20 Dec 2017 03:54:13
Good result and now we have reverted to a back four, we have sufficient cover defensively, although in the summer window Mertesacker will need to be replaced as he retires and I would sell Chambers.
I am not at all convinced by the DM options, so one signing in the January window, such as Nzonzi and a second signing in the summer, we should then unload Coquelin and Elneny.
We should try and recoup what we can for Sanchez in January and Zaha looks a good option. The same goes for Ozil and Fekir would be a good shout, The problem is that Ozil and Sanchez may choose to run their contracts down and we will get nothing for them.
Huge match against Liverpool, we simply cannot afford a loss. With Mustafi back alongside Koscielny in a back four, I am a little more confident. Although I fear for the DM, which needs to be on top form to stop Liverpool.
20 Dec 2017 05:33:39
Back three, back five, back four, it doesn't make a blind bit of difference against teams that attack us. We are poor at defending whatever.
20 Dec 2017 08:38:54
Absolutely Steve r - The problem is that Wenger refuses to bring in a specialist defensive coach to work with Steve Bould. If, say, Keown was brought in to do the job, I can assure you the problem would be resolved. Look at the influence on the defences of Allardyce, Hodgson and Moyes at the relegation threatened clubs once they arrived.
Wenger plays far too high a defensive line, allowing teams in behind th back four. In addition he doesn't play proper DM's, preferring more technical players in the roles and in the 4-2-3-1 formation the full backs have zero protection, as the 2 CB's are unable to go wide to double up and the wide attacking players are too high up to cover their full backs. Wenger's most successful period was played in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, where the wide players doubled up with their full backs defensively and we had proper DM's such as Vieira, Petit and Gilberto.
Throw in zonal marking and you have a disaster. Although this season we don't appear to have been exposed defensively from deadball situations, so something must have changed. I will have to have a good look and see what the difference is.
20 Dec 2017 11:27:11
I'm not trying to split hairs here but is martin keown a specialist defensive coach?
20 Dec 2017 13:51:56
Keown has taken his coaching badges and has helped with coaching at Arsenal in the past.
He played nearly 600 matches as a defender and over 40 international matches for England.
Given the choice of Bould (given a free hand to coach the defence) and Keown in charge of coaching the defence or Wenger himself, I know who I would choose.
Interestingly Tony Adams admitted that the defence sorted itself out, often ignoring Wenger. Having been superbly coached by George Graham, both Bould and Keown have first hand knowledge of the training methods necessary.
20 Dec 2017 17:12:42
Your going off track again RG. Is keown a defensive specialist? Yes or no! He is a defender who has a lot of experience. I could name 20 off the top of my head with similar experience in this country alone. And if all those 20 are considered special then the word special is lost on you I'm afraid. So would you like to rephrase it to "we could get someone with lots of defensive experience to help" . And I don't find it interesting what tony Adams has "admitted to" so stop using words as a fact like interestingly and say "I find it interesting" because others might not .