Arsenal FC have had one of their more forgettable seasons this time round but a good case can be made about the improvement shown by the Gunners' defence in recent weeks. A season which has been topsy-turvy from the very start has seen the Arsenal defence play Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for too long now. 2 difficult away games in Germany and Wales have brought to the fore their brave and fighting spirit to go along with a solidity at the back. So why exactly this fickle behaviour at the back? Is the system flawed or does it come down to individual responsibilities? This article brings to you a holistic analysis of how and why Arsenal's defence has been one of the most unpredictable entities in the league for the best part of the season.
The role of the goalkeeper in organizing a defence is often undermined and often ignored. Recently when Arsene Wenger chose to start with Fabianski in the second leg of the Champions league, he cited the reason as mental fatigue but there was always more to it. Fabianski is said to be one of the most vocal members of the squad and is a better leader from the back than Szczesny. Wojciech is a better keeper in one-on-one situations and deals with crosses better but his communication skills have often been questioned, especially by the centre backs. Despite the immense self-confidence and match winning performances against Wigan and Sunderland, the younger Pole has looked shaky and error-prone more than once. Fabianski on the other hand has shown he could be the number one choice if he gets a run of games and his organisational skills were at full display and paid dividends as well. Whether or not the gaffer chooses to stick with Fabianski for the remainder of the season is another matter altogether.
The defence is blamed for every goal conceded but the root of the problem lies elsewhere entirely. Midfield. The midfield at Arsenal has seen significant changes in recent seasons. From the days of Vieira and Petit to Gilberto and Fabregas to the now double axis of Arteta and Wilshere, the transition has been telling. The growth of Arteta into a defensive midfielder since his deadline day transfer from Everton means the pace and ferocity associated with the Arsenal of yesteryears was lost a tad. The Spaniard has developed his game beautifully to suit the needs of the manager but his slowness has often been found out and has left Arsenal ragged against pacy mobile opposition.
To sort this issue Wenger has paired Arteta with a more mobile, hard working midfielder yet a good passer who is equally comfortable on the ball. At the start of the season this role was played by Abou Diaby, whose box to box tirades meant
Arteta could sit deep and just rely on cutting out the opponent build up play. That way the added assistance from the midfield meant more defensive security and as a result Arsenal conceded no goals in their first 3 league games. But injury against Chelsea meant a change in personnel with Ramsey, Wilshere and even Coquelin putting in a shift when required. Ramsey, though a tireless player, often happens to suffer lapses in concentration and makes key mistakes in the defending third. The fact that the Welshman puts in a full hearted shift is definitely a plus but neither does he possess the instinct to intercept key passes from developing into potential goal scoring opportunities nor the sharpness in transition play, which is key to the team's counter attacking style. Wilshere on the flip side is a wonderful transition player, initiating attacks and effortlessly turning defense into attack. But the biggest problem lies in his positional play and the tendency to throw himself into a tackle often ending up giving set piece opportunities to the opposition. Apart from discipline, the fact that Jack attempts key passes that aren't the easiest to execute means he often ends up losing possession in critical areas of the pitch. Diaby too isn't free of flaws himself, often going missing for big chunks of the game.
Arteta remains the most consistent midfielder at the club despite his limitations but the role he is assigned demands a lot from his fellow midfield partners and this is where the system fails against attacks that are zippy and incisive. Arteta however has become an integral part of this side and the importance of his presence can't be overrated. Dropping Arteta isn't an option as he provides a calming effect no other midfielder at the club presently is capable of. But the fact that he is aging and is already caught out for pace more often than last season means Wenger needs to bring in someone who could stay deeper and fall back becoming the 3rd centre back when required and be a natural passer too. Maxime Gonalons and Etienne Capoue seem ideal fits along with the prodigal Lars Bender and Wenger might be looking to bring one of the 3 in the summer. The incoming player would most likely be starting instead of Arteta since Wilshere, when fit, happens to be indispensable as has been seen so often. The intensity and fierceness in midfield needs to be restored and once that's done the attack can have a firm platform to build upon.
The next big question is who is Arsenal's first choice centre back pairing? Mertesacker has had a good season minus the odd error and has been one of the most impressive defenders in the league this season. Thomas Vermaelen, the club captain, hasn't had the same influence as he did in his first couple of seasons. The stats substantiate the claims as Arsenal have conceded only 0.2 goals a game in Vermaelen's absence while letting in almost 1.29 times a game with the Belgian in the starting line up. Vermaelen recently admitted he hasn't been anywhere near his best and this has provided an opportunity for the French centre back Laurent Koscielny to get games under his belt. Koscielny has made a couple of errors himself but his pace and astute reading of the game make him a perfect recovery defender to partner the slower Mertesacker. Vermaelen's recent showings don't merit him a starting spot and with the murmurs of Barcelona already beginning to catch pace it might be a good idea to fix Koscielny-Mertesacker as the starting pair. A stable and unchanged backline not only induces confidence but also helps develop a stronger understanding which comes handy when dealing with offside traps as well as set pieces.
Arsenal were one of the worst teams when it came to defending a set piece. Teams like West Brom, Newcastle and Stoke have tormented Arsenal defences in the past 2-3 seasons but this season has been different. Steve Bould's integration with the first team coaching staff saw the Gunners move on from the traditional man marking to zonal marking during set pieces. The results have been positive thus far with only 12 goals conceded from set pieces in the league. To add to that Arsenal conceded 0 goals in 2 matches against arguably the most physical team in the division in Stoke City, a statistic that must be pleasing for all of the coaching staff. Arsenal have the 4th best defensive record in the league with 32 goals conceded and the best defensive record away from home with the Gunners defence being breached only on 13 occasions. The cautious approach when playing away from home gets highlighted as the Londoners tend to soak in more pressure and don't throw bodies unnecessarily forward as can be seen in the differential attacking record home (35 goals scored) and away (20 goals scored). The improvement in set piece defending has made the Arsenal defence much more insulated on their travels. Defending deep hasn't been a problem with Mertesacker being a brilliant reader of the game and Vermaelen/Koscielny both being destructive in recovery.
So where have the goals come from then? Two primary sources of goals: individual errors and being ripped down the wings. The individual errors don't just include the centre backs but also the midfielders, forwards and goalkeeper. Thomas Vermaelen holds the record for the most individual errors this season in the league with 6, Szczesny follows in with 3, Sagna, Gibbs, Mertesacker and Koscielny with 2 each. Only new recruit Nacho Monreal happens to have made 0 errors among all Arsenal defenders to have played atleast 5 matches. Wilshere and Arteta also have 2 defensive errors of their own, none of which led to a goal luckily. The likes of Cazorla, Podolski have made indirect defensive errors themselves, leaving the fullbacks all by themselves thus leading to crucial goals in the process. Be it Mandzukic's goal in the first leg or Diame's goal at Upton Park, the protection from the wingers has been a problem. Podolski who started his Arsenal career so strongly covering every blade of grass on the wings, has started to fade away in recent weeks. His work rate has been sluggish lately and makes a more pronounced case of lack of protection for the fullbacks. Even Cazorla when played on the wing hardly provides a helping hand. This not only creates huge holes for opposition wingers to exploit but also curbs the attacking threat possessed by the full backs.
In short it comes down to the system and it's functioning as a whole. The protection from midfield is of utmost importance and with the right set of midfielders playing in their more favourable positions, players need not stick to their individual roles alone but also cooperate as a team and defend as a team. With 9 games to go in the Gunners' season, Arsene Wenger would be hoping for more of the same that saw the North Londoners keep out both Bayern and Swansea. Tweaks in formation and personnel will follow in the summer and the acquisition of a versatile defender and a strong hard tackling midfielder who can pass well would be able to cement the pores in the defence. The 6 players in front of the defence tend to make the back 4 poorer than they are and this is an issue that Wenger, and in particular, Bould have started to pay an attentive eye on. If they find a perfect balance and more importantly the right approach when not in possession, who knows the chants of Bould Effect might yet again resurface. Till then this Arsenal defence just remains an enigmatic chaos in itself.
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