This summer’s deals finally give us strength from the bench
August 2, 2012
The Santi Cazorla deal rumbles ever closer.
It feels a bit like when you see a train in the distance and you think it’s going to be here any second but then you worry that maybe your eyes have deceived you and it’s still miles away. And you just pray it hasn’t ground to a halt completely.
While I don’t want to jinx the deal I will confess that I’ve allowed myself the rare treat of a little bit of a daydream. Although oddly rather than concoct fantasy starting XIs in my head I’ve found my thoughts drifting to visions of our subs bench for next season.
I wrote the odd post last year bemoaning our lack of options from the bench. For a few years now it’s felt like if we have the first XI fit and firing then we’re all good, but as soon as one of our key players goes missing or injured we’re stuffed and if a game is going against us we just don’t have the options on the bench to change things up.
I’m reminded of the return game against AC Milan last year where we fought valiantly to peg them back with three first half goals but when the legs started to go in the second half and we just needed one more, all we had to bring off the bench was Chamakh and Park. One a man who nobody in that stadium, least of all the player himself, ever expected to do anything, the other a player who the coach had so little faith in that he only gave him 7 Premier League minutes the whole season.
And that’s not even a rare example. How many instances can you think of over the past three years when we’ve brought a player off the bench who actually changed the game? You can go off and think about it if you like. I’ll wait.
But as things are shaping up, next season’s bench could look very menacing indeed.
Let’s say our first XI at the start of the season looks something like this:
WO
Bac – Kos – Verm – Gibbs
Cazorla – Song – Arteta
Theo – Podolski – Gervinho
I’m not arguing that that’s what the side will be and I’m certainly not arguing for the formation but let’s just say as an example that might be a balanced first XI. Well on the bench we could choose from Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Diaby, Ramsey, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Santos to name just seven. And when they get back from injury Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky too. Now that’s what I call a bench.
Assuming the departure of the likes of Arshavin etc and notwithstanding the possible addition of a couple more, that gives us real quality and real options. And most importantly a group of players who are well capable of changing the game. Imagine we’re struggling to break down a stubborn Stoke backline for 70 minutes. So we stick Giroud up front and replace an underperforming Theo with the Ox. Or add a bit of physicality to the midfield with Abou Diaby. Or Francis Coquelin. Or send on Andre Santos to go marauding down that left wing and slam in some shots from the outside of the box.
Of course, none of this takes into consideration the injuries that we’re bound to get but even if you take the inevitable handful out of the equation we still look pretty strong. And more importantly we shouldn’t be forced to bring players back early when they’re not ready because of a lack of strength in depth in the squad. Which should mean we pick up fewer unnecessary knocks. And I think that’s what they call a virtuous circle.
And I haven’t even mentioned some of the younger kids – the Serge Gnabrys or the Ryo Miyaichis or whoever it is next season that we decide to fast track to the first team rather than sending out on loan. What we’ve really missed ever since we first brought Francesc Fabregas through is the ability to blood a youngster gently. Bring them into a strong, experienced team as a luxury rather than a necessity. Give them time to learn their trade from more established pros without such a weight of expectation on their shoulders.
I saw a bit of Aaron Ramsey for Team GB yesterday and couldn’t help but think about what a rough ride he got from the fans last year. Because we’re so used to the average age of the team being 22 we’ve lost all perspective on what constitutes a kid. I had to check but Ramsey’s still only 21 years old. Too young to automatically expect consistent performances from in a top four side. Particularly after what he’s been through. Next season hopefully he won’t have such high expectations on him. And he might get the chance to rebuild his shaky confidence.
And just maybe, if things go really well, we might have the odd game when we’re able to bring him or others off the bench, not because we’re chasing a late equaliser, but because we’re four goals to the good and we just want to give him some minutes. Let him showboat for a bit and maybe add a late fifth And I really can’t remember the last time we had that luxury.
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- The line up – Giroud, Per and Rambo return
- Wenger expecting Jack to avoid Ramsey and Eduardo pitfalls
Comments
16 Responses to “This summer’s deals finally give us strength from the bench”
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Great post mate.
Well said finally some positive stuff written about the Arsenal for once. I think we will finally stand up and deliver this year. Imagine if we can also get Sahin and add another defensive midfielder. Lets hope we get off to a good start and Go you Gunners
Wenger should hurry up with the Cazorla, Sahin deals to partly guarantee gunners’ stand.
I think the last paragraph is key – get the goals in early, and bring on younsters to strut their stuff without pressure.
I agree about Ramsey last night, but I think he got a long way to go at the pace Arsenal like to play. At times he was really good, but like Theo, it only takes a few lapses and the fans will start to moan again?
Let’s hope these transfer dreams become reality any time soon, eh?
Very good point about Ramsey who is a player I like a lot.But if Sahin joins us as well as Cazorla it won’t be good news for him.
6th if we’re lucky, Wenger out!
Great blog. I am still at a loss as to why Wenger insists on a 4-3-3! Given the current and new talent in the team a different formation would utilise those boys better. RVP is gone, I concede that, but wouldn’t we want to start both our new goal scoring potentials?
If those signings come to past then we are not going to be just a threat but also a very serious title contender. To all gunners, pray our storm will soon be over.
Now if we can add Sahin to the squad, we’ll be ready to challenge on all fronts next season. Good write up by the way.
Ramsey is almost a good player, so often I can see his thinking and his execution is close to pulling off his ideas – a lot of gooners have already given up on him and I was slated last year for saying we should definitely be keeping him in the squad, but at 21 he’s looking promising and if he can get all those nearly passes and shots into successful plays he’ll be a great asset for our team.
EIE – what was your prediction for Arsenal last October? I’m guessing you didn’t say third?
Sahin and Cazorla are linked, if both players are brought in our midfield will be an embarrassment of riches, keep RVP and our forward line will be brimming with options, the only weak link could be our lack of depth in fullbacks but with Bould now in the coaching staff I expect a better general shape from whoever we’ve got on the pitch and a fully fit back four of Sagna-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Gibbs looks very strong to me. I expect top four, though it will be tough.
Thundertiny – I believe Sahin could be being brought in on loan to cover Wilshere and Rosicky’s injuries – this will let Wilshere ease back in very gently without requiring him to be thrown in at the deep end to cover any possible injuries to players like Arteta etc. It would be a good move looking at Diaby, Wilshere and Rosicky as all likely to be injured for significant portions on the season – for once we’d have too many options and too much quality – but Sahin probably isn’t exactly what we need if we’re definitely buying Cazorla as well, who I believe will want to operate centrally as much as possible.
I’d still like Salassie to come in to cover Sagna properly.
the whole storry is amazing, especially da last 6 paragraphs. let’s pray that da 2 expected arrivals do turnup Gooooooo…ners.that’ da C&N from Spain. Sure deal Trophies da seasons to come from 2012 immediate effective.Best regards GUNNERS forever.
ARSENAL SHOULD JUST SELL RVP AND BRING IN THE DUO FROM SPAIN IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ON THE MID FIELD AND THE ATTACKING OPTIONS SUCH THAT WE COMPETE WITH THE LIKES OF THE MANCHESTER CLUBS.
well written article. it becomes a whole lot easier for the cup matches as well were we can field both experience of our bench players & our hungry youth. If these transfers are done & we keep our current squad intact we increase our chances to challenge for silverware by a long margin.. looking foward to the 18th
i realy agree wt u 4 d past season our bench hv bin d worst in EPL bt if we can bring in dis players i blive it wl hlp us as a team
Nice post MH, as usual.
I certainly agree that our bench wasn’t the strongest last season but ‘And that’s not even a rare example. How many instances canyou think of over the past three years when we’ve brought a player off the bench who actually changed the game?’ Slight exaggeration maybe, 3 years ago we lacked depth in the striking positions, but i remember having Ramsey, Walcott, Gibbs and Nasri on the bench i.e when they were injury free.
As for Ramsey, he was treated unfairly by ‘arsenal fans’, i think he performed admirably during the first half of the season, but the 2nd half not so much. I believe he is going to improve this season BUT not as an attacking midfielder, he is not suited to the role, remember we bought him as a CM, he had his best performances for Arsenal as a CM behind Cesc and his all action style coupled with his stamina would be more suited to a CM role in my opinion.