Will Arsenal fans ever get to see consecutive easy wins? After demolishing the Everton defence last week, a struggling Swansea City coming to town this week should have spelled domination for the host. Alas, it was not to be as it was Paul Clement’s side that struck first with a Sam Clucas goal before the Gunners finally buckled down to take the 2-1 win in the end. With a tough slate of games on its way as the calendar turns to November, it was imperative for them to take as many points as they could from a relatively light schedule through the bulk of October. With the victory, the Gunners now sit level once again on points with Chelsea in fourth place.
Ramsey Bags 50
Ask 10 Arsenal supporters what their opinion is on the industrious Welshman, you are likely to get answers that run the gamut from adoration to utter hatred. These feelings seem to boil down mostly to how a particular fan views his role in the side. For those that see Ramsey as a dangerous attacking midfielder that provides more of a goal threat on his day than almost any other at his position, his lack of defensive awareness is not likely to be considered such a great liability. However, for those fans that expect a player in his position to act as part of a pairing of defensive midfielders, he is quite simply too confident in his attacking abilities and not a good enough defender for the role.
On Saturday, Ramsey finally managed to score goal number 50 for the club, a strike that ended up being the difference in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium. This season, he has thus far been able to avoid the niggling injuries that have combined with inconsistency to form the basis of any narrative of his club career, and has had as monumental a work rate as ever. Last season, Ramsey returned from Euro 2016 slightly bulked up from the season before, and a hamstring injury in the season opener against Liverpool, due in part to his fitness levels not yet being up to par, sealed the fate of yet another inconsistent season. However, for perhaps the first time since 2013/14, Ramsey has laid a solid claim for keeping his place in the side on a consistent basis since coming on strong at the end of last season. His re-emergence coincided with the team’s formational change at the end of last season, and at the moment it seems that, at least in attack, Arsene Wenger has found the best position for his iron lunged Welshman.
A New Record? Really? In the Midst of a Crisis?
With The Gunners’ come from behind win on Saturday, they actually managed to set a bit of a team milestone. The win was the team’s 13th consecutive at the Emirates Stadium, their longest such streak since leaving the hallowed halls of Highbury for the sterile luxury of their new home. The stat could come as a shock to those that have been following the club through television and print media, both of which are still making hay out of the tried and tested narratives of crisis and decline in North London. Considering some of the spectacular talents that have put on the red and white shirt for the club in the last decade, the fact that this current squad has put together the longest such streak should put their apparent struggles in perspective.
Conversely, the Gunners have struggle mightily at times this season away from their friendly confines. All three losses came while on the road, and the team appear to go through long stretches of lifeless play when playing away from home, and have particularly struggled in front of goal. Arsenal are tied with Manchester United at home, with five wins from as many tries, trailing only in goal difference. On the road, however, the Gunners have managed just one win in five tries, suffering a -3 goal difference in the process. Though Arsenal have never been the pack-it-in sort in away matches during Wenger’s tenure in charge, perhaps the Frenchman needs to consider a bit more of a pragmatic approach on the road, even if it means rotating away from his favourite starting XI in pursuit of victories.
No More Than Just Enough
As much as Arsenal have the potential to beat just about any team in the world on their day, the Gunners are equally as adept at playing down to their competition. Saturday’s opponents, Swansea, have been far from a threatening side this season, but in the first half at the Emirates, the Swans easily could have built a multi goal lead before the Gunners finally woke up. Eventually, Arsenal did show their class and got the victory, but why did it have to take so long? A glance over social media at halftime saw many of the team’s “supporters” gearing up to shred the team, Wenger, and probably Stan Kroenke for giggles, over their performance. Why couldn’t this team just put away an inferior opponent with authority as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have done with regularity so far this season?
The Gunners have already lost three matches this season, but they were only beaten badly once, when they were trounced handily by Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool (before Arsene planted the Ox in the German’s squad to wreak havoc on their form…or so I am convinced) . The others, a 1-0 defeat to Stoke and the last minute capitulation to Watford, were matches that Arsenal should have won. Though it would be hard to fully explain those two ugly losses without discussing questionable referee decisions, with specific respect to penalties not given, the fact remains that in both matches, Arsenal had the plan to win, the talent edge to do so, and at least ample opportunity to salvage a point. The problem this season, as it has been in seasons past, is the players’ response to conceding a goal. Arsenal have gotten into the habit in recent times of dominating the ball and the flow of the match from the opening whistle, but a lack of final product has seen the team not capitalise on their opportunities and allowed their opponents to gain a foothold in the match. Scoring that early goal to put their opponents on their heels is something that Manchester City do so well, and the pressure it creates on the opponent can lead to yet more mistakes, and those video game-esque scorelines Guardiola’s men seem to churn out on a weekly basis.
Big Time Bookends
As many fans will remember, one of the single most abused players in the Arsenal squad last season was young Spanish fullback, Hector Bellerin. As the pace merchant’s dark locks grew long, a source of surprisingly strong emotional response for some fans, his form withered. A stubborn ankle injury, first acquired in the closing minutes of the first North London Derby last season, stayed with him long after he returned to the team, and he struggled with his form and confidence for much of the rest of the season. Coinciding with Barcelona propaganda generated rumours that the Spaniard was aching for a return home, the fans quickly turned on their young star, giving him endless grief for his play and those rumours.
Fully healthy again, Bellerin has been joined by moving brick wall, Sead Kolasinac this season to form one of the most dynamic, versatile and active fullback tandems in the league. With both flanking a back 3 as wing backs, many of Arsenal’s most dynamic moments this season have involved one or the other. Bellerin’s recovery pace and Kolasinac’s brutish strength have given the Gunners more defensive stability than was evident for much of last season, while the Bosnian beast in particular has contributed to some huge goals in the attacking end. Though Bellerin lacks the consistent final ball of his teammate, he has put in more quality crosses this season than last, and has become far more versatile in his runs, no longer just overlapping round the outside of the forward on his side, but cutting in as well to create new angles in attack. It would be nice to see him equal the efficiency of Kolasinac, whose involvement in both goals on Saturday almost single handedly gave the Gunners the win. Still, with the Spaniard just 22 years old and Kolasinac only 24, Arsene Wenger may have assembled world class pair of wing backs in his team. Total cost in transfer fees: about €500,000. That is as good as bargains can get.
The Toughest Test Awaits
As Arsenal have finally gained purchase once again on a spot in the top 4, the Gunners will face their toughest test yet next weekend when they take on Manchester City at the Etihad. As everybody knows, Pep Guardiola has his team playing his unselfish, flowing football as well as could be imagined, and there is little mercy in the beatings they have laid on their hapless foes in recent weeks. For a notoriously nervous fan base, this one is not likely to inspire confidence.
Despite how likely it seems that City will win comfortably, Arsenal might have a better chance of winning than people think. Guardiola’s best idea of defence is to maintain possession of the ball (can’t score without the ball) and dominate that way, rather than setting up for a defensive stalemate like Jose Mourinho is known for, but without the ball, there is potential to expose the City defence. Though John Stones was the most expensive defender ever bought last season when he traded Everton blue for sky blue, but defending is lower down on his list of skills than most others at his position. Elsewhere in the back line is a former forward playing as a left back and former Tottenham athlete Kyle Walker on the other side.
The midfield is similarly skewed toward an attacking mindset, and the forwards only have goals on their mind. If Arsenal can managed to establish themselves on the ball in possession, they will have the opportunity to test this City defence like few opponents have even come close to doing. Both teams love to attack and play with a high backline, so don’t expect a goalless draw, but rather a clash of two teams that play beautiful football. This match SHOULD be much closer than many pundits will predict throughout the next week of build up to the match.
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