What Needs to Change?

Despite the good feeling instilled in all gooners after the wonderful Carling Cup win Tuesday and the win over Man Utd last weekend we have to face the hard facts: something in the Arsenal first team needs to change. Don't get me wrong, I'm the eternal optimist and I still think we can win both the Premier League and the Champions League this season, but to do so a bit of change is needed. Here are my thoughts on just what those changes should be.

Let's work our way forward from the back. First, the goalkeeping situation. Contrary to the perhaps common belief, I don't think there is a situation in goal. I stand by what I said about Almunia a few weeks back when I said he was a fine keeper, well capable of doing the job in goal. Face the facts: every goalkeeper has his bad spells and Almunia just happens to be in one right now. Remember that only a few weeks ago he was a hero, putting in some excellent, perhaps match winning, performances. Now he's had a blip in form, but who's to say he won't get out of it?

And here's the positive side effect of Almunia's head injury against Man Utd (which by the way he is reportedly 70:30 for this weekend): Fabianski has been allowed the chance to shine. To be honest I really don't fancy him in goal merely because of his young young age for a keeper. But with performances like those against Wigan he is seriously giving Almunia a run for his money right now for first-choice keeper. No, we don't have a world-class keeper the likes of Casillas or Buffon, but we haven't for years. Not even Lehmann was considered world-class when he was here, so why are so many so worried about Almunia?

Second, let's look at the defense. Many point to this area as the one we need to strengthen. I would agree with this view, but only halfway. Here's what I mean by that. I agree with everyone that our defense at the moment is dreadful. Gone are the days of 1-0 to the Arsenal; in fact I don't even remember the last time we got a lead early and held it 1-0 to the end of the match, it's been that long. The defense is terrible at defending set pieces, they are afraid to just hoof the ball away (save Silvestre, who seems to have it ingrained within him that he is never to pass it out of defense), and they are conceding far too many goals. It's gotten to the point that we can't even be sure a two-goal advantage will be defended with a minute plus stoppage time remaining.

But unlike so many out there who think that a new centre-back is the answer, I believe, as Arsene Wenger seems to, that the players we have are just fine. Gallas can produce wonderful defensive displays on his night (look at the Man Utd match), Silvestre is a clam experienced head, we have the two best fullbacks in the country, and Toure when in form is an excellent defender. That doesn't even mention the younger players like Djourou or Song who can also put in impressive performances. Just where would we add class to the back line, who, on form are all outstanding individual performers?

The answer is nowhere. I believe the solution to our defensive problem lies within that last sentence: "outstanding individual performers". The problem with our back line is that they have not been properly coached. This lack of coaching has led to all the errors on-field and has led some to believe a new player is required. The facts are that even if a new player were brought in, he alone could not change how the defense plays as a team, only a good leader or an excellent defense coach can do that. And Arsene Wenger is simply not a defensively-minded manager. We need someone like a Martin Keown who will come in and teach the lads how to play defense. They're all wonderful players, and with the right coaching we could have an excellent defense again.

In midfield I believe only one thing needs to be added: a ball-winning central midfielder who will allow Cesc Fabregas to get forward and who will add cover for our back line until it is repaired. If there's one player we sorely miss this season it's Flamini. Gilberto was past his prime and Hleb was replaced with the new Pires, Nasri, but Flamini was never replaced. It is a fact that Arsene Wenger tried and failed at least four of five times over the summer to bring in a new defensive midfielder, so he obviously realises this area needs strengthening. And I wouldn't worry too much about any comments he may make about not necessarily needing to sign anyone in January. An economically smart manager like Wenger knows that if teams don't think Arsenal are desperate for a midfielder but that they merelyh want to sign a player as an extra, then the prices come down. It's a very basic but very intelligent ploy to lower player prices, and I'm sure that Arsene knows there is a problem here.

With a new defensive midfielder we will again have bite in midfield and be able to be more competitive. This leaves us with attack, where I don't believe there is a single problem, and nor do, judging by this site's current poll, any other Arsenal supporters. With Adebayor, Van Persie, Eduardo, Vela, and Bendtner our attacking force is as lethal as ever. All we need now is a strong midfield to support the strikers and give them balls to feed off of and score from.

So there are in effect only two changes that need to be made on order for us to be genuine challengers for honours this season. First we need to sign a good quality central defensive midfielder who will play like Flamini, and second, we need to bring in a top-quality defense coach who will teach this defense how to play.

With these changes I believe we will be serious challengers on all fronts and we may finally get another piece of silverware. This is the fourth season on since we last won anything, and we are all feeling that hunger for titles. But only four teams or less and win a trophy each season, and with the changes I have outlined, I believe we can be one of them.

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