Tag: Attack

Fellaini – Jack – Cesc/Rooney: a midfield worthy of Wengerball!

TotalArsenal
A 'statement of intent' line-up for next season?
A ‘statement of intent’ line-up for next season?

Ivan Gazidis tells us we can compete for the big boys now, stating we can bid for the likes of Rooney, or even aim higher. I am happy he has come out with this clear message, and his comments regarding keeping hold of Wenger for many seasons to come is also very welcome. There is a strong interconnection between signing super quality players and Wenger staying put at Arsenal.

The big transfer targets will want to avoid doing a ‘Van Judas’; they want assurances about the club’s long-term vision and that includes the manager going nowhere. I would be very happy for Wenger to stay so he is able to pick the fruits at the end of the Emirates-stadium-tunnel, but we still have to see whether he will bring in the sort of players who can fit in straightaway and make a real difference.

Simultaneous with Gazidis’ bullish statement, news came out about Arsenal having made an offer for Everton’s Fellaini. The Belgian would definitely be a so called ‘statement of intent’ by  the club. Unsurprisingly, things have gone quiet again as per the very nature of the Terror Window. The Dutch have a saying for this: de kat om het spek binden – tying the cat around the bacon – we can smell and sense those quality signings and yet cannot get hold of them.

But let’s do  another bit of football transfer indulgence: a good antidote to the poison of the terror window. If we do get Fellaini and one of the other players whose names keep popping up – Cesc and Rooney, where would they play and how would they add value to our team?

As per previous posts, I reckon Arsene needs to invest in our midfield first and for all, if he wants to return to Wengerball. We need steel and added invention in order to get back to sexy and winning football.

There is no doubt that both Cesc and Rooney would add a creative dimension as well as an added goal threat. Both could play in the hole and our team would make an instant step forwards and upwards. We have discussed what the Spaniard and Englishman have to offer in recent posts, so let’s not regurgitate too much of it again in this one.

However, it would be good to discuss who, from a purely technical/tactical point of view (not so much a sentimental one), fellow Gooners would prefer in Arsenal’s nr.10 position: Rooney or Cesc. It would be also interesting to know who believes Rooney should lead our attack rather than play behind the striker, and what you believe is Cesc’s very best position in our 4-3-3 formation.

In order to get the best value out of Cesc or Rooney in the hole, Arsenal need to have a fantastic box-to-box midfielder who is able to find the perfect balance between defensive and attacking duties, as well as a strong, yet footballing, DM.

At this early stage of his career, Jack appears to be the right player for the b2b position (over time I  expect him to move into the hole position). Of course, he needs to be fully fit to be effective in this role and fingers crossed he’ll have a great season. We have some alternatives and back up with the likes of Arteta, Coquelin and Ramsey and the D-named player.

If we want to play winning Wengerball football again though, my personal, and many fellow Gooners’, first priority remains the DM position. Every beautiful, fanciful castle needs a solid basement to deal with the laws of gravity and whatever the elements throw at it.

I am not sure whether Fellaini is the player for this position, or whether Arsene would be looking at him to move into that position. No doubt the Belgian could play there, but he could also be our b2b midfielder as well as our nr.10 – with 11 goals in 31 PL matches he is proving to be an all-round midfielder of great quality.

You can see why Arsene would like him to join us: he can play everywhere, is technically and physically very strong, has a winner’s mentality and would fit into the team relatively well. His disciplinary record is also not too bad despite his reputation of being a hot-head at times, with a yellow card in every four league games on average, and just the one red card during his 138 league appearances.

A Wengerball player, no doubt about that. But is he suitable to play the traditional DM role with a bit of added responsibility/ skill requirements?

The more I think about it, the more I believe he would join us not as a dedicated, ‘traditional’, beast of a DM, but as one of the two in the double-DM pivot, in which Arsene likes to put multi-disciplined and skilled midfielders who can defend, pass and create – both are DM and b2b midfielders at the same time.

Fellaini would suit this role perfectly, and the thought of him playing together in the double-DM pivot with Jack, but also Arteta, and to a lesser extent Rambo, is a mouth-watering one. The Belgian would add physical presence – height, power, and ball winning skills, both on the ground and in the air – drive and a strong assist/goal scoring threat.

We can only dream, but the thought of Fellaini and Jack in the DM-pivot and either Cesc or Rooney in front of them, with Cazorla/Pod/Ox/Gnabry operating from the wings and Theo, Giroud or Pod our most advanced attacker, in a Wengerball footballing machine, puts a smile on my face.

Will it happen? Who knows, but Gazidis has made a statement of intent and now it is time to bring home the bacon! 🙂

Written by: TotalArsenal.

Statistically on par, if not better than Bale: Theo deserves more respect!

TotalArsenal

Theo-Walcott-Gareth-Bale-Tottenham-Hotspur-Ar_2907609

Learning from the mistakes of the past, has Wenger finally gotten it right?  Do we have a star on our hands?

This article will be the first of a three part series that examines how our trio of Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gnabry compare to Gareth Bale.

Many fellow Gooners are begging and wishfully hoping that Arsene will use his rumoured large transfer kitty to acquire a world-class talent this summer, to help us compete with the upper echelon of clubs again.  I must admit that I am guilty to this same methodology myself, and am yearning for a top quality player to inject that something special into our squad we are sorely lacking.

After all, Manchester United have game changers in van Persie and Rooney, Manchester City have Silva, Yaya Toure and Aguero, and Chelsea has Mata and burgeoning talents in Hazard and Oscar.  Several Gooners will further point to the fact that even our less significant and lower quality rivals in North London, have a star in their ranks in Gareth Bale.

So then, in theory, Arsenal must sign a star themselves, in order to combat the threats that the opposing clubs above, and competing, with us currently have.

But, what if we already have that star within our team and just need to exercise patience?

There is no denying that Gareth Bale has become one of the dominant and most clinical finishers in the Premier League.  With 21 goals and 4 assists in 34 starts this past season, Bale was third in scoring – only behind Robin “there’s a little boy inside of me” van Persie and Luis “I’ll bite you if you get in my way” Suarez.  What’s more impressive: 9 of those 21 league goals were game winners.  However, this isn’t to say that the rest of Bale’s goals were not important either; they ultimately led the Spuds to their coveted 5th place finish and secured them Europa league in the process!

No matter how much we all hate him because he plays for our most loathed rivals or for the fact that one must really contemplate why Rise of the Planet of the Apes invested so much money on performance capture technology to get Andy Serkis’ face into that of the ape, Cesar, when they could have just used Bale’s; one cannot deny his outstanding ability and presence on a game.  His 2.3 key passes, 1.8 successful dribbles, 1.9 accurate crosses made and 1.3 interceptions per game, prove that he is a very well-rounded player contributing in more facets of the game than just goal scoring.

However, we all know how statistics can paint an inaccurate picture of a player’s true impact on the game.  In this particular scenario, the statistics truly reinforce the notion that Bale is a top, top quality player.  His pace, anticipation, ball control, strength, curve and dip on his shot, distance shooting, FK ability, composure and passing, are all top notch and all of these attributes make him an imposing threat game in and out.

So now that I’ve written enough praise about that Spuds player, let’s move on to the focus of this article.  Do we have a star waiting in the wings within our very own team?

Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale will forever be linked due to the fact that they are the same age, both developed at the Southampton academy and purchased from Southampton in the same year.

Theo’s return of 14 goals and 10 assists this season has largely been overlooked by the majority of football fans, because of the remarkable increase in goal output achieved by Bale.  Theo’s steady improvement suggests that his progression is more sustainable over time, and that he too will eventually be a top goal scorer in the league.  However, one will point to Bale’s success this season and proclaim that his accomplishments will only lead to far better ones in the years to come.

2012-13 Side-By-Side Stat Comparison:

Statistic

Player

Bale

Walcott

Minutes   Played

3,011

2,195

Goals

21

14

Mins   per Goal

143

157

Goal   Conversion %

13%

16%

Assists

4

10

Mins   per Assist

753

220

Total   Contribution

25

24

Mins   per Total Contribution

120

91

Clear   Cut Chances Created

6

11

Shots   Taken

165

87

Shots   on Target

73

39

Shot   Accuracy

44%

45%

Successful   Dribbles

1.8

1.5

Successful   Crosses

1.9

0.9

Key   Passes

2.3

1.2

2011-12 Side-By-Side Stat Comparison:

Statistic

Player

Bale

Walcott

Minutes   Played

3,216

2,727

Goals

9

8

Mins   per Goal

357

341

Goal   Conversion %

7%

11%

Assists

10

8

Mins   per Assist

322

341

Total   Contribution

19

16

Mins   per Total Contribution

169

170

Shots   Taken

136

76

Shots   on Target

45

34

Shot   Accuracy

33%

45%

Successful   Dribbles

1.8

1.0

Successful   Crosses

1.3

0.5

Key   Passes

2.3

1.2

A closer look at the statistics reveals that Theo is much more clinical than Bale and simply needs to shoot more before reaching or surpassing him.  With more minutes played next year, it’s very plausible to suggest that Theo is capable of this too; I’m further intrigued to see what Theo can accomplish next season without a contract cloud hanging over him.

What else do the statistics reveal?  They tell us that Bale is likely the superior player based on being better in peripheral statistics such as successful dribbles, successful crosses and key passes in the past two seasons.  His strength, ball control, ability to score from distance, in addition to his pace makes him a more dangerous and well-rounded footballer.

However, one may wonder why being better in all of these categories, notably key passes, does not lead to significantly more assists for Bale (and much less than Theo’s output in 2012/13).  Well, this confirms that Bale likely plays with inferior teammates who are not as capable of converting their chances and that despite creating more chances, Theo is actually better at creating clear cut chances.

An advantage that Theo has over Bale is tutelage from a superior manager in Arsene – he has plenty of experience in working with and developing world-class strikers.  If Theo can improve his weaknesses and dedicate his training to understanding and evolving his approach to the ST position, the sky is the limit for him.

As noted earlier, statistics are certainly not the be-all end-all in capturing the talents of a footballer.  However, the analysis does give promise that Theo could be a top scorer in the EPL if he would shoot the ball more frequently; and that his total contribution (both goals and assists) can also exceed that of Bale, based on the fact that he creates more clear-cut chances over the course of a season and per minute. 

Despite the constant criticism surrounding Theo’s lack of imagination and close ball control, he largely deserves more respect; the statistics reveal that he is a more dangerous contributor than Bale and that he also has the potential to be a world-beater.

What do you fellow Gooners think of the analysis?  Will Theo match or better Bale’s output next season if he plays equal minutes to him and takes more shots?

Written by: Highbury Harmony

Wilshere B2B – Rooney ‘in the hole’ – Theo ST: a mouth-watering prospect?!

TotalArsenal

Let’s take a break for a day or two from the ‘what if Arsenal do not sign anybody’ posts, and indulge in a bit of transfer window fantasy football.

I don’t know what to make of the rumours re Rooney coming to Arsenal. My first instinct tells me it is never going to happen, and so it probably won’t. He would be too expensive for us and he appears to be motivated more by money than playing proper football; so if he is at all to leave MU, I reckon it will be for PSG or maybe even Chelsea or MC.

But the links, however tenuous,  continue and it would be worthwhile to discuss how WR could fit into our team next season.

I reckon Rooney would be ideal to play in the hole at Arsenal. He would be  allowed to totally enjoy himself there in a similar way as Cesc and Dennis once did.  He is the perfect mix between an attacking midfielder – with good ball control, passing (including deadly through-balls) and overview – and can score goals from outside and inside the box. He also has very good body strength, bags full of stamina and a winner’s attitude.

With Arsenal opting for a future English core within the team, it would make sense to get an experienced, quality, fellow English player to lead the way and mentor our talents. WR could become the link player between our biggest talents in the middle and up-front: Jack and Theo, and possibly Ox as well.

The thought of Jack – Rooney – Theo in the attacking part of our spine next season is a mouth-watering prospect to me, especially if they can be supported by the likes of Giroud, Santi and Pod up-front.

Just imagine us starting with this line-up next season:

Arsenal with Rooney

Tactically, it would make real sense to get Rooney and become the attacking pivot of the team. Jack would blossom working with Rooney and Theo could lead the line knowing he has a physically and technically competent striker behind him in support.

Both Cazorla and Pod would get an experienced, quality colleague who would provide them with some fine service, as well as be able to finish off the chances they create for him. And Ox could become Rooney’s understudy and eventual replacement.

I am also sure that not many will begrudge Rooney his top wages, although Cazorla could claim a rise for himself (which many of us will agree he deserves after a fine first season).

I’d rather have Cesc back though, and I am also very excited about Jovetic, but if they don’t work out and Rooney wants to play proper footie and give his career a new life, and he would come to Arsenal with real desire to make a difference,  I would welcome him to the home of football.

Would you agree?

Written by: TotalArsenal.

Higuain, Falcao, Lewandowski or wait for a Wenger-gem player transformation?

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Thierry
Thierry

There is no “I” in “team” but there is an “I” in “champions​”!

It happened a few weeks ago. I was walking down the street thinking about the law-suit I’m about to write and about the possibility that we sign Gonzalo Higuain – a striker who has scored over one hundred goals during his spell at Real Madrid – when it hit me. Has Higuain been just lucky to play for Real Madrid – a great club that always has had a lot of quality players who make their strikers’ – including Higuain – job easier; or Real Madrid should have been happy with the fact Higuain has been in their ranks?

The jury is still out on this one, and will probably come up with the final verdict once Higuain proves his prolific abilities somewhere where he won’t have a supply-line like the one he has had at Real Madrid.

Players like Higuain are rarely considered as the big guns. That category is reserved for world-class strikers like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Falcao, Aguero and Ibrahimović who have proved that they can win trophies for their respective teams, by banging goals on a regular basis and/or when it matters the most. We had had two of those not very long ago but until we find one or pair of those, we can watch statues of them.

Players like Higuain are side-kicks, those who also score important goals but they are second fiddle to their more established goal-scoring partner (in a way Higuain has been joint second fiddle with Benzema to Cristiano Ronaldo). Only those who like to check statistics will know that Higuain scored a goal at every 76 minutes in 2011-12 title-winning campaign, which means he scored more than one goal per game.

Perhaps the best example from the Premiership is another striker who has been connected with us for a long time. When you think about the Manchester Oilers title campaign in 2011-12, everyone will remember Aguero’s goal that was the championship winning one. Only a few will remember a goal Edin Džeko scored to make it 2:2. Džeko has always been in the shadow of Sergio Aguero’s non-disputable world-class quality, Carlos Tevez’ dance between madness and geniality, and Mario Balotelli’s scandals; despite the fact he had, at certain point of 2011-12, a goal-ratio of more than 1,5 goal per game, as it took him less than 60 minutes to score a goal.

Now, look what happened this season: Džeko was the best goal-scorer of City, but Aguero failed to match his performances from the last season, as well as the rest of world-class players from the City spine (Kompany and Yaya Toure), and City didn’t come anywhere near retaining the title.

On the other side of Manchester, United had a striker that delivered in the Premiership what was expected from him, especially in big matches and when United had to come from behind.

Now, what does this whole intro mean to Arsenal? It means a lot, especially given a war-chest that has been given to Arsene Wenger.

If we want to turn our excellent form from the last ten matches into a title contender team, we need a world-class presence in our attack. It’s hard to find a new Bergkamp or a new Henry – those sorts of players don’t fall from the sky on your training ground with the sign “I’m the world-class striker – recruit me!” on their parachute, land on their feet in the circle very close the ball, make a Zidanesque pirouette before making a run to the goal and putting it past a surprised goalkeeper.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I would be over the moon if we sign Higuain as I consider him to be a world-class finisher with a good variety of skills/goals in his repertoire; and to sign Džeko from the Oilers wouldn’t be a bad piece of business either.

However, if we want to make a serious challenge for the title, we have to aim a bit higher.

Apparently, Falcao is leaving Atletico Madrid for AS Monaco but there might be some problems for Monaco if they’ll have to accept the ultimatum made by other French clubs regarding taxes. I doubt that transfer – if it’s going to happen at all – will be announced before the season in Spain ends, so we can still make a move for him and offer him something that Monaco can’t (at least not this season): Champions’ League football, something Falcao hasn’t had lately (and once when he had, he scored against us!).

Robert Lewandowski is my personal favourite but there are huge warning signs, with the likes of Barrios, Sahin and, to the certain extent, Kagawa who didn’t repeat their impact from Borussia Dortmund elsewhere, which is more proof of how brilliant Juergen Klopp is.

It’s no wonder I mentioned Klopp, as there is a longer way to have a world-class striker than simply buying him, and it is connected with Arsene Wenger. Wenger is a manager who can make players over-achieve, can make them cross the thick line between a world-class finisher and a world-class striker, and the one between a world-class striker and a world-class player.

One might paraphrase that thing: “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he doesn’t exist” to say: “The greatest trick Wenger ever pulled was convincing his rivals that Adebayor’s and Nasri’s world-class exists.” If you take a look at the players who left Arsenal for greener pastures elsewhere, only Cashley Cole can say he maintained his level of performances from Arsenal (or even upgraded it). Even Van Judas has had a decline of form in the recent period, while also others who were playing in our attacking department haven’t found their level from Arsenal at their new employers: Nasri, Hleb, Adebayor, even Fabregas, Reyes and, yes, Henry, since neither of them matched their level from Arsenal, while Eduardo’s decline started in Arsenal due to an unfortunate cause.

There is no “I” in “team” – that is true, especially when you know a basic fact that football is a team sport. However, there is a reason why the word “champions” has “I” squeezed into itself, as it’s the brilliance of individuals that make the collective raise above the average.

Written by: Admir.