Its official, Arsenal are a team who cannot defend. 56% of the 39 goals conceded have come from set pieces. A situation that has been prevalent for three seasons. Yet to look at the coaching staff, you would wonder why Arsene Wenger has not employed a defensive co-ordinator. Boro Primorac is the Yugoslav first team coach, fluent in 8 languages he has been with Arsene Wenger since the Grampus eight days. On the basis of the performance of the team and the woeful team defensive tactics, as far as I am concerned, his only skills now lie as team translator. But don’t expect Primorac to be going anywhere anytime soon. Arsene Wenger is stubborn and loyal.
His fate lies with this coach and unhappily I predict that we will see Wenger’s legacy tarnished. Without changes to the coaching staff, one thing is certain. The memories of Arsene Wenger when he finally leaves will not be happy ones. His legacy has been irreparably tarnished and only a Champions League conquest will rescue what should have been a wonderful swansong. We have the lowest percentage of scoring from set pieces (19%) and the highest from conceding. So any team that faces the Arsenal will always have hope.
Coaching Staff :- 1 First team Coach, 1 Reserve team Coach, 2 Goal keeping Coaches, 3 masseurs 3 kit managers, 3 Physiotherapists, 1 Team Doctor
The Solution? SUCCESS BEGINS AT THE BACK
It has become painfully obvious that Primorac has taken the first team as far as he can. The season fight for number spot is over. Another defeat at the hands of FA Cup finalists Stoke City, but I am not surprised. The ridiculous defending by Djourou today was testimony to old ideas and an inability to change what needs to be changed. Basic fundamentals of being aware where the ball is, and to ensure that the attacker does not get goal side of you are abandoned in a stupid requirement to face the attacker, and to ghost wherever he goes. The result? When the ball is crossed into the box, the defender has a split second to try and pick up the flight of the ball, and still track the attacker. So forget about rebuilding the defence, Yes we need a right back who can cross, Yes we need a tall Centre Back who can power the ball away from the danger areas, Yes we need a leader in the defence, however I can see no prospect of Arsenal winning the Champions League EVER, whilst Primorac remains or no Defensive co-ordinator is appointed.
We are an absolute joke when it comes to the basics of good defending. I am not even looking forward to next season. We have scored 69 goals, only Manchester United have scored more, yet we have the lowest percentage of scoring from set pieces and the highest from conceding. So any team that faces the Arsenal will always have hope, whereas it seems that Arsenal fans have none.
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