Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has offered to coach the Gunners to improve defensively after our struggles against Chelsea on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s men succumbed to another defeat in the league and it seemed too easy for the Blues, especially in the first half. Romelu Lukaku dominated Pablo Mari throughout the game in a way that none of our former legendary defenders have ever experienced before.
Tony Adams and Martin Keown had a real go at Arsenal’s defence on Premier League productions, but Campbell has gone a step further by offering to become the club’s defensive coach to help solve the key issue.
Sol Campbell: Give me a job as a coach at Arsenal
The legendary Englishman said on TalkSport: “It’s hard watching Arsenal at the moment, it’s really hard. This is a very, very young side, you have to remember that, there is a lack of experience – but it’s the basics! Some of the players need to do the basics.
“You can lose, but the way we conceded some goals was too easy. The reaction times of some of the defenders not backing each other up, not assessing danger. The first goal has slipped across the six-yard box – get back and defend. Don’t just wait! That’s simple, that’s A, B, C defending.
“I tell you what, I’d help them. Just give me the job and I’ll help them out! “I’ll tell you how to get out of a two-man press against Brentford! I mean, what’s going on here?
“We go back to that game, it’s a two-man press, it’s quite easy to work out! You go flatter and that pressing midfielder has to run another 10 or 15 yards, which then gives you more space in the middle of the park. That’s really simple!”
The Insider’s View:
Campbell has a point regarding Arsenal’s defending in our opening two games. All four goals we’ve conceded so far could’ve been avoided, and that is something Arteta and co have to work on in the coming weeks.
However, it is important to note that Kieran Tierney was our only first-choice defender who started yesterday. It was pretty much our B-team due to all the injuries and illnesses, and it’s unfair to judge where Arsenal are after watching that side.
Read more: Arteta says referee Tierney made a ‘clear’ mistake in Arsenal vs Chelsea
As for giving Campbell a job as our defensive coach, it’s not a bad idea. However, getting the best out of the players on the pitch is a lot harder than sitting in a studio and pointing out mistakes. That’s the reason why more and more ex-footballers end up as pundits instead of becoming managers.
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