Does Arsenal Have A Defensive Problem?

Posted by By P. S. at 30 July, at 07 : 05 AM Print

Arsene Wenger was critical of some of the young players after Arsenal fought hard to drew Kitchee in one of their pre season encounters in Hong Kong.

Kitchee made the most of the Gunners’ defensive frailty and took a 2-1 advantage in the first half itself but young German Thomas Eisfeld, touted by many as the ‘next Fabregas’, scored his second in the pre season to draw level.

With the experienced defensive trio of Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker back home, Wenger started with a very young back line comprising of Craig Eastmond, Kyle Bartley, Ignasi Miquel and Nico Yennaris.

And the Gunners’ boss had some strong words for the young defenders when he talked to the media after the match. He said, “I think defensively we looked fragile, especially in the first half.

“In the second half not so much because we were not challenged. Defensively we have a lot of work to do as a unit to do much better.

“We let everybody play and some players are not yet at the level of the Premier League. It is a learning process. If you don’t do it in pre-season then you never do it – you give them a chance to see what is requested at the top level.

“I played all of the defenders during this tour to see who is ready and who is not. We have Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker at home – three experienced defenders.”

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Comments

chris, 9 months ago Reply

Much depends how much influence Steve Bould is allowed – particularly in the area of defence. Yes for the back four but also for the whole team attitude. This to include NOT losing their entire shape when attacking – and thus being wide open to counter attack.
John, 9 months ago Reply

Totally agree chris

A back four of Sagna Kozzer Vermanlen and Gibbs is very good I would like to see a proper left back brought in myself as Santos cannot defend and If Djourou leaves another quality centre half to create competition Mwiba would be ideal.

You could have the four best defenders in the world and they would still leak goals if the team doesn’t defend as a unit.

We need to adapt our style of play cos we are wide open to the counter and we are getting punished.
zdzis, 9 months ago Reply

Half of our 1st XI-defense hasn’t played yet and we already have a “problem.”
Even if Sagna will take more time to heal, we’ll manage. We have a stable, strong centre-back pairing that rivals that of any other top team IN EUROPE, and we have capable fullbacks. The backup players may not be the 8th wonder, but I wouldn’t expect us to be forced to play them ALL AT THE SAME TIME. And yes, they didn’t do so well, but they are still only backup players.
As for Bould’s influence, that’ll only show throughout the season. He didn’t have enough time to work with the boys yet, and most of our tour was focused on attack.
are they having a kiss pls?, 9 months ago Reply

are they having a kiss pls?
zdzis, 9 months ago Reply

Oh, and also, I don’t think we’re entirely justified to claim “Santos can’t defend.” Throughout this tour, he featured mainly in midfield, but only as a utility man (and he’s not that good out there). Last season, before his injury, he was looking really good and starting to gain momentum precisely at left-back. I think Wenger will field Gibbs whenever he’ll be focusing on defense, and pick Santos whenever he’ll want to press up. It’s as simple as that, but even as a winger, Santos would still be expected to play a part in defending. If you’re saying he’s useless defending, he’s useless, full stop.
What we’ve been needing since last season was a good old defensive midfielder, or a way to bypass the dearth of good DMs. Song isn’t a DM anymore, Arteta never was. Between them, they make for one good DM. But what if one of them is injured? Yes, we have Coquelin and Frimpong coming back from injury, but we will need players who can keep the flow as Song and Arteta do. Our problem last season was that we got some high-profile injuries in key defensive areas (Sagna), but it was also that we didn’t have a plan B in central midfield. I don’t think we have one now, not until Wilshere and Diaby can be really said to be back and running. I’m not worried about our defense – if they steer clear of long-term injury, we’ll be okay – and while I’m nor longer so worried in general, we could still use at least one capable DM/CM as backup for Song or Arteta. Just in case we might need one before Wilshere, Frimpong or Diaby can play.
LOL, 9 months ago Reply

Does Arsenal have a defensive problem? Title would sound a bit more appealing if it said ‘DO Arsenal have a defensive problem?’.
dissapointed, 9 months ago Reply

arsenal do have a defensive problem and that includes their suspect goalkeeper since last year.
flamez, 9 months ago Reply

Just wondering if whoever wrote this actually watched the game:

“Wenger started with a very young back line comprising of Craig Eastmond, Kyle Bartley, Ignasi Miquel and Nico Yennaris.”

No he didnt, we started with Miquel and Djourou at CB, gibbs at LB and eastmond at RB, eastmond aint even a defender hes a midfielder, second half that was changed to end up looking like this
Bartley and Yennaris at CB, Santos LB and Jenkinson at RB.

Of them only gibbs is a first choice defender, and djourou santos and jenkinson 2nd choice, so hard to say anything about our defence based upon a pre seaon commercial tour