Wenger needs to change his style
Steve Bould, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown, Gilles Grimandi, Tony Adams, Ray Parlour, Nigel Winterburn...yes not exatcly the who is who of football, but when it comes to steely defensive play in midfield and defence these guys knew how to dish it. Most of these players were already at Arsenal when Arsene Wenger arrived so he integrated with whatever he had, but there is a trademark in Wenger that shows a weakness, his management style is very different from the British or that canny scot Alex Ferguson.
Wenger's style is more suave and very flexible and this reflects on the players and the way the team plays. The swashbuckling could not care less for defence philosophy has got them to a trophyless cabinet in the last 4 years.
Wenger tends to sign players with that attitude Thierry Henry was the jewel in that crown, the players tend to be more individualistic and this has now blown over with the Gallas situation. Gallas recently blasted his teamates in public and now he is mooting for a transfer to AC Milan. He says that ever since his captaincy was stripped he has felt humiliated saying nobody talks to him anymore in the dressing room, much like a kid at a kindergarden who does not have anybody to play with because his "friends" don't like him.
In a way you could already see the turmoil begining at Arsenal when Adebayor clashed with Bendtner in January 2008 when they lost to rivals Spurs 5-1!! OUUCCH!!
Arsenal departed the Carling Cup in with a snarl as Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner were involved in an ugly spat in the home side's penalty area which left the Denmark international with a cut on the bridge of his nose and blood staining his shirt.
Frustration boiled over late on when, with the visitors trailing 4-1 and preparing to take a corner, Bendtner, who had already put through his own net, and the substitute Adebayor started pushing and shoving each other at the far post. Tempers were frayed further once the Dane had been cut - there were suggestions that he had been head-butted by his team-mate - with the pair eventually separated by their captain, William Gallas. He also remonstrated angrily with Bendtner, while Eduardo da Silva and Bacary Sagna dragged Adebayor from the scene.
This shows that Wenger has still not got this right, players are just too individualistic and Wenger should actually look at his recruitment policy, they say that the team's personality is the personality of the coach, true indeed. Wenger should rule more with a ironfist before it spills over rather than after.
The fact of the matter is after Patrick Viera left, that vacum in midfield has not been filled up well and the defence is still not solid as it use to be, the silky style of Arsenal is indeed great to watch, but so is Manchester United's, but they know when to defend. Silky or not, losing to the likes of Stoke and Hull is not the hallmark of Premier League winning team, I don't see Arsenal winning it this season.
A few years back just after Henry left for Barcelona, Fabregas said that Henry was holding back the team's potential, but such was Henry's greatness that his mental toughness and his attacking skills were so valuable that Arsenal can get away with that lack of defensive play, the irony in being to individualistic!! Henry was vocal, but perhaps now Fabregas can see that he was the glue holding the team together with Viera.
When you build a ship you need a couple of designers, but you also need plumbers, fitters, electricians, etc your Steve Boulds and Lee Dixons no disrespect, but I am actually paying a compliment. Right now Fabregas might be the flavour, but Wenger needs to buck-up and look at what a hair dryer treatment (Ferguson playbook) can do for the players in other words more steel less silk both on and off the field.
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