For much of Wednesday night’s Champions League encounter with Borussia Dortmund, Arsene Wenger’s orchestra was in danger of being drowned out by the German side’s raucous, frenetic, heavy metal.
The first sixty minutes of the encounter highlighted two completely different footballing philosophies. In one corner was the youthful, energetic Dortmund, pressing higher up the pitch than Barcelona in their Guardiola heyday, resembling a labrador puppy chasing a rabbit: full of eagerness, tenacity and indeed ability, neglecting the consequences.
On the other side was Wenger’s Arsenal, unrecognisable from the Arsenal of a year ago. In contrast to the sprightly Dortmund, Arsenal were controlled, patient, technical and composed. This is not to say that Arsenal did not ride their luck, they did. Dortmund had fifteen shots compared to Arsenal’s four.
Nevertheless, the game illustrated a fundamental change that has taken place over the past year, namely, that Arsenal can play in a number of ways and emerge victorious.
How Arsenal have changed
Arsenal have too often in the past been accused of two overriding shortcomings, neither of which are related to the spending of money. Firstly, Wenger has been derided for celebrating youth over experience; in Arsenal’s case over that past eight years, you certainly don’t win anything with kids, to paraphrase the media’s most vociferous Arsenal-basher.
Secondly, Arsenal, it has been much stated, have focused solely on attack, and with Wenger preaching a ‘pro-football’ philosophy that at times neglected the need for a solid defensive structure.
After Dortmund, pundits who continue to point to those frailties will have to revise their opinions. What was apparent whilst watching the game was that defensively, Arsenal were comparatively comfortable against opposition who, on their day, can destroy any side, indeed a side who, in April, demolished Real Madrid 4-1, and, as many believe, have improved since.
Experience and unity
The most significant factor in the evolution of this Arsenal side is simple: age. Too often in recent years, Arsenal relied on youth, which, above all in tough away fixtures both in England and in Europe, failed to match the best sides. One simply has to look at the 8-2 drubbing at Manchester United in 2011, where Arsenal’s average age was 23. Of course, the game was an outlier, several injuries hampered Arsenal at the beginning of that season. It nevertheless highlighted Arsenal’s lack of strength in depth.
Fast forward two years to an unfamiliar situation at Arsenal. Against Dortmund, the Gunners’ average age was 27. Significantly, this was with several key players absent. Since that defeat at Old Trafford, perhaps as a result of it, though Wenger is by no means a reactionary, Arsenal’s transfer policy has hinged on experience.
Before 2011, major recruitments were inevitably young and inexperienced, such as Samir Nasri, Alex Song, Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas. Since then, Per Mertesacker, Olivier Giroud, Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Mathieu Flamini have arrived, with Ozil, twenty-four at the time of purchase, the youngest of the lot, though extremely well-traveled in world football.
What experience brings is the ability to alter a game plan. When confronting an attacking team like Dortmund, Arsenal are comfortable passing in their own half, being patient, and taking a chance on the break. This style of play is impossible without confidence and self-belief.
Conversely, against Liverpool on the weekend, a team that was comfortable on the ball and played with two on form strikers who collected the ball from deep an attempted to run at Arsenal’s backline, Arsenal’s defence, notably Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs and Arteta, tenaciously stalked any Liverpool player within the defensive third, not allowing them any time on the ball.
The Defence
Addressing Arsenal’s much-maligned defence has been key to the resurgence, arguably more crucial than signing the big name player fans craved for so long. In Mertesacker and Koscielny, Wenger, though a considerable degree of credit must go to Steve Bould, has succeeded in creating a stable partnership.
Partnerships are key to defensive stability and, crucially, the German and the Frenchman are very different players. Calmness, assurance and positional perfection is what Mertesacker brings, whereas Koscielny is the fighter, the tackler. Looking at the best Premiership partnerships of the last ten years one finds the same characteristics. Rio Ferdinand or Ricardo Carvalho are the Mertesackers, Nemanja Vidic or John Terry the Koscielnys. For a successful partnership, the two parties must complement each other.
Aside from the central partnership, Gibbs and Sagna provide quality out wide and Mathieu Flamini has added much-needed grit and determination to the midfield, whilst Wojciech Szczesny has progressed immeasurably since last season.
This Arsenal side is by no means the finished article. Individual defensive mistakes still occur too frequently and there is lack of depth in two key areas, central defence and up front. Nevertheless, Arsene Wenger has managed to form a side that is both tenacious and technical, both youthful and mature, equally adept at attacking as at stifling the opposition; this balance will no doubt lead to further progress and, hopefully, silverware.
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