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The Barcelona Match Must Wake Up Arsene Wenger
Topic Started: Apr 6 2010, 09:15 PM (551 Views)
DaG
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The two legs against Barca have exposed a number of things about this Arsenal squad. The most significant is our lack of technical ability. The amount of times players got the ball under pressure and panicked as astounding. Only 2 or 3 players were consistently able to make good first touches and keep the ball. Also, we lack precision in nearly everything we do in the final third. How often do you see our players playing very accurate through balls, making sharp runs, or taking the proper touch in order to get a strike on goal? Just look at the goal we scored, Walcott's touch/dribbling was horrendous, he didn't use the space he had nearly well enough by taking a bigger touch. Instead he kept the ball under his feet and made Bendtder's job of staying onside and getting a shot off very hard. In the second half we created some wonderful chances that weren't taken. A great pass into Nik's fit. Instead of being aware of the sliding Milito and letting the ball roll across his body then shooting with his left, he took the took INTO Milito and killed any chance of a shot. Little things like this that go unnoticed by the average fan make a massive difference in the match, and the top teams have players who do these basics consistently, look no further than the Messis, Xavis, and even Van Persies of the world.

The decision making of most of our players is terrible. We don't have players who know how to time passes or pick the right passes consistently. Several times over the two legs we had players receive the ball in advanced positions and instead of holding the ball up or making a side ways pass, they tries quick first time flicks or other stupid passes and not only gave away possession, but gave Barca easy options that led to attacks at our back 4. Diaby, Walcott, and Bendtner are the biggest culprits.

We also have a massive lack of discipline throughout the side. None of our midfielders bar Denilson is reliable defensively, and even he isn't ready to be effective week in week out due to his lack is strength, but he is one who will improve and be good enough eventually. Diaby will never have the brain to be good enough for this club, he is a liability. Cesc has lost all the discipline he used to have, and I don't think someone like Wenger can drill it back into him.

Basically, a major problem at this club are too many players who didn't receive a proper footballing education in their youth. Players like Clichy, Diaby, Song, Walcott, Bendtner, Eboue, Vela and others are still so raw, even after many years at Arsenal, and they won't improve significantly in these areas, no matter how much Wenger will try and convince you they will.

These problems have been apparent at the club for a long time, and they can be discussed so much more in depth. We have many, many fantastic players already here, but we need to go out and buy some who are intelligent and the finished article. Wenger is not brilliant in terms of bringing through youth. Give Wenger a very raw player and he'll make him into a mediocre one. Give him a player who has been educated well and is good technically, and Wenger will turn him into a star. All the great players Wenger has had were players who had proper footballing educations, and the reason we are failing now is because players Wenger bought on the cheap back in the day now cost far more than we are willing to pay. This needs to change this summer. We are close to being ready to win titles though IMO, we just need one top quality signing in each area of the pitch: GK, defender, midfielder, and forward.

Sorry if these thoughts are unorganized and if I've rambled on, but these are things that have bothered me for some time. I've warned people on this board about it, and I've faced ridicule, but maybe you will begin to see the picture.
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AntMcfc
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:thumbsup: Great stuff, really good analysis. The problem is Wenger won't learn from this, he will continue to believe he is doing the right thing and will bring in 2 extra players max this summer. Next season should be his last if you do not win anything this season or next.
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Vardy’s Mum
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Some good points there DaG but some bizarre ones too. Firstly our level of composure on the ball in the middle of the park, and our player's technical abilities, are trademarks of ours. Barca obviously take it to the next level but compared with almost every other team out there we're superior in those aspects of our game. Ability to take the chances that are created is a problem for sure though, and has been an issue for a while now because very clinical strikers are at a premium and cost far more than Wenger is willing to pay. And it's rare you'll grab a young one on the cheap and turn them into a goal scoring machine because this ability doesn't just suddenly appear in a player.
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DaG
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trigglebeef
Apr 6 2010, 09:25 PM
Firstly our level of composure on the ball in the middle of the park, and our player's technical abilities, are trademarks of ours.
Really showed against Barca didn't it? Whenever teams press us we turn to shit. Happened up at Sunderland this season, at Craven Cottage, etc.

I'm off now, I'll dissect everyone elses posts later.
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Vardy’s Mum
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There's no team on the planet that can handle Barca's pressing when it's in full effect DaG.

I still stand by my opinion that we operate in tight areas far better than most though.
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DaG
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trigglebeef
Apr 6 2010, 09:37 PM
There's no team on the planet that can handle Barca's pressing when it's in full effect DaG.

Watch Inter in a few weeks time.
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GUNBERG
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Good post.For once,I'm in agreement with Wrighty on pretty much all points.I have noticed what I would call a lack of composure on the ball when under pressure.I'm not sure it''s a lack of technical ability because these players are good when given time-it's panic and a lack of confidence.Sometimes too,it's also a lack of strength and determination eg Diaby's loss of the ball

As for decision making,that's been a worry for a long time and it runs throught he team.Tonight it was Diaby's failure to pass to Theo to possibly make it 2-0,Rosicky's failure to take a touch,Clichy's piledriver and Almunia's distribution all night.

Discipline-have to agree.Everyone pours forward and leaves the defence exposed.Denilson is very disciplined but I will not have full confidence in him until he becomes stronger,is more offensive in ball winning and tracks back quicker.These things can be taught/learned.Ces has been quite disciplined and defensively committed for many matches and will benefit from better quality along side him imo but he has been too high up the pitch and closing down the Gk when he shouldn't have been.Xavi gave a very understated masterclass in how Cesc should play.

As for the players education,then the current CC squad have all been under Wenger's tutillage since they were 11 or under and so should be able to step up.Theo at 21 should have make more progress than he has.IMO we need to keep more experienced players to guide the youngsters and give orders on the pitch.This is where so many have gone backwards as all the coaching in the world isn't the same as been educated during a match.

One thing I have noticed is how tired we have looked-all the speed and ability to press the ball seems to have gone.The Barca players looked so much stronger/quicker tonight.We need players who will stay loyal and be happy to be part of a squad.This as much as anything has cost us in the past.
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Scholes
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GUNBERG
Apr 6 2010, 10:29 PM
Good post.For once
Bit harsh that.
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Seriously, Frank Lampard is an absolute legend of the game. He needs to be recognised in some way eg. Frank Lampard OBE, Sir Frank Lampard or some kind of lifetime achievement award.

AntMcfc
 
Greatest ownage machine: Scholes. Absolute animal when he was a regular poster, I always knew I was in the right when he was backing me up, and I couldn't wait to read a topic that he was posting in because I knew he'd be tearing someone apart
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AntMcfc
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Funny thing is Wrighty has been saying these things since I've known him, and it takes a big loss for others to start realising he is correct.
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rollingstone
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To be hoenst Ant, DaG says so much stuff the whole time that some of the drivel will eventually end up being right...
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AntMcfc
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rollingstone
Apr 7 2010, 10:49 AM
To be hoenst Ant, DaG says so much stuff the whole time that some of the drivel will eventually end up being right...
Not really, that's a bit of a common misconception. Where Arsenal is concerned I've rarely seen an opinion of his be totally wrong, 95% of what he says is spot on but it just takes time to realise it or it takes another great footballing brain to see it. Maybe this is why I see that he's right all the time.
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erm307
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Yeah to be fair Wrighty is right (wheeey) the majority of the team when it concerns Arsenal. Sure he makes mistakes (Djourou for example) but a lot of the time he is bang on.
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DaG
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rollingstone
Apr 7 2010, 10:49 AM
To be hoenst Ant, DaG says so much stuff the whole time that some of the drivel will eventually end up being right...
I think that's incredibly unfair. People usually say I'm chatting shit because I don't rate performances of some players against pure shit teams. Diaby is a prime example, Arsenal fans all over were thinking this guy was becoming a rich man's Iniesta after some of his performances, and all the while I was warning he would be fucked by Barca.
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rollingstone
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Yeah I was sort of half-joking. You do talk a lot of sense about Arsenal, more than most on here actually. I would say you've perhaps drawn the sword too sharply on this occasion.
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DaG
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rollingstone
Apr 7 2010, 12:44 PM
I would say you've perhaps drawn the sword too sharply on this occasion.
Give me an example.
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