There is one issue when looking at statistics at the end of every season, which is that sides, whose seasons finish early due to a lack of trophy winning potential, drop their performance, both individually and collectively, and thus skew all the figures. For the fifth season in a row, this is happening to Arsenal.
Whilst it is deeply unfair on the supporters who travelled north to see Arsenal’s latest capitulation against Stoke City, the fact of the matter is that the players just do not have the mental of physical energy to get up for a game which is essentially meaningless. There was absolutely nothing riding on yesterday’s game for Arsenal; the competition for third place, Manchester City, had lost the day before, and thus it was clear that any result would have sufficed. A win would have been nice if presented to them, but a loss would be no disaster.
With this attitude in mind, defeat is almost inevitable when playing against a side which actually have real ambitions of winning the game. Stoke had not much to play for themselves, but they are on a good run of form and have a cup final next weekend. Indeed, they would have hoped to avoid injury, but the incentive to cement a place in the starting line-up was evident in the match – they were quicker and wanted the victory more than their opponents.
Thus this is why one can never take statistics from the last six weeks of the season seriously. Over the last few years, the form Arsenal have shown in the last three months of the season has been nothing short of diabolical. They do not tend to win more than two games in April, and it is that month which is always where the season officially ends in the quest for trophies. Any game past that date, therefore, is really meaningless when it comes to discussion of the woes of the team.
Indeed, Arsenal have various problems that need to be addressed. Obviously, the questions that have to be asked include the issue of why the team are playing for nothing when April arrives. The subject is debated endlessly, and most people end up with the assertion that the squad depth is lacking in centre-midfield whilst there are still some defensive frailties, albeit Szczesny has rectified a few of them.
There has to be reason among the madness though. Yes, Arsenal were awful, and never looked like winning the game, and they shall most likely look below-par in the final game of the season away at Fulham too. However, the problems that have arisen in the last couple of weeks in the squad have to be taken with a large pinch of salt. Come August, set-pieces will have been worked on, physical and mental energy will have been restored, and the end-of-season mistakes will be cut out. Of this there can surely be no doubt.
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The main problem is in midfield with no Cesc or Nasri to lead the charge towards the opposition goa
ls,with Song having to do most of the donkey work while Arsenal,s supposedly brightest young starlets
Ramsey and Wilshere clown about ,losing the ball to often and not physically mature enough to hold onto
possession,so another powerful midfielder with similar skills and technique to Alex Song is urgen
tly needed for next season ?
I would love to believe that these problems will have been eradicated by August but we’ve had the same problems for 4-5 seasons now so what will be the difference for next season?
Arsenal lack a solid defender, if we consider games against Newcastle, we were 4-0 up and then drew the game 4-4. Liverpool, we were 1-0 up and managed to draw the game. Tottenham, we were 3-1 up and drew 3-3. Stoke, we lost three 3-1. When looking back at these games we can clearly remember there being major defensive errors.
We also drop too many silly points against the lesser teams, like West Brom and Newcastle, we only managed to get a 1 point out of 6. These are just some examples but there are many more. We have dropped to many points and for me it is due to the lack of defence. Also for me we lack fire power, somebody that is going to help Van Persie with the goals. It just proves when Van Persie is injured he lack a potent striker.
For me we need a defender like Samba, Cahill, Mertasacker, or somebody of this quality. We also need a striker like Benzema or Bojan, these are proven strikers that are currently not given the chance to play for their clubs.
Good article as always Ali, hard to disagree but as you pointed out the question for me isn’t so much why are we not performing as why is the incentive to perform not there, i.e. whe are there no trophies up for grabs.