After another bitterly disappointing result against Swansea last night, I think it would be fair to write us off as title challengers for another year, bar some sort of miracle. Whilst this is a shame given our brilliant form up until Christmas, positives can still be taken out of this season, not least if we manage to win the FA Cup. I have outlined a few major areas that must be focused on over the summer months if Arsenal are too improve.
1: Improve the medical/ conditioning team and reduce injuries
Once again, injuries have played a major part in our form. Chamberlain, Podolski, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil and Walcott have all now had relatively long term injuries this season. Would we have won the title if we had of kept these players fit? We’d have stood a far better chance.
This is why I believe that the number 1 priority this summer should be a total revamp of the medical, fitness and conditioning teams. Arséne Wenger has revealed that the club has started to investigate the chronic injury problem that haunts us each season which is a start. Perhaps more drastic action is needed and a whole new fitness set-up and regime should be introduced from the very best in the business (Of course we can afford them). Keeping key players fit for the majority of the season would improve our chances of success hugely.
I also believe it would be worth investing in a Sports Psychologist to work with the players over the course of next season. Liverpool have employed Steve Peters (who will also be working with England in the World Cup) and Gerrard has praised his influence. Why not take a punt on this? The player’s mind-set going into big games is obviously not right; we have bottled three huge premier league fixtures this year alone. Furthermore, the words ‘nervous’ and ‘timid’ have long been associated with Wenger’s Arsenal; a top-level sports psychologist may just be the person to banish these lingering doubts.
2) Make four good signings
It is fairly patent that this squad needs both additional numbers and quality. I would suggest four well-thought through signings could do all sorts of good for this club, with a striker and defensive midfielder the obvious necessities.
My suggestions would be…
A: A fast, powerful Centre forward who is capable of scoring the teams goals. E.g. Balotelli.
The need for a world class striker has been obvious since the departure of Van Persie. This desperately needs to be addressed this summer. Whilst Giroud has had a good season, he simply does not have the quality, or energy, to be the only striker for an entire season. Arsenal needs an alternative that can run behind and play to Ozil’s strengths. I would also suggest this side needs more pace and power so somebody in the Balotelli mould would fit the bill nicely.
B: A technically gifted, hardworking and physically strong defensive midfielder. E.g. Bender
Arteta is still capable of being a very good player but his lack of pace and physicality hurts us, particularly against the top sides. Someone who is naturally defensive to play alongside either Ramsey or Wilshere would give us a midfield pairing that is very hard to overcome.
C: A fast, direct winger who can chip in with goals. E.g. Draxler
A player like this would undoubtedly speed up our play and make us less predictable. Cazorla is a great player, but he’s never going to fly past a couple of defenders on the wing. If this were to happen, Cazorla could be a back-up Attacking midfielder to Ozil which would be a great rotatory option to have.
D: A capable defender. Either a Right Back or Centre Back. E.g. Ginter
This one is based on the assumption Sagna stays. For me, Jenkinson isn’t good enough yet and he is in desperate need of a premiership loan. Therefore another defender who can cover at Centre Back or Right Back would be a very useful addition.
These four additions would give us at least two good players in each position in our 4-2-3-1 formation which means rotation could occur. Therefore, players aren’t played as frequently which in theory would lead to fewer injuries.
3) Change approach heading into big games
Clearly our current approach to big Premier League fixtures isn’t working sufficiently. A plan B needs to be developed through training. When our normal passing game isn’t working or against the bigger sides (particularly away) a game plan or set of tactics should be developed that can win us games. For example, setting up defensively against big teams away from home and countering with a front 6 of Bender, Ramsey, Draxler, Ozil, Walcott and Balotelli (or similar signings) would be very hard to defend against. Additionally, we would have options such as Wilshere, Chamberlain and Cazorla who can all add something different.
Ultimately, if Arsenal as a football club and Wenger as a manager were to address and solve these three issues we would give ourselves a far greater platform to progress into a successful era. Whether Wenger is the man to oversee this process is up for interpretation, but in my opinion, he is.
Written by: Luke Girling
Twitter: @_ARSENAL94
1: Improve the medical/ conditioning team and reduce injuries
Once again, injuries have played a major part in our form. Chamberlain, Podolski, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil and Walcott have all now had relatively long term injuries this season. Would we have won the title if we had of kept these players fit? We’d have stood a far better chance.
This is why I believe that the number 1 priority this summer should be a total revamp of the medical, fitness and conditioning teams. Arséne Wenger has revealed that the club has started to investigate the chronic injury problem that haunts us each season which is a start. Perhaps more drastic action is needed and a whole new fitness set-up and regime should be introduced from the very best in the business (Of course we can afford them). Keeping key players fit for the majority of the season would improve our chances of success hugely.
I also believe it would be worth investing in a Sports Psychologist to work with the players over the course of next season. Liverpool have employed Steve Peters (who will also be working with England in the World Cup) and Gerrard has praised his influence. Why not take a punt on this? The player’s mind-set going into big games is obviously not right; we have bottled three huge premier league fixtures this year alone. Furthermore, the words ‘nervous’ and ‘timid’ have long been associated with Wenger’s Arsenal; a top-level sports psychologist may just be the person to banish these lingering doubts.
2) Make four good signings
It is fairly patent that this squad needs both additional numbers and quality. I would suggest four well-thought through signings could do all sorts of good for this club, with a striker and defensive midfielder the obvious necessities.
My suggestions would be…
A: A fast, powerful Centre forward who is capable of scoring the teams goals. E.g. Balotelli.
The need for a world class striker has been obvious since the departure of Van Persie. This desperately needs to be addressed this summer. Whilst Giroud has had a good season, he simply does not have the quality, or energy, to be the only striker for an entire season. Arsenal needs an alternative that can run behind and play to Ozil’s strengths. I would also suggest this side needs more pace and power so somebody in the Balotelli mould would fit the bill nicely.
B: A technically gifted, hardworking and physically strong defensive midfielder. E.g. Bender
Arteta is still capable of being a very good player but his lack of pace and physicality hurts us, particularly against the top sides. Someone who is naturally defensive to play alongside either Ramsey or Wilshere would give us a midfield pairing that is very hard to overcome.
C: A fast, direct winger who can chip in with goals. E.g. Draxler
A player like this would undoubtedly speed up our play and make us less predictable. Cazorla is a great player, but he’s never going to fly past a couple of defenders on the wing. If this were to happen, Cazorla could be a back-up Attacking midfielder to Ozil which would be a great rotatory option to have.
D: A capable defender. Either a Right Back or Centre Back. E.g. Ginter
This one is based on the assumption Sagna stays. For me, Jenkinson isn’t good enough yet and he is in desperate need of a premiership loan. Therefore another defender who can cover at Centre Back or Right Back would be a very useful addition.
These four additions would give us at least two good players in each position in our 4-2-3-1 formation which means rotation could occur. Therefore, players aren’t played as frequently which in theory would lead to fewer injuries.
3) Change approach heading into big games
Clearly our current approach to big Premier League fixtures isn’t working sufficiently. A plan B needs to be developed through training. When our normal passing game isn’t working or against the bigger sides (particularly away) a game plan or set of tactics should be developed that can win us games. For example, setting up defensively against big teams away from home and countering with a front 6 of Bender, Ramsey, Draxler, Ozil, Walcott and Balotelli (or similar signings) would be very hard to defend against. Additionally, we would have options such as Wilshere, Chamberlain and Cazorla who can all add something different.
Ultimately, if Arsenal as a football club and Wenger as a manager were to address and solve these three issues we would give ourselves a far greater platform to progress into a successful era. Whether Wenger is the man to oversee this process is up for interpretation, but in my opinion, he is.
Written by: Luke Girling
Twitter: @_ARSENAL94