The question I pose today is which position we need to strengthen more. Do we need a new central defender who will be strong and authoritative at the back or do we need a new defensive midfielder who will protect the back line and allow Cesc Fabregas to get forward into attack?Fab 4 Arsenal ran a poll last month asking you, the readers, which position was in more dire need of strengthening. The results are below:
Goalkeeper 8%
Defense (CB) 47%
Midfield (CM) 41%
Attack 2%
I think the results speak for themselves: most gooners realise that in order to win anything this season we will either need to strengthen the defense or the centre of midfield. More of you believed that a change in defense was needed, but is it really a new centre half that we need?
Opinions on Arsenal blogs all over the internet are split between those believing a new centre back is needed and those believing that a centre midfielder is the answer. I will state my position flat out and invite you to either agree or disagree with me in the comments below.
In order to win something this season we need to acquire a new defensive midfielder, a player like Flamini or Viera who will protect the back four and allow Fabregas to get forward. Now let me tell you how a new defensive midfielder will solve both our problems in attack and defense.
A new defensive partner for Cesc Fabregas will allow him to get forward into the attack more often and with greater effect. Cesc this season has been forced into doing the job of both an attacking midfielder and a defensive one. He has covered for Song or Diaby or Denilson and collected the ball deep in midfield. This means when he has been launching his passes, they have been going to players farther back on the pitch and the build up play has become much slower as a result.
Also, Fabregas's drop deeper has negated him as an attacking output. In contrast to this point last season where Cesc had numerous goals to call his own, this season he has only found the back of the net once, and that was from a corner. He is shooting from deeper (which increases the likelihood of a miss) or he is not shooting at all.
A defensive midfielder would take over the defensive job that Fabregas is doing now and would allow our captain to rejoin the attacks and provide his killer passes and rockets of shots that he has become so well known for. The team would be putting away more chances.
A defensive midfielder would also solve our defensive problems. Since he would be cleaning up in midfield, our centre backs would be less needed to help patrol the midfield. There is currently no barrier between our centre halves and our centre midfield. This means that once a player beats Fabregas or his current partner, then the centre backs have to race forward out of position to steal the ball and clean up. If they don't they allow the opponent way too much space in which to work.
A lack of defensive midfielder is pulling our defense out of position and higher up the pitch. And seeing as only Gallas can really track back at pace, and he still often loses those races, then we are being opened up again and again.
No, a new defensive midfielder will not add height to our defense or increase our aerial ability, but I believe that these problems are fixing themselves right now. With the addition of the tall Djourou to the heart of defense, we are dealing much better with aerial balls. We kept Chelsea quiet, and it was Gallas's fault that Aliadiere was able to score on Saturday, not Djourou's.
The centre of our defense is getting better, but it will not heal completely until we add in a defensive midfielder. I sincerely hope that Arsene Wenger has realised this and will look to buy in January. Le Boss noticed the defensive problems and put in Djourou to great effect. Now all we need is a new centre midfielder, and I believe once we get that we will once again be genuine challengers for honours this season.
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Mooqs - personally I agree we do need a Defensive midfielder but as for the comment of it was gallas's fault aliadiere score I DISAGREE it was songs fault if u look closely at the throw on from middelsborough song lost a little touch of focus which allowed the ball to zoom past him and in to a cross from tuncay for aliadiere to finish off a DM is what we need i think some1 like YAYA TOURE IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB OR EVEN GOKHAN INLER OR BLAISE MATUIDI. I BELIEVE IN WENGERS PHILOSOPHY AND I KNOW THAT SOME1 WILL COME IN THIS JANUARY COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletewell put argument. entirely agree to be honest.
ReplyDeleteyou know a big dm will add height to the defense to a degree since he will here and there be in such situations defensively and it's always an asset.
i for one pray he's big because the more big strong players we have the more intimidating we look as welkl as dealing with crosses better. the invinsibles were all big buggers
i agree. im hoping for stephen appiah.
ReplyDeleteu say we need a vieira for example... y not buy him back?! hes perfect...cheap, experienced, loves arsenal, great passer of the ball, great at tackling, strong, v.good in the air, influential and most of all will just sit and let cesc get forward. The man fits everything we need! Why the hell dont we get him back?
ReplyDeletewe have too many central midfielders, we dont need anymore...wenger will not buy another and I hope he sticks with what we got...remember, they did well enough against the european champions and the runner-up's...they just need a little bit more time...what we really need is a pure winger, someone that can dribble, has good technique and speed to burn...I like the Eljero Elia rumour...lets see...
ReplyDeleteoh...and one more thing we desperately need...some unconditional faith in our manager and team...we haven't had enough of that this season and the lack of it is adding more unneeded pressure on our boy's...COME ON YOU GOONERS'S!!!
ReplyDeletea CDM-a mentally tough and physical CDM is really what we need totally agreed. i would say yaya toure but that isn't gonna happen any time soon (cup tied). someone like stephen appiah or OM's captatin Cana or even Makoun. someone that can come into the scene right away and start positively effecting our club. I BELIEVE IN ARSENE...HE WILL MAKE THE RIGhT BUYS COME JANUARY....GOONER4LYF
ReplyDeletejust sell BENDTNER and get some experienced defensive midfielder.
ReplyDeleteI say centre midfield, because if we can win the ball in midfield, we take some of the pressure off the defence. Weren't we linked with Appiah and Makoun, two really bright talents who can anchor well? Appiah is a free agent moreover and is currently linked with Blackburn. I say usurp their bid OR go for Makoun.
ReplyDeleteAlso, people keep saying Gallas/Song was the culprit for the Boro goal, but if you watch the replay, after Clichy's clearance is deflected, see how close RVP was to the ball and the fact that he didn't go for a clearance or even attempt to take possession, instead allowing Tuncay to get a cross in.
Also, as big of a fan of Matuidi as I am, I'm reluctant to go for him, from what I've seen, he's more like Denilson than Flamini, or even like Alonso, who despite what people think, doesn't seem to be that defensive.
ReplyDeleteI was at the game on Saturday and it obvious we need a defensive midfielder. Song is OK defening but with the ball he is useless, he cannot pass and his touch is useless. The best option is to move Song back into Defence and bring in a defensive midfielder for added protection for the back 4.
ReplyDeleteY IS NO1 SAYING VIEIRA?!?!?!
ReplyDeletesell bendtner and gallas and eboue, get a tough defensive central midfielder (Inler) and a central defender (Richards)
ReplyDeletehi mate fancy a link swap?
ReplyDeletewww.thegoonblog.wordpress.com
The problem is we don't need just 1 thing.
ReplyDeleteYes we need someone to replace Flamini who covered an average of 11 km a game and also who was willing to go forward. It's universally agreed that someone to give Cesc breathing room is necessary. Denilson shows up every once in a while but also turns over the ball more often than not. Song is very Gilberto-esque but like Gilberto he lacks technical skill to start the build up of play. Unlike Gilberto though he's not as smart and does not know how to play positional football. He chases the ball around rather than reads a step ahead of the opposition and cuts out the play before it even starts. Flamini while not exactly technically gifted himself looked comfortable on the ball nonetheless and he knew where he needed to be to disrupt opposition from passing effectively.. Even Kolo who I love has alot of tackling and running in him but as I've noticed with many African players, they're trying to play the game faster than they can manage. Kolo is far from skilled and his idea of beating a player is kicking the ball far and using his pace to beat his opponent. If that trick fails then he gets caught in possession. We need someone stalwart and strong, yet slick and comfortable with the ball at his feet. there have been suggestions he could be a good CM but those who propose that only see his defensive ability and forget he has very little attacking ability.
We need a goalie - not only a more skillful experienced one but a more commanding one. Lehmann was without a doubt an angry, crazy man but he was never afraid to organize his back line and let them know what's what. Whenever I see Almunia come out to collect a ball in the air I hold my breath. I always had some assurance with Lehmann he'd be coming out on a corner or set piece to collect the ball in his box.
We need a very loud organizer. The likes of Sol, Tony Adams, Vieira were always vocal on the field. They commanded everyone and demanded their teammates respect. Cesc is trying to lead by example which is very admirable but when you play the kind of intricate football Arsenal does you need someone to direct the complex workings and let them know where they should be and what they should be doing.
Goonblogger, I'd be very interested in a link swap. I'll add your if you'll do me the honour of adding my blog to your site. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd good comments all, especially from WC. I agree with most of what you said.
I think we need a new of a lot. But still when I go to the games Arsenal play great!
ReplyDelete