Arsenal Mania

Wenger frustrated with defensive teams

Written by Jonathan Chong on Monday, January 12, 2009

Manager Arsène Wenger has expressed his frustration and disappointment with the tactics of most teams in the Premier League.

It's not a secret that his Arsenal team have struggled to break down determined and defence-minded teams, and Wenger has said that it's a bad reflection of the state of the game in England.

Wenger said: "The Premier League has definitely lost something.

"When I came in 1996, everybody had a go at you and there was space up and down the flanks.

"Sometimes you lost the game, but you could see more chances than now.

"You go back 10 years and everybody played a strict 4-4-2.

"This year I can't remember any team coming here with two strikers, except Hull who played like that just at the start.

"It's maybe one of the weaknesses of the top Premier League sides this year that teams have learned only to defend away from home, the leading clubs have all struggled with that - even Manchester United, with all their offensive force.

"What's interesting in the game is that every new problem you face, the teams have to work to find the answer.

"That problem will only be temporary I think because it'll force the teams to work on movement, the technique and the creative side.

"It's important that these teams don't get away with only defending any more and they have to start to take risks as well."

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User Comments

12

David

Posted on 14 Jan, 2009 at 02:24 PM - Reply

The fact that we find it hard to score goals lately was because we lack some important elements in attack. Remember we used to have vieira, pires, or ljungberg, who could bring the ball out from our box and race to the opposite box before feeding Henry with a killer pass, and then King Henry did the rest. So who are replacing those three in the midfield, and are Adebayor or RVP Henry's successor? The answer is NO! For the past four or five years Wenger has been trying to find the right balance at each position, but the fact that most of the invincibles left in one to two seasons made it difficult for Wenger to replace them all within the shortest period possible. Also when the likes of Reyes, Flamini, Edu, and Hleb rebelled, we were suddenly in deep trouble. Almunia is also our biggest problem as you may see the game against Bolton, he had trouble communicating with our CB's, which never happened when Lehmann was in goal.

11

sulazu

Posted on 14 Jan, 2009 at 02:19 PM - Reply

Theses defensive minded teams have been around for God knows how many years now in the Premiership. And Arsenal have won trophies in the past beating these sturbbon teams silly. Why? Because then, we have penetrative & creative players like Bergkamp, Pires, Henry, Reyes, Overmars and some steel in Vieira, Petit, Keown & co. It will take some more creativity and defensive discipline to breakdown ease past the Bolton, Stoke City, Blackburn, Hull City & West Broms of this world. So Wenger, get us Arshavin, secure Walcott's future and add a good defensive midfielder/ central defender to the team and one last thing, have plan 'B'in terms of tactical formation to respond to different teams. Then we will see the good old Gunners again.

10

says no

Posted on 14 Jan, 2009 at 03:05 AM - Reply

the defensive maters is not our problem..
we should build the good tactical that can burst the BPL defense....

9

Mike

Posted on 14 Jan, 2009 at 01:34 AM - Reply

Hmm I would agree with Mr Wenger if Arsenal was finishing in a bunch of 0-0 games but that is not the case these so called defensive teams are scoring goals and winning games. So how can you say they are coming here only to defend yes they play a more organized defense and Arsenal could use to be a little more defensive and maybe we might actually be in a title race right now instead of a race for the last champions league spot

8

ayman ghali

Posted on 13 Jan, 2009 at 05:19 PM - Reply

i agree with the manager that the premiere league has seen many defensive teams this year , but this doesn't affect the team because if arsenal play there game as they do harsh and agresive attacking they would kill the opponent and the best example is arsenal's game vs ac milan in san siro . however, the team really needs a new player on the offensive side like arshavin or david silva , or a player in the heart of the midfield such as mohammed sissoko or luis oscar gonzales

7

dw

Posted on 13 Jan, 2009 at 02:12 PM - Reply

arshavin is a gamble he was hot four 4 mounths and every one wants to buy him this year he hasent done nothing. i would rather buy steven irland and dune from man city and kola brother thats all we need.

6

Ice

Posted on 13 Jan, 2009 at 01:53 PM - Reply

Arsenal should give the ball away more, be well organised defensively and kill the opponent on the break. We got the skill and pace to do that. Visitors organise their play on the defensive side so they are not potent to attack with any threat. That´s how we scored goals few years ago with Henry, Pirez, Bergkamp and Ljundberg.

5

Terri

Posted on 13 Jan, 2009 at 11:09 AM - Reply

I agree the defensive game if boring and football is all about being entertained. Football should be fast and attacking as the game between Arsenal and Man U. twoo attacking teams.
I also agree we need to get Arshavin. I know Arsenal don't like to spend but if we want to keep up with the other teams we do have to splash out occassionally.

4

zabulon

Posted on 13 Jan, 2009 at 10:56 AM - Reply

Good study, the manager has learn that in order to know what others are using above all, you have to come out with some conclusions. don't be like you were with the invicible just using 4-4-2 without a B formation and you were criticizing the 4-5-1 but afterward you needed that formation in some cases when we have one striker however I suggest that, our team must learn all the formation and to be flexible to it coz in some cases we will need that what made Maurinho successfull.

3

billp79

Posted on 12 Jan, 2009 at 10:30 PM - Reply

we don't need a forward...we need a midfielder to keep the ball pinned down in off offensive third and some defenders with height and pace

2

maya

Posted on 12 Jan, 2009 at 02:31 PM - Reply

They are legitimately playing, Don't blame them. Instead bring some players or change tactic to brake down such team.

1

Anesu

Posted on 12 Jan, 2009 at 11:41 AM - Reply

i really think that arsenal should improve their bid on russian ace andrei arshavin.he is a great player and he will definitely help us in breakiing down such coward teams.i just hope they improve or else he will definitely turn his head to another club.pliz arsene just get him,you have got us all excited we need him.