Djourou On Hope, Expectation & What Might Have Been

A season of promise has not delivered the silverware but several players have grabbed their opportunity to establish themselves firmly in the first team squad. Having spent a considerable amount of time injured during his time at the club – he is the longest serving player currently at Arsenal – Johan Djourou is one of those who can look back on this season with some satisfaction.

In an interview with The Guardian this morning, he has spoken of the disappointment and the reasons for failure to land any silverware. They are similar to those espoused by his manager, suggesting that the squad are fully aware of their limitations.

There is a problem with lack of delivery in English football, most notably the national team’s Golden Generation failed miserably to deliver. It has re-emphasised the impatience connected with the Premier League era of modern football. That is not lost on the Swiss international,

You can say that Arsenal have lacked a championship mentality because we haven’t got winners, who have won many cups, but that’s a thing you build. And in this group we definitely have the ability to become that.

It’s not far away, that’s the whole thing...People have to remember that it’s a foundation of work and not everything works as soon as they want.

Equally, Djourou offers a ray of light that this setback is not a permanent barrier to success in the future for those that remain beyond the summer.

The Invincibles team was a project that was not made in one year. It was piece by piece by piece.

We have to keep the faith in this project and we just want to win to show the world that the boss is right. It takes a lot of courage to keep going with your own way.

It would be easy to argue that Djourou is merely saying this as he is benefitting from Wenger’s belief in the youthful players. Whilst that is true, Djourou has offered enough this season to prove that he is worthy of his first team place.

The comparison with The Invincibles is one that is quickly dimissed. To do so is to miss Djourou’s point. He is not comparing the squad to those players at the peak of their powers but in the seasons leading up to it. The dreaded word is potential, a signal for disparagement from those who believe only in the here and now, irrespective of the cost.

The balance has to be struck. Wenger is almost living on a pendulum, seeing the perfect mix as he swings past, the extremes of youth and experience. If he could pluck one or two more to add experience to the squad, then potential would be realised as a whole, ceasing to be a curse.

This was acknowledged by the manager when commenting about Lehmann coming to the club recently. Re-signing the German and Sol Campbell has been beneficial is the mental aspect to a degree but both were too old to be considered anything other than temporary solutions. That Campbell played more often and Lehmann at all, shows how bad the injury situation has been at times.

Even so, signing experience is almost as risky as the other end of the spectrum. Fine defender as he is (and was), William Gallas showed a temperament that was suspect under pressure, his ego in the way of leadership.

The captaincy is poisoned chalice at Arsenal. Recent permanent holders of the position have been severely criticised for their leadership. Gallas, Fàbregas, Henry; individually fantastic players, questionable leadership. Or is it that simple with the Spaniard?

It has been an easy and almost lazy accusation to make this season, that he is distracted by the previous summer shenanigans. No evidence of this is offered nor can it be, simply a false presumption that has taken hold. Perhaps in Fàbregas’ case, it is nothing more than a player who leads by example being injured and pre-occupied by that?

The problem is that the romantic image of a captain at Arsenal is formed by the likes of McLintock and Adams. Boisterous characters, vocal to their colleagues. Typically British. This generation is different, needing less of the ‘They don’t like it up ‘em‘ attitude to get them going, more of a firm and steadying character upon which to draw strength.

That does not need to be a captain though. A leader in the middle of the pitch, one to lift Fàbregas when he needs it, one to compliment the Spaniard’s captaincy. That is the experience Arsenal need this summer.

’til Tomorrow.

Stone Cold Friday: Making Lemonade From Bitter Lemons

Is he a man or is he a mouse? Let’s put a piece of cheese on the floor and find out. ….here’s Darius.

If ever there was a necessary destruction to the anti-climax of the season, the circus in town today must surely be a bemusing antidote to a very painful week. Anything that talks about how an unsuspecting Catherine is about to sign her date with destiny has to be better than listening to the untold bollocks being spewed about Arsenal left, right and centre.

I’ve struggled somewhat to make sense of the fallout from last Sunday, with the conclusion that the doctrine of equal opportunity forces us to live and work alongside cretins and imbeciles. I can actually rationalise the disappointment of the collapse of the title run in; for the simple reason that we can chew the fat over what needs to happen and look forward to the changes abound. It’s part and parcel of football.

What is baffling is the abuse and sheer vitriol being unleashed to Arsenal fans in some quarters by all and sundry. It’s open season on Arsenal. Even a taxi driver, who has never spoken to me on any topic more exciting than the weather, has the balls to tell me to get rid of my Arsenal shirt as it’s pretty much useless. This, of course, after professing that he’s a Swindon Town supporter.

Another ACLF regular I spoke to during the week described how he was abused for the misfortune of watching Sunday’s game at a family function, where he was outnumbered by fans of teams not on Arsenal’s Christmas card list. It’s almost like there’s a divine right to take the piss out of Arsenal right on cue from the nonsense spouted by the media.

“So what are you going to do – it’s been 7 years”, I was asked at work.

What do you mean, what am I going to do. I’ll watch and support my team every week until the end of the season, dust myself off and start supporting them again next season. What the hell do you expect me to do?

That “haven’t won a trophy in x years” nonsense is just bang out of order now. No-one bitches about Liverpool who not only have not won anything for going 6 years now; they have never won the premier league or any title in 2 decades. Apart from Chelsea and United who have collectively spent more than the GDP of some developing countries, no one else has won the damn title since.

Our team has issues to deal with, and addressing what needs sorting out is a matter that must be given serious attention. Aside from that, we as fans can debate and pontificate about what needs to happen until the cows come home. It’s what makes us all love Arsenal, whether we vent our spleens in anger, or enjoy the magnificent football that we’ve come to expect.

Arsène’s shopping list has already been created for him and it makes comical reading for most part. The usual suspects like Shay Given, Gary Cahill and Scottie Parker are bandied about as players that Wenger must sign to guarantee that Arsenal win a trophy. Frankly speaking if any of these guys were as good as they’re trumped up to be, Given would be in goal for City every week, Cahill would have been snapped up by now, and Parker the Hammer’s Superman would have got his team well out of the relegation zone. These guys are not as good as they’re made to be.

The nonsense smirks of “Arsène – get some goddamn British grit”, an implied suggestion that Arsenal’s dilemma can be solved by getting ‘ard men, who have never come close to winning something themselves.

My take has always been that our deficiencies are not on the physical or the technical aspects of the game. The team is very capable of giving as good as it gets – classic examples being the home and return legs against Everton and Birmingham this season. The question mark has been that of the mental aptitude to cross to the next level and complete that last mile.

But it’s déjà vu talking about this and knowing that the longer it goes on, the harder it will get. From a strategy point of view, Arsenal doesn’t even have to win the games against our closest title challengers in the season. The games that cost us are the ones we drop points against lower opposition that we can and should be better than.

The job for this season is not yet over, and when done, I do look forward to seeing what changes are abound for the new campaign. It’s simplistic just to suggest that if we brought in new players, then our issues will be resolved. I think it has to be a combination of a few new faces and an almost regimental drilling on the training ground.

When we talk of maturity, I’d like to see the team know when to call it a day and close a game out and how to be calm about it. I’d like to see them know when it’s better to play for a draw or change tact to slow the game and wind things down. I’d like them to surprise opponents and flummox them with the unconventional to deal with those who don’t come to play football.

We have players who can rival the best crooks in the world when it comes to unpicking locked doors – and we need to get better at dealing with those who come to park the company tractor and pull down the hatches.

It’s all to look forward to – and until then, the team must make the best out of what is left of the season. At the least, they owe us some good football.

’til Tomorrow.

Early United Thoughts & Other Stuff

A calm before the storm today, Arsène has his press conference today, facing his media critics for the first time since Sunday’s defeat at Bolton. No doubt there will huge speculation about the comings and new arrivals this summer, where its all gone wrong for Arsenal this term. 

Attention will be on facing Manchester United this weekend, presumably a stronger side than might have been expected had Schalke not laid down to have their tummies tickled on Tuesday night. There was a stat somewhere yesterday that in 15 attempts, no team has progressed to the Champions League final with a two-goal deficit to overturn.

An indication of how the squad is feeling was given by Emmanuel Eboué,

We need to respect them but not be scared, play our football and we’ll see after the game

Personally it suggests to me that there is an element of United being inside their heads which is not really that surprising given that Arsenal have lost the last six meetings between the two sides.

Eboué’s choice of words suggests that inhibitions are surfacing, presumably due to the recent run of form. Arsenal’s decline is as marked as United’s consistency in the final games of this season. We shall see if Arsenal are the ‘wounded animal‘ that Patrice Evra fears they might be or the kitten chasing a ball of wool around the living room.

Elsewhere, Arsène is looking to wrap up his summer transfer deals very quickly. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for £10m and Carl Jenkinson for a tenth of that cost, according to The Telegraph anyway.

To put Jenkinson’s fee into perspective, it is around half the money Arsenal expect to make from The Emirates Cup. Paris St Germain, Boca Juniors and New York Red Bulls are the opponents. A return for Thierry Henry and two new continental opponents offer differing styles of football than we might normally expect to see. That New York, Buenos Aires and Paris are all major international destinations for Emirates Airlines is, I am sure, entirely coincidental.

Pat Rice is apparently leaving this summer, not renewing his contract due to injury. Now whether this is true or speculation – the injury part – I am not particularly bothered. If he decides to retire, that is Pat’s choice. What I find bemusing and frankly disrespectful, is some of the rubbish spouted about how the players failings are his fault.

Nobody offers any evidence of this other than to say that Ferguson changes his No. 2 regularly – a few not by choice is never acknowledged – to keep things fresh. Whether that is telling is unprovable since none of them hang around for more than 2 or 3 years.

It sums up everything that is wrong with football today that slurs are made against a man who has given most of his professional career without a shred of evidence and are accepted as the truth.

’til Tomorrow.

Should Arsene Be Wary Of The Age Gap?

A policy which he appeared to hold very dear is one that might help Arsene through the current trials and tribulations.

At Arsenal, once you hit the age of 30 a new contract was only forthcoming if you agreed to it being agreed on a rolling basis. That was fine for Dennis Bergkamp, not so good in the books of Robert Pires who understandably felt he was worth a first team place. His years at Villarreal suggested that he at least had a point worthy of discussion.

To Arsene, the key has been whether the older players will prevent the development of youth. To use his own word, “kill” them.

In some cases this might be true. Yet the manager has never fought shy of promoting youth and very few have been ahead of schedule. Jack Wilshere is most notable in that respect but his season has proved fruitful, the Young Player of the Year award well deserved.

Goodplaya notes in his post yesterday the following:

1. 2010-2011: With 11 games to go the title was in our hands. We’ve won once in seven and now the title is gone
2. 2009-2010: With seven games to go we were two points adrift. We won one of our next six and finished 11 behind Chelsea.
3. 2007-2008: We were five points clear with 12 to play. We won one of our next eight.

There are extenuating circumstances such as injuries which need to be factored into these collapses in form, the squad system is designed to compensate for them.

In those situations, older heads might have kept calmer in certain matches, stopping runs developing. Yet there is evidence that this is not always the case, the inclusion of Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre suggests that age and experience in isolation is not enough. Similarly, William Gallas fulfilled all of the requirements but was unable to stem the flow.

Much of this is linked with title-winning experience. The two centre backs had that in abundance so that is not enough. Indeed the demands of a player ready for the Premier League and be an experienced title winner are mutually exclusive for Arsenal. Whom of United and Chelsea’s squads could they tempt that would be good enough to improve the squad we have?

However, those three seasons reflect a more worrying trend; the squad are not learning from their failures. Whilst they are capable of getting into good positions, the next step is beyond them. As much as that is the fault of the manager in adapting the sides tactics to key absentees, there is a collective responsibility for the players as well through the failure to learn.

So can Wenger benefit from a smattering of experienced heads throughout the team? Certainly, the centre of the defence is not the only place from where play can be influenced. Midfield and attack can equally benefit from experience, especially in the absences of Robin van Persie.

The question is whether Arsène sees this as an admission of failure in his belief in youth or if he is persuaded that it is beneficial in the longer term to have a short term solution. Aside from perhaps establishing silverware, there is another benefit for the manager to consider. As the squad matures, the older players leave and are replaced organically, the remaining players assuming the senior positions.

Cesc noted last week that he had the likes of Henry, Bergkamp and Gilberto to look up. Perhaps, with a little help now, he and some of the current squad can be the ones looked up to in the future.

’til Tomorrow.

There’s Nothing Wrong With Principles If They Work In Practice

In the aftermath of Bolton, Arsène has been the recipient of substantial advice with respect of what type of player he needs to buy and who fits the bill, even down to the price he will cost and how to fund it if his ‘war chest’ will not stretch to that. Nothing wrong in this, football is all about opinions.

Indeed, having shown his paternal instinct toward the players by shouldering the blame for this season’s failure to deliver the title, Wenger was equally keen to help the ‘armchair managers’ along the way by highlighting his squad’s weaknesses.

We have the quality, that is for sure. We have to strengthen the squad where it needs and make the right decision on that front. It [transfers] is always in my mind every day. The team have had an outstanding attitude and will not be rewarded because of small things, but small things cost you.

It was put to Wenger that the style of play might have to alter, bringing a swift and  definitive retort,

If someone can convince me that the principles are wrong I am ready to change, but I feel we try to play football the proper way. When you don’t win you question your principles, but you have to give yourself the right distance to see what is right and wrong in what you do. I think if something is wrong in our team, it is not the principles in playing our football.

Those principles are not the issue, smooth passing football played in the manner of Arsenal at their best is surely the essence of the game. It is, I think, a deliberate red herring that the manager has decided to use to stem some of the criticism of the squad.

The principles, no matter how noble, do appear to be hindering the team. Much talk comes of Plan B, whatever that may be. The accusation – real and implied – in such discussions is that the team becomes unnecessarily stifled when faced with banks of four and four / five as opponents become more defensive.

This is the real issue and it reflects on the players. Despite his detractors saying otherwise, there is no doubt Wenger sends out the team with a tactical plan, the players know what is expected of them in certain situations. It leaves a great deal of room for spontaneity. And Arsenal have the players to handle that situation.

There is a problem with the players when confidence is lacking. The failure to shoot when good openings exist is a manifestation of this, the slowing down of attacks another. Why are seemingly intelligent footballers – this is a key requisite of the manager for any of his squad – baffled in situations that they face regularly?

Defensively it is the same problem. A good observation yesterday regarding set pieces was that Arsenal are not a spectacular attacking threat themselves so how can they be expected to practice them effectively from the defensive standpoint? It’s a fair comment.

Which begs the question as to what is actually needed. Does the squad require a defensive coach as well as a different kind of centre back than the club already possesses? There were benefits seen when Martin Keown assisted with the squad in 2005/06. Surely that cannot hurt to try once more. This time though, such an investment in time should begin in the pre-season to be effective.

These are issues that Wenger needs to ponder. They are issues that the squad need to reflect on. They need to understand that despite the manager publicly shouldering the blame – and as manager, he is ultimately responsible – they cannot shirk from criticism.

’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal’s Season Takes It Toll

Bolton Wanderers 2 – 1 Arsenal

1 – 0 Sturridge (38)
1 – 1 van Persie (90)
2 – 1 Cohen (48)

Arsenal’s already faded title hopes were extinguished yesterday barring the most spectacular of footballing collapses. A pall hangs in the air this morning, a season which most knew was over in terms of silverware was confirmed in a game which encapsulated Arsenal’s recent form. 

A game which should have been won, returned nothing as Arsenal could not find the inspirational moment or player to bring the necessary positive result to bear.

Early chances in a brisk Spring afternoon were falling to the visitors. Walcott was pivotal, Jaaskelainen saving in the fourth minute from the England international whilst Nasri and Cesc might have done better with their opportunities.

Both sides traded jabs for fifteen minutes until just past halfway through the first period, Lee was sent clear by Sturridge. Instead of taking his chance, he sought the perfect goal and Arsenal cleared. The same player would bring saves from Szczesny as the hosts enjoyed a dominant spell. 

With half time looming, Arsenal conceded the opening goal. The often criticised defensive provided more evidence of the attention needed, failing to mark Cahill, his header blocked by Nasri before Sturridge threw himself at the rebound and found the net.

It sparked Arsenal briefly into life, Fàbregas’ speculative shot striking the woodwork but a swift equaliser before the break did not materialise. Instead it took three minutes of the second half to arrive but not before the deficit could have been doubled.

Having ignored a stonewall penalty when Taylor bundled Walcott over, Mike Jones judged that Sturridge’s theatrical fall merited a spot kick. Evidence of refereeing inconsistency, a swift viewing of a replay in both instances by the fourth official would have produced alternative outcomes. Szczesny though, was not giving up without a fight and his trailing boot prevented Davies adding to the scoreline.

A crucial miss became more costly when Fàbregas and van Persie combined to allow the Dutchman to score from the edge of the area. It was the incisive break we have come to expect as the norm.

van Persie in the process became the first Premier League player to score in seven consecutive away games. The clamour for a strike partner for the Dutchman needs to consider his record and whether how much it would be adversely affected before shouting too loudly.

Two inspirational moments could not bring the necessary change in fortunes. Arsenal were lacklustre but lacked verve. A winner was going to come from a piece of luck or a moment of brilliance. The latter nearly came from Samir Nasri, his effort blocked by Jaaskelainen.

The winner came from the same area as the opening goal. Arsenal failed to mark at a corner and Tamir Cohen headed home. What followed highlighted the mess that football’s regulators have created. No-one could have been failed to appreciate Cohen’s feelings for his late father, the referee followed the letter of the law and booked him.

Why? Referees are allowed to provide subjective interpretations on foul play, their discretion apparent in handing out yellow and red cards for transgressions yet in commonsense decisions, their hands are tied.

The match was all too symptomatic of Arsenal’s season and within minutes it was over.

A visibly shattered Arsène shouldered the blame, diverting attention from the players. Post-match the manager observed,

If anybody is to blame it is me. I pick the team, I choose the players. I feel the players have had an outstanding attitude for the whole season but they are not to blame.

Yes, it is very unsatisfactory not to win anything. It was one of the easiest run-ins we have had for a long, long time. We still lack maturity, experience and calm in important situations.

Football is a microcosm of society, this morning’s tabloids when they are not bathing in false nationalism over this week’s Royal Wedding, are bemoaning soft parenting and lack of discipline.

Arsène certainly might be considered guilty of the former by protecting the players.His strongest XI with one possible exception, was on show yesterday and could not muster the win required. It is impossible to judge a squad on one match but this is too symptomatic of 2o11.

Mentally they did not recover from losing the Carling Cup Final or dropping a four goal lead at St James Park. Both were self-inflicted wounds, the subsequent results suggesting that any confidence was gradually ebbing away.

That this was the subject of Arsène’s comments this week suggest it was a bigger issue than anyone appreciated, for a longer period of time.

There is a sadness at the manner in which the season is petering out, so quickly after so much promise.

’til Tomorrow.

Bolton Preview: Let The Season End With A Bang Not A Whimper

Arsenal travel to The Reebok Stadium knowing that a win will probably not even lift them into second place yet give themselves a chance of catching leaders Manchester United. Games are running out, chances diminishing. Arsenal need a win to stop this seasons deflating, ending with a whimper.

The week ended with Wenger on the back foot, his captain speaking thoughtfully and honestly about the squad whilst the manager got hot under the collar about the interpretation and nuances that the media put on it. Such issues have led to semi-obituaries, Paul Wilson the latest opportunist to tap into the Arsenal zeitgeist.

The suggestion that the Arsenal way is somehow becoming jaded, a failed experiment, irrelevant in the modern game, is laughable. Spend, spend, spend! is not going to last, it simply cannot with the new rules that are being imposed on clubs. If it was as irrelevant, Chelsea would not be looking to fast-track youth through to the first team, preferring to buy their replacements.

Mental pressure increased with Chelsea and Manchester United winning yesterday. An Arsenal victory will make the next fortnight a mental battle, Arsenal will need to overcome United and hope for a Chelsea win the following Sunday. That creates its own problem with that scenario meaning goal difference will be the decisive factor.

Would that this was the only problem to be concerned about.

More immediately, how do Arsenal convert the draws which have blighted the recent run, into wins? Belief is the key; a very easy word to bandy around, very easy to say that you believe in yourself but the reality is that Arsenal do not appear to believe that they can defend a lead. Or so we are told.

The truth is somewhat different, Wednesday night a fresh wound in all minds. Like Sunday before, it was a golden opportunity lost to close the gap. A Chinese Water Torture in the footballing sense, confidence must be seeping away from the players. The solution must come from within.

The manager and staff can imbue them with all of the confidence that is possible but once they cross the white line, it is only the players who can resolve it. They have the experience of being in these situations yet have not yet learned to stop them recurring. A collective problem that is much harder to solve than individual errors.

So to the team. Abou Diaby is missing, as is Tomas Rosicky. A rumour has circulated that Thomas Vermaelen is to feature which makes sense if his much vaunted return against Manchester United has a shred of truth to it. Unlikely though is a full match from the Belgian, surely a gentle reintroduction the sensible course of action.

The line-up for this afternoon I would expect Arsène to go with is:

Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Fàbregas, Song, Wilshere; Walcott, van Persie, Nasri

The key thing for the players to remember is that there was not too much wrong with the attacking display in midweek. To go to your local rivals and a top five team, score three times and possibly have added two more, indicates that the rhythm is returning.

Bolton will be smarting from their drubbing at the hands of Stoke last weekend. They will be ready to salvage their pride and Arsenal need to be ready for this. A high tempo game will suit the visitors counter-attacking instincts. A win is vital. A win is achievable. And that is all which is required today.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.