For the first time in years, Arsenal come to Old Trafford a point ahead of United, sitting top of the league. Arsenal fans seems to believe that this year they are ready to put up a successful challenge for the title. So I ask the question, are Arsenal much better this year than they were last year?
To start with I’ve looked at this point last season and what it suggests is that actually Arsenal are pretty much unchanged from last year in terms of points gained. Right now they sit top of the league with 32 points after 16 games and a goal difference of +16. For the sake of a visually seeing the top three, this is how it looks at present:
1. Arsenal p.16 – 32 (+16)
2. Man United p.15 – 31 (+19)
3. Chelsea p.16 – 30 (+19)
If we go back one year and address the points of these teams after the same number of games in the 2009/10 season, regardless of the other teams around them, it looked like this:
1. Chelsea p.16 – 37 (+27)
2. Man United p.15 – 34 (+21)
3. Arsenal p.16 – 32 (+22)
As is clear, Arsenal in fact have the same number of points now as they did then. United are 3 points worse off now and Chelsea are a massive 7 points worse off now. So are Arsenal really any different then?
It’s quite easy to make a case for both sides of this argument. No they aren’t all that different – the points say it all and in fact the league table clearly shows that whilst Arsenal have remained consistent from last year, the other two sides have in fact both got weaker. As it happens, Chelsea’s slump was predicted earlier before the season http://www.stretford-end.com/blog/2010/07/stretford-end-com-takes-a-look-at-the-dark-side/ . So in actual fact the current league table is just masking the fact Arsenal haven’t improved and highlights that they are only benefiting from weakened United and Chelsea teams – for the record, United fans, I disagree that United are weaker but for the sake of just comparing the table now, to the table last year, they are.
Or maybe Arsenal are a better side this year. Maybe points don’t mean everything. When clearly the league has become more challenging the mark of a better team is one that keeps a consistent. Whilst their main rivals clearly have slumped Arsenal have in fact remained on a par from last year.
Going beyond solely looking at points – Arsenal still have a young inexperienced team. I stress that I mean inexperienced in terms of having not won anything rather than players who’ve not played at a high level for good teams or their countries. Arsenal have added Chamakh upfront who has probably exceeded expectations so far and in Nasri they have a revitalised talent who has started the season ever so well. They have talented midfieders such as Wilshere who have been given more of a role within the team and like all the other young players, they are a year wiser and more experienced.
However where Arsenal may have taken a step backwards is what lies behind the midfield. Their defence rarely looks like keeping a clean sheet and whilst it might be harsh to judge after not even half a season, neither Koscielny nor Squillaci look like being a long term solution to the centre back problem. Koscielny in fact may end up costing £10m with all the add ons – forgive me if I’m wrong but he rather dispels the myth that Wenger doesn’t like to spend money. Squillaci has in fact been a solid signing, he has experience and has done ok but he often looks like he might make an error and what’s certain is that he would not be getting into the United, Chelsea, Spurs or City defences. The return of Djourou from a long lay off has been a positive move but his return has been coupled with the loss of Vermaelen. Meanwhile Clichy doesn’t look anything like the player many thought he would turn out to be but Sagna has in fact performed very well. The loss of Gallas has possibly been bigger than anyone thought it would be.
The goalkeeper problems of last year remain unsolved. Almunia’s continued to make errors and whilst Fabianski is starting to show he is a decent keeper he too has been far from solid in every game he’s played. What Arsenal lack in the first team they have in their Reserve and 3rd choice keeper – Wojciech Szczęsny. Anyone within the club or clued in to football will know how excited Arsenal are by their young Pole. Wenger did however fail to bring Schwarzer to the club in the summer, an experienced goalkeeper for two years would have been the perfect foil for Szczęsny.
One big issue with Arsenal has been and remains their mentality. It would be silly to ignore the fact it’s been 5+ years now without a trophy (the Emirates Cup doesn’t count) and the squad is therefore bereft of ‘winners’. Arsenal seem to have a problem crossing the finishing line and believing they can actually win something. I always felt that Wenger should have signed a few more experienced players who have been successful to help guide the team. It would be foolish to adopt the Alan Hansen route of “you win nothing with kids” – what he should have said was “you win nothing with kids who aren’t being guided” – or something like that. Arsenal need someone on the pitch who can pull the team through matches, in the same way Cantona guided the Fergie Fledglings. That’s not to say Arsenal won’t win the league because of that, but it would certainly help. It’s refreshing (in a positive way) and also desperate to see Wenger finally take the Carling Cup seriously – they have a great chance of finally winning a trophy now, even if it’s just the League Cup it will be a massive step in the right direction.
Finally, Arsenal remain and injury-crocked club. Rarely a week goes by without another player injured. One has to wonder if there is something that could be changed in training in order to maintain and condition the players better. It has reached the point where so many injuries are not a fluke. One argument might be that Arsenal have a lot of injury prone players – RVP, Rosicky, Gibbs, Diaby, Walcott etc – players who for one reason or another just can’t seem to stay fit for too long.
So when Man United take on Arsenal on Monday night, will they be facing a better side than they undeservedly beat 2-1 last year? Well, yes, probably but don’t be fooled by what the league table shows – this ultimately a stronger Arsenal squad with young players a year wiser but the same Arsenal flaws remains within the team. What they do have though is a tincy hint of belief and swagger about them – the same cockiness that many United teams in the past have had – I have my own doubts that they can last the season out but it’s going to be the closest they’ve come in a while. They are not to be underestimated.
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