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Defensive problems or simply outclassed?

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arsene-wengerFormer Arsenal striker Alan Smith believes Arsene Wenger has yet to resolve the club’s defensive issues following their crushing defeat to Bayern Munich last night in the Champions League.

Arsenal were torn apart by the Bundesliga champions 5-1 at the Allianz Arena, leaving the Gunners’ chances of qualifying form the group hanging by a thread.

It was an extremely poor display from Wenger’s men and Smith believes the Frenchman, not for the first time, got his tactics wrong and still hasn’t addressed his side’s defensive frailties:

‘I was expecting it to be difficult but not that difficult.

‘They made it that way themselves the way they set up, the way they defended. They have still got that in them Arsenal and I was hoping with all the great performances they have had this season that they would be able to iron out those horrific defensive displays that come along now and again. But it is still in their make-up and Wenger has got to find an answer. He is responsible for it.

‘As we saw last night, Arsenal are still a long way behind the big clubs. You have to sort out those defensive aspects against the very best and I thought Wenger picked the wrong side. 

‘The boys made it far too easy for probably the best side in the world.’

Despite having only 30% of possession last time the two sides met, Arsenal managed to come out of the game with a 2-0 victory under their belt – but this was mainly because Wenger set his team out the correct way that night. Unfortunately, the Frenchman didn’t do so last night and it resulted in a pure mauling from a class side.

But is Smith right to say that Wenger hasn’t sorted out the club’s defensive frailties this season, or were we simply put to the sword by a side who are clinical and just miles superior to us?

Yes, our defending was shocking to watch but, prior to last night’s defeat, people forget that we boast the best defensive record in the Premier League currently along with Manchester United, conceding just eight goals.

Don’t get me wrong, our defending was bad, but Bayern were simply brilliant when they attacked and took advantage of our depleted defence superbly.

Had we lost by a goal or two, Smith, or anybody else who shares his view, wouldn’t have taken much notice of our ‘defensive problems’.

We could do with another centre-back coming in this January to add depth to our back-line, but I believe Bayern’s attacking play and movement was just too good for us to handle.

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3 comments

  • snow says:

    They were too gud for us. our side only Ozil was trying but what can one man do with that heavy weight Bayern lol

  • snow says:

    I was even laugh the time I saw Vidal warming and see our side Iwob warming too,,,,,hahahaha

  • austinpaul says:

    D truth is, aw must strenthen d defense nd right side in d January window; am sure he has ceen reason iin. D Bayern game to do so witout much ado;bt AW is a strongwilled professional who believes in his own inspirations rada dan listen to sideline noise;let’s hope he has ceen d nid to do d nidful bcos he is likely to be adamant once his injury plagued players begin to return to trainning!

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