Posted by Young'un in Arsenal, Premiership | 17 May 2012
So here we are at the end of another rollercoaster season for Arsenal. But how have each of the players performed individually? Here's the first installment of three articles.
1. Manuel Almunia – n/a
The Spaniard was sent on loan to West Ham early on in the season but returned after failing to make an impression. Almunia didn’t feature for Arsenal once and was only named on the bench a handful of times. With his contract up in the summer, he’ll be departing and dare I say there will be few tears shed.
2. Abou Diaby – n/a
So much promise, so little delivered, but Diaby is not really to blame for that. After having his leg broken at Sunderland by Dan Smith, now plying his trade at Blyth Spartans, the Frenchman has never enjoyed a sustained run in the side, as his progress has constantly been disrupted by injuries. Diaby has only played six times this season, all of which were from the bench. His Arsenal career lies in the balance despite his undisputed ability.
3. Bacary Sagna – 7.5
Sandwiched between two horrific leg breaks, the dreadlocked full-back was his usual consistent, reliable self, turning in 29 appearances, almost all of excellent standards. His performance in Milan is one for the scrapbook as it will be considered one of Sagna’s seldom-seen bad displays in an Arsenal shirt. His presence was often missed and scored one of the most crucial goals in the season, to ignite the famous comeback against Tottenham. He still remains the finest right-back in Europe.
4. Per Mertesacker – 7
After joining on Deadline Day, the big German was thrown into the deep end immediately, as he stepped in for the injured Thomas Vermaelen. He grew in confidence as the season went on and racked up 27 appearances in his debut season before injuring his knee at Sunderland in February. What Mertesacker lacks in pace, he makes up for in intelligence, and his experience and calming influence was blatantly missed in the closing months of the season. Having him back in the squad in the next campaign will be a major plus point.
5. Thomas Vermaelen – 7.5
The 26-year-old recovered well from an injury that kept him out for the vast majority of the previous campaign, and remains a firm favourite with the Arsenal fans for his fearless approach to defending. However, mistakes are slowly creeping into Vermaelen’s game, or at least they’re becoming more obvious. His desire to burst forward and help the attack has often been to the team’s detriment as he has been frequently caught out of position. His goalscoring exploits are something of a saving grace however, and the importance of his last-gasp winner at home to Newcastle cannot be understated.
6. Laurent Koscielny – 9
In an Arsenal defence that has conceded far too many goals, there has been one leading light. Koscielny impressed in his first season but struggled at times to cope with the rigorous, physical nature of the Premier League. He has since bulked up and added further steel to his impressive arsenal that already consisted of pace, composure on the ball and terrific aerial ability, making him just about the complete defender. His rapid improvement and unerring consistency has not gone unnoticed and were it not for the Arsenal skipper, Koscielny would be a shoo-in for the Player of the Season award.
7. Tomas Rosicky – 7.5
The injury-plagued midfielder had never really imposed himself before this season. Being given the freedom to play in the middle rather than out wide undoubtedly had a huge effect, as Rosicky became a key player for Arsenal in the second half of the season. He scored goals against Tottenham and Milan and brought a much-needed zing to the Gunners midfield, with his dynamic passing and darting runs into the box. If he can remain fit, there is every hope that the Czech captain can make up for lost time and be a force for years to come.
8. Mikel Arteta – 9
To many looking in from the outside, Arteta looked a like-for-like replacement for Cesc Fábregas. Not only did they share nationality and nice hair, but were often found popping up with goals and assists in and around the box. What surprised many following the Spaniard’s move from Everton was the fact he was not deployed as an attacking midfielder, but instead as a holding player; pulling the strings from deep and using his vast experience to great effect. With one of the highest pass completion rates in the league, he is essential to the Gunners’ style of play, and the fact that, before the last day of the season, Arsenal had not won without Arteta in the side is indicative of his importance. Despite being at the club for less than a year, he is becoming the heartbeat of the side.
9. Park Chu-Young - 5
Another Deadline Day signing, the South Korean striker joined with a decent goalscoring record at International level, and was expected to be eased in and used sparingly as backup to his peers. However, I doubt anyone expected just how sparingly he’d be utilised; one substitiute appearance being the extent to his involvement in the Premier League. Park’s lack of game time has been incredibly bizarre and will have to go down as one of Wenger’s worst ever signings. A tidy finish against Bolton in the Carling Cup shows that he clearly has some ability, but for one reason or another has simply not been trusted by the boss. It remains to be seen whether he will still be at Arsenal next season.
10. Robin van Persie – 9.5
What else is there left to say about van Persie? After sweeping up the Golden Boot as well as the PFA and FWA Player of the Year awards, it’s difficult to say anything about the Dutchman that hasn’t been said a hundred times. To describe Arsenal as a one-man team is ever so slightly hyperbolic, but it’s fair to say they wouldn’t be in the top four without him. 37 goals prove his worth alone but the fact he has developed into such a complete striker means he’s invaluable to the club. Whilst he’s always had an eye for a spectacular strike or a mouth-watering piece of skill, by becoming the captain and the hub of the team, he’s had to change his game to become a more rounded player. The hard work is evidently paying off as he’s now lethal in the 18-yard box, deceptively good in the air and perfectly capable of holding the ball up and bringing others into play. He’ll be in demand this summer and Arsenal will undoubtedly do everything in their power to keep him.
11. André Santos – 7
A beaming smile and endearing grammatical errors on Twitter have helped Santos become warmly welcomed into the gooner community, but his performances on the pitch have divided opinion amongst fans and pundits. Whilst like any traditional Brazilian he loves to attack from deep, question marks remain over his concentration and defensive discipline. An ankle injury that kept him out for three months curtailed his progress, but on the whole, Santos can be pleased with his first season at the club in which he notched three goals. His versatility makes him a crucial addition to the squad, and he’ll be looking to kick on consistently next campaign.
Look out for Parts Two & Three in the coming days.
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Posted by DavidM in | 5 May 2012
Some years the end of the season is a bit subdued with most key positions decided. Other years there's interest for the top two or three (with the top four being fairly consistent) and for those closely involved in the relegation fight.
With the emergence of Manchester City as a major force, they present a challenge to the top four. The surprise packages have been Tottenham and Newcastle, while Liverpool and Chelsea's poor season has shaken the top of the table.
This season has also been spiced up with the various allegations and spats as well as the fall-out from Liverpool's split with Roy Hodgson.
At the top of the table it's come down to a Manchester decider which adds bite. Man City have the slenderest of leads with two games to go, though they have the harder of the run in. Almost everything depends on their result against Newcastle who have surprised everyone with their resilience to still be in a strong chance of Champions League football next year.
Third and fourth is a three (possibly four) way race. It's Arsenal's to lose and they may just have done that today with the draw at home to Norwich. That leaves the door open for Spurs and Newcastle who are only 2 points behind. Spurs have to be favourites with Newcastle facing Manchester City.
Plus of course there is Chelsea lurking behind waiting to spoil things. They could still win fourth spot though that's looking very slim. However, they could well spoil the party by lifting the Champions League. With Spurs and Arsenal both with the possibility of coming fourth, each team's fans is relishing the prospect of their arch rivals being eliminated from Europe this way.
But the fun continues. Below Chelsea is an interesting group. Everton are likely to finish above Liverpool, rubbing salt in the wounds of the reds' awful season (even with a cup win). Also within reach of Liverpool are West Brom, with Hodgson out to prove that King Kenny with his £100m or so spend, may not have been a better choice than giving him a real chance.
Norwich and Swansea have had a fantastic first campaign in the Premiership. Both have played good quality, entertaining football and thoroughly deserve to be back next season.
At the bottom, Wolves may be relegated but it's two from five making the run-in very tense. Blackburn are favourites to go down. Monday night's game against Wigan could very well seal their fate. Wigan meanwhile have repeated their stunning late season run, with wins against almost all the top teams. Wigan's fans must be wondering why they don't start the season like that and save them the stress of a relegation dog-fight.
I talk to a surprising number of people who would be happy for Aston Villa to go down. Personally I have a soft spot for Villa but the general consensus is that if you take on a manager who just relegated your city rivals, you deserve everything you get. It would certainly give Alex McLeish the dubious honour of taking two big Midlands clubs into the Championship.
I should end this with a prediction of the winners and losers but frankly I think it's pointless. There have been so many shock results and changes in fortunes this season that the pleasure is in seeing how it unfolds. Tomorrow is a massive day and while it is unlikely to decide key places it could see significant changes in position.
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Posted by Young'un in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Premiership | 2 May 2012
April was a curious month for Arsenal, who head into the final two games of the season with their destiny still in their own hands, but not in the most convincing of manners. The Gunners are somewhat hobbling over the line, exuding the sort of complacency Arsenal fans have seen far too often. Surely by now the players should be aware of the presence of Newcastle, Tottenham and Chelsea breathing down their necks and cannot afford to miss out on 3rd spot, with Chelsea’s Champions League heroics threatening to negate the value of finishing 4th for anything other than pride.
Wins against Norwich and West Brom are far from a pipedream; in fact on paper you could hardly pick two nicer, rosier games: both middling in mid-table with nothing to play for –far safer opponents than ones chasing a European spot or battling to stay in the division. However, football is of course not played on paper, and complacency cannot creep in at such a vital stage of the season.
The win against Manchester City early in the month will go down as one of the finest results, and performances, of the season, as the Gunners completely outplayed the champions-elect, with Mikel Arteta netting a late winner. The Spaniard’s injury a week later threatened to derail Arsenal’s charge for Europe, as a league victory without the former Everton man’s presence in midfield still fails to exist: a stat that proves his importance to the club more than any other.
A comfortable victory over Wolves followed, with goalscorers Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Yossi Benayoun each impressing throughout. When Wigan came to The Emirates, however, Arsène Wenger’s side barely turned up, as Roberto Martinez’s unorthodox tactics paid off as the Latics stole a famous victory. Arsenal have not won since; managing a bore draw against a weakened Chelsea side and a respectable point away to Stoke.
As is often the case with an uninspiring month, suitable candidates are few and far between. Van Persie, not unjustifiably, has been accused of going off the boil in recent weeks, but still managed to find the net twice in April. It appears he still scores when he wants. It would be tempting to name Arteta Player of the Month considering the impact his absence has had on the side but it’s difficult to fully justify giving it to a man who only featured sparingly.
Among the other contenders are Kieran Gibbs who has fought off stiff competition from Andre Santos to make the left-back spot his own, Laurent Koscielny who yet again has been gargantuan at the heart of the Gunners’ defence and Tomas Rosicky who has performed consistently for as long a period as we’ve ever seen in the red and white of Arsenal. The dynamism he brings to the table is invaluable against tight opposition defences.
This month’s winner however is not one of the headline names. Not someone who is going to sell tens of thousands of replica shirts. He remains quiet but is extremely reliable and unerringly efficient in the work he does. Player of the Month for April is the aforementioned Israeli skipper, Yossi Benayoun. The 31-year-old was snapped up on loan from Chelsea during the Deadline Day ‘trolley dash’ back in August. Many expected him to be a bit-part player and until recently he has been just that.
In his first few months at the club he was used mainly as a substitute, usually when the team was in possession of a slender lead. Benayoun is one of the best players in the league to have in these situations; he is sensible and experienced enough not to do anything stupid, and is excellent at recycling the ball and instigating attacking moves.
His workrate is second-to-note, as was evidenced this month. Wigan scored their first goal after breaking from an Arsenal corner. The player busting a gut to get back was not Thomas Vermaelen or Andre Santos but instead, it was Benayoun. Similarly, it was he who hounded Stoke’s Ryan Shotton into submission, and subsequently supplied the clever reverse pass to Rosicky to assist van Persie’s goal at the Britannia.
Benayoun has recently become an integral member of the side. The biggest compliment you could pay him is that Wenger considers him a ‘big game player’ in the same way Park Ji-Sung is perennially present on the big occasions for Manchester United and, to a lesser extent, Salomon Kalou is trusted for Chelsea. He excelled against Tottenham in February and was handed a start ahead of both Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the clash with Manchester City, and once again impressed with his very complete contribution.
A goal against Wolves was the least he deserved and his absence was telling against Chelsea, when he was of course ineligible, as the Gunners lacked his guile and class in the final third. In my opinion, Benayoun has been severely underused in his time at the club, particularly as he has proven his worth to such an extent in the past few weeks. He appears to be a model professional and has undoubtedly been the stand out in a real month of ‘meh’ from Arsène Wenger’s side.
It’s unlikely that Roberto Di Matteo, or whoever takes the helm at Stamford Bridge, will allow Benayoun to leave permanently, almost certainly not to a rival, so it seems we may be seeing the last of the Israeli in the red and white. The vast majority of Arsenal fans would agree that this is a great shame; he is an excellent asset to have and I fear the qualities he brings to the table will be missed next season.
March: Bacary Sagna
February: Robin van Persie
January: Tomas Rosicky
December: Laurent Koscielny
November: Robin van Persie
October: Robin van Persie
September: Mikel Arteta
August: Wojciech Szczesny
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Posted by Young'un in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Champions League, Premiership, Theo Walcott | 1 April 2012
Arsenal continued to march on in, erm, the third month of the calendar year, winning all but one game in which they participated. The Gunners finally bowed out of the Champions League in gut-wrenching circumstances, winning 3-0 on the night in a fine performance against Milan, but not quite doing enough to progress. In the Premier League, Arsene Wenger’s side notched up four victories in five games, propelling them to 3rd in the table for the first time this campaign.
The number of candidates for this month’s award is plentiful. Robin van Persie continues to be the fulcrum of the side, bagging three goals in March on top of his perennial excellence in terms of his all-round contribution. Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen have formed an excellent partnership at the back, with the latter particularly impressing after scoring winning goals against Newcastle and Everton, putting his wretched display at Loftus Road to one side.
Alex Song is developing nicely into a very complete midfielder; combining his excellent ability to put a foot in and break up the play, with his ever-increasing attacking threat as he claimed a couple of classy assists. The lofted through ball with which he is becoming synonymous is proving to be quite the weapon in his already well-stocked arsenal.
Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky, both often criticised in the past for not showing enough consistency, delivered just that in March with a series of excellent performances, whilst Mikel Arteta’s stock continues to rise after another impressive month, exemplified by a rocket of a freekick against Aston Villa.
The winner this month, however, plays in a position that is too often disregarded in modern football, as it genuinely is becoming one of the most important roles in the game. If anyone doubts the importance of two recognised full-backs look no further than Arsenal this season. The Gunners have had a torrid time with injuries in these positions and consequently results on the pitch have suffered. It is therefore no coincidence that the club’s return to form has come at the same time as the return of certain defensive personnel.
Kieran Gibbs has never really enjoyed a sustained run in the Arsenal team but following Gael Clichy’s departure last summer, he was promoted to first choice left-back. However, a series of injuries stunted his progress and only recently has he begun to show his ability on a consistent basis. Much like his predecessors in this position, what I admire about Gibbs is his exceptional recovery pace. Naturally as a young, raw, maybe even naïve talent, he’ll make mistakes but there is enough about him to make amends. A goal against Aston Villa epitomised a fine month, but it is his French counterpart on the opposite flank who picks up the award for March.
Bacary Sagna remains one of the most underrated players in Europe. One of the great disappointments in recent years, for me at least, is how often he has been overlooked in terms of personal honours, assumedly due to playing in a less glamorous position. But the bottom line is that he has been nothing short of exceptional since he reinstated himself in the Arsenal XI following a leg-break sustained at White Hart Lane in October.
Sagna embodies everything about the modern-day full-back and Arsenal’s results have improved immeasurably since his return. So why is this the case? Whilst some of his many comrades in Arsenal’s rear-guard have somewhat floundered since his arrival in 2007, Sagna has remained strong, brave, intelligent and outrageously consistent. For several years now, his defensive capabilities have never really been in doubt.
The importance of having players in their preferred positions cannot be understated. The return of Sagna and Gibbs has allowed the aforementioned partnership of Koscielny and Vermaelen to develop. With recognised fullbacks in the side, Arsenal are able to keep a wide, structured defensive shape. Certainly when Vermaelen was deployed at left-back, too often he was caught sucked in towards his more favoured central position.
But the dreadlocked 27-year-old adds so much in an attacking sense. Essentially he has become the starting point. In recent weeks, Wojciech Szczesny has often opted to roll the ball out to the full-back, as a sure-fire way of retaining possession and building attacks. Especially when teams flood the midfield against Arsenal and look to play through the middle, Sagna is an invaluable asset to have to exploit the space out wide.
When in these positions, however, for some, question marks remained over his ability to create something tangible in terms of an assist through a cross. Certainly upon arriving at the club, it was clear improvement was necessary, but he has evidently worked hard on the training ground and is reaping the benefits. His delicious delivery for van Persie at Anfield went some way to dispelling those ever-shrinking doubts. Slowly but surely, Bacary Sagna is gaining the credit he has always deserved.
February: Robin van Persie
January: Tomas Rosicky
December: Laurent Koscielny
November: Robin van Persie
October: Robin van Persie
September: Mikel Arteta
August: Wojciech Szczesny
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Posted by Young'un in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Premiership, Theo Walcott, Thierry Henry | 29 February 2012
February was a real mixed bag of a month for Arsenal Football Club. A 4-0 mauling in Milan that all but eliminated the Gunners from the Champions League for another year, followed by a limp defeat to Sunderland in the FA Cup meant that for the seventh consecutive season, there would be no shiny trophy to parade on an open-top bus.
The cup catastrophes, not unjustifiably so, have thrust Arsenal into another media-imposed crisis (we had another one but six months ago, you’ll recall). Even if on paper, reclaiming 4th position in the Premier League is nothing to write home about, in terms of its financial importance and the prospect of playing Champions League football again next season (until the first knockout stage of course), it’s absolutely critical, and Arsenal’s league form has been near flawless in a month overshadowed by other disappointments.
A tame draw at Bolton was soon forgotten and rapidly followed by three victories; each glorious in their own right. The 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers brought a sense of nostalgia as the good old days of ruthless Arsenal attacks returned. Seven days later, Arsene Wenger’s side made their first of two trips to the Stadium of Light and came from behind to win late-on; particularly impressive considering the dramatic transformation Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has made since joining the club. The North London Derby soon followed, and Arsenal claimed a famous victory. After falling 2-0 down, the team rallied and ended up winning 5-2 in the magnificent sunshine.
Consequently, there are a number of candidates for this month’s award. Alex Song continues to develop into a very complete midfielder, even if he turned in a couple of seldom-seen bad performances in February. Mikel Arteta was equally disappointing against AC Milan but remains outrageously consistent in the league and continues to be a fundamental cog in the Arsenal side. Last month’s winner, Tomas Rosicky continues to grow in confidence and delivered a well-deserved, well-overdue goal against Tottenham in another impressive four weeks. The likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey have both made vital contributions at times but have either not had enough minutes on the pitch or demonstrated enough consistency to merit this month’s gong.
Since-departed legend Thierry Henry is a genuine contender, as he proved his return to the Emirates Stadium was not totally out of sentiment, netting the last-gasp winner at Sunderland after scoring the seventh in the demolition of Blackburn. Even that cannot simply be considered a token contribution, as Arsenal only lead Chelsea in the table on goals scored, thereby highlighting Henry’s strike as the difference between the sides. It could make all the difference come the end of the season.
As he so often does, Theo Walcott encapsulates the ups and downs of Arsenal Football Club. The rapid, exciting progression of Oxlade-Chamberlain has seen the pressure crank up on Walcott and some would argue it began to show in February. More than once he started on the bench, for good reason, particularly after a dreadful display in the San Siro that saw him hauled off at half time. But just when everyone is about to give up on the player once and for all, he delivers something special. Three excellent assists against Blackburn proved his worth, and this was soon followed by a brace on Derby Day. The first was a delightful dink over the keeper after a typically terrible first touch, the second a confident drive into the far corner. He is some way from being the saviour of English football, but Walcott remains a valuable asset for club and country. It’s easy to forget how young he is, and that there is still plenty of time for him to develop. Lionel Messi called him “one of the most dangerous players I’ve ever played against,” and Robin van Persie has personally vouched for him in various interviews.
And it is the skipper himself, not for the first time and probably not for the last either, who claims the award this month. His goalscoring exploits, which included a hat trick against Blackburn and an exquisite goal against Tottenham, alone are probably enough to sweep up the honour but as we all know by now, van Persie is so much more than that. My list of superlatives is genuinely running thin, and I’m scratching my head as to how to express his brilliance in a way that hasn’t already been repeated a dozen times.
His individual skill was perhaps highlighted most this month; he was desperately unlucky not to light up a dreary affair at the Reebok Stadium as he performed a terrific dragback followed by an audacious right-footed chip. Only the crossbar denied him another goal of the season contender. Similarly, against Spurs, with ten minutes remaining, the Dutchman demonstrated his outrageous ability with a beautiful pirouette in the centre circle. Even with three opposition players breathing down his neck, van Persie maintained his composure, and more importantly possession; shielding the ball excellently before releasing a teammate. No matter where he is on the pitch, his contribution is telling. In the same match, Tottenham had a corner that fell dangerously in the area. The man sliding in to clear was not Thomas Vermaelen or Laurent Koscielny but Captain Fantastic himself. Van Persie is as brave as he is deadly in the opposition penalty area. By all accounts he is a fine leader on and off the pitch.
Even against Milan, where almost each and every one of his colleagues hid and floundered, he stepped up to the plate and could easily have scored on more than one occasion were it not for some fine goalkeeping. In the cup game against Sunderland, he was isolated up front but still managed to engineer Arsenal’s sole opportunity for Gervinho who failed to capitalise. Even if it is to a lesser extent at times, he finds a way of getting involved, regardless of whether the opposition are doubling-up on him, suffocating the space for him to operate in. van Persie is good enough to release himself from these shackles. He is just about unplayable.
The one-man team accusations remain childish and not entirely accurate but the fact of the matter is, Arsenal would be in big trouble without van Persie. He proved this month that he is quite simply the best player in the British Isles. By some distance.
January: Tomas Rosicky
December: Laurent Koscielny
November: Robin van Persie
October: Robin van Persie
September: Mikel Arteta
August: Wojciech Szczesny
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Posted by Young'un in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Premiership | 31 January 2012
January was a disappointing month for Arsenal. After heading into the New Year in 4th place, three consecutive league defeats have seen them drop outside the sacred Champions League spots, some way behind Chelsea and, more worryingly, Tottenham.
Progress into the 5th round of the FA Cup has brightened a dreary few weeks but there is no doubt this will go down as another unsuccessful month during a trademark topsy-turvy season, even despite the return of the King himself, Thierry Henry. Consequently, there are few candidates for the standout player award.
Those in with a shout include December’s winner Laurent Koscielny, who, even with the backline as a unit struggling to perform, in no small part due to the number of injuries Arsenal have to their defensive personnel, has turned in consistent performances, and even claimed a rare goal at Craven Cottage. His stock continues to rise amongst fans, most of whom felt the jury was still out on the French centre-half six months ago, and more significantly, the media, who are finally appreciating his sheer brilliance. Arsene Wenger was quoted a few days ago as calling him “one of the top-class central defenders in the Premier League.” I doubt anyone who watches Koscielny on a regular basis would disagree.
Further up the pitch, the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott have blown hot and cold; their inconsistency undoubtedly a by-product of being used far too regularly. On the whole, their performances have been commendable this season but I fear too much expectation and responsibility are being thrust upon them too fast. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another one who fits into this bracket, although he has been protected far more by the boss; ironically too much so some fans would argue, judging by the boos the manager received when taking off the exciting winger against Manchester United. Despite his limited game time, The Ox’s excellent displays make him a genuine contender.
Not for the first time, nor for the last one would assume, Robin van Persie is once again in the running. His form has often led to the opposition doubling up on him, denying him any space to weave his magic. As a result, he hasn’t been quite as inspirational as he was earlier in the season, but he has still garnered an impressive four goals, equalling fellow Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp’s total of 120 goals in the famous red and white. Quite possibly, the fact that he has won the award twice already is about the only think stopping him from snatching the honour for January as well.
The winner this month is the forgotten man at Arsenal; so ravaged by injury he hasn’t enjoyed a sustained run in the side until 2007. It is perhaps a bizarre choice considering he actually only started two matches, but I feel his impact has been significant enough to merit the award.
In a disappointing month on the whole, Tomas Rosicky has been nothing short of magnificent in the middle of the park. Particularly with Mikel Arteta’s absence through injury, the Gunners were lacking someone to really control and dictate the game by spreading a range of passes from deep. The Czech captain has proven his worth by stepping up to the plate, and delivering world class performances.
As well as his aforementioned distribution, Rosicky also has a real cutting edge in the final third and, even if just two goals in two years suggests otherwise, he is perfectly capable when it comes to shooting. He possesses a deceptive burst of pace and is particularly difficult to stop when he turns away from his marker into space with a trademark bit of trickery. His experience is invaluable and he is just the player you want to bring on when narrowly leading; a cool head to organise the team and see the game out. I doubt it’s coincidence that Rosicky has often been missing when Arsenal have capitulated so frequently, in such ugly fashion.
One aspect of his game I personally love is his tackling. Well, the fact that he’s willing to get stuck in is always pleasing, particularly when these continental types are not supposed to be up for the battle. But it his technique that is so fascinating. So often we see Martin Taylors and Ryan Shawcrosses flying into challenges completely out of control. Unsurprisingly, it all ends in tears and, therefore, Rosicky’s ability in promoting tackling as an art really emphasises the fact that these players are simply thugs. Watch the way he hooks his foot round in order to nick the ball away from his opponent, or simply the fact it is always done with his boot pointing downwards, reducing, if not eliminating the risk of his studs shattering another players’ fibula. In a nutshell, he’s got just about everything needed for a modern day midfielder.
Some would argue awarding Player of the Month to a man who barely featured shows just how bad January has been for Arsenal, but I’d counter that by saying it’s indicative of Rosicky’s quality. His contract expires in the summer. He has certainly proven himself to the club and I for one would be particularly disappointed if we had to go our separate ways, and end a career that has never really been given the chance to take off.
December: Laurent Koscielny
November: Robin van Persie
October: Robin van Persie
September: Mikel Arteta
August: Wojciech Szczesny
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Posted by Young'un in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Premiership | 1 January 2012
Had you placed a bet on Arsenal being in 4th place going into the new year back in August, after the Old Trafford debacle, you would probably now be indulging in some substantial wealth. The turnaround in the club’s fortunes over recent months has been remarkable; one that Arsene Wenger has put down to incredible spirit within the squad.
The new additions have undoubtedly had a positive effect on the squad. Per Mertesacker is growing with every game, not literally of course, he can’t really get much taller, and is proving to be the calming influence we all craved for. What he lacks in mobility, he makes up for in his reading of the game. Should he continue to improve, there’s no reason why he can’t become one of the best defenders in the country.
Fellow newcomer, and previous Player of the Month winner, Mikel Arteta is another candidate. His performances have been consistent and borderline outstanding. His pass completion rate of 90.3% this season is one of the highest in the Premier League. Should you want to hear me drool over the Spaniard some more, I wrote an article on his influence and growing importance to the side here.
Robin van Persie has continued his remarkable goalscoring habits, even if he narrowly missed out on breaking Alan Shearer’s record for goals in a calendar year, with four strikes in December, including a goal of the season contender against Everton. The cynics among us would argue that the prospect of breaking the record played on his mind a little bit and was detrimental to the team during the frustrating draw with Wolves. Even if that is the case, it’s hard to knock the captain’s contribution; not just in scoring vital goals but in his outstanding link-up play in and around the box.
One relatively recent addition to his arsenal of tricks is the way he shifts his feet to get to the by-line, and then manages to scoop a cross in towards the back post. This is an incredibly difficult skill to execute and one that would be devastating if his teammates got into such positions more often. I could talk about van Persie all day, and seem to have done so far too often. Unlike the previous two months, however, the flying Dutchman does not pick up December’s prestigious award.
That honour belongs to arguably the most improved player in the country: step forward, Laurent Koscielny. His arrival last summer for £8million raised more than just Carlo Ancelotti’s perennially erected eyebrow. His debut campaign was a bit of a bumpy ride, kicking off with a baptism of fire at Anfield on the opening day: being on the receiving end of a red-card offense by Joe Cole before getting sent off himself. More ups and downs were to come; as outstanding performances against Chelsea and Barcelona in particular were intertwined with some sloppy mistakes; not least of which his part in conceding the now infamous goal at Wembley in the Carling Cup Final.
I was of the opinion that both he and Wojciech Szczesny were equally at fault; not one more than the other. Every man and his dog knew that the Polish keeper’s supreme confidence and self-belief would allow him to recover from the mistake but some feared the worst for Koscielny. Coincidentally, it has made him stronger, and with a real learning curve of a first season under his belt, Arsenal fans are now seeing the very best of the French defender, who is slowly getting the recognition his consistent displays have merited for a long time.
In a nutshell, he has all the attributes one needs to succeed as a top-level centre-half: pace, aerial ability (he wins an average of 2.1 aerial duals per game, one of the highest levels in the Premier League), and excellent intelligence in his reading of the game. He also possesses an exquisite passing range, and genuinely one of the cleanest first touches in the league: Koscielny is capable of plucking the ball out of the air with the same authority as the most seasoned of strikers. These attributes often make him the instigator of Arsenal attacks, and he has recently begun to bring the ball out from the back in the same manner as Thomas Vermaelen and, before him, Kolo Toure, to much success.
As some of you may know, I rate each of the players after every match and unsurprisingly, Koscielny has hit the illustrious 8 rating on two occasions during December. He has been consistently brilliant since the opening day of the season; often having to play at full-back to compensate for injuries, and doing so with minimal fuss. For me, he is genuinely one of the finest defenders in Europe. Whether everyone else will soon appreciate this is another question.
November: Robin van Persie
October: Robin van Persie
September: Mikel Arteta
August: Wojciech Szczesny
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Posted by Young'un in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Arshavin, Premiership, Theo Walcott | 22 December 2011
For those who pay close to attention to what I say and produce about football, you will know that after every game (barring the odd one or two I missed) I rate each member of the Arsenal XI, judging by their performance. As it’s Christmas; a time for giving and all that, I thought I’d do some calculations and create an average score based on my ratings and show you all how it seems the players have done halfway into the season.
Manuel Almunia n/a, Abou Diaby n/a, Bacary Sagna 5.5, Per Mertesacker 6, Thomas Vermaelen 7, Laurent Koscielny 7, Tomas Rosicky 6.5, Mikel Arteta 7, Park Chu-Young 5.5, Robin van Persie 8, Andre Santos 6.5, Wojciech Szczesny 6.5, Theo Walcott 6.5, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Aaron Ramsey 6.5, Alex Song 7, Sebastien Squillaci 6.5, Jack Wilshere n/a, Johan Djourou 6, Lukasz Fabianski 4.5, Andrey Arshavin 5.5, Vito Mannone 4, Carl Jenkinson 6, Emmanuel Frimpong 6, Gervinho 6, Kieran Gibbs 6.5, Marouane Chamakh 6, Yossi Benayoun 7, Francis Coquelin 6, Nico Yennaris 6, Ignasi Miquel 6
Apologies that it’s all a bit squashed, the publishing platform won’t allow tables, sadly, so we’ll have to make do with this!
Despite getting my vote for a player of the month award, and solidarity throughout the season so far, Szczesny’s average rating is a decent if unspectacular 6.5. However this is no reflection on his ability, mainly an indictment of how much Arsenal have improved defensively, which subsequently has resulted in less to do for the Polish keeper. You can only be rated on your involvement and without doubt since the first few games, Szczesny has been far from the busiest player on the pitch.
Bacary Sagna’s low rating is most unlike the consistent full-back. This is simply because I started doing the ratings in September and therefore only caught a couple of his performances before his nasty injury. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if by the time I produce the final averages in May, Sagna’s rating has shot up to a far more respectable figure.
The sound ratings of the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Yossi Benayoun and even the much maligned Sebastien Squillaci shows that there is some depth to Arsenal’s squad; that players can come in and perform when the regulars are unavailable or in need of a breather.
At the other end of the scale, a rating of a mere 5.5 shows that Andrey Arshavin is not performing consistently enough as his competitors for starting berths, Theo Walcott and Gervinho, which fully justifies his role as a bit-part figure at the moment. It will be interesting to see if he can up his game in the second half of the season.
Finally it must be noted that the majority of the new signings have performed admirably; Mikel Arteta has been consistent in the middle of the park, Per Mertesacker is beginning to find his feet, as was Andre Santos before his injury and the youngsters like Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have done well when called upon. Park Chu-Young’s rating is perhaps a little disappointing but he hasn’t been given many opportunities and the manager warned that he would need an extended period for adaptation. He’ll be another one to keep an eye on at the business end of the season.
Stand-out performers: van Persie, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Song, Arteta
Disappointments: Park, Djourou, Fabianski, Arshavin
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