We need a better keeper. Lauren’s no good. Cygan is the worst. We need more depth in defense. I’ve heard it all and none of it really addresses Arsenal’s problem, which is that they aren’t scoring enough goals.
Arsenal’s problem is not that they are allowing too many goals, it’s that they aren’t scoring enough of their own.
After 17 games played Arsenal has given up 15 goals. That’s less than one per game. Do other teams (teams above Arsenal in the standings) have a better goals against? Yes, but Arsenal 2002-2005 isn’t built for defense, it’s built for scoring. But they aren’t right now. 17 games played, 23 goals scored. That’s not even close to two a game. So, who is to blame? Let’s take a look:
Pascal Cygan? Nope, don’t blame him. He’s scored twice, so has Sol Campbell. Who is guilty? Freddie Ljungberg, come on down. Dennis Bergkamp, step right up. Zero league goals. J.A. Reyes, two league goals. Pires, two league goals. That’s four goals from four scoring positions. The same number of goals scored as by Cygan and Cambell. Only Henry and van Persie have been real threats. Hleb hasn’t scored at all.
We can’t ask the defense to do more than hold the opposition to one goal a match (on average). In league matches in which Arsenal scored one or zero goals this year, scoring just one more would have resulted in 10 more points. 10 more points would put Arsenal in third place, just one point out of second with a game in hand.
So the next time you are putting together your January transfer window wish list, see if there are any more van Persie’s on it.
33 Responses to “It’s Not the D, it’s the O”
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December 28th, 2005 at 7:50 am
It’s been discussed before, but the team winning the league almost always has the best defence.
I would argue that the reason our attack is failing is a direct consquence of our poor defence - I don’t want to see Reyes (Pires can’t be risked without Cole!) playing as a secondary left back, but he has to double up with Cygan/Lauren and when we win the ball back his starting position is stuck down at our left corner flag. When you know the guy behind you is capable, you can go out and play with some confidence, take a chance on you starting position when we win the ball. At the moment our forwards know that if they don’t score, it’s likely we’ll lose the game.
Some have descirbed Henry as lazy, waiting around on the half way line: I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve seen him appearing in centre mid this season to help out.
December 28th, 2005 at 7:52 am
Stats don’t lie - good spot Rick.
Fans tend to jump to conclusion and its the defense that takes the blame usually and front line all the glory. Although Cygan should still go! But Cole coming back will make hell of a difference I feel…
To be fair we have also mentioned the fact that Pires & Ljungberg have severely underperformed this season - both have gotten Arsenal around 12-15 goals a season and this time half way through the season and both are not doing nearly enough….
So where does it boil down to yes strikers but they might not score if someone is not their to bring the ball out of defence and begin the attack - something the PV use to be the best in the league at….Flamini cannot do it, Cesc is still developing but is more attack minded…perhaps the answer might be a Diop or Zokora (even though AW has ruled him out) type option….
Note that some encouraging signs shown from Arsenal for the 1st time in an away fixture to play an extra man in midfield and use 4-5-1 formation although it does not suit Henry but could be effective away from home?!
December 28th, 2005 at 8:08 am
I agree. Our defense has cost Freddie, Reyes and Henry some offensive form and exposed Gilberto and Sendy. Its also made a man out of Toure and shown how good Lauren and Lehmann can be.
We can’t think attack all the time out there. Hence, 4-3-3.
December 28th, 2005 at 9:11 am
By coincidence, I have just arrived at the same conclusion and this came about following the game against Charlton. In the Sky interviews after the match, Thierry talked about his “new role” which involves bringing other players into the game.
Aaaarrrgghhhhhhhhhhhh !!
We have the guy in the team who has been the Premiership’s top scorer in something like three out of the last four seasons and we change his role to a non-scoring role ???
It got me thinking about who is our main striker now then. Reyes? Hleb? Ljungberg? Pires? Fabregas? Gilberto? Flamini ?
None of these is a striker. Which is why they have only about 5 goals between them in the League this season. So, now we don’t have a striker at all !!
This is why I agree with Rik that a another striker is a priority. Van Persie is great but we need more than him, for sure.
I have liked the idea of Fernando Torres joining up with Reyes and that appeals to me even more now.
December 28th, 2005 at 9:14 am
In reading that Arsenal is talking to Lazio about Ousmane Dabo, has anyone seen this guy play? From his Bio he is 28 yrs old and 6′1. He has played a few matches for the French national team and doesn’t seem to be cup tied. He is a defensive midfielder and seems to be a physical type of player…Sounds like the type of player we have all been hoping that they will get. Hopefully it is but the start of a fruitful transfer period for us!
December 28th, 2005 at 9:41 am
Excellent article. There is no doubt that we should be looking to sign a proper goal-scoring forward. Now why did we not look at Owen?
Anyway, while it is true that Hleb, Pires, Reyes and Ljunberg have not been scoring, they *CAN* score. Well, maybe not Hleb because I haven’t seen him hit a single shot on target yet. But the others are certainly capable. They just need to step up and do it.
With respect to the defence, it’s slightly different. While the likes of Senderos, Toure, Campbell and Lauren *CAN* defend, I am certainly beginning to question that ability in Cygan, Gilberto and Flamini. So we might have to seriously look into replacing them and not just expect them to come good.
December 28th, 2005 at 9:57 am
Even though you have your facts right about who is scoring more goals and who is not, football is about defending. The best defence wins titles not the best offence. I don?t think the Arsenal teams of 2002 ? 2005 were built for scoring goals.
The problem with Arsenal is not the strikers but the midfield and defence. Arsenal?s shortcomings are being increasingly exposed still 2003 when we lost our back 4 and the downgrade of our midfield. At the moment we don?t even have a leader on the field and as much as Henry is trying without me on the field we look like another average team.
We had the best midfield to support the defence so it makes the job of the striker very easy between 2000 - 2003. The harsh fact is that some of those great players who won Arsenal the championship in such wonderful style two seasons ago are gone or ageing and instead of replacing them with skills and experience we went for kids. As the saying goes kids don?t win you anything.
Look at Liverpool or Chelsea - They are wicked because of the way their back line control the game, which makes it easy for their midfielder to take the game forward. Arsenal doesn?t have the likes of Lampard/Makelele/Essien or Gerrand/Alonso/Sissoko. We need to sort out our back line and midfield first before we start thinking about winning the title.
The painful fact is that we are a team in transition as I said some time ago and things are going to get worse before they get better because Wenger will not spend any money to strengthen this side apart from depending on some unknown kids. If someone had told me Arsenal would have be 20 points behind Chelsea before Christmas I would have knock him out but the cold facts is that we are not good enough and will have to fight Spurs yes I said spurs for the 4th spot. We will beat teams like Charlton and Portsmouth very easy but away against any team in the top half is a different story.
December 28th, 2005 at 10:01 am
Yes I hope we should have gone for Owen but who is going to pass the ball to him
December 28th, 2005 at 10:04 am
Yeap— You right best defence wins you the league.
We can have 2 Henrys on the field but without good defenders and midfielders we will still win f all.
December 28th, 2005 at 12:32 pm
Who is passing the ball to him at Newcastle? He is scoring enough goals there.
December 28th, 2005 at 3:12 pm
I hate to go there Rick but it’s simply the absence of PV4 along with the ageing of DB10.
Bergkamp isn’t playing much anymore meaning you have no one coming deep to receive the ball that can make plays and score from the top of the box. That’s where most of Bergkamp’s goals came from. Who in the current team actually trys to score from there? Also he made other player look really good; sometimes better than they really were. He made Ljunberg, Anelka, Wright, and Kluivert look exceptional. Was Anelka really worth 32 million? Dennis also carried Henry until he could carry himself. Gotta respect that.
With Vieira on the field it was like having an extra player just because of the way that he covered the field. Having him was like having a license to steal. He gave you a playmaker/ballwinner/finisher all in one incredible 6′4″ package. Everyone’s trying to find a player that gives them that license. We had the actual prototype and sold it with no backup. I don’t know, maybe 2+2=5 now.
Wenger has asked everyone else to step up to compensate for Vieira’s abscence. Why? Don’t we still have 11 players on the pitch? One for one should do the job, right? Anyway, everyone’s “trying” to do wht the boss asked which has resulted in Pires and Ljunberg aren’t scoring, frontline is getting no support, Bert and Fab have a boat load of cautions, and the defense is being overrun. Mad Jens has saved our asses, boys.
Sure we’ve won games without Vieira in the past. We’ve won games this year also. When have we ever lost a third of our games with Vieira? We’ve got players out of their element trying to do things they simply can not. When you transfer players it should mean the machine runs smoother and more efficient. Selling Paddy was like buying a Mercedes, then putting cheap gas in it. I could write an entire article on Vieira’s abscence.
Also, do you remember when Bergkamp retired from international football. Result: horrible Euro 2000 and didn’t qualify for the 2002 World Cup. Those two did a lot of what you did see but so much of what you don’t see. You’ve got to respect those intangibles.
December 28th, 2005 at 3:23 pm
Pires, Reyes, Ljunberg, and Hleb can’t step up because they’re too busy stepping back trying to do Vieira’s old job; which they happen to absolutely suck at. I agree they can score. Freddie always scores for Sweeden and there’s no way Pires has fallen off that badly. I’m sure they still look good in training as Wenger raves about the quality, but they’re trying to make up the “Paddy” slack. That takes away from their game.
December 28th, 2005 at 3:48 pm
“When have we ever lost a third of our games with Vieira?” The 2000-2001 season nearly as bad as this season.
Bergkamp also played in Euro 2000.
December 28th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Its ALL “O” tonite baby!
4-0 Arsenal at the half!!!!!
My Arsenal are back for a half!!!
Henry with 2, Reyes with 1, Bergy opened the scoring…
Just what the doctor ordered, Portsmouth!
Go on Arsenal… bang in 7 or 8 tonite…
lets have some f’n fun, I’ve been waiting ALL SEASON for this to occur.
Get the subs on, and lets party!!!!!!!!
Chelsea and United drawing at the half…
KANUUUUUUUUUU with 2 goals for West Brom!
(is he available in January?! … just kiddin’!)
December 28th, 2005 at 7:26 pm
Kanuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good game and it was all done to one man. He is back in town and will re-signed for the Arsenal ..
Come on Arsenal now let me see what you have against Villa and United.
December 28th, 2005 at 8:05 pm
This is as bad as its going to get, Wenger has realized his mistakes and will correct them in January/off-season, next year we’re be back to Arsenal of old…I’ll state right now that Arsenal will win the 2006/7 Premiership…
December 28th, 2005 at 8:31 pm
Hey boys, it was the first Arsenal match I’ve seen all season and have to say Portsmouth were absolutely horrible. Someone has to be the whippin’ boys and it was them tonight. Bergkamp, Lauren, Reyes, Toure and Henry were the best players tonight, in that order. Lehmann had to make two very easy saves. Cygan’s defense was actually pretty good but his passing was dreadful. He looked like Shaq trying really hard to hit free throws when he passed.
Vieira was in the stands. That was cool. We played kick the ball at the end of the game like usual but we didn’t make it look easy like we used to. Oh, Fabregas looked pretty good when he came on for the last half hour. Henry should have had another hattrick but he’s not 100%. He played a full game hurt tonight. That’s very ungood.
This game was more about Portsmouth being horrible than Arsenal being good. The scoreline is flattering as we weren’t that good. The fourth goal wasn’t a penalty but the official gave it. The other goals were very good. Portsmouth will probably go down this season. It’s still 3 points so I’ll take them. I’m just happy to be home to watch the games.
December 28th, 2005 at 8:46 pm
You’re right about Bergkamp in Euro 2000. It was England that sucked. Holland did very well with Bergkamp in the team in that tournament. After his retirement is when they began to suck.
December 28th, 2005 at 9:14 pm
OK…
I obviously didn’t SEE the match.
I hear LoveG saying someone is re-signing for Arsenal? and then Joshuad say that VIEIRA was in the stands?
Please tell me the truth guys!
A) Was Vieira in the stands
and if he was, I hope the supporters sang the Vieira song at least once!
B) DON’T KID ME LOVEG!
I have not heard ANY rumor of Vieira coming back to this team. So don’t get me started! Mazza would have a heart-attack!
NICE WIN.
4-0… against anyone is good.
Let’s build on this and move on to the next victim, Villa!
December 28th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
bloody hell mate, really? where is the evidence/ how will chelsea collapse? i think chelsea have 4, 4.5 great motivated seasons, and cash, then will implode. but next season? that takes balls?
got tickets to the madrid game?
December 28th, 2005 at 9:43 pm
wouldn’t you be abslotely fckin’ amazed if vieira was in the stands? christ! surely not? where di that come from?
December 28th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
it’s the D, not the O. the D of midefield. gilberto, whilst being a positive factor last year, has actually missed more passes than he’s made. in the (semi)pro and college ranks i played in, he wouldn’t have got a game, cos of percentages. i relise stats aren’t everything, but he has been appalling. maybe his eyesight is going, maybe colour blind? sheeeeesh…
we need a powerful centr back. and reader of the game. sol is getting older but still worth his place. but toure and lauren are converted midfield players, not natural readers, and now and again they prove it. though i have disliked lauren as a weak link for several seasons, i have to say he has stepped up this year. cygan shouldn’t play for lincolnshire schoolboys, never mind the arsenal.
a class act would be good up front, but arsene has killed robbie’s confidence by playing the younf uns which is good ut they are not there yet. freddie, whiclst having the best highbury song of the moment, has sucked this year…
but sill, it’s the D!
December 28th, 2005 at 10:21 pm
Here?s my theory.
Henry really doesn?t want to leave Arsenal. It?s been his love. His English wife would rather stay with family in the UK. He?s feeling some kind of psychological compunction or guilt. The result being, that motivated by his feelings, his goal count is down. He often seems more frustrated these days by some of the stupidity we?ve all been seeing on the pitch. No he wouldn?t go to the team sports psychologist, so he?s burdening this and it?s been made manifest in his own goal count being down.
Houston ?. we may have ? a problem! Henry will either surrender to his environment or stay with what makes him and his family happy, he is a real family man from what I?ve read. That would be cool. The flip side, the problem side is that he will want to alleviate these feeling that seem to be hindering him and he?ll leave to feel relieve. Which would not be so cool for Arsenal, even with still having Van Persie?
Call me crazy, many others have and do.
Nevertheless, your right, the whole thing is then exacerbated by the fact that Peres and Ljundberg?s total goal count is equivalent to or less than the backfield players. It?s a sad state of affairs. Wenger must instill a different method because players get used to hearing the same stuff all the time and then start doubting it, this is commonly known in sports psychology.
The fact remains the same, these players have enough talent to continue making heads turn this year / season.
As a gunner though I?d like to see more goals ? it?s what always drew me to this club.
December 28th, 2005 at 11:02 pm
Fact: Patrick Vieira was at this match.
I will not read ANYTHING into it, but I read more than one report that said he was in the stands!
Probably just some time off in London… seeing some of his mates.
December 28th, 2005 at 11:51 pm
Alright, I was getting a bit carried away it being Christmas ‘an all. What I should have said is that the ‘Men’ in charge of Arsenal (Men meaning the blokes who pull the money strings) will do everything in their power not to have another balls-up like this year. Then at least will can ‘challenge’ for the title every season. On the Real note…I’ve been hoping to play them for years, I dont think we’ve ever played them competively, this is a glamour tie! I think there will be a sh*t load of goals over the two legs and hopefully we go through….another prediction..1st leg we lose 3-2, 2nd leg we win 4-1, whatcha reckon on that Brady?
December 28th, 2005 at 11:54 pm
Fistful of choices at Christmas?!
December 29th, 2005 at 12:02 am
I didn’t see the Portsmouth game. The BBC match report said that Flamini was “superb” throughout. Reyes has also scored in back to back games. Is this a sign of improvement? Or is it just that our youngsters can perform only against the weaker sides? The next two games should tell.
December 29th, 2005 at 2:37 am
You right..
Portsmouth were clue-less.. They made us look tooo good
December 29th, 2005 at 2:41 am
The truth is Vieira was in the stands. I don’t think Arsenal will re-sign him but come to see his friends.
From what I know he had been in town for 2 days. Still loves the London life..
December 29th, 2005 at 2:44 am
Nope - I hope so but with this squad of players and also moving into a new stadium I sazy another 3 yrs if we get our act together.
Liverpool getting better and Chelsea will not collapes like that.
December 29th, 2005 at 4:07 am
Lack of goals is definitely the problem right now not withstanding the clubbing handed out to pompey yesterday. But contrary to what most people suggest bringing in a lightweight striker like torres might not be the answer. Knowing that the epl is way lot more ohysical than the liga, torres might probably just end up getting kicked around by arses like g. neville. While i loathe the sight of drogba, chelsea, i cant avoid saying, are playing it smart by having a player in his build and size up front to win more balls and outmuscle any pesky defenders…..i believe our style of football is not viable always since the other teams are not willing to come out and play the same game……our backup should probably involve playing a lone big striker and i dont mean crouch or torres by big, i mean guys like john carew or adriano……..
The defence and midfield too need some rework, gilberto, ljungberg and lack of squad depth the culprits here. not sure who are viable replacements? kompany looks to be in need of a world class team with first team opportunities…..arsenal fits that bill……
Goalkeeping……the madman is certainly exciting with the scares that he gives us but i might not be able to survive another heart attack that he induces…..almunia is proving to be an excellent no 2 but nothing nore……Shay Given has to be brought in. Period.
December 29th, 2005 at 4:19 am
Flamini was solid but wasn’t superb. He played the full match and played the through ball on Henry’s goal. His passing was pretty good though.
Like I said earlier, don’t read too much into the scoreline. Portsmouth were very poor. Reyes looked good though. He made Bergkamp’s goal with a pass identical to the chance Freddie screwed up the other day. Bobby linked up well with Dennis and Henry and held the ball well in midfield. Dennis, Lauren, and Jose were the best players.
December 29th, 2005 at 4:56 am
At the game, actually quite noisy for a change - think everyone had a few drinks to stay warm…
As above, Portsmouth were toilet, but these were the main takeaways for me:
Bergkamp, in spite of the goal, was poor first half, his passing was off key and he gave the ball away. 2nd half he was better.
Flamini was very good at filling in holes, he may be better than I think he is.
I know we were 4 up and everyone was looking for the hollywood pass, but it took Fabregas coming on for Silva for us to regain full control of the game. Fabregas’ passing is very good.
Pires looked interested and played very well throughout, as did Lauren (one of my favourite players - I still think we should go for Trabelsi though).
Reyes - hopefully his form will continue to improve, I thought Wenger took him off to let him hear the cheers and build his confidence.
Finally, Cygan can do things other players can only dream of - I have never seen a throw-in with so much swerve on it, so that it went into play and then out of play without anyone touching it - everybody cheered - brilliant.