Arsenal 0-2 Swansea
Before Saturday’s game against Swansea, members of the black scarf movement held a demonstration outside the Emirates stadium, proclaiming what is fast becoming the fans’ catchphrase this season: “We want our Arsenal back!” It was rather ironic therefore that come three o’clock, those same fans finally did get to see the return of free flowing, incisive attacking football at the Emirates. Unfortunately it was the away side that displayed exquisite technique and movement to dance around those in red and white and completely dominate the game on their way to a well-deserved 2-0 victory.
Swansea City were absolutely magnificent. A side only in their second season in the Premier League, who this summer lost their manager as well as two of their best players, Joe Allen and Scott Sinclair and replaced them with inexpensive signings such as Michu (a bargain at only £2million), gave Arsenal a lesson in the core principles of passing and movement. In their own ground, the Gunners were made to look lethargic, cumbersome and languid by Swansea’s wonderfully slick passing game. At times it was one touch football at its very best. As soon as a Swansea player had passed the ball, he would immediately move, creating another angle and another option for the player in possession, as Swansea worked in neat triangles to pass the ball around their opponents. Arsenal just could not cope with such movement and were continually dragged out of position with Swansea manoeuvring them around the field as they wished, like a cat toying with an unfortunate mouse before going in for the kill.
In direct contrast to Swansea’s extreme confidence, Arsenal’s game was bereft of any form of movement or ideas. As has occurred all too often this season, the Gunners were far too static and as a result their play became predictable and somewhat stagnant. The years of watching Arsene Wenger’s sides in sheer awe at their magnificently swift attacking play, have given way to the monotony of countless laborious passes along the backline. When the ball is played forward, into the midfield, it is more often than not returned to the defence, further prolonging the tediousness. Consequently, the Gunners are simply not creating enough clear cut goal scoring opportunities and have been reduced to half chances at best. With performances such as these, it is not surprising to see that Arsenal have only won four of their last twelve and two of those victories came in games which the Gunners did not seem likely to win, until the opposition were reduced to ten men.
Once again this match highlighted the fact that this team desperately needs a real physical presence in the centre of midfield; a player who can break down the opposition’s attack and become a real leader on the pitch from which the others can feed off. Unfortunately Wenger seems to have been naively relying on Abou Diaby miraculously remaining injury free for an entire season, to fulfil this role. Before the Frenchman succumbed to inevitable injury, the Gunners appeared to be a side with real potential, yet they are now a depressing sight.
As Swansea dominated proceedings on Saturday, Szczesny was forced into a double save from Angel Rangel in the first half following a fantastic move by the visitors, before Michu easily beat Mertesacker in the air and flicked the ball into the path of Nathan Dyer. The Englishman raced through on goal, but hesitated, allowing Vermaelen to get back and make a last ditch tackle. In the second half the visitor’s supremacy continued as Rangel saw a shot hit the side netting and Luke More blazed wide before forcing Szczesny into another save. It was no surprise therefore when Swansea eventually took the lead with only three minutes left. Michu played a one-two with More and as Vermaelen did not react quick enough to the return ball, the Spaniard was through on goal and scored with an excellent finish into the corner of the net. As boos rained down from the stands, the Arsenal players looked despondent, but they only had themselves to blame. As the Gunners poured forward in a vain attempt to score an undeserved equaliser, Carl Jenkinson was caught in possession, having been forced back by Nathan Dyer. The ball fell straight to Michu who was free to run through on goal and calmly finish past Szczesny to seal the win.
The most disturbing aspect of this current decline in form is that Wenger does not seem to be doing anything to improve things on the pitch. Having seen his side humiliated, the Frenchman claimed that his players were simply tired, due to recently playing so many games in quick succession. However if Wenger was truly being honest with himself, he would have to admit that this was not an isolated poor performance. This was a display which Arsenal fans have witnessed time and time again this season. No movement and no creativity have hampered this side since the very first game against Sunderland, but there have been no changes in formation or tactics to address these issues. As a result, the fans are having to endure the same uninspiring performances game after game as nothing improves.
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