There were some significant performers in season 2009/10 for Arsenal, including new signing Thomas Vermaelen, forward Robin van Persie and the emerging Alex Song.
However, for me, the one truly outstanding player was captain Cesc Fábregas. The statistics from last season underline Fábregas’ influence on the side.
The 23-year-old Spain midfielder made an amazing contribution in all competitions. In just 27 appearances in the Premier League, Fábregas scored 15 goals and made the same number of assists for his colleagues. Fábregas’ most remarkable achievement is illustrated in the fact he created a chance every 29.2 minutes from open play - a better rate than any player in the top 5 leagues in Europe last season.
Since making his debut for Arsenal in 2003, Fábregas has been referred to as a precocious talent with the potential to become a legend. This potential was exactly what Arsène Wenger saw before anyone else and is now coming to fruition. Although the decisions to promote Thierry Henry and William Gallas to the captaincy did not succeed, Wenger’s move to make Fábregas captain was inspired.
The way Fábregas has become the heartbeat of Arsenal’s team elevates his standing in the game. His awareness and ability enables him to mould the game. He is the ultimate playmaker and comparisons with Liam Brady, Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane are totally realistic.
A major highlight for many Gooners last season will have been the second goal scored against Tottenham Hotspur in a 3-0 victory at home by Fábregas. This goal epitomised everything that Fábregas possesses, quick mind, strength, composure and, from the way he escaped the defence to burst through, an extra yard of pace. This isn't something you’d normally associate with Fábregas but he has developed from the boy who first came to prominence at the beginning of the 2004/05 season into a man. He has become stronger physically and this has aided his ability to make those important forward sprints that enable the team to stretch the play and breakdown stubborn defences, as was beautifully displayed by his wonderful cameo performance against Aston Villa.
The 4-3-3 formation employed from the start of the season was, as Wenger explained, to suit Arsenal’s style of football and to benefit the current squad of players. This formation was created to suit Fábregas. Arsenal’s dramatic collapse in form during the final month of the season coincided with Fábregas’ injury.
Ultimately, once Fábregas was sidelined, Wenger should’ve applied the very same principles and changed his formation to suit the personnel at his disposal. Unfortunately, Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby are not comparable players.
Similar to previous summers, I fear Arsenal fans will wake up most mornings to horrible transfer headlines and speculation about the future of their captain. Barcelona recognize that Fábregas is already a true great.
Despite what Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood says, Fábregas would definitely get into Barcelona’s first team. He is different to Xavier Hernández and would play in a far more advanced role to that which his Spanish team-mate performs for the Catalans.
Arsenal should use this summer to invest and prove to Fábregas they mean business in 2010/11. Arsène’s biggest mistake would be to believe he could use any transfer funds generated by the sale of Fábregas to improve the team. I don’t think this will happen, as I believe one-day history will show Fábregas was Wenger’s greatest ever signing.
I can’t pay Fábregas any greater compliment than to compare him with Dennis Bergkamp. The Dutchman helped Wenger to redefine the way Arsenal play and more importantly the way football is played. Arsenal have not played with a rigid 4-4-2 formation since the arrival of Wenger. Bergkamp perfected the role behind the striker with his vision and finesse. In the current side, Fábregas pulls the strings to Arsenal’s attacking play in a similar way.
Fábregas is the only player in the current Arsenal team who would’ve played in the three Championship winning sides built by Wenger. The midfield maestro is a playmaker who aligns his artistry with work-rate and commitment on a remarkably consistent basis. This above everything else makes Fábregas – a true invincible.
Monday 17 May 2010
Tuesday 4 May 2010
Arsenal need to show respect
I have been watching Arsenal FC for over 30 years. In that time, I have been privileged to see some of the very best players to ever grace the famous red and white. Last week's Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Inter Milan was a real eye-opener for many fans of the beautiful game.
Some Gooners who started supporting Arsenal in the late 1990s and who watched this heavyweight battle at the Nou Camp, would be horrified to discover we used similar tactics to Jose Mourinho during our last successful campaign in Europe.
Under George Graham, a similar rigid defensive structure to that employed by the Italians was used between 1992-1995. It was so successful that we won the Cup Winners Cup Final against a fantastic Parma side in 1994 and reached the final the very next year only to lose in dramatic fashion at the end of extra-time to Real Zaragoza.
Football like anything in life is about balance. Respect in football is a much-used term. It is mainly linked to negative aspects such as racism and homophobia. However, in a football sense it can be a positive. Respect is also about understanding your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. To simply focus on your own strengths is totally disrespectful. This is arrogance. Again it comes down to balance.
In Graham's early years, Arsenal were a potent force playing fast and free-flowing football. The team had style, pace and fantastic technique. The likes of Anders Limpar, David Rocastle, Alan Smith, Paul Merson, Paul Davis and Michael Thomas were all top-quality offensive players with international honours. Allied together with the defensive strength from a unit encompassing David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Tony Adams and Steve Bould, this team had backbone and defensive discipline. This was a top quality side able to utilise its strengths. In the 1990/91 season, Arsenal outplayed and dominated opponents in England - winning the league at a canter and only losing one game.
Ironically, Graham lost his way after being defeated by Benfica in the European Cup. The team that had won two from three League Championships was broken up. Replacements such as John Jensen, Ian Selley, Glenn Helder and Eddie McGoldrick were simply not good enough in comparison. The lack of a midfield to compare with the quality of previous campaigns hurt Arsenal - especially in the league.
Bruce Rioch briefly became Arsenal manager for the 1995/96 season. This interim period also coincided with the signings of Dennis Bergkamp and David Platt.
The arrival of Arsène Wenger in the autumn of 1996, finally led to the signing of true midfield quality. Apart from Bergkamp and Platt, the team Wenger inherited was fundamentally Graham's. Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars were true footballers. Under Wenger, they excelled and became world-class. The importance of Graham's defence can't be underestimated and is something Wenger respected.
Wenger respected the individuals and the defensive unit. He recognized it was the very best and didn’t attempt to dismantle it. Instead, he coaxed each and every one of them and extended their careers further.
The current team lacks tactical awareness and is not cute enough. If anything we are too pure. We believe that our football should be enough to win matches. This is total arrogance. We need to earn the right to play our football.
Wenger’s first great team from 1998 understood this and was able to mix it with the worst of them. We seem to have forgotten the basics. You must first win the battle, then the war...
Some Gooners who started supporting Arsenal in the late 1990s and who watched this heavyweight battle at the Nou Camp, would be horrified to discover we used similar tactics to Jose Mourinho during our last successful campaign in Europe.
Under George Graham, a similar rigid defensive structure to that employed by the Italians was used between 1992-1995. It was so successful that we won the Cup Winners Cup Final against a fantastic Parma side in 1994 and reached the final the very next year only to lose in dramatic fashion at the end of extra-time to Real Zaragoza.
Football like anything in life is about balance. Respect in football is a much-used term. It is mainly linked to negative aspects such as racism and homophobia. However, in a football sense it can be a positive. Respect is also about understanding your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. To simply focus on your own strengths is totally disrespectful. This is arrogance. Again it comes down to balance.
In Graham's early years, Arsenal were a potent force playing fast and free-flowing football. The team had style, pace and fantastic technique. The likes of Anders Limpar, David Rocastle, Alan Smith, Paul Merson, Paul Davis and Michael Thomas were all top-quality offensive players with international honours. Allied together with the defensive strength from a unit encompassing David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn, Tony Adams and Steve Bould, this team had backbone and defensive discipline. This was a top quality side able to utilise its strengths. In the 1990/91 season, Arsenal outplayed and dominated opponents in England - winning the league at a canter and only losing one game.
Ironically, Graham lost his way after being defeated by Benfica in the European Cup. The team that had won two from three League Championships was broken up. Replacements such as John Jensen, Ian Selley, Glenn Helder and Eddie McGoldrick were simply not good enough in comparison. The lack of a midfield to compare with the quality of previous campaigns hurt Arsenal - especially in the league.
Bruce Rioch briefly became Arsenal manager for the 1995/96 season. This interim period also coincided with the signings of Dennis Bergkamp and David Platt.
The arrival of Arsène Wenger in the autumn of 1996, finally led to the signing of true midfield quality. Apart from Bergkamp and Platt, the team Wenger inherited was fundamentally Graham's. Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars were true footballers. Under Wenger, they excelled and became world-class. The importance of Graham's defence can't be underestimated and is something Wenger respected.
Wenger respected the individuals and the defensive unit. He recognized it was the very best and didn’t attempt to dismantle it. Instead, he coaxed each and every one of them and extended their careers further.
The current team lacks tactical awareness and is not cute enough. If anything we are too pure. We believe that our football should be enough to win matches. This is total arrogance. We need to earn the right to play our football.
Wenger’s first great team from 1998 understood this and was able to mix it with the worst of them. We seem to have forgotten the basics. You must first win the battle, then the war...
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