Arsenal Football Club is buzzing at the moment. We seem to have a degree of momentum which is excellent, we have recovered from our brief stumble and Theo Walcott is looking menacing. Jack Wilshere has just signed a new contract so everything is set for a great New Year and possible crack at the number one spot. Yet despite the optimism in all things Red and White, I have to pinch myself and ask several questions. What could possibly get in the way of us lifting the Premier league trophy this season apart from Chelsea? There are mixed views in Goonerland as to whether the current form is good or just lucky and there are rumblings that we won’t shoot when the opportunity presents itself. So do we need to learn how to finish teams off?
The game against West Ham was another local London Derby. It had to wait until the closing minutes but in the end we got the right result. Yet for long periods of the game it seemed that we would drop two points and trail our South London rivals even further behind. They say the hallmark of Champions is that they get results even when they are playing badly. If this is the case, then on the basis of my eyes, Arsenal are acquiring that hallmark. Take the Anfield expedition, you want us to win ugly? Have that last minute equaliser where Chamakh’s desire put off Pepe Reina and the ball somehow got bundled over the line. After the six nil demolition of Blackpool, the trip to Blackburn saw the Theo show. The dropping of two points at the Stadium of Light was closely followed by a home defeat by the Baggies and the unlucky defeat to Chelsea at the Bridge.
Since that second league defeat, Arsenal seem to have taken on a new resolve. There are to be sure moments of frustration, and Arshavin for all his skills is the constant one for me, yet remarkable performances from Song and Chamakh means that we are still very much in the hunt in equal second place with just the jinx of November to come. I had previously blogged about the perception of November form from the Arsenal. The fixtures include the Geordies, the Wolves and of course the North London Scum. Five fixtures, 15 points up for grabs. I am going to be bold and say that we will win our two home games, and take 7 points from the remaining nine on offer. I actually think that the match against the Toffees will be drawn. Let’s hope that I am right and that Chelsea drop points in time for our next encounter.
In order to address the efficiency of our winning games, we need a clearer understanding of why Arsenal players do not shoot on sight. A big complaint from some fans against the current style of Wengerball employed is the impression that we are trying to walk the ball into the opponents net. When you actually concentrate more upon the defensive formations of the teams we have played, one can see why this impression is being gained. The opponent defensive formation usually consists of three layers, a back four, a middle five with the emphasis on creating congestion down the middle. These formations are spaced apart over 20 yards, so any shot inevitably will be kept outside of the box. Any shot inside the box will have to be extremely accurate to weave itself between the phalanx of players.
The tendency is not so much the tactic of walking the ball into the net, but more the use of the one-two pass combination. This requires two highly technical skills. The initiator and eventual strike man must play the ball into the feet of the receiver who must understand where his colleague is going to be on the pitch as he delivers a one touch pass with the right weight and direction. Timing is everything for the final pass. If the ball can be delivered into the feet of the striking player so that he does not have to break the rhythm of his strides, then all that is required is for this player to hit the target. Arsenal have become deft exponents of this passing combination and when you next watch the highlights of games, just see how these one two passing movements can open up defences.
The other change is that now we are getting players in the danger area in numbers, this area is that rectangle that extends in front of goal, from the goal line out to the penalty spot and any attempt on target from within this zone has a high probability of ending up in the net. Our aerial threats from Chamakh and Koscielny have also been added to the threat of Arshavin making yet another assist with a perfectly executed pass. Clichy has shown that he still deserves the left back berth and he has had some pressure taken off him with the new injury to Kieran Gibbs. His delivery of the ball into the heart of the danger area was intelligent and also a change from what we usually see from the Arsenal. Theo uses this ball as does Sagna. All in all it means we have become much more difficult to play against. Teams now do not know how to play Arsenal.
Finally we are developing stability between the sticks, and if Fabianski can add another three clean sheets to his current streak, then confidence will build. The confidence of Szczesny is admirable, but should we give in to his alleged demands for more games? I have to say that as good as he is. I could not depend upon him for a Champions League semi-final, what he has in raw talent and confidence, he lacks in terms of absolute experience of the big stage and occasion. We must still go after Pepe Reina in the transfer window if Shay Given is not going to move. From the defensive point of view Squillaci still needs to settle, as he remains nervous if the quality of his back passes are anything to go by. The aim must not only be for patience, but now to concentrate upon not giving away easy goals. So to answer my question, I do believe that Arsenal have finally learned to finish teams off by being patient and creating chance after chance, but most importantly it is by having bodies in the danger area that has increased the probability of us scoring that important goal.
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