Why We Don’t Desperately Need a Goalkeeper by TJ
On the question of the goalkeeper. We have Ospina, Szczesny and Martinez with Ospina having recently joined Arsenal. Statistically Ospina has had a fine season and Szczesny is pressing to earn the No 1 jersey. This is good healthy competition for all 3 keepers, and I have yet to hear any convincing argument for a change in goalkeepers – arguments have largely been based on the reputation and perception. The case for Petr Cech is an interesting one and it will come down to whether Wenger believes that Cech offers something significantly better than what we have at the moment.
Bottom Line: Arsene’s call on whether a little used Petr Cech is better than either No 1 or 2. Is Courtois that much better, or simply they had two brilliant goal-keepers?
Right Winger and Left Wingers
We don’t play with Wingers. We play with Attacking Right and Attacking Left midfielders. Our natural width is provided by the full backs. Sanchez is not a left winger. Ramsey is not a right winger. When Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott play on the right or left, they don’t hug the line, they play inside with the option to hug the side-line. Buying an out-and-out Left or Right Wing simply does not fit with how we play.
On Wenger
There isn’t much I want to say other than, I wish he would commit to another 5 years from here. I think by then his project would be complete and reaping the success. He is building a dynasty and not a 2-3 year side, look carefully and you will see it. Building an academy to rival La Masia would be fantastic, and he is on his way towards that. I am sure he is feeling unfulfilled in many ways – he would want at least 2-3 European Championships before he finishes, he would want back-to-back-to-back Premierships. But the years are catching up with him…the best he can do is set the club up to achieve all that and more.
I simply have no time for these ‘Wenger Out’ people – these are the same people who called for Ramsey to be sold, said Henry was sh*t…they are the “instant gratification” crowd who want immediate glory at whatever cost. Spend $120-150M every year and buy the “biggest names’ going around…well we’ve seen what that doesn’t deliver! And yet it happens….
Wenger coming to Arsenal – it was the “perfect storm”…the right person at the right club at the right time. He managed the club to success, took them through the lean-money days, paid for the stadium and stayed in the high-paying Champions League throughout. He bought some duds, he bought and sold some exceptional talent, he’s made tactical mistakes in games but he kept faith with his attractive football philosophy and he has now won back-to-back FA Cups of late.
I want our club to be perched on the highest echelons of world football for many, many years to come and I understand it takes time to build it from the ground up and get all the essential foundations right. The right facilities, the right staff, the right brand of football, the right funnel of talent from kids to 1st team. Get all this right and we become a dynastic football team with a strong flow of talent coming through the ranks and where we’re short – we go out and buy players who fit in the system.
The Overall Team
It was very encouraging to see the break-through years that Bellerin and Coquelin had, and there’s nothing to suggest that this improvement won’t continue over the years. What is more intriguing – who will have a break-through year next season? Which of these players are on the brink of delivering something special – Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Walcott, Gabriel, Jenkinson, Gnabry, Welbeck, Chambers, Crowley, Akpom, Hayden?
We have good depth in the squad in all positions, barring perhaps a young up and coming left back.
This is a squad which continues to improve organically, and there is still so much more to come.
Through this article I have stressed the word “Desperately”…if we do get a Schneiderlin or a Benzema or a Cech, yes I believe it will improve the overall quality of our squad, but if we don’t get them, I believe we still have a very good squad which is improving year-on-year and capable of challenging for the title….
TJ
Why Arsenal do not DESPERATELY need…..(Part 1) – A Centre-Forward
Why Arsenal do not DESPERATELY need…..(Part 2) A Defensive Midfielder