Arsenal as a club never appear to have a specific plan when heading in to a match, and that can only be down to the failings of one man, the manager – Arsène Wenger.
The Premier League club quite regularly score in the last few minutes of matches to rescue a point or to salvage a victory against weaker opposition, none more dramatic than the Anderlecht victory in their last Champions League outing. This happens too regularly to Arsenal for it to be coincidental and scoring late goals isn’t a tactic.
Wenger may well have been considered a tactical genius once upon a time but now it feels as though he’s a world behind the likes of Jose Mourinho (although most managers are) in terms of tactical ability. You’d expect Wenger in his heyday to combat the top sides with a tactical plan, however now he is seemingly fresh out of tactics.
After Arsenal finally ended their trophy drought last season by winning the FA Cup, the revival of Wenger’s career seemed plausible. But once again Arsenal don’t seem particularly impressive in the Champions League nor the Premier League, albeit we’re in the early stages of both competitions. They’ve by no means been bad in the Champions League but they scraped through the Anderlecht match with two goals in the final few minutes, and as aforementioned, Wenger wouldn’t have instructed his side to wait until the final moments to strike. It’s great that Arsenal have the belief to go until the very last minute when struggling but there is always a bit of good fortune for most last gasp goals.
Of course, sometimes Arsenal can be very impressive but is there a manager in the Premier League who couldn’t win some games comprehensively with Arsenal’s above average squad?
Arsène’s tactical nous appears to have disappeared without cause or reason. He never gives off the impression that he’s planned well tactically for his upcoming opponents, but only that he is heading out onto the pitch expecting/hoping to win – not dissimilar to a Sunday League manager. Just because he doesn’t reveal his tactics doesn’t necessarily mean he’s not planning ahead – but it would certainly give the Gunners fans more confidence in him if he at least portrayed an image that he knows what he’s doing.
Beating the lesser sides was once easier in the Premier League but we can certainly not take anything away from the immense success that Arsène has had at Arsenal during his 18 year reign. However, the glory days have seemingly gone and Wenger shows no signs of improving – perhaps it would be fitting to give him his 20th year and then call it day – as these appear to be numbered at Arsenal and they have been for many years.
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