Arsenal's worst movement for 10 years

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
09 Sep	3:00 PM	P	Middlesbrough (H)	1	1	Draw

Football can really spoil your weekend!

Marcelo Lippi once remarked that Wenger was the only coach that had the luxury of buying only players that fit into his philosophy and system.

He said for most managers, club sports directors would go out and sign talented players first before worrying about how they would play. As Arsenal fans, we are all thankful for this luxury because we then play a philosophy based football that is attractive.

This philosophy is based on pace, movement and skill. Wenger has said this many times. Pace and movement are the most important of the trio. The skill part is having the capability to do the first two.

In the first three games of this season, the movement (and tempo) is the worst I have seen since Wenger came to Arsenal. A cornerstone of the philosophy is not working. If it's is not working and we have a whole team and tactic built on that, then there is no point in even turning up – the team can't execute what they are supposed to do and they are not set-up to do anything else!

If you read my previous article and the previous articles after the Villa and Man City games, you will get a good background of why the movement part is so important to Arsenal's game.

In summary, Arsenal are set up to create the goals they score rather than simply grab goals. Chelsea and Manchester United are not that pure. They have a variation in the many ways they can score. But Arsenal create theirs generally through open play. For that to happen you need to open up the defence. For you to open up the defence you need movement, great movement.

Arsenal have been static since the beginning of the season. Henry doesn't make runs, Robin van Persie runs but into crowds, Freddie Ljungberg gets stuck because he cannot get past people on the wing and doesn't have someone to play 'pass and run' with – which is the only alternative to dribbling. Alexander Hleb can get past people but when he does everybody is standing instead of making runs. The worst way to receive the ball in football is from a standing start.

Yes, the chemistry between William Gallas and Freddie Ljungberg was non-existent – first game and all. But that wasn't the cause of the problem. The problem was not van Persie and the problem was certainly not Hleb – in fact I have been very annoyed reading criticism of Hleb whom I thought had a better game than Henry and was the only player running with the ball.

The problem was that everyone becomes useless if their team members don't make runs for them. Francesc Fabregas especially becomes redundant. Fabregas is all about picking out sweet passes and making the game tick. Without movement, 80% of what Fabregas is about is wasted. Basically, without movement, we have 1.2 players in central midfield instead of 2.

It occurred to me yesterday that Henry stops, moves to the side and passes these days where he used to take defenders on. van Persie was trying desperately yesterday but he always found himself in a crowd – he has to work on that. Hleb and Eboue were the only players really moving but again, when you are on the wings, you need someone to make themselves available else all you can do is try and win a corner.

Hleb doesn't like shooting and I don't begrudge him for that. If Henry and van Persie made better runs, he would give them the ball to shoot. It's not Hleb's fault, he should ideally not find himself with the ball in the penalty box. A winger should ideally release the ball to a runner before he gets into the box and get into the box for rebound or to hit if necessary. Hleb didn't have any runners and ended up keeping the ball right into the box.

Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Adebayor (who has also been wrongly criticized) changed the game by doing two simple things. Rosicky was willing to move with the ball at pace. That made defenders move. Forget the shooting outside the box, the first and primary contribution was that he was willing to accelerate and move around, making defenders panic.

Adebayor did well by moving without the ball. He ran in front of defenders, distracting and taking some with him to open up the game. Adebayor allowed Rosicky to become more dangerous by creating a second source of concern. Defenders cannot pay attention to two things happening at the same time at high pace. They eventually choose one to concentrate on or simply lose both.

Maybe Wenger can tell the team to start the game as if there were only 10 minutess left in a game they were losing by 1 goal. Arsenal seems to finish games exactly as they should start it. They are applying a Champions League pace to the Premiership. Even Division Two defenders can defend against a goal-creating team who don't make them move and don't score from set-pieces.

Arsenal have a simple problem – it's not players, we have enough good players to beat any team in the Premiership and indeed any in Europe. We actually have better choices this year with players that can shoot and head balls. Our problem is that we play football based on a philosophy that we are failing to execute at a basic level. Movement and dynamism are missing.

Here's a question, Arsenal have played 270 minutes of football in the Premiership so far.

Can you remember any pace or powerful counter-attacks in those 270 minutes? I can't.

Arsenal used to score the majority of their goals in 11 seconds or less from winning the ball!

User Comments

rodnot71

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 07:01 PM - Reply

I nearly agree with your comments.

But I think the problemis that our players do not know how to shoot!

How come you have to dribble past one, two or even three opponents. By then opponents would have covered their defence more.

And another thing is that it seems that no one wants the responsibility to shoot, and they rather pass to Henry than shoot themselves. Hleb is a fine player who gives 100%, Give Rosicky and the Beast more games, and then we will see the real Arsenal.
One last thing, please Thierry give 100% of your runs.

dudu the don

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 06:09 PM - Reply

I agree with those who say that Henry is not making enough runs and he is not showing enough concern also. i expect him as Captain to take more responsibility and psych these players up.

Ashley Cole is funny though.

Daniel

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 04:02 PM - Reply

Um, how can Arsenal throw a strong counter-attack with teams putting 9 behind the ball?

Jon

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 03:45 PM - Reply

Good article, too right there was only movement last season when berdy got the ball, when cesc got the ball no one seemed to have faith in him to find them with the killer through ball, this is happening this season no one is making runs because they believe they cannot be found by certain players. I also agree that when you say we need to run at more teams, walcott, hleb, eboue and sometimes rosicky have been the only ones doing this this season, it disrupts opposition defensive lines and draws more players to the ball, thus creating space.

Tom

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 02:16 PM - Reply

This article makes some good points and has a lot of truth in it. What I think it neglects to highlight is the part played by the opposition in our failure to win league games this year. I can honestly say I've never seen a more negative display than Boro put on last Saturday. One shot in the entire game and about three attacks worthy of the name. Consequently, I find it strange when I read people criticising us for not counter-attacking. You can't counter-attack a team when they're not attacking you. Likewise when one team plays with ten men behind the ball and happily concedes possesion it's hard to maintain a high tempo to your football. Against Villa and Boro, Arsenal had about 65% of the play. In those circumstances you have to play a patient game, like it or not. The answer is not to shoot every time you get the ball thirty yards out as some fans seem to think. We had plenty of clear chances and shots on goal against Villa, City and Boro. Notably, the only clear one-on-ones I can remember us creating were away against City, a game we didn't play great in, but that still suited us much better for having opponents who were interested in playing a bit. In that game we had chances to play the ball over the top into space for Henry to run onto, at home opposition defences have played deep and prevented this. None of these points are posed as excuses and we should have won at least two league games so far, but I think they're still true and relevant. It's too easy just to criticise the team when they don't win, you have to give Boro and Villa some credit for so effectively destroying two games and keeping us out. Also, you have to say we've had zero luck thus far. Had we got the first goal in any of the three league games, I'm convinced we would have won comfortably. The fact that we've not only been frustrated but gone behind against the run of play has clearly dented our confidence. I don't buy that we're playing badly. Considering all the new faces and half the side (Henry especially) being knackered from internationals, the performances have been okay - just lacking in end product. We'll play much worse and win games comfortably this season. A couple of other quick points, Henry and RvP isn't working as a partnership so far. Adebayor can be very frustrating, but has always looked a good partner for TH. I'd like to see RvP tried wide left, I thought the worst aspect of our performance on Saturday was a lack of width on the left, with Gallas and Freddie checking inside every time to cross right footed. A natural left-footer like RvP or raw pace like Walcott would give us more balance. Rosicky looked great when he came on against Boro, he'll be a regular soon. Last of all, the next two games should be a proper test for us. Good sides who will test our defence and play for a positive result. Let's hope we raise our game as we know we can. Come on you Gooners !

Waf

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 01:15 PM - Reply

I don't agree. Most of these comments just come coz we haven't scored first yet. I keep lookin for that part where we're over elaborate, but we make shots on goal. We create chances. Our only problem is we haven't been clinical in front of goal.

Two, we have, like in the last game, started feeling the fans pressure when we don't score, so the players get nervous. That's not good.

Still, we have had our chances. Had we gone ahead in any of the last 3 games, I believe it'd be a diff story. When the goals start coming, the whole philosophy will suddenly become a work of genius.

No, we shouldn't change. We play well, we defend acceptably. We just need to kill the opponents before they score!

Dave

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 01:11 PM - Reply

I think we're missing highbury

Adjie

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 11:50 AM - Reply

Someone must fill in DB10/Bob role.
Otherwise Titi and Freddie will have short goal tally this season.

shaq

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 11:09 AM - Reply

Please, Arsenal are wornout team. They are rotting...And the new stadium seems to be the home of rest of the teams, except Arsenal. You people are struggling....17th place confirms it.

gooner_reef

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 11:09 AM - Reply

I always agree with your critics and observations.. but it makes me wondering if all of these can be some kind of inputs for the arsenal management.. I'm not living in London or England and I dont know how does a fan club works.. but there must be some kind of way that fans can give some inputs to the club their support.. I mean without fans.. they're nothing.. just my opinion.. thx and I really hope Wenger discovers some way to make things right.. it frustates me..and other Arsenal fans.. BIG TIME..!

shaggy adams

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 11:00 AM - Reply

Arsenal are yet to pick up course you can read from the play dazzling they are showing its only a matter of gracing up their accelleration and shooting prowess.

Ming

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 10:57 AM - Reply

I really share your frustration towards the recent results. Really no tempo at all. I remember the highbury days where the ball seemed to move so fast, or perhaps Im just getting used to the changed angle from which we are watching the home matches. I would also question Djourou in the squad. He hasn't looked firm, and Gallas should be played at centre back.

For a change, Hamburg and Man Utd probably wont defend the way boro and villa have done, so hopefully there will be a better week up ahead, when the pressure will definitely be on Man Utd to do well.

dylansavage

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 10:56 AM - Reply

Where were they to move to?

Every team we've played has had an 11 man defence making running/movement into areas all but impossible.

We have had 1/4 of the pitch to move around in... of'course players are not going to find space. The problems i see it are 1.)Luck: we havent had anything go our way, we are creating, we are shooting [i think we have had 5 off the crossbar this season.] and teams with 1 shot come out to score.

2.) TiTi has not been clinical, but this will come. He just needs a bit of confidence, the best striker our generation has ever seen does not dry up after a holiday.

3.)Unsettled. Reyes leaving, Cole saga, new stadium. All very disconcerting to our players along with the pressure of not finding the back of the net in games we should win. After we pick up a few wins rosiky, beast and gallas should feel more at home and our regulars should have the confidence to storm forward.

4.)Confidence. Arsenal is like the super model that needs to be praised. Beautiful but she must always be told how beautiful she is. When we get a goal we usally trounce teams, go a goal behind and we look defeated already. What is pleasing that even though we have been a goal down 3 times now we have come back twice.

Gunning DT

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 10:41 AM - Reply

Good one ... yeah, we've gotta start scoring some not-so-beautiful goals! Guess we've got that capability in Rosicky, but then someone needs to Feng-Shui that new stadium...cos the problem isn't so much as bad play, but somehow about some bits of more luck needed. TH-14 needs a bench start to see things in perspective!

sobi_gonner

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 10:23 AM - Reply

I have said the same thing right before Man City game that Henry shouldnt be starting then again i will say we dont have wide players plus i dont u'stand why we cant even score in set pieces i mean we had 15 corners or more in all 3 games so far but we never came even close to score that is shame.

mobykes

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 10:08 AM - Reply

You've said it all, but I must add that if Wenger refuses to change his philosophy, I mean scoring the perfect goal, then he must leave. I think Henry deserves a start from the bench. I see no determination in him these days.

Who cares about perfect goals these days. Ryan Giggs did not score one this weekend, neither did Drogba, yet they have 3 points.

Little Dutch

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 09:29 AM - Reply

This is the single best piece I've read about our troubles this season. Spot on, particularly about Hleb and Adebayor. Too many touches, not enough movement, says it all. I also think Ljungberg's hip injury has done for him, he doesn't seem to offer anything to the team anymore.

Bitter n Twisted

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 08:50 AM - Reply

We got problems.

No1 there is no plan B
No2 at this moment there is no plan A
N03 Wenger needs to be ruthless, we have got the beast, in midfield he adds little, up front he solves alot of problems. Ade and rvp need to get the chop. Walcott may or may not be ready, all i know is he makes things happen where as helb freddie dont.
No4 away from home we need to play with a 5 man mid. cesc is great, but lets face it he is lightweight and operates better in a 5.
No5 i am losing count of the amount of times we lose our shape by mass substitutions.

Ashley cole sat in the centre circle at the end of the season waiting for us to sing his name LOL. I would love to live in the part of this universe where these guys do. I think the timing of the bbok release is good though, it may help us come together in a italy scandal worldcup kinda way.

oh well for all you mugs that said arsene knows, he doesnt Bitter n Twisted Knows

Iceman (Dennis Bergkamp still rules)

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 08:46 AM - Reply

I think Arsenal are simply missing Dennis Bergkamp! It was already obvious last season!

abhijeet

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 08:39 AM - Reply

I totally agree with you.

But will the trend change? Thats more important to me and other Arsenal fans at this very moment.

Because I just cant see Arsenal play the way they are playing now.

andy

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 08:34 AM - Reply

Very well written article. Nothing to worry about though. Wenger will have this sorted out soon. He has not been able to so far due to international games but now he has a couple of weeks to work on it.

shango

Posted on 11 Sep, 2006 at 08:20 AM - Reply

Great shout!

I have made this comment time and time again.

Henry just did not make runs. And the dynamics of our team is changing but he is set in his way.

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea