The Evolution of Arsenal’s Defensive Mindset
ByOne of my best friends and fellow Arsenal diehards is the landlord of a pub in a small village in Kent. We instantaneously became the best of friends when I walked into his pub for the first time in the early 90s wearing my Arsenal shirt.
A few years later, I trotted into the pub with the mother of all hangovers from the previous nights indulgence – and the first thing Duncan the landlord told me is that our new manager was Arsene Wenger. We had been discussing in the preceding weeks about the fortunes of the club and the fact that anyone but Bruce Rioch will do as manager.
As if in reminder to our regular anthem and chant ’One nil to the Arsenal’, Duncan had a poster size Arsenal team photo behind the bar that had the words “1 nil to the Arsenal” clearly scrolled across the photo by a drunken soul.
We pondered whether we were ever going to lose the ’One nil to the Arsenal’ Mantra as we chewed the fat over what type of manager Wenger would be.
The Arsenal back 5 had gained legendary status for their no nonsense attitude to defending. Most strikers of the time would have told you that if there’s one thing that would make you think twice about what you were doing on the pitch – then it’s that instance when you face the whites of the eyes of any of the Arsenal’s back 4.
Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bold, Nigel Winterburn and Martin Keown epitomized a defensive unit that scared the living daylights out of the best strikers in the business. Their modus operandi was not rocket science – simply to stop anything that moved towards David Seaman’s goal.
For most part they did this legally, but none of them were averse to taking one for the team and getting a customary yellow or red card for their troubles. They revelled in making sure the opponents ’knew they were there’ as their hard tackling, ‘take the man and ball’ approach to defending added to their reputation of being ”well ‘ard”.
Though in the twilight of their careers, Wenger was happy to inherit this solid defensive unit while he built his new team. As they each naturally retired, players were either brought in from the academy or bought in to replace them.
There is a marked difference from the defensive unit and approaches of the 90s through to what we have now. In thinking of what characteristics have changed, perhaps it’s best to describe the difference in the defensive culture as being influenced by Wengerball.
For most part, Arsenal’s old school defending function was about doing the simple bread and butter things and doing them well. It was a culture that suggested that defenders were defenders and they had little or no business meandering in attacking positions.
Occasionally, the defenders would contribute a goal or two, but their primary function was making sure that anything that moved was stopped before it got to Seaman’s goal.
The personnel soon begun to change with Lauren Bisan and Silvinho emerging as full backs, and Sol Campbell, Keown and Toure holding the centre of defence. Legend has it that Silvinho had a hot passport and Wenger had to let him go lest Arsenal endured the wrath of the immigration authorities – and that opened the way for a one Ashley Cole to stake his claim to the first team.
We then started seeing more adventurous full backs and defenders who were more creative ball players. They of course defended well as they edged Arsenal towards 2 other Premier league titles, but the evolution had already started.
Ball playing defenders started becoming part and parcel of the Arsenal way and Wenger slowly moved to a more attacking mindset. Naturally, ’One nil to the Arsenal’ became a refrain of the past and a brand of free flowing attacking football has evolved to what is now known as Wengerball.
The underlying DNA of Wengerball suggests that football will be an attacking and scintillating form of entertainment, and each and every outfield player will contribute to the endeavour of total football. Many have argued that the very concept of Wengerball has made Arsenal vulnerable to counter attacks for the reason that defenders are likely to be out of their natural positions.
My sense is that Wengerball’s answer to that argument is simply – “We’ll score more goals than you will”. I have to admit, that even with the nervy defensive moments, I prefer Wengerball every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
This season, Arsenal adopted a new system of play, employing the 4-3-3 formation. While we’ve scored a shed load of goals, we’ve also let in quite a few – some from individual lapses of concentration, and some from counter attacks against us.
I’ve offered an opinion about how the new 4-3-3 system can work for Arsenal – but this takes into account the participation of our defensive players in attack. The system’s success also depends on the defensive contribution of the front 3 attackers and our midfield.
Arsenal now go into a run of 11 games that they must win if they are to wrestle the Premier league title from Manchester United. Chelsea and United will most certainly drop points, and the Gunners will only have themselves to blame if they don’t take advantage.
At the beginning of the season, Arsenal played the best football in Europe. I believe the primary reason was the way we played when we didn’t have the ball.
The team pressed quickly and effectively high up the pitch and we closed the spaces in between to choke opponents. This really worked well for us in the first 10 to 12 games, but somewhere along the line, the team stopped doing this.
We have to go back to this defensive approach and attitude with the entire team defending as a unit and applying a high tempo and high pressure game for the duration of the match. We have shown that there is a plan B in wearing down opponents who park the bus in front of goal – but success in this depends on our own application of Wengerball.
There’s always going to be the argument that we should go back to basics and let defenders be defenders, but I doubt anyone at London Colney will listen to that cry.
Tue 13th September 2011; 19:45, Dortmund
Darius excellent post but there are many misconceptions about Arsenal past & Arsenal present that seem to be taken as fact simply because they have been repeated so often.
Relating to this article I think Bruce Rioch did an exceptional job considering he inherited a side that not only couldn’t score many goals, they didn’t prevent them too well either. 1994/95 GF 52 GA 49 in a 42 game season. Most people were surprised that he was dismissed but we have to thank the foresight of the board in realising that football was going into a totally different era & Bruce was old school.
’One nil to the Arsenal’ became a refrain of the past ‘
I did a count up a couple of years ago & found that the ratio of 1-0s was almost exactly the same under AW as it was under GG. I doubt it has changed much.
Arsenal defended better under GG with the famous back 5?
Goals conceded per game under GG = 0.898 GD average per season= 24
Goals conceded per game under AW = 0.885 GD average per season= 37.3
Best defensive record
1990/91 = 18 goals 38 games
1998/99 = 17 goals 38 games – 2nd in PL
The biggest misconception is that Arsenal were “boring” throughout GG’s reign. We won the league in 1989 simply because we scored more goals than Liverpool. They played great attacking football with the likes of Rocastle, Thomas, Merson & Limpar in the side & yes Dixon & “Nutty Boy” both bombed forward a lot. This was up until Ian Wright was purchased & the beating we took off Benfica seemed to persuade GG to change our game. The boring period & the famous 1-0s (relating to the CWC runs) was from 1992 onwards. “Boring Arsenal” actually came from the Liverpool manager (Bob Paisley I think) about Terry Neill’s post Liam Brady side – a case of “the pot calling the kettle black” if ever I saw it.
It should also be considered that defending was to a degree easier in the GG period because of the changing of the laws relating to tackling from behind & offside combined with the fact that there are probably a lot more intelligent attackers in all sides now.
I agree with your conclusion about this season.
We can all see things differently but sometimes there can be a big memory loss about the past, which is one of the big reasons I am so keen to get across how the great players of the past were not brilliant in every match they played. People have a habit of comparing the best of those players against the worst of the current crop & that really grates with me.
Flint. Excellent perspective on the life and times of Arsenal during GG’s era.
I remember how Rioch wanted the Arsenal job so badly and he’d even made it public that he was only going to leave Bolton for Arsenal. I wasn’t as surprised that he was let go after such a short time – though I always thank Rioch for the foresight of signing Dennis Bergkamp, undoubtedly one of Arsenal’s best players ever. Something must have happened to drastically change the board’s mind as only year before – they had turned down David Dein’s suggestion to hire Wenger – citing it as an outright risk.
Very interesting also to see those stats comparing GG and AW’s defensive records.
Speaking of Dixon and Nutty boy – I came across this video some time back that captured the brawl between Arsenal and United – after McClair kicked the hell out of Winterburn on the ground.
Although Rioch is credited with signing DB10 & Platt it seems unlikely that it was not all done & dusted, by David Dein, before Rioch arrived.
When Rioch was dismissed the story was that he had a meeting with the board, or maybe just Dein, about the coming Uefa Cup campaign & they/he didn’t like what was being said to them. A possible influence was the fall out between star man/prima dona Ian Wright & Bruce.
Rioch should be credited with getting back to playing more football & not relying so much on the pace of Wright. This to some extent paved the way for “Wengerball”.
Thanks for the video, I don’t think I have seen as much detail on that fracas before. We got all the stick for that as ever but what wonderful entertainment.
We had been involved with a similar incident against Norwich. It was the day David O’Leary broke the record of games played for Arsenal. He played like a complete nutter, totally unlike him, & possibly could have been sent off. We went behind twice & came back, then got a very dubious penalty, which Dixon dispatched to win the game. Bryn Gunn went berserk & everyone else tumbled in. Moral outrage but what more an you ask for than a last minute winner in a 4-3 thriller with a full scale hand bags punch up? Marvellous !!
Most of Arsenal’s problems on the counter occur because of poor positioning when we have the ball. Wengerball encourages players to interchange positions and for defenders to participate in the attack. However, if some defenders advance higher, it is essential that other players retreat deep to cover those vacated positions. Song dropping back into the backline when Gallas or Vermaelen advance is a prime example. We become exposed if, when we lose the ball, too many of our nominal defenders are caught going forward.
One way to mitigate that is quick pressure on the opposition to allow our out of position players to track back. However, if the ball is quickly played into areas which have been vacated by our players, there is no ability to pressure and a jail break occurs. Chelsea’s 2nd goal by Drogba was a result of no midfield cover. We had the ball and when we lost possession, it bounced to Lampard who was standing a few yards beyond Chelski’s penalty area. There was no Arsenal player within five yards of him and he simply turned and carried the ball without pressure up the pitch for thirty yards.
When we have the ball, the centrebacks, fullbacks, and two of the midfielders need to concentrate and be aware of each others’ positions on the pitch. If both fullbacks are forward, both defensive midfielders need to hang back. If both midfielders are advanced, the fullbacks need to stay back and one of the centrebacks need to advance a little and play the holding role. The key to stopping the counter is maintaining the team shape and balance while you have the ball. Once possession is lost, it’s too late.
Flint or Darius,
In the following what does the abbreviation GD mean?
Goals conceded per game under GG = 0.898 GD average per season= 24
Goals conceded per game under AW = 0.885 GD average per season= 37.3
Darius, first off, nice post. this is the first time ive come over here from ACLF after so consistently being impressed with your friday contributions and enjoying watching you try and reason with those within our own ranks who I’d like sent to something similar to a “re-education camp” favored by various notorious dictators in 20th century history.
Really great to see Flint coming back at yuor theory with the hard statistics that kind of bring it all into question. Seems that whenever you try to make any sort of generalization on the internet, someone’s there to find fault in your generalization.
As a younger (b. 1987), and yes, “Yankee” Gooner, I cant say im too familiar with some of the periods being discussed in your post, although that did not prevent me from finding the anaylsis very interesting.
My take on our defense this season is that sometimes, when teams do sit with 10-11 behind the ball, and they are successful for a period of time in soaking up the immense pressure Wengerball can apply to an opposing goal. Gallas, TV, Sagna/Eboue, and Clichy/Traore/Gibbs get a little anxious and want to move forward, into new areas to kind of push things along a bit. I definitely noticed that during that Porto game, TV and Campbell were sitting just that little bit deeper. AW no doubt in there heads about not being too anxious to provide attacking support.
Furthermore, we cant talk abotu defense this season and not discuss the massive improvement of Alex Song. First off, I LOVE the guy, wasnt too sure about him last season, but he is without a doubt the MIP footballer in the EPL, perhaps the world. I was very worried about the DM role, and Song has alleviated all of my worries. Whether breaking up play, making a tough tackle, or successfully navigating the ball out of the defensive zone, he has been one of oure most integral players this year, without which the 4-3-3 would struggle i suspect. His calmness in possession, has been invaluable for the squad, not requiring cesc to track back each time a tricky clearance is needed without just banging the ball up field. Time and time again he sheilded well, made short, cheeky dribbles, and passed well out of the defense. That can be arsenal’s biggest problem, we control the ball in defense, our attackers get pumped and start heading forward, and if the ball is stolen in our defensive area we can get into trouble. Seriously, Alex Song, one of the most underrated and talented footballers in our squad,
cheers darius
Shotta… GD is the goal difference (goals scored minus the goals conceded.
NJ Gooner – welcome my friend.
This here is a home for all manner of opinnion and discussion – with everyone encouraged to give their two cents.
The usual commentators are not shy in making their positions and defending them – and more importantly, it’s done with an open mind and willingness to learn as well as a positive spirit of arguing a good case whenever needed.
Flint shames us all at times with his extensive knowledge and experience of the Arsenal gained by following the Gunners for over 50 years and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
As for your desire to re-educate the doom and gloom brigade – believe me, sometimes I’d rather get them all in one cattle dip and fumigate the lot. Sometimes I get the urge to provide a public service and indulge in some re-education – but such good days are few and far between.
I agree with you that one of the most important roles in this team today is that of Alex Song.
In December I wrote an extensive profile of Alex Song – check it out.
Shotta
GD= average positive goal difference per season under the relevant manager.
The stats for 1988/89-2001/02 (ie famous back 4) = 0.883 goals conceded per game; average GD= 28.3
2002/03-2008/09 = 0.895 ga ; GD= 40
I would reckon that we will concede about a goal per game this season, which happened 5 times in 13 seasons with the famous back 5, & a goal difference approaching 50 if all goes well.
We conceded 36 goals in the title winning seasons 1988/89 & 2001/02, a total that is not out of the question, if we can start being really mean.
Stats do not tell you everything & I agree that one did feel more secure with an imposing figure like Tony Adams in your side.
Tee Song
Your point is interesting & if you are playing traditionally correct. We do not play with 1 let alone 2 purely defensive midfielders. Song is as involved in attack as he is in defence. The “Wengerball” defence is based on keeping possession & I believe we allow the fewest chances on goal in the PL. The problem is that those chances have been good ones, so are often converted.
The Jones miss was a good example of careless play, in this instance by Ramsey, in midfield allowing a through ball cutting between the central defenders. It is something that maybe we have to live with because without the risk there may not be the gain. It is why we are different.
Alan Smith, who was booked once (for handball) only very late in his long career, suggested that Arsenal lack the nous of the ‘dark arts’- the snide foul that breaks up play but not enough for a booking. I agree with him Richardson needed a little clattering before getting in his through ball. It happens almost without fail to us.
HJ
Song is now a very accomplished player & can only get better. Denilson is in the same vein, a player that perhaps you need to see in the flesh to fully appreciate. His form has suffered after his back injury but a lot of humble pie will be eaten by his short sighted detractors, I feel.
Excellent post Darius.
First, my thanks, and apologies for the late acknowledgement, to Flint and C1gooner for their responses to my last column re: the play-offs. I was out of town and thus unable to engage with you guys.
Just one point: I agree with Flint that the play-offs in the Championships keep the interest alive for a lot of clubs right to the end. But that, in my view, doesn’t compensate for the injustice.
If a school said all the tests and exams preceding the final were irrelevant to your grades, with only the finals mattering, we would be providing kids with the worst incentives imaginable. Sustained industry over the year would be subordinate to gambling on the finals.
Thanks also, Flint, for the clarification re: the Portsmouth situation.
As for the defence itself, I’m reminded of a comment, I think by Neeskens, about Rinus Michel’s “Total Football”: “We defend from the front and play from the back”. It’s the former this Arsenal side needs to do better and more consistently.
Darius, I’d be grateful if you can publish my response to Flint and C1gooner as a small post in addition to your own today.
Many thanks.
Another very good post Darius, and some interesting responses, much of which I don’t dispute.
I also think – like Alan Smith and some others – that our current team/squad lack an in-depth knowledge of the so called “dark arts” of the game.
Our players are generally & simply too nice to the opposition when they are on the pitch, and sometimes I wonder if they actually apologise to their counterparts when they’ve made a mistimed or particularly heavy challenge on them!
Arsene recently & indirectly acknowledged our inexperience relating to the “dark arts” when commenting upon the willingness of the Chelsea team to make tactical fouls and to do whatever was necessary to stop us in our tracks, when we played them earlier this month.
Only last week against FC Porto, we saw how that team was more than happy to carry out strategic and rotational fouling against our players, Fabregas in particular.
Are our players able and willing to do the same against whatever opposition, when necessary? I doubt it.
Arsene should call a special meeting of George Graham, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn, etc and get them to
distill and pass on to the current Arsenal team/squad all that they know about the “dark arts”.
And Arsene shouldn’t be too proud to engage in such matters either.
I also think that we do need to return to defending from the front, as we were at the beginning of the season. Arshavin in particular needs to do his share of defending too.
Far be it for me to defend the Liverpool team of the ’70s & ’80s, but I don’t think it was a case of the “pot calling the kettle black” if the late Bob Paisley allegedly described the post-Brady Arsenal team as boring. The Liverpool teams in those days consistently played the best football in the UK, and were far from boring, which is why they dominated domestically for 17 successive years.
Each to their own, Magneto, but I thought the early/mid 1980s was a particularly poor time in English football, despite some European Cup successes.
Maybe my view is soured by the Arsenal of that time or maybe yours is enhanced because we rarely saw more than highlights in those days.
We were dreadful for 3 or 4 seasons & I always thought that Liverpool, although highly successful, based their achievements on high pressure functional football, certainly away from Anfield. They were a bit like the Chelsea PL winning teams.
They became more expansive & entertaining, in a Man U way, when Barnes & Beardsley were playing a few years later.
Its all just opinion.