It should surely be music to our ears to hear the chants, so long forgotten, of ‘boring, boring Arsenal’. Yet here we are, second game into the new season, without a goal…against us! Let’s forget about the front line for several minutes.
Last season we shipped 49 goals. Yet two games, against two teams who have a lot of big physical players and plenty of presence in the air, and we haven’t conceded a thing. That really is cause to celebrate.
Steve Bould should be heartily congratulated for the job he has clearly done so far. Against Stoke the back four were magnificent. Per ‘The Mert’ Mertesacker, who didn’t get much playing time during the Euros, looks a transformed player: confident, always aware of his position on the pitch, and clearly ready to mix it up with Crouch.
Thomas Vermaelen was rock solid and, as always, a dominant presence radiating leadership at the back.
The choice of full-backs was interesting, but worked so well. Kieran Gibbs had a
great game, flying forward, brimming with self belief, while Carl Jenkinson (has anyone ever seen him smile?) doesn’t get the recognition he deserves: great pace, and once he calms down, a superb crosser of the ball.
Individually, they were brilliant, fulfilled their roles and closed down the Stoke offence.
But where it really matters is how they functioned as a unit, and this is where Bould’s influence can be clearly seen. They played together, always talking to each other, always aware of where they were positioned in relation to each other and, as a unit, they acted as a smothering force the likes of which we haven’t seen for a very long time. I’d almost say they were imperious at times. It’s early days yet, but these are good omens for the rest of the season. The Arsenal teams of old were built on a solid defensive unit, and more often than not, edged games 1-0 as a result, picking up a lot of points along the way.
It very much looks as if Bould has brought that rock solid mentality and self belief back into the squad. It was a joy to watch them play and once the new front line beds in, I really do think we have the prospect of an amazing season ahead.
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Thank god someone has seen a positive. 2 games in and all I can read is doom and gloom How the Spuds doing?
Sack the french twat, out with the board.
Agree 100%.
Thank God someone can finally see the positives. I’m with you.
Ive been at both matches and i dont see why everyone is clamouring to sign a DM? Arteta is the man he had already taken over song’s role last season but because song was not able to defend alongside him we were exposed. however even diaby who is not the greatest defensively is an improvement on song. wilshire ramsey coquelin and frimpong are the four yes 4 back ups and that is plenty if they were all fit. it will be interesting to see what happens next week when koscielny is fit as he was our best defender last season. i just wonder if the boss might consider playing vermaelen in midfield or even koscielny? both have played there before lets also not forget that both have also played left back and kos has also played right back. however i just cant see wenger changing anything in the back 4 until forced to do so and i cant see him dropping arteta. i personally think that giroud was superb yesterday he done everything right but just couldnt get a goal
Hi Folks,
thanks for reading the post. I’m not sure I agree that Diaby is better than Song, but I do think in both Coquelin, and more so Frimpong, we have two potentially world class midfielders. I would love to see Frimpong given a shot at the position once he recovers.
@bc agreed as well: Giroud was excellent and I thought Podolski was outstanding. All we’ve got to do is work on the link up play so the channels from the defence can get the ball to the front men. I’d like to have seen The Ox start in place of Diaby.
If the Ox played in the center we would have had 6 points.
ok no goals but stop moaning!! i like the look of this new arsenal side,carzola never stops running and isent afraid 2 shoot on goal no matter where he is on the pitch,the same 4 giroud if only he had scored that wonder shot,but our players are shooting thats the main thing as other years arsenal always seem 2 walk or pass the ball in2 the net,just fucking shoot i would roar at the tele,but i tink my troat will have a rest this season and other seasns 2 come,once we get that first goal plenty more will come,we had 2 hard games so far stoke and sunderland,there hard 2 beat and are so hard 2 score even 1 against,we have 2 clean sheets,its not all bad,arsenal were the better side in 2 of those games,so gunners chilax, arsenal 4 ever!!!!!!1
Excellent post, and I totally concur with the above comments. For the first time in many seasons I’m feeling confident in the team’s defensive shape, and the fact that we are getting to the first and second balls quicker. The lack of goals is a by-product of the team’s new shape, and the need for the front three to develop and understanding, which is just a matter of time. Its just a shame that yet again we’ve started a season ill-prepared!
Great post mate. Once i saw your post on twitter, i knew i had to read. Couldnt agree more. I felt so comfortable during a Stoke game away, something i cant remember doing. Too bad we didn’t score but Giroud and Poldi played well IMO. Gervinho, not so much.
Those of us a little older will understand exactly what you mean. But in this new era of attacking flair from around the globe, I wonder if it can be sustained.
Two games in and we havn’t scored, and we didn’t concede any against crap Sunderland and a rugby team, Stoke, and you think this really is something to celebrate. What have we suddenly become, West Ham? You’re an utter moron.