By Neil Fry
October 27 2012

Despite the lack of trophy winning success during the second period of Monsieur Wenger’s reign (the reasons for which will be explored in due course), he boasts an impressively consistent record of finishing in the top four of the Premier League in all of the 14 seasons he has been in charge and qualifying for the European Champions League – very significant in terms of the forthcoming player recruitment of top players and in the high revenues generated by the competition.  There has been much debate in the game generally, and among Arsenal supporters, over the relative merits of qualification over domestic Cup success.

[Part 3]

Planning:  Competence

 Monsieur Wenger

 The results of Arsenal Supporters' Trust Membership Survey, at the end of the 2011 – 2012 season, shed interesting light on this and much else.[25]  636 responses were received, representing 60% of the membership.  76% of the supporters polled thought it is more important that Arsenal qualify for the Champions League rather than win one or both of the FA Cup and League Cup, with only 18% disagreeing.[26]

 At the Club’s 2011 AGM, Mr Kroenke stressed his support for Monsieur Wenger and the senior management of the club, which has “tremendous management at the top”.[27]  Mr Kroenke reaffirmed his support for Monsieur Wenger after the calamitous start to the 2011 - 2012 season, "I have tremendous confidence in him. He is one of the great managers in the world.”[28]

 There is much support for this view.  Despite some difficult times during his second period, many are aware that changing managers can be a high risk activity.  In the long period of his reign at Arsenal rivals such as, for instance, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have changed managers many times – with very mixed success.  In the survey, an impressive 77% supported Arsene Wenger remaining manager of Arsenal, with just 15% against.  The Chief Executive confirmed, recently, that Arsenal are to offer Monsieur Wenger a new contract.  His current deal, approximately £7m per annum expires in 2014.  He also gave him a glowing endorsement and insisted that Arsenal are “absolutely” committed to winning silverware as well as finishing in the top four.  Mr Gazidis said:

 It’s not a sense of sentimentalism, not a reward for our services, it’s a belief that we have an incredible manager who loves this club and is the best man to lead us forward.  We’re really confident about the direction that the club is heading. We’re coming through strongly and we believe we’re really well placed. We hope and believe that Arsene will be a part of that as we move forward. [29]

Coaching staff

Monsieur Wenger’s relatively un-heralded first team coaching staff has, until very recently, been largely in place since he joined Arsenal.  He was happy with the team he inherited, just bringing in former Yugoslavia (1976 - 1982) centre-half Boro Primorac from his previous club in 1997.  Following the retirement of long-serving Club stalwart Pat Rice at the end of last season, the staff has finally been reshuffled.  The former Club stalwart defender (1988 - 1999, see following ‘defensive play’) Steve Bould, who has been the youth academy coach since 2001, has been promoted to Assistant Manager for the 2012 - 2013 season.  The first team coaching staff has been expanded with the addition of the reserve team and former academy coach Neil Banfield who has served the club for 15 years.  Manager George Graham’s 1989 league winning team included four academy products:  Messrs. Adams, Rocastle, Thomas and Merson.  Under Monsieur Wenger, only Mr Cole featured in the Invincibles team.  However, the academy has recently produced Messrs Szczesny, Gibbs, and Wilshere – who, subject to fitness, have all become automatic first team choices.

The new coaching team has made an encouraging start to the new season, at the time of writing.  Despite injuries to Messrs Szczesny and Sagna, Arsenal conceded just five goals in their first seven Premier League matches (the second best defensive record in the Premier League).  Defensively, having - under Mr Bould - elected for the, far from easy to successfully implement, zonal marking defensive system.  Nevertheless, Arsenal look better organised, quicker to the challenge and all players have tracked better after losing possession – than compared, as we shall see, from many previous seasons (although set-piece defending remains a difficulty).  In addition, Monsieur Wenger has appeared to adopt a new formation for the 2012 - 2013 season.  Messrs Arteta and either Diaby or Ramsey act as the defensive shield in a seemingly much in vogue 4-2-3-1 formation with one of the latter two licensed to counter attack box to box.[30]

Monsieur Wenger’s success during the first period of his reign at the club was aligned to ground-breaking footballing changes that transformed the club; for example, new training and training infrastructures and dietary regimes were part of a revolution in the way the team played on the pitch.  More recently, however, innovation appears more noticeable at rival clubs.   For example, a key foundation of Senhor Mourinho’s success at Chelsea was his well-resourced team of staff carrying out the very detailed analytical surveillance of opposition tactics, and players strengths and weakness.  Arsenal appear to prefer to focus on their own game.  Monsieur Wenger also appears less receptive to outside ideas and advice than key rivals.  Modern technically well qualified, ambitious, up and coming coaches or former managers such as Mr Clarke, Senor Villas-Boas, Mr Rogers, Signore Di Matteo at Chelsea; and Mr McClaren and Senhor Queiroz at Manchester United; have brought fresh ideas to the managers at key rival clubs before becoming top-level club and international managers in their own right. 

In assessing the Club’s footballing performance and Arsene Wenger and his coaching team’s attributes, the results of the survey are again very interesting.  Arsenal are rated very highly for playing attractive and entertaining football and nurturing and developing young players.  They are rated very much less well for adapting selection, tactics and substitutions to beat the opposition and for their effectiveness in the transfer market.  Defensive preparation and coaching are rated very poorly indeed. 

Offensive play

In the second period of Monsieur Wenger’s reign, there has also a change in style from quicker, more direct, albeit technically skilled, football stretching opponents’ defensive lines to a slower short passing game.  Few goals came from set-pieces, apart from during some of Emmanuel Adabeyor’s spell at the club.  Indeed, Arsenal topped the Premier League possession statistics for last season with 60.13% but, on a number of occasions, notwithstanding Mr Van Persie’s great goal-scoring prowess, appeared to lack a cutting edge or ‘plan B’[31].  Former Club and international legend Denis Bergkamp said,

 Sometimes you need more of a winning mentality than a passing mentality … I’m not sure Arsenal have enough of that in their players, when the attitude becomes more important than the ability just to pass the ball ... Sometimes I see their games and it’s always the same way of playing, a bit too predictable … They are all fantastic players, that must be said, but sometimes you need a bit more of the other side.[32]

 Defensive play

 Monsieur Wenger inherited the earlier manager Mr Graham’s celebrated (albeit not by opposition supporters ) battle-hardened defensive regime of Messrs Seaman (goalkeeper); Dixon and Winterburn, and the three centre-backs Adams, Bould and Keown.  Although somewhat ageing by then, Monsieur Wenger’s revolutionary new methods significantly prolonged the unit’s career.  It totally excelled in leadership, understanding, positional organisation, abrasiveness and had a high level of competence.  The Invincibles defence of Messrs Lehmann, Lauren, Cole, Campbell and Toure, was also well equipped.  However, in the second period of Monsieur Wenger’s reign the defensive emphasis appeared to diminish.  Defensive competences are undoubtedly the most significant issue with old failings remaining un-remedied season after season.  The main problem last season was, again, the (39.87%) time when Arsenal weren’t in possession.  The 1.29 goals conceded per match last season in the Premier League was very poor and contrasts badly to Champions Manchester City’s 0.76 per match. 

Following his transfer to Manchester City in August 2011 (for £22m), attacking midfield player Samir Nasri soon struggled to get into the team and was perceived as still being 'too Arsenal’ in his approach to the game.  Monsieur Nasri conceded that “defensively, I have to improve” after revealing that Mancini wanted him to be more disciplined and track back - in addition to the creative elements instilled into his game at Arsenal (he subsequently learnt, became a regular starter and won a Premier League Champions medal[33]).  After successfully developing him for eight years, Monsieur Wenger having noticed him at the age of 16, the Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy was also transferred to the same club, for a similar £7m profit, in July 2011.  In contrast to Monsieur Clichy’s rather mixed final season at Arsenal, his performances seemed to also improve under his new club’s coaching regime. 

Lee Dixon, now a well-regarded regular analyst on the BBC’s Match of the Day 2 programme, seemed to have a regular slot on the programme devoted to detailing the latest sequences of Arsenal’s organisational, positional and concentrational defensive lapses.  Following the European Champions League defeat in Milan (where unlike the 2 – 8 debacle, the team was not seriously weakened by injury and unavailability), his former colleague the particularly abrasive central defender Martin Keown also identified some familiar key failings: an uncertainty and confusion among the defenders’ of each other’s roles and lack of awareness of where the defensive line needed to be.   A lack of clarity about individual responsibilities and the defensive roles of those further up-field.  This was even more pronounced without possession and with the midfield failing to press.  Failures of offensive players to track back and provide defensive support.  A lack of compactness between the defence, midfield and forward lines.  And as a consequence, a total lack of effective communication and leadership.  The conclusion was that Arsenal were confused, passive and desperate for a leader.[34]

Player leadership

 Monsieur Wenger inherited a legendary, vocal and talismanic captain in Tony Adams, whose fierce determination inspired the Gunners to domestic Doubles in 1998 and 2002. Similarly, his successor, Double and Invincibles Captain, Patrick Vieira, was also a strong leader and scored the deciding penalty against Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup Final.  It proved his last game for the Club before he was sold to Juventus and Arsenal have won nothing since.  Under the second player recruitment policy, there appears to have been a shift away from the necessity of having individual leaders on the pitch.  Monsieur Wenger has insisted that a lack of an "obvious leader" would not prevent his team from winning trophies.  Rather, Monsieur Wenger perceived a lack of understanding of his methods and he believes the responsibility of leading a team can be shared by several players just as effectively.  He explained,

 There is a big cultural difference … For the English, sport is a combat. The English can't imagine going into battle without a general. For the French, football is a form of collective expression.[35]

 Yet key rivals in the English Premier League have been well served by strong leadership figures.  Chelsea still have the long-serving leader John Terry, who has been well supported by Messrs Lampard and Drogba, amongst others;  Manchester United had Roy Keane and Gary Neville, supported by the likes of Messrs. Giggs, Beckham, Scholes and Ferdinand; and Liverpool still has life-long club servants Messrs. Gerrard and Carrager.  The problem for Arsenal has been exacerbated by the revolving door of captains and leaders - such as Messrs. Viera, Henry, Fabregas and Van Persie who all exited the Club in search of success elsewhere.  Emmanuel Petit, another Club legend from Monsieur Wenger’s first period, questioned the Club’s new emphasis on young players,

 What's needed is five or six players of real stature, great experience … Players with technical qualities, obviously, but also strong character. A group of guys who refuse to accept defeat, who inspire confidence in the rest of the team.[36]

 The then Club Captain Cesc Fabregas, lamented a lack of a winning mentality and maturity in key moments.  He also contrasted the squad to that of The Invincibles,

 Nobody in the team has won anything. We are missing the ability to say: ‘now I know what it is to win and I know what it takes to win’.  That’s what made [that] Arsenal team so strong, they knew how to win games, when to dig in, when to attack, they had a special intelligence to read games.  Now we are very young. [37]

 Players’ Contracts

 Following an executive senior management restructuring, necessitated by the earlier departure of Mr Dein, Arsenal appointed Dick Law to take responsibility for player contracts in support of the Manager, Chief Executive and the Club Secretary in September 2009.  Mr Law had previously had a long-standing consultancy role with Arsenal's scouting operation in South and Central America – which has not, so far, been a conspicuously successful source of successful player recruitment.[38]

 Robin Van Persie appears part of a recent trend (which seemed to start with Mathieu Flamini who left for AC Milan in May 2008, the first, relative, success of the second recruitment policy), of allowing top players to run down their contracts.  Subsequently, this necessitated having to sell prized assets rather than forfeit significant transfer fees at the end of their contracts.  Once again, the season started with another important player’s contract, Theo Walcott’s, running down and still unsigned. 

In marked contrast the contracts of fringe squad players - of considerably lower market attractiveness - often appear to be promptly renewed.  No one would seriously question the necessity of Mr Wilshere being offered a new contract.  But, following a mixed development and difficult season, not least, after being forced to play full-back last January, many were surprised to see centre-back Johan Djourou rewarded with a generous new four year contract.  And whereas the Club has often struggled to get their existing top players to the negotiating table, huge efforts have been expended elsewhere on signing future prospects.  For example, Mr Law, a Spanish and Portuguese speaking American, finally emerged from Costa Rica in August 2011 having signed young prospect Joel Campbell.  Unfortunately, a work permit to enable him to play in England was not forthcoming and he spent last season on loan, as he will do this.[39] 

Medical staff

The medical team’s competence is outside the scope of this report; however, it is worth noting that question marks have been raised over the extent of players absences due to injury since Gary Lewin, Arsenal first-team physiotherapist from 1996 to 2008, left to become the Head of Physiotherapy to the England Senior Men's Football Team for the Football Association.  For example, star young midfield player, Mr Wilshere, missed the whole of last season with injury and is only just about to make a tentative return.  There have been concerns, not least by former England Manager Signore Capello, over his medical treatment – particularly regarding his diagnosis and treatment in the immediate aftermath of his injury and young Mr Wilshere being allowed to go on holiday with friends soon after.  Arsenal, again, have some of the worst injury rates in the Premier League and current Champions Manchester City appear to be leading the way in their commitment to sports science.[40]

Part 4 Here and for parts 1 and two see the links at bottom of page

References

[25]  http://www.arsenaltrust.org/ resources/ documents/1341846103ast -questionaire-2012-results-v5.pdf

[26]  http://www.arsenaltrust.org/resources/ documents/ 1341846103ast-questionaire-2012-results-v5.pdf

[27]  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8852790/Arsenals-majority-shareholder-Stan-Kroenke-tells-supporters-I-am-here-for-the-long-term-at-AGM.html

[28]  http://www. telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/ 8797931/Arsenal-owner-Stan-Kroenke-Arsene-Wenger-is-one-of-the-greats-he-will-be-in-charge-for-as-long-as-he-wants.html

[29]  http://www. mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-arsene-wenger-to-be-offered-a-new-1321729

[30]  http://www. standard.co.uk/sport/sport-comment/yaya-toure-can-emulate-claude-makelele-and-become-a-role-model-for-the-games-tacticians-8195326.html

[31]  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/ 18269817

[32]  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9082469/ Arsenal-are-predictable-weak-and-lacking-a-winning-mentality-says-Dennis-Bergkamp-ahead-of-Milan-clash.html

[33]  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchestercity/8961939/ Manchester-City-manager-Roberto-Mancini-tells-Samir-Nasri-to-raise-his-game-if-he-wants-to-start-more-matches.html

[34]  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ football/article-2102310/ Martin-Keown-Arsenal-confused-passive-desperate-leader.html

[35]  http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/ premier-league/ wenger-arsenal-lack-true-leader-2246195.html

[36]  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2102152/Lee-Dixon-Emmanuel-Petit-rip-Arsenal-Milan-massacre.html

[37]  http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-lack-winning-mentality-admits-cesc-fabregas-2269956.html

[38]  http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/ 2009/sep/23/arsenal-premierleague

[39]  http://www.arsenal. com/news/news-archive/arsenal-finalise-signing-ofcampbell?utm_ source= feedburner&utm_medium =feed&utm_ campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+ %28News+Feed%29 & http://www.independent .co.uk/sport/ football/premier-league/arsenal-youngster-joel-campbell-joins-real-betis-on-loan-7919735.html

[40]  http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/05/fabio-capello-jack-wilshere-england, http://www.physioroom.com/news/English_premier_ league/ epl_injury_ table .php & http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18887653