Sometime in May 2005, Arsene Wenger led an Arsenal side which withstood a 105-minute assault from their counterparts from Manchester United, and they got away with the lottery of spot kicks to come out on top on the day having had their backs against the wall from the 26th minute.
The team skippered by a certain leggy Frenchman battled relentlessly as the Red Devils threw wave after wave of assault. But with the entire siege against the Gunners, the red and white team withstood them. Some could argue that the Gunners were lucky on the day as several goal-line clearances, penalty appeals and shots off the woodwork had the Arsenal with their hearts in their mouths. Another would opine that resolute defending was the key to the victory on the day. But one very key factor that was clearly on display for all to see in the Arsenal team was leadership and a high team mentality.
Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties after Jens Lehmann saved Paul Scholes’ pen. It was obvious that Patrick Vieira was very instrumental in keeping the Arsenal ship afloat as he kept on controlling the players in their game play, positioning, attitude and overall the team mentality. Most obvious of his contribution on the day was when he barked at Jose Antonio Reyes to haunt and bring down Cristiano Ronaldo, who picked up a stray Lauren pass and was going to exploit the right-backs wing, as the Spaniard failed in an attempt to launch an attack. Vieira was the next man to track Ronaldo but with the pace of the Portuguese winger, coupled with the Arsenal captain’s fatigue, he ordered Reyes to track his man and he did.
The game incidentally was Vieira’s last game, and this ushered in the era of Wenger building his team around youth, as opposed to the experience he had favoured before.
The effect of Vieira’s sale meant captaincy shifted to Thierry Henry and over the next few years, an exodus of experienced players was accompanied by the influx of raw talent.
Edu’s exit, whose deal was concluded shortly before Vieira’s sale, was the first in line as Robert Pires, Freddie Ljunberg, Gilberto and Henry all found the exit door under different circumstances. This made room for Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Mathieu Flamini, Gael Clichy, Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor, Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou, Abou Diaby, Robin van Persie and the very many youngsters who have benefited from this change of policy and philosophy. As the exodus of these experienced stalwarts peaked, so was the exit of know-how, maturity, leadership and team mentality.
The team from 2007 to the present day though has talent in abundance. It has shown on several occasions a lack of maturity, mentality and on-field leadership. Though the team is growing as experience and maturity comes with time and they are not the youngsters of yester-years anymore, it has left it’s mark in the results and trophy room as one has lost count of how many times the Gunners have fallen from winning positions, either in matches or season race itself.
In the last five seasons, Arsenal has competed for the title until February, before a certain capitulation occurs. This capitulation in title races has also reared its ugly head in matches as well when Arsenal are leading, albeit sometimes very comfortably and end the game with either a draw or a loss. Looking closely at the team, it is obvious that lots of potentials lie therein, but as the saying goes, ‘TALENT IS NEVER ENOUGH’. With a coach like Arsene that believes in doing his work in the dressing room and training ground, while preparing his team and opting to sit out most games analysing and discussing with his ever present assistant in Pat Rice, then it is inevitable to have a leader, communicator, thinker and team director on the field. Like Vieira. Tony Adams as well was one of such captains who not only played their heart out, but also directed the teams attitude and play from the rear or centre of play.
A lack of depth has the same effect.
Song played every game from the 27th December, Ramsey wasn’t the same after he played 5 games in 14 days over Christmas.
You can’t expect our midfield players to press, and play that much, no matter how much heart, or mental strength, or whatever you call it, they have.
I dont believe there is a lack of depth. the problem is the managers reluctance to use the whole squad. whilst it is good to have a nucleus of players it is also good to bring in some fresh talent and play them in their proper position. When you look at the midfield for example we have a huge amount of players song ramsey arteta rosicky wilshire diaby coquelin frimpong lansbury yennaris ozyakup henderson eastmond eisfeld aneke denilson galindo rees ebicilio thats from the top of my head. yet if you take the first 4 out of the equation i doubt the rest of them added together made 20 appearances in midfield this season. by appearances i mean starts.
I thin we need a leader in the midfield to command the troops may not necessarily need to be the captain
When Cesc left last summer I was all for TV getting the armband.
Hand on heart I think RVP will leave us this summer, which then brings forward the question of who will captain the side for next season.
That person I now believe should be Mikel Arteta or even Big Pers as after the defencive frailties of TV this season I think he has to concentrate more on his positional play himself never mind trying to organise his team mates.
One thing is for sure is that over the past lot of years Wenger has lost ‘steel’ in his side to be replaced by ‘skill’ and as we all know this plan has not worked especially in the cut and trust of the English Premiership.
Hopefully M’Vila will come to bring back some backbone and protection to our back 4 and with Bouldy coming in as our No2 I remain hopeful that our ‘achilles heel’ (defence) will be better organised so that we can at least try and play catch up to the Manchester clubs next season.
I think the current quad is strong with 3 more signings.We musnt lose any players…the injury list must not b 2 big…With Wilshere coming back we can b very strong…imagine–>scnezny,sagna,vermaelen,koscielny,gibbs: arteta,song: Ox/walcott,wishere,podolski,RVP?
This squad is full of losers and nice guys. The atmosphere at the Colney Creche is complacent and too many players lack aggression. I constantly ask myself why people like Seaman (fishing), Viera (Citeh), Wright (MK Dons), Keown (BBC), Adams (God knows where), are not involved with this weak-willed squad. The answer, these guys are winners. Wenger and the Squad have found serenity and calmness at Colney, but lost the winning mentality. Top players want to win things, if RVP is a top player he’d be a fool to stay. He aint no fool and he’s a top player.
Although the seaswon started and almost ended in shambles, we again over achieved. I terms of leadership,we have Van the Man, something we had been missing since Viera. Very important we keep him for another season at least.
M’Villa hopefully will be signed next week. His signing willbe more important that Podolski. He will provide the drive and aggresiveness in the middle of the park. It will alos complete the picture, three generals, one in each part of the field. Vermallen at the back, M’Villa in the middle and RVP at the top. Thats a team.
This club no longer need players like squallica, park, djorou, ramsy, chamake, bentiner, vela, diaby, quality replacements must be players like veltogon, m’villa, harzad or Mario gortiz, pordisk, and many more.
TV can’t get the armband, he’s up front as much as RVP is when he should be at the back defending.
Arteta would be an incredible captain. He’s very calm, experienced and respected.