Arsenal have really suffered from a lack of continuity in our backline this season.
“I don’t know. I cannot promise you with different personnel it wouldn’t have happened. It was a really random situation.
‘Sometimes you have to praise the opposition. From that angle to score with the only shot of the game for the striker, the way he put it away, he did it. OK credit to them as well, and sometimes you have to recognise that.”
These are the thoughts of Mikel Arteta when quizzed on whether the makeshift backline was to blame for Raul Jimenez’s goal. For sure, those comments will be completely different from his honest view of the goal, a different backline would’ve had a much better chance of preventing that goal.
That goal wasn’t the first where our left side and especially Jakub Kiwior were caught lacking. Think back to Liverpool’s late equalizer in our encounter way back and you can see a sort of trend happening. Now I’m not blaming Kiwior for this, even though I think he should be doing better, we can only blame what has become a constant recurrence this campaign, injuries.
In this case, the constant injuries to members of our defense. The one all draw against Fulham was the ninth time the Gunners have fielded a different backline thus far in this campaign in 15 Premier League matches.
This constant shuffling of the backline has been largely due to the injuries that have plagued us all through this past few months. all of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Magalhães, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Riccardo Calafiori have all been injured at some points of the season.
In fact only one (Kieran Tierney) of those names mentioned above is currently fit, leaving us, as it stands, with only four senior defenders to calll upon excluding Lewis-Skelly.
This constant changing of the backline has created instability and a lack of cohesion that was not present for large parts of the previous campaign. For this reason, we have struggled keep cleansheets with more regularity.
In spite of this, it hasn’t been the only reason for our struggles this campaign. Our 15 goals conceded this term is the second best total in the PL, only behind Liverpool by four goals (while also playing a game more). This should tell us that an improvement in attack is needed as well.
Arsenal over the past two Premier League games have barely created chances from open play, we haven’t been able to reach an accumulated XG of 1 from open play in the last two games combined and that’s telling.
If we can’t keep a cleansheet, then we should make sure to outscore our opponents, doing that will require us to create more in the way of clear cut chances and we aren’t doing that at the moment either, things have to change!
Bring us back to the headline, what are your thoughts on our unsettled backline this season?
BENJAMIN KENNETH
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The back line is certainly not to blame.Although the lack of continuity due to these consistent injuries hasn’t altogether helped..Kiwior should essentially be “number four” backup as a Centre Back.Fulham’s opening goal clearly illustrated hus shortcomings.
That said Arsenal’s primary problem this year has been their inability to create chances and score goals in open play.In particular the threat that they pose to the opposition down the left flank .Without this and an ability to change things up with additions from the bench the opposition are able to double team Saka on the other flank and conjest the danger areas in front of their penalty box.
Martinelli hasn’t really improved over the course of the last two years and still lacks an end product and neither Jesus nor Sterling seem to have anything more to add to Arsenal’s attacking threat..and even less likely…the chance of them scoring goals.
Replacements are really needed..A task that could be considered “far easier said than done”.But if Arsenal are going to be able to make a proper attempt..this Season..to finally win the Premier League then they will not be able to do this by solely utilising their current squad of players.
Agree all
One thing that Benjamin didn’t highlight is crucial to the first reply from Joel.
If one actually looks where those defensive injuries have occurred, it’s always on the left hand side.
Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Califiori and Gabriel all operate on that side, while Saliba, White and his more than adequate replacement have been ever present on the right hand side.
This brings me to Joel’s point about the form of Martinelli.
While Saka has been able to use his world class talent as an individual, he has benefited from having a set and regular right hand side, with the added value of Odegaard operating alongside him.
Martinelli, on the other hand (and Trossard when he plays out wide) has had none of this consistency to help him develop in the same way.
Take my opinion a step further and think about the Fulham game – Partey moves to RB, thus disturbing the left hand side once again.
I have come to the conclusion that our LB spot has a curse on it and Martinelli is not being given the understanding that he deserves… just my opinion of course and I’m not blaming MA or demanding his sacking!!
I agree totally about the left hand side but wouldn’t you also agree that the loss of White is having enormous repercussions as well? He has had very few games due to the niggly injury and will now be out for months. White, Odegaard and Saka were almost telepathic and he was versatile as well. All very disheartening
Sue,
As good as White has been, I think that Timber is going to take some shifting as for me he looks a more natural right back than white does. Although that said, White has been good there.
Derek
I think Timber is a super signing and although White may struggle to dislodge him, he would have been in the team at the weekend had this long term injury not occurred
Ken while I agree with you that the dynamics on the left hand side haven’t helped Martinelli,I think part of the problem is just down to the player. So many times Martinelli makes the wrong decisions in the box and you can’t really attribute this to lack of support.I don’t like comparing our players but this is what sets him apart from Saka. Saka almost always makes the right decision.
Saka was still performing at a high level without Odegaard and a barely fit White behind him. Saka also performs well no matter the tactics/system – Emery,Arteta or Southgate? No problem.Sometimes Martinelli hurries his shots,shoots when passing is the better decision,gets the weight of pass/cross all wrong – these are mostly down to the player.
That said,I agree with you that left side is a weak link. To be fair to the club,they identified this problem and signed Merino and Calafiori.
I agree Martinelli suffers from the inbalance and distribution on the left hand side, but regardless he still needs to look in the mirror at himself. His vision and intelligence when he has the opportunities is sadly lacking.
My thoughts are; despite of the none availability for match selection of: Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyansu in the Arsenal’s first team starters backline. Due to the prolong injuries sustained by the pair.
And coupled with the short term absentees of: Magalhaes, Zinichenko and Calafiori also in the Arsenal’s backline. Due to short term injuries being carried by them.
The fact which remains in place in the Arsenals defense line. Is, Arteta still have top quality defenders in backups to call on them to do a good job for Arsenal in matches.
And I think the recently played so called Arsenal”s makeshift defense at Fulham that comprised of: Partey, Saliba, Kiwior and Timber. Will perform very well for Arsenal in their next Ucl home match against AS Monaco to beat them. For, Arsenal will certainly beat Monaco on Wednesday’s night unfailingly.
SAA
The loss of Tomi and White is indeed a blow with White out for months
Playing Partey at RB was a choice of last resort (unless you view Tierney at LB and Timber at RB).
The need to keep reshuffling the defence has been a major issue this season. Much of this has been due to injuries.
In such a competitive league it was bound to be challenging to set the team up.
We have barely seen Tomiyasu who when fit is one of the best one vs one defenders we have. He struggled with injury for much of last season as well. Remember that we didn’t have Timber for the whole of last season. We have now lost one of our best defenders possibly for the rest of the season.
Tierney is just returning from injury and has not played a serious game for us since last year’s community shield.
The criticism of Arsenal’s last outing, particularly the defensive setup, despite the problems is one of the reasons I simply do not believe those that say they have no agenda against Arteta.
Having to chop and change the defence definitely hasn’t helped, but we’ve dropped so many points mainly because of the cards and the odegaard injury imo. There are plenty of other areas we’ve not been good enough (not having a solid plan to account for odegaard’s injury is one, meaning we’ve been relied on set pieces for our goals far more than we otherwise would), but those are the two biggest contributors to us dropping as many points as we have imo – they had nothing to do with the Fulham draw, obviously (I think they played well, and we lost confidence – we were tactically outdone, and showed poor mentality in that game), but they’ve cost us in other games.
On the Fulham game, I felt that in the same situation (coming up against a resolute and tactically intelligent side), this year’s Liverpool team would have kept applying pressure more effectively throughout the game because they have a stronger belief they will eventually score and win – they’ve got more proven winners in their side, and I think it’s their mentality carrying them forward. I don’t think they’re the greatest side I’ve seen, but they appear to have the mentality of champions and will take some stopping from here.
The disruption to the back line hasn’t helped no doubt.
But if the manager played Tierney at left back, Timber at right back, Saliba and whoever is available for said game, I believe the disruption would be less troublesome.
Partey at right back is not needed, don’t waste his talent there, and Timber is good at left back. But at right back he’s superb.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Absolutely. The injuries in the back four disrupt our defense and the whole balance of the team. However, there is still nowhere to hide for poor individual performances from Martinelli, Trossard and Havertz ( to a certain degree ) IMO.
There is a very interesting and telling article relating to PL clubs and the amount of injuries has suffered etc oon the BBC sports page.
Could settle a few disputes that have been rumbling in JA lately 😂😂
Ken, there is no dispute on Arsenal injuries. We have had similar to Liverpool, thats a fact. What I will ask all of those saying we are where we are because of injuries. Did our injuries cause us to draw with Brighton, did our injuries cause us to draw with City, did our injuries cause us to lose to Bournemouth and did our injuries cause us to not score a goal against Fulham in open play, with ALL our attackers fit and well. Maybe we could argue it cost us against Newcastle but even then, we have to learn to cope with injuries better. Regardless 3 points loss to Newcastle should not have us 9 point (potentially) behind. The games we have dropped points, were not down to injuries!!!!!
Its a smokescreen.