Q. What do these guys all have in common?
A. They were all major players in a defense that during our 2005/06 Champions League run saw Arsenal break the record for consecutive clean sheets in the competition.
Are the likes of the above better defenders than our current defenders?
I'd say no and I think many would agree with me.
For me the fundamental difference between our current sorry back 5 and the hero's of 2005/06 is the players in front of them (or the lack of).
Lets not beat around the bush here, our defending this season has been shambolic at times. I know statistically we haven't conceded that many by our standards - we've also scored far less than usual btw - but so many of our conceded goals have been sloppy and avoidable with individual defenders looking hopelessly isolated.
Basically we need to start defending as a team again. If you give half decent midfielders the time and space to pick passes and have a geriatrically static back four then you will always ship cheap goals - yesterday Spurs could have had 5 in about 20 minutes.
My point is, our defenders are getting slated (and rightfully so) but the rest of the side and the manager are just as guilty.
Eboue - Senderos - Toure - Flamini
posted on 4/3/13
keown was helping out with defensive coaching back then,
that is the reason why we had a good record
posted on 4/3/13
Yep, agree. Our defenders don't help themselves, but our defensive frailties aren't solely down to them. With more defensive support from the players in front of them, they would look a lot better.
posted on 4/3/13
keown was helping out with defensive coaching back then,
that is the reason why we had a good record
------------
Yeah heard that too, he got poached by the England set-up didn't he?
posted on 4/3/13
I think Arsene is definitely going to get rid of Vermaelen in the summer, he's had enough of him. He's openly criticised him twice. How rarely does he do that? He needs to be more ruthless, the guy is too nice.
We'll sign a couple of new defenders in the summer, but nothing will change unless we sign a PROPER DM to go with them.
posted on 4/3/13
don't know if he got poached but I can beleive that wengers ego was hurt and so he ditched keown.
all the changes in personel and we still defend like amateurs....it has to be the coaching.
wenger can't take the fact that he cannot coach these players defensively and refuses to look for any help.
I thought stewart robson had an agenda, maybe he does but the more i see us play the more sense he makes. These players are NOT coached....and it is clear.
Listen to this podcast and it will tell you all you need to know about wenger from an insider....interesting
http://le-grove.co.uk/
posted on 4/3/13
Sometimes I do wonder whether our players turn up for training and just play 5-a-side
posted on 4/3/13
I fell into a ring of fire