Unlucky thirteen?

Le Tissier looks at the Gunners in his Soccer Saturday blog

By Matt Le Tissier   Last updated: 6th October 2008

Unlucky thirteen?

Wenger: can he win title?

It pains me to say it because I love the way Arsenal play football, but I think they'll struggle to challenge for the league.

Matt Le Tissier
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If Arsenal want to be serious title contenders they know they should have more than 13 points from their opening seven games.

Perhaps if they'd played Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United already you'd say it wasn't a bad return but they've played West Brom, Fulham, Newcastle, Blackburn, Bolton, Hull and Sunderland. At the start of the season they'd have fancied themselves to take three points off all of those teams.

They've dropped eight points in the games against Fulham, Hull and Sunderland who are unlikely to be challenging near the top at the end of the season and that has left them with a mountain to climb at this early stage.

If they want to challenge for the title they are now going to have to win games against the 'Big Three' rather than just nicking points off them. I'd say they need to take four points off all three of the other big boys.

They might enjoy playing against the big teams a bit more because they won't put 10 men behind the ball and Arsenal will have a bit more freedom and space for the likes of Theo Walcott and Emmannuel Adebayor to take advantage of. But then again the big teams will offer much more threat going forwards as well.

It pains me to say it because I love the way they play football, but I think they'll struggle to challenge for the league.

The run they had last season was great and it was a shame they faltered at the end, but I just don't think they look as strong as United, Chelsea or possibly even Liverpool at the moment.

Strange

When you look at how well they played against Porto in the Champions League, it's strange to see them struggling to beat Hull and Sunderland, especially when you see the quality they have in their side.

In all fairness, they dominated the game against Sunderland on Saturday. Sunderland barely got out of their own half, parked the bus in front of the goal and kept 10 men behind the ball with Djibril Cisse isolated up front on his own.

That was the game plan for 70 minutes and after that they pushed a few more men forward, which nearly worked because they nicked the lead. I think other teams might have been watching and Arsene Wenger might come up against those tactics a few more times this season.

Arsenal did struggle to create many clear-cut chances, although they had a goal harshly disallowed after an hour which might have made it a different game. Had that been allowed Arsenal might have gone on to win it comfortably, but if they don't get that early breakthrough then they're in trouble.

Finance

We've had several e-mails from fans saying Arsene Wenger should have spent more over the summer, but that's always a difficult one with the finances at Arsenal.

Wenger wants to do it his way, rather than spending £30million on the Berbatovs of this world. You have to respect him for that and I'm sure the Arsenal fans like that policy and love watching the football they're playing, but there will come a point when they want to win a trophy.

To go over that final hurdle to claim some silverware they might need to throw a bit of cash around at one or two top-drawer players.

The first XI is already very good and it's quite difficult to improve on their best team. If Robin van Persie was always fit then you wouldn't have any problem playing him up front with Emmannuel Adebayor every week.

But I'm not sure if the guys waiting in the wings are good enough to step in for those two. Nicklas Bendtner isn't top drawer for me and I know Carlos Vela is coming through but he's still a little bit young, so they need another top centre-forward.

I'd also say the left-side of midfield is an area they've got to look at. Gael Clichy is a fabulous full-back but he needs somebody in front of him who's going to dominate the left wing.

Maybe they are also looking for another centre-back. Kolo Toure and William Gallas are good, but you need a bit more strength in depth if you are going to challenge for honours.

Harsh

However, there should not be any question marks over Wenger's future. If you look at how far he's taken Arsenal since he first took over then it would be a bit harsh to start criticising him.

We've had e-mails suggesting he's taken the club as far as he can, but I still think there is a big job for him to do. He'll still think he can improve things at the Emirates Stadium and after all he's done, he deserves a lot more time to do it in.

From what I've seen so far, the title might be beyond them this year but I am certainly not writing them off completely.

In this game, you just never know.

Comments (55)

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Chris Hill says...

You say we need another centre forward have you forgotten about Eduardo? Personally I think your completely wrong about our squad. Any team that has Van Persie, Adebayor, Fabregas, Eduardo, Rosicky, Vela, Walcott you cannot say needs more attacking talent. Again you talk about Arsenal need another centre back but we have talent coming through, Djourou looks a very good prospect and although I havent seen anything of him apparently Gavin Hoyte is at a far better stage than his older brother was at that age.

Posted 12:28 8th October 2008

Keith Wilkins says...

Everyone goes on about Wenger being a brilliant manager and about being held to a draw by lowly Sunderland. Oh Dear Me ! all I could see was a petulant child who expected Sunderland to play the game his way and not whats best for them! Wake up and smell the roses Mr Wenger we all want to take points not just the top 4 !!!! .

Posted 12:08 8th October 2008

Jo Rodney says...

I'm an Arsenal fan. we will eventually win da league, mayb next year. but we are to weak at present and inexpierienced that it is almost impossible to win da league this year. but i do understand that if wenger buys a big name player it will restict a younger one to less games, so keep faith in him we could win that fa cup or champions league this year, becuz thaey are thew cups that suits arsenal where you dont need consistancy. come on arsenal!!!

Posted 11:38 8th October 2008

Chauncy Mhone says...

The style of football at the Emirates is the reason why I love the gunners. On the other hand, I want high profile signings in the summer. Bring David Villa, Aguero and any other agressive striker to beef up the squad. Fabregas needs to be supplemented. Hoza Gunners !

Posted 11:22 8th October 2008

Kamran Iqbal says...

What you keep forgetting is that Arsenal are managing the club as a business rather than a football club. The financial cost of producing the new stadium means that Arsenal are now under a lot of debt. The club therefore can not spend like Chelski or Man utd. This equivalant to a person taking a large mortgage out and paying it over 25years. Thus the mortgage payments are more important. This however, in the short run means the club cant spend all the money gained from gate receipt, commercial activities, etc on buying top players. They have to budget the finance and pay off the loan. Once the loan has been payed off then the club will be able to compete with the biggest clubs in the world for the best players. So in the mean time as much as the club/manager wants to buy big he cant. Would the fans rather spend big money and jepordise the future of the club or be patient wait for your time? I'm sure given this opportunity to another premiership club outside Top 3 and Man City will more than happy and wait for their time.

Posted 00:27 8th October 2008

Kris S says...

An opinion from a foreign fan... Wenger is the best manager in the world probably, but Arsenal have been terribly unlucky this year. On the other hand, they need some of the world class players in a few positions. Just my opinion: 1 - a first class striker, who doesn't need 3 or 4 chances to score a goal, an example would be Aguero, currently with Athletico Madrid. 2 - an aggressive defensive midfielder, such as Liverpool's Mascherano, who can stop attacks in the midfield. Best would be either someone who can also shoot from distance, such as Spain's international Senna (Villareal) or someone tall who can stop opposing headers such as Dutch international Engelaar (currently with Schalke). 3 - an attacking midfielder with powerful shooting, such as Franck Ribery (Bayern), especially if Cesc decides to leave. And please, Van Persie only plays great once in every five or six matches, give Carlos Vela a chance. He's the most talented attacker Arsenal have had since Henry. Cheers to all Arsenal fans!

Posted 22:07 7th October 2008

Benson Murima says...

Am an total Gunner and agree totally with LE Tessier. I also concure very strongly with Ross Davies about those "pesky crosses" and set-pieces and corners that are our undoing. I believe that any team's defenders are as good as the style of football that the team plays when attacking. I bet during practice, Arsenal's forwards charge down the centre, using short passes and pace. Consequently Gallas and Toure are effective in defending that kind of play. However, there being no (ugly) long ball tactics during attack practice, these same CBs are not well drilled to defend this style of play and that is Arsenal's undoing. The Gunners need to practice different attack formats found in the Premier League, so that their back 4 can prepare well.

Posted 19:54 7th October 2008

James Wright says...

I think things will get better for us. We've been a bit unlucky but you cant blame bad results on luck. Arsene needs to find a way to penetrate a packed defence because thats what is going to happen to all great teams. We need someone who has an instinct to score and thats always in the right place at the right time, maybe thats eduardo but hes injured now. we need to stop letting in long range shots and stop passing the ball around the area because it looks like one of those european handball matches. We need to be more direct with our passes, more through balls through the defence. lets win something!! come on arsenal!!!!

Posted 19:42 7th October 2008

Ross Davies says...

Le Tissier's assessment is spot on. Arsene Wenger, as commendable as his determination to stick with his young guns is, is at fault for not recognising the need to strengthen when it is staring him in the face. I'm a big Arsenal fan, and far be it for me to question one of the greatest managers in the game, but anyone can see the club are missing a commanding centre-half to clear those pesky crosses into the box that have so far proved their un-doing on three occasions this year. A player in the mould of Vincent Kompany is my suggestion. Furthermore, the persistence with Denilson in the centre of midfield is wearing thin. Although we have seen flashes of brilliance, his constant attempts to mimick the sublime passing skills of his partner Fabregas are forlorn. Mathieu Flamini's willingness to get stuck in and run himself into the ground is seriously missed. I believe a run of games for Abou Diaby - when he returns - will be massive, a box-to-box midfielder in a similar vein as a certain Patrick Vieira is exactly what we need. The beautiful football is exactly that when it works, but when a team with the mentality of Sunderland stand in their way, Arsenal struggle to impose themselves. I predict no trophies again this year, but I certainly hope I'm wrong!

Posted 15:48 7th October 2008

David Manda says...

Arsenal need somebody who is happy just scoring goals when the situation of that of Sunderland comes up. Players like Rosicky and Eduardo can help alot but we also need real dribblers like Hleb type to open up crowded defences. To some extent we need to blame our system we used against Sunderland of deploying three mildfielders (Cesc, Song and Delnison) and pushing Van Persie to the left leaving Ade alone against five players. This means that every chance that we created was going to Ade and he (Ade) needs 3 to 4 chances to score a goal. I would like to have that Ajax striker who can score those important goals.

Posted 13:51 7th October 2008

Ullas Marar says...

Any other manager at Arsenal would be a failure at this point. Arsene Wenger has been doing great for Arsenal's business and a not too bad job for the game. It's incredible that Arsenal remain in the top 4 year after year in spite of obvious deficiencies. The new age managers play by the cheque book. Arsenal the club is going through a trying time financially. Wenger is cheerfully taking the blame. Can't see a modern day manager do that.

Posted 11:55 7th October 2008

John Slater says...

I can't believe what I am hearing. Arsene Wenger has been brilliant for Arsenal. You wouldn't hear of Man U getting rid of Fergie if they had a ropey start so why the hell would you want to get rid of Wenger. I have supported Sunderland since I was 7 years old and would give my right arm for Sunderland to be as successful as Arsenal have been under Wenger's tenure. We deserved our point on Saturday, yes it wasn't pretty but our organisation and tactics were spot on. We got battered 7-0 against Everton last year by just pushing on gung ho so fair play to Roy when we graft for a point against one of the so called "Big Four". I don't think Matt le Tissier (Frenchman) likes Sunderland very much. He gives us such a hard time when he is on the panel at SS. He should take the managers job somewhere then we'll see if he really knows what he is talking about but I seriously doubt he does. All you Arsenal fans stick to your manager like glue otherwise you may end up with another Ramos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 11:51 7th October 2008

Lumumba Mthembu says...

I agree with Matt Le Tissier's assessment of the situation at Arsenal. Their form has been far too erratic this season. Wenger is clearly determined to stick to his 'youth first' policy but I am one of many Arsenal fans who is simply growing tired of always looking towards the future. Arsenal has become a feeder club to the likes of Barcelona, it's as if Arsenal is now the Ajax of England. Wenger needs to restock in the summer if he's serious about rewarding an Arsenal fan base that has gone without silverware for 3 years. My patience is wearing thin.

Posted 11:15 7th October 2008

Adam Robinson says...

As a arsenal fan i am slightly surprised and to be honest a little disappointed with the start the gunners have made. We play exciting high tempo football which can run rings around any team in the world...Take AC Milan (Champions League) last season. Okay we had a different team, Flamini, Hleb and Rosicky. But we are still as strong as we were then. Nasri has come in with endless amount of skill and character which gels into the arsenal mould perfectly and the advancement of Theo and Denilson is beyond belief. The results will come. Sunderland away is a very tough game, they are a good team. We were sloppy against Hull. One more bad result in the next 3 games then we are in trouble. But keep the faith with the Maestro, Adebayor, The defence and God (Wenger) and we will be fine. Its not like were battling relegation unlike Tottenham 8-) :D

Posted 11:01 7th October 2008

Ali El alfy says...

Arsene is the man! We may have had a slow follow-up to our strong start to this season but there's no chance in hell that's AW's fault. If anything, the players have been just a little lackluster at times and that's exemplified by the great performances before the Hull game and then after against Porto. Yes, It would be great if we were to go out and buy ourselves a Berbatov--though he's too lazy (despite all his talent) to play at a club like Arsenal--but Gooners will tell you that our squad, including the reserves, has the likes of him and possibly better coming through. Let's not forget the two doubles we've enjoyed as well as the likes of Vieira, Pires, TH14, Fabregas and countless others who are who they are because of Arsene Wenger. What we have at Arsenal, because of this man, is a school of football that few others, if any, reproduce in today's day and age. And if that's not enough to be proud of, rest assured that the titles will come, once more. And when they do, Arsenal will have done it without the ridiculous injections of money others rely on. Long live Arsene's Red & White Army!

Posted 10:58 7th October 2008

Roger Melhuish says...

I, too have been an Arsenal supporter for as long as I can remember and I have to say that Arsene has done us proud...however it still boggles my mind when he changes our formation from the tried and trusted 4-4-2...on Saturday Clichy and Sagna were both far more defensive than they normally are because they had no cover if they flew forward, also by playing two 'defensive' midfielders (Song and Denilson) we actually end up playing one less attacking player even though we were in a 4-3-3! Please Arsene stick to the 4-4-2 and we can win 4-0 almost every time!!!

Posted 10:58 7th October 2008

Tom Hobson says...

Arsenal over the years have always had a few world class experienced players, Wright, Bergkamp, Overmars, Henry, Adams, Keown, Gallas, etc etc. They also without "buying the league" have been prepared to spend some money on the occasional big player, and they don't seem to have either anymore, no big signings, and no experienced world class players. It's as if Arsene has got carried away with his amazing record of developing talent and stubbornly decided he never needs to pay big money ever again, and his refusal to admit his squad is rediculously lacking in depth. Arsenal are now starting to remind me of liverpool a couple of years ago (not in style) , with no depth having to rely on bendtner, similarly someone like sinama pongolle.Just missing that key ingredient, they need a couple of experienced world beaters that will give them the consistency to challenge. I think Arsenal will finish 4th at best.

Posted 10:49 7th October 2008

Scott Laight says...

I'm a Newcastle supporter but love watching Arsenal play and think Arsene is a highly intelligent, world class coach - missing out last yeat was unfortunate but their squad is still excellent - i think if arsenal went and bought a "berbatov for 30 mill" then it would disrupt the whole Arsenal style of play. the squad is as good as any out the and there forwards ARE top quality - Bendtner and Vela look to have a very bright future - and lets not forget Eduardo who, if he fully recovers from THAT injury, looks a real class act. No need to hit the panic button as far as i can see!

Posted 10:28 7th October 2008

Serge Sergiou says...

The trouble with us Arsenal fans is that we want it all. Quality football backed up with a full trophy cabinet. Wenger has spoilt us in the past and we now need to get a little more realistic. The Premiership is no longer a two horse race between us and Manchester United. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa and even our old foes Spurs will all soon in future seasons have the potential to win trophies on a consistent basis. Arsene has taken us a long way and built a strong fondation of young players who will enable us to compete for these trophies in future years. As the team matures so will the trophies return again. When we lost to Hull City I heard supporters booing. Perhaps if all 60,000 plus fans at the Emirates cheered the team on a little more and generated some atmosphere in the stadium then perhaps the youngsters who need encouragement and support from their home fans might just up their game up another notch. To the Arsenal minority that is questioning Wenger. "Stop complaining and start supporting".

Posted 10:18 7th October 2008

Peter Tshiamo says...

Arsenal's style of football is the reason why the game was invented which was to provide intertaintment first and foremost. But Arsene must admit that times have changed since then and winning trophies (mind I'm not saying "buying" them) is also just as important. Quite a few games are going to demand the team to "get stuck in" and grind out results, and our current flair players are not cut out for that. A "hardman" like Appiah would have been a good aquisition as a holding midfielder to help us win at least 1 cup this season.

Posted 10:17 7th October 2008
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