Arsenal needs new defenders.
@slashragnarok (137)
India
February 10, 2011 11:25am CST
I think the only reason the Gunners are at number two in the league standings is purely due to their frail defense. Sagna and Clichy are doing their bit down the wings. So is Song in the midfield. But with Vermaelen sidelined with injury, the defense looks pretty down. I mean I don't see any coordination between Squillaci and Koscielny. Djourou tries hard to play his part but I think Arsene Wenger should have reached for his wallet in the winter transfer window and bought some decent defenders.
It was painfully obvious that once Diaby was sent off against Newcastle, the defence crumbled like a piece of talc. With the midfield and forwards in such a great form, I don't see why we aren't winning more games.
Personally I would suggest that Arsenal buy at least one quality Center back to assist Vermaelen once he is fit.
What do you think?
2 people like this
10 responses
@marcmm (1804)
• Malaysia
11 Feb 11
The defenders doing fine in my opinion. I don't think that's the problem lies. The real problem is there are no lethal goalscorer in the absent of Robin Van Persie. When RVP play, twe all know there will be goals.
But when there is no RVP, we pray that Cesc, Nasri, Arshavin and Walcott come with something special and win the game. We never expect Chamakh and Bendtner to score as we expect RVP. ManC and Chelsea concede less goals than Arsenal but they are still behind Arsenal. Why? Because they don't score enough goals.
And of course there is a lack of concentration sometimes that cost Arsenal especially in set piece. In open play Arsenal didn't concede many goals.
@marcmm (1804)
• Malaysia
13 Feb 11
Another clean sheet from Djourou/Koscieny partnership show that Arsenal have good defender. RVP scores another brace giving less burden to the midfield players to scores a goal and they can concentrate on their defensive duty as well thus help the defenders defend.
@elkanwa (626)
• Malaysia
10 Feb 11
I agree with that, I have no idea about last weekend result against Newcastle. I think wenger was so unhappy with the team. But that is football, anything can happen.
In my opinion they sould bring new defender to emirates stadium.Even they have koscielny and vermaelen but its not enough, to realise that they are still looking to perform well in regular basis and retrarct disturbed by injury problems.
@slashragnarok (137)
• India
10 Feb 11
I agree that football can be an unpredictable game but throwing away a 4-0 lead to manage a draw puts the whole blame on the defence. I mean strikers had done their jobs and now it was up to the defence to take care of the rest and they simply didn't deliver.
Koscielny, in my opinion, has really looked shaky. His coordination with the other team members have been awful at best. But let's give him some time to settle down. I'm sure everyone has those days. And I think we need more experience in the defence. Apart from Sagna, Clichy and Vermaelen, the defence is not very seasoned.
Thanks for commenting.
1 person likes this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
12 Feb 11
I completely agree with you. I think the problem starts from right back. The goalkeeper. This season Arsenal has fielded three goalkeepers, all of whom have looked stable, but shaky under pressure. For me that is simply not good enough at this level. You need people in the goal who can make match saving saves and not just are solid.
Then the center of the defense is simply not equipped for the long ball into the D. Newcastle exploited this weakness in the last half hour to score 4 goals. This is such a sea change from a defense marshalled by Tony Adams where Arsenal defense was called as boring boring Arsenal as they killed everything!!
Cheers!
Ram
@chillpill90 (1936)
•
10 Feb 11
I do not just think that the lack of defenders is why Arsenal are not winning as many games.I think that the problem is that Arsenal have a young and imature captain, if they had someone who was older as there captain it would take the presure of Cesc. If Arsenal bought some defenders they would not win instantly and need some time to gel and work together.
@slashragnarok (137)
• India
10 Feb 11
Oh well if you are referring to the Fabregas incident in the tunnel then I have to say it's just one of those things that affect every player. Even John Terry, in spite of being older, was disgraced, albeit off the pitch. Fabregas is clearly doing his job of playing his part as a midfielder well.
And yes I agree with you that defenders won't magically make Arsenal win games but surely with the lack of defenders the trophy shelf won't be seeing new residents any time soon.
Thanks for commenting.
@sjlskl (3382)
• Singapore
19 Feb 11
Djourou is looking good and finally show why Wenger had so much faith in him when he is out injured. For the two purchases, Squallic and Koscienyl, the former in my opinion is a flop while the latter is showing some form. When Vermaelen is back, I would like to see him partner with Djourou. In that sense, I dont think Wenger need another defender. Maybe a youngster to start learning the rope.
@lucky119 (643)
• India
13 Feb 11
The injury to Vermaelen was a big blow to Arsenal. Wenger should have bought a back up in the summer transfer window, instead he decided to stick with the current set.
The months ahead, there will be lot of games with little time in between and the players will be over worked.
Djourou has done well but is injury prone.Koscielny hasn't performed badly as well but is still young. Squillaci is inconsistent.
Wenger should have got one centre back, he made a big mistake which could cost the title.
@ray211276 (4)
•
10 Feb 11
Arsenal need new defenders but they will also need a lot more when Cesc Fabregas leaves in the summer.So if i were Arsene Wenger i'd start getting rid of the deadwood in the team and start thinking about a replacement or replacements for Fabregas he,s there only decent player and he wants to go to a bigger club being Barcelona and i dont blame him after the way Arsenal performed against Newcastle.
@NicoZieg (591)
• Denmark
11 Feb 11
I don't agree with you. Arsenal's defeat against newcastle was also because of the referee's. they jugdes very bad. Arsenal has a good defence. Sagna and Clichy are doing very well.
Squillaci and Koscielny are good players, but they are very young, which is a part of Arsenla's transfer policy. They buy young talented players, and make them very good. They have done that with Wilshere, Walcott, nasri and so. I think Arsenal's center defense is going to be very strong the next 2-3 years.
If they want to win the Premier League title, they probably should buy some new players, so it's very expensive to get the best nowadays.
@livecenter (1136)
• Malaysia
10 Feb 11
I could not agree more with you...I believe that football is about the balance between attack and defense...You can be an attacking team, like Arsenal and Chelsea, but the attacking talent MUST be accompanied with defensive excellence, or else disaster struck like what happened in Newcastle...It is maybe a bit unlucky to see Diaby being sent off, but that makes no excuse...You have been winning 4-0 in 26 minutes of the game and let the result slip is a shame...
