4. Wenger Has Lost The Ability To Get The Best Out Of Players
Arsene Wenger used to be a great manager. But it is time to face facts, he is not getting the most of the squad. Arsenal has two players in the squad who are clinical finishers: Podolski and Walcott. The team has several players who would could function as primary creative play makers: Cazorla, Rosicky, and Arshavin. The team does not lack pace with Walcott, Chamberlain and Gervinho capable of playing on the wings. And the team has two target men in Giroud and Chamakh who can hold up the ball and get teammates involved in forward play. So why on earth is the team struggling to create chances, even against the most porous of defenses? The offensive unit under-performs woefully. In the base of the midfield Arsenal can call upon Wilshere, Arteta, Coquelin, and Ramsey. While many supporters make the argument that Ramsey is simply not good enough to be an Arsenal player and that Coquelin is too young, with Arteta and Wilshere on the pitch together surely Arsenal should be getting better drive from the midfield and more push instead of lateral and backward passing. In defense as fullbacks Arsenal can call upon Gibbs, a promising and supremely talented left back, Sagna, one of the strongest and most consistent right backs in the game, and Jenkinson, a promising up and coming right back. In the center Arsenal has two athletic, solid tackling center backs in Koscielny and Vermaelen, and the ever steady and positionally aware Mertesacker. This is an individually talented defensive unit. So why has it been shipping goals recently? Arsene Wenger does not get these players to rise to the occasion. A talented defense is often times unaware of proper positioning in open play, and woeful in marking during set pieces. The midfielders fail to pass with any sort of tempo and move the ball quickly resulting in opposing teams maintaining excellent defensive shape. And if, as a fan, I have to see Gervinho fluff one more chance in front of goal, or see one more cross sail over the head of a 64 striker I may have to swear off the league for the season. This isn't a failure to be talented, its a failure to play well. Perhaps Arsenal really isn't as talented as the Manchester Clubs and Chelsea. But surely there is no excuse for going a whole match with one shot on goal against Schalke, or 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. What is the excuse for the limp effort against QPR, Norwich, or Olympiacos. It isnt quality that saw Arsenal dismantled and run out of the Emirates by Swansea. Even the early minutes of the North London derby looked bleak until Adebayor gave Arsenal an early Christmas present. This team simply under performs and looks uninspired. And thats the managers fault.