, and there aren’t that many elite Managers out there to replace him. Personally, I’d definitely recommend Stevie Gerrard. Or Frank Lampard… And at the same time I choose to laugh at links between Mikel Arteta and Barcelona.

Ok - Forest away, then Liverpool. There is little or no room for error now. Bring it on. 

COYG!

It’s Like Déjà Vu All Over Again

As Arsène Wenger used to say about his later teams, confidence is a fragile thing. It takes a long time to build it up, but just a moment to shatter it. And something has happened over the past week to change the narrative on Arsenal FC.

Successive defeats is something this club hasn’t been used to for well over a year now. But it can happen to the best of sides; even the mighty Manchester City suffered the same fate just weeks ago. However, this feels different. Against West Ham, Arsenal at least dominated possession and could deem themselves ‘unlucky’ not to have converted any of their many chances into goals. At Craven Cottage the performance was… well; craven. An early goal was not a sign of things to come, and it soon became clear that Fulham had the upper hand tactically.

And this is a problem. Because it seems to me that Arteta and Arsenal have been rumbled. Now, it’s ok to be predictable if you’re so good that it doesn’t matter, but Arsenal’s weaknesses are beginning to be exploited by supposed ‘inferior’ teams. Let’s go through those: 

The single pivot - good as he is. The lack of genuine full backs - leading to overlaps - and the fact that those at right and left back are often left exposed because the wingers are asked to play high and wide, and therefore cannot get back in time to cover. The lack of a genuine focal point up front. And a shortage of goal threats. 

Opposing managers are ensuring that they they can lure Arsenal on to them, ferry them down dead ends and into crowded spaces, and then exploit the spaces in behind as moves break down. But when Arsenal have been at their best it’s been because they’ve done their work quickly and efficiently, and for much of this year it’s all been a little bit ponderous.

Now I’m certainly not knocking Declan Rice in all this. And I’m starting to see the worth of Kai Havertz (on a good day, anyway). But it turns out that the loss of Granit Xhaka has had a massive effect on the team. In addition, Arsenal have really missed Thomas Partey; an immense midfield presence, but one who is so often injured that he cannot be relied on. 

And on top of this… there have been flashes where we’ve seen why Arteta wanted David Raya. But, as they say: if it ain’t broke… Aaron Ramsdale had been critical to not just the way Arsenal played last season, but his personality had rubbed off on the side. In attempting to exercise more ‘control’ over proceedings, Arteta has sacrificed a lot of the spontaneity that made Arsenal such a great team to watch last season. 

And so to Fulham away; and I’ll  start with the changes to the starting line-up: Kivior - another centre back - in for the injured Zinchenko. Havertz back in for Trossard. And Eddie getting a start in place of Jesus. 

In the case of the first change, Arteta was stymied by a lack of options, but neither Kivior nor the returning Tomiyasu can play the inverted full back role like Zinchenko can. And none of them can defend like a full back needs to do. Havertz is talented, for sure, but feels to me like a ‘luxury’ player at times. His work isn’t always obvious to the eye, and he sometimes disappears from games almost entirely. As for Eddie; I felt sorry for him, he’s the closest to a target man that the team has, but there was no change in plan in order to exploit those skills and he was either making runs that were being ignored during ponderous build-ups, or being sent down dead ends by the Fulham defenders.

At the back, Arsenal were continually exploited on the break. Rice was often left exposed and to cover too much ground as the Arsenal defence was stretched in ‘transition’. And you know you’re in trouble when Antonee Robinson looks good!

There wasn’t enough bite in midfield, for all that Odegaard puffed and panted, and the wingers were often stranded upfield when moves broke down. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

Despite the early goal - which was something of a false dawn (Martinelli hitting the by-line and getting in a shot that broke to his opposite winger) - it was clear that there was something missing. Something that has been lost in the previous game. None of that vim and verve that has characterised recent Arsenal teams was present. 

It was no surprise when Fulham equalised. Nor was the manner of it a surprise. A swift break, full use of the width of the field, and Jimenez arriving on Kivior’s blind side for a well-taken finish. To be frank, from then on all Arsenal did was huff and puff, and whilst there was an element of good fortune and pinball about Fulham’s second - another conceded at a set piece - it also felt not only inevitable but also that Arsenal were never going to turn things around from that point.

This Fulham fan has achieved legendary status on the back of that second goal, by the way:

At this point I’m going to bring up something that is really starting to bug me about our Manager. And that’s his unwillingness to give Emile Smith Rowe a fair crack of the whip. Here’s a guy who at his best can carry the ball into enclosed spaces at speed and cause damage, and yet he got just 15 minutes on Thursday, and none in this game. I don’t understand this. At least give him a shot! Because nothing else is working currently.

So what now? As Arteta said in his interview: ‘Worst performance of the season’. And who is going to disagree with that? And as Declan Rice said in his interview, the team needs to ‘reset’. But how?

From what we are hearing, Ivan Toney is going nowhere this month. Alternatives to him are going to be very difficult to locate without being forced to pay a premium that FFP will not allow the club to do. Injured players like Timber and Partey still seem too far away to be able to help in the short term. So a lot of work needs to be done in order for the team to regain its momentum. From perhaps looking title favourites a week ago, Arsenal are suddenly only third favourites at best, and in need of a change of direction.

There’s lots of #ArtetaOut nonsense on social media. Perhaps a natural reaction to the past couple of games. But that’s not going to happen, obviously. Nonetheless, the Manager has got a lot of thinking to do. In a way, it’s fortunate that the team has just two matches in the next three weeks. But, unfortunately, one is that massive FA Cup tie against Liverpool next week. There’ll be no Salah, at least, but that’s pretty much as tough as you can get. And with a lack of confidence in the side, I’m not looking forward to it.

It’s time for some Transfer Window magic. And so, I continue to maintain; COYG!