Though chanting on the outside, Arsenal fans must have been chafing on the inside on Sunday, as their beloved side slumped to an all too familiar 2-0 loss at the hands of Chelsea.
The buoyant atmosphere triggered from a 4-1 European victory over Besiktas in midweek diffused as Eden Hazard and Diego Costa netted against an Arsenal side that could not conjure a shot on target until the 90th minute.
Arsenal’s recent failures against title rivals have become a chip on the shoulder for much of the Emirates faithful. Though last season saw the North London club tot up their highest points tally since 2007-2008, the dearth of ability to overcome strong opposition was alarmingly apparent amidst humiliations to Manchester City (6-3), Liverpool (5-1) and Chelsea (6-0).
In the seasons of 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, Arsenal’s record against the top four sides in those respective years reads: Played 12, won 1, drawn 4, lost 7. Seven points out of a possible 36 against direct rivals is simply not good enough. Yet in the two seasons preceding the ones analysed above, Arsenal managed 16 points out of 36.
This better record was attained before two stalwarts of the club left: Alex Song and Robin van Persie. Integral to a team about to hit their peak in the 2012-2013 season, both van Persie and Song left for pastures new in the summer of 2012.
Both players were a huge loss to Arsenal, and frankly, have never been replaced. Two years down the line the team is still crying out for a holding midfielder and clinical striker to sustain a title challenge.
That may seem harsh, seeming that Arsenal purchased Olivier Giroud in the summer van Persie departed, however the Frenchman has never delivered what is expected of a top band centre forward – 27 goals in 72 league games is an inferior scoring rate to the Gunners’ last two strikers of van Persie (96 in 194) and Adebayor (46 in 104).
The last-minute summer acquisition of Danny Welbeck is still very much a raw talent and not the world-class one Arsenal instantly need. Though boasting great link-up play, blistering pace and sense between the ears, Welbeck is not and will never be the talisman Arsenal greats such as van Persie or Henry were. It will rarely be Welbeck that pulls his team out of a hole and this is a vital quality of top centre forwards.
In the department of a holding midfielder, Flamini was picked up last season on a free transfer (yet appears vulnerable to any firepower in opposition midfields) and Wenger has persisted with transforming Mikel Arteta into a deeper role, yet this has never proved prosperous with the attacking instincts of the Spaniard.
Despite sufficient funds, Wenger regularly chooses against splashing out in the transfer windows. Though if he were to, who would be on the market?
Arsenal need a world-class striker to bag goals but also to bring out the best in Özil. The German arrived with a premium price tag and reputation which has not yet been vindicated. He needs an intelligent, quality striker to allow him and others in the midfield to thrive – just like at Real Madrid.
Cavani and Higuain are the most realistic prospects of strikers who could move to the Emirates. Both boast great goal scoring records, are accustomed to top level football and would benefit from the plethora of attacking midfielders at Arsenal. Likely to cost in excess of £40 million though, such an extravagant purchase could be too outlandish for Wenger.
As for a holding midfielder, conjecture concerning a move for Sami Khedira in the summer was continuous yet proved fruitless. Such a crucial position in the much played 4-2-3-1 of today, not many clubs are keen on offloading their defensive midfielders, which is why the congested talent in Real Madrid’s midfield appeared to facilitate the transfer of Khedira. Therefore, the decision of the Spanish club to let Xabi Alonso leave has dampened the possibility of Khedira leaving too, despite ongoing rumours the German would cost £35 million.
Wenger has always been one achieve success in his vision. Spending big is not his style, but successive marquee signings of Ozil and Sanchez suggests cries from the stands are becoming more poignant. It is up to Wenger: spend and succeed or stay stubborn and stutter.
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Source: DSG
