Sat 11th September 2010; 15:00, Emirates Stadium
Arsenal: Style, Substance, Reality And Expectations
ByWhat is good football? What makes a great team? Where in all this does Arsenal currently stand?
The increasing discontent surrounding Arsenal’s “trophy drought” has me pondering this question quite a bit lately.
It has proved a vexingly difficult question, and my personal view is that it boils down to why one was attracted to the game in the first place.
In this column, I share the reasons behind my affection for and beliefs regarding the game by documenting my own introduction to and involvement in football.
Are titles and trophies the sole measure of good football?
No. While honours are something we should aspire toward and strive for, football is far too rich to be evaluated on that basis alone. My own introduction to and interest in football (and it was love at first sight) doesn’t have to do with my local, or family favourite club or country winning honours.
It has to do with a set of foreigners provoking an irrepressible grin in an 8 year old, from a cricket obsessed country, watching football virtually for the first time. And no, they didn’t win that edition of the competition, though my affection for them remains an integral part of my love for the game.
Here are the culprits:
Given such an introduction to the game, it’s no surprise that I swear by quick, attacking, possession football. Some of the teams that epitomised this art in my school days were from the then communist Balkans; Red Star Belgrade and Steaua Bucharest being the most prominent.
At their best they combined technique and a free, even wild spirit that made for exhilarating viewing .
Often though, in a manner all too recognizable to Arsenal fans today, these brilliant teams would lose discipline in defence and succumb, frequently to canny Italian sides that parked the bus and then drove the stiletto in to the hilt at the first available opportunity.
One despaired if it were at all possible to create a team that balanced exuberant flair and pragmatism consistently.
Just when you were resigned to teams, perforce, erring one way or another in their approach, along came Arrigo Sacchi. His AC Milan side epitomised a yet to be bettered blend of power, pragmatism, tactical discipline and style.
Few teams before or since, have inspired such awe in me. With Franco Baresi marshalling the defence, and Frank Rijkaard commanding the middle of the park, Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten were let loose on the road kill du jour.
Then, in 1994, came the one game that decisively influenced my view of what makes a great team: The champions’ League final featuring Fabio Capello’s AC Milan & Johann Cryuff’s Barcelona.
Milan’s circumstances in the run up were scarcely propitious. Hell, they could justifiably be regarded as awful: Marco Van Basten was injured; their first choice CB pairing, Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, were both suspended; and Jean-Pierre Papin and Brian Laudrup had to be dropped to fulfil UEFA restrictions on foreign players.
This, added to the fact that they were up against a supposedly more attacking Barcelona side – numbering Romario de Souza, Hristo Stoichkov, Pep Guardiola, & Ron Koeman, among others – in their pomp, compelled many to write AC Milan off.
Fabio Capello and his side then displayed the one trait, over and above the aforementioned attributes, that I have since regarded as the true hallmark of a great side; Resilience.
It boils down to a simple question; Can you tailor your resources and approach to circumstance and then master it?
This makeshift, and supposedly more defence-minded bunch from AC Milan took the game to Barcelona and tore them to shreds, the game finishing 4-0.
Never has the truism about it not being over till the fat lady sings been better illustrated.
Given that background, where in my view, does the current Arsenal squad stand?
They pass the first hurdle with a bias to attacking football.
With a quality goal keeper, and better, younger understudies to Gallas & Vermaelen, we will be well balanced too. (But for injuries that never allow players to find form, we are richly endowed in the attacking department).
Versatility, though, is something we must develop quite a bit of, and quickly. Perhaps it will come with experience, but till we become a side that can consistently adapt to and prevail over circumstances, we may not be a great side.
As for my hopes for this team – I want them to emulate Louis Van Gaal’s Ajax, young and home grown like our own, that, all the while playing champagne football, won the Champions’ League in 1995 (beating Capello’s Milan). They also finished runners-up, on penalties, to Juventas the following year.
Van Gaal’s Ajax team also thrice topped the domestic league.
Not since that Ajax side, boasting a young Patrick Kluivert, Jari Litmanen, Kanu, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Edwin Van der Saar, Marc Overmars and the De Boer brothers, have I seen such a fine collection of young exciting talent maturing together at a club as they currently are at The Arsenal.
I truly hope Arsenal go on to emulate, and then supersede, the achievements of that fine young Ajax side.
The following two video clips features highlights of the entire 1995 Champions’ League campaign of this Ajax team. They provide unfamiliar readers with a better taste of the kind of football Van Gaal’s side served up.
Here’s to similar from This Arsenal side.
Absolutely brilliant Darius. The best post I have read yet at this site.
The next step for this side is all in the mind. Can they develop enough tactical sense and defensive discipline that they can play the best sides without their best players, or some of them anyway, and still win? It must surely arrive. The move to having two central midfielders sit deep is a step in that direction by Wenger.
Porto will be massive, a game as big as they come and a chance to exorcise the failure of recent months against the big teams. If we get through that we are 5 games from history and can look forward to whoever we get drawn with.
These videos will make a real treat today at work, cheers mate.
Arsenehollis.
Much as I’d like to lap up your compliment, Saloner is the author of today’s article – and your compliments should rightly go to him.
I do agree with you that it was a fascinating piece to read and some of the videos brought wonderful memories (I might actually be the same age give or take a couple of years) as Saloner.
Saloner:
I remember that 82 world cup so acutely especially because I was supporting Brazil – and a certain Paulo Rossi stole the headlines for Italy.
I was tied between my hate for him and an appreciation of the ‘stileto’ effect that you so aptly articulate. Rossi was just a goal machine.
Speaking of which, it was also the world cup when a certain youngster named Diego Armando Maradona took the law into his own hands (well, legs) and decided enough was enough and if the referees weren’t going to protect him from the rotational and malicious fouling, he’d take care of business himself.
Eric Cantona would have been proud of Maradona’s flying kick that decked the culprit and guaranteed the Argentine star a sure fire red card out of the tournament. And you wonder why he made amends 4 years later.
And 28 years later we’re still talking about protecting technically gifted players.
My first real introduction to the beautiful game was the 78 world cup – and even though I was a wee youngster as they say, our neighbours nickname was Mario Kempes because of his sublime football (at our Hackney marshes level of course) – and it was inevitable that I was going to find out for myself what all the fuss was about this Mario Kempes.
I didn’t even know who the hell he was, but when I found out, I wasn’t disappointed.
Excellent work there, Saloner.
I am intrigued by your comment “It boils down to a simple question; Can you tailor your resources and approach to circumstance and then master it?”
I think that is one of Wenger’s weaker points. He sticks rigidly to his philosophy, his way of playing, when sometimes it is more prudent to adapt to the circumstances. Like Charles Darwin said, the most successful species are those which adapt best to their changing environments and seek out the greatest competitive advantage. The same is true in football, as you said. ‘Can you tailor your resources and approach to circumstance and then master it?’
I think it fair to say that Ferguson and Mourinho are better in this respect than Wenger.
AJ – I don’t really agree there, I think it is down to the quality of the team at a specific point in time.
At our best we beat fergies mob to win the league with a weakened team. We did them so badly in the cup with a shadow side that fergie booted beckham.
If you can put in squad players, remain solid in defence, and show good quality you can win anywhere anytime.
In fairness, Fergie did that last season, going a couple of months without conceding, but rarely with his first choice defenders together or the same midfield. I hate to say it, but everyone else was so tactically astute that it didnt matter who was in and who was out.
What this team lacks that the invincibles had, was that then when someone went forward someone always covered back. Even if it meant ljungberg at fullback, gilberto in central defence for a moment, or bergkamp or henry tracking back to cover. We are getting noticably better at this. The central players in midfield gave great cover to the fullbacks last saturday.
Saloner,
Thanks for some wonderful memories. I too would appear to be of the same vintage. The highlight of the videos for me was the 82 world cup. The Goal Eder scored against Russia (the No 1 goal in the video) was to my mind one of the finest goals I’ve ever seen. The Russian keeper he beat didn’t even move. And that Russian Keeper was Rinat Dasayev who, if my memory serves me correctly, was widely regarded as the best keeper in the world at the time.
AJ: “Tailoring of the resources” and making sure players are versatile is something Wenger has always been good at to my mind.
The difficulty, IMO, is in the defense. And in particular making sure that we both close space from high up the field to prevent counter attacks and improve on defensive organisation at the back with high balls from set pieces.
The determination to claw out a result against Stoke was admirable.
Winning the first major accolade is the toughest task. But I do think this team, with a little tweaking, is capable of winning the European Cup. And that to me is the holy grail – because I think Wenger needs to win this trophy to get the plaudits he so richly deserves. And for the Club, to win the European Cup will not only be a first in its history – but will announce the clubs arrival amongst the European heavyweights. While some might say we’re already regarded as a heavyweight, I really think we need to actually win this Cup more than anything else given the evolution of the club over the past 13years and where we currently stand with the new stadium.
Saloner,
Great articel.
Joe,
I agree our first major accolade will really set us on the road to greatness – EPL or CL it doens’t matter which – although I would also prefer the CL to complete Wenger’s CV.
You can see that the media are putting in the groundwork just in case we do win the EPL. Comments like “the least deserving winners” etc becasue we did not beat ManU or Chelsea on the way to the title. Regardless of the fact that ManU have won many of their titles based on their performance against the smaller teams.
Arsenehollis, glad you enjoyed the piece. Yes Porto is a crucial game. Hoping for the best.
Darius, you’re gracious. Yes, Maradona, or specifically, the way Claudio Gentile marked him out of that game was a highlight of that world cup. It was the consummate “Italian job”, specially given that the Argentinians were not virgins themselves. Cynical, flirting with the line between legal and otherwise, and dogged it certainly was; but Maradona made Gentile work really really hard, and the bastard stood up to the task. Got to respect that.
As for Rossi, it simply was his world cup, as 1990 would be Schillaci’s. It’s a case of things falling into place just perfectly: The team works hard and there emerges that one player, like a bit of nitrous added to the fuel, who puts them into turbo mode.
AJ, I have this suspicion, right or wrong time will tell, that Wenger approaches offence and defence alike: Recruit intelligent, technically able players and let them get on with it. Now, I completely ‘am in favour of this so far the attack is concerned. But I hold that defence needs a more structured approach. Lots of drills, rehearsals of scenarios and so on. It’s my view that Wenger needs to recruit a specialist defence coach to work on this team. Arsenal have a pedigree of defenders we can call upon to do the job. I think we should.
To add to Arsenehollis’ response, I must point out that between Ronaldo, and now Rooney, playing out of their skins, United have gotten away without paying the full price of errors and injuries over the last couple of seasons. We have never had the fortune of having a player, specially a goal scorer, enjoy such an uninterrupted run to be able to influence the season. Injuries have blighted us very very badly. Not an excuse, mind. Just an observation. Such a spell from a player can often mean the difference between a top and a top four finish.
Joe, the pleasure’s entirely mine. Hope to share lots more memories and discussions with you folks here.
Jar0909, thank you very much.
This team’s certainly got stomach. I’m desperately hoping they run down the league title this season. That might be just the thing to cause them to flower completely.
Here’s hoping for the best.
Another great piece, this time from Saloner. Talking about adaptation to new circumstances, This team is getting better every time. I feel excited each time I see bits of progress that others fail to see even when our boys do not play at their best.
Yes! The promise of greatness is there alright and it starts now.
Any thoughts on the team for Saturday lads?
I can see Wenger resting some players with Porto the following Tuesday.
Eduardo may come in for Bendtner, Walcott should start, Rosicky. Denilson also. My guess:
Almunia
Sagna Vermaalen Silvestre Clichy
Denilson Diaby
Walcott Nasri Rosicky
Eduardo.
With Tuesday being: Almunia, Eboue, Campbell, Vermaalen, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Nasri, Bendtner, Arshavin
arsenehollis,
Sanga may be a bit tired for Saturday so it may be Eboue at right back. Domenec, the git, played Sagna (and Evra) for the full 90 minutes yesterday.
Did you see the game? Sagna’s crossing was excellent – perhaps with less pressure he can play with more confidence – there was one that was whipped into the six yard box.
Spain were excellent and thankfully Del Bosque was more respectful of the clubs, saw sense and gave the leading players only a half each.
It’s a shame Bartley is out on loan as he would be my pick alongside TV rather than Silvestre who just does not have the pace anymore.
Darius,
Are you being targeted by the spammers?
You are right we are attracted to football for various reasons.
For me it was simply going to Highbury & being sucked in by the sheer excitement & atmosphere- pure fever pitch. I remember being fascinated by the layout of the pitch. It was all new for an 8 year old.
I had not seen it on tv because there wasn’t much shown & I wouldn’t have understood it even if I had.
The first game that I remember seeing on tv was the dramatic 1956 Man City v Brum final when Bert Trautmann, a former German pow, made save after save despite breaking his neck diving at the feet of Murphy. The next was England v Brazil when England got 2 penalties & Brazil threatened to walk off in protest. All drama.
That was it, sometimes England home games & FA Cup finals.
I was lucky enough to see the Busby Babes twice, the 2nd time was their last in England before Munich. Too young to remember the detail but certainly they were fabulous in that 4-5 thriller.
If my memory serves me well we were not shown any European Cup football until the final of 1959, Real Madrid v Reims. That Real Madrid side was definitely something else – Santamaria, Puskas, Gento – the flying winger & Di Stefano etc… The following year they beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 at Hampden in atrocious conditions. What a game that was.
Then one was faced with the fact that the Tottenham double winning side of 1960/61 was probably the most free flowing football side I have ever seen. Not really big names, in World terms, but they came together perfectly. How they only won the title once I don’t understand. I think Tottenham fans are still smarting about a dubiously disallowed goal against Benfica, which may well have cost them the 1962 EC.
Other memorable sides Cruyff’s total football Ajax, 1970s Bayern Munich. Then you remember the 1980s more fondly than I do.
Early 1990s AC Milan was a truly exceptional side. We began to see some Serie A on Channel 4. It was the period when they escaped the shackles of defensive sterility so common of Italian sides. Wonderful stuff from them Parma, Lazio & Sampdoria in those days.
In England Man Utd of the early Beckham, Giggs era were a fantastic side it has to be admitted. Other exciting sides were the Best, Law & Charlton Man U & Clough’s Derby. Liverpool were more about power & domination to be an exciting watch.
Spartak Moscow possibly gave the most brilliant one off performance in beating us 2-5 at Highbury. I can’t remember a single name although Dasayev may have been in goal.
2002-2004 was the time we could claim that an Arsenal side could compare, particularly with the Spurs of the 1960s.
I firmly believe that given the patience to allow all the pieces to fall in line that the current Arsenal side, on its full maturity, will emulate the very best.
Sorry about the ramble folks.
A really fascinating post. I have similar prejudice for the Brasil ’70 team and the Dutch of the mid seventies. This is a very well thought out and presented article.
Thanks for a perspective, Flint, going back to years before my own birth! Are videos of those Spurs teams available?
Michel’s Netherlands were a great side indeed. But I didn’t include them because they were of a time when I was but a baby, and I came to appreciate them in retrospect as it were.
As for other Italians from that era, I particularly remember Sampdoria, particularly for their stylish forward line featuring Vialli and Mancini. They were elegant both. Fiorentina glowed brightly awhile too, with Laudrup and Batistuta.
Spurs videos are not something I seek, Saloner. It is a painful memory as it would have been just as possible for me to support them. Tottenham was nearer, as the crow flies, but it was the tube & a bus, rather than 6/7 stops on the tube to Arsenal. Anyway Arsenal still had a special aura, despite being at a low point in their history.
We did however beat them at Highbury in 1961/62, a game that is still one of my fondest memories. They had just brought Jimmy Greaves back from Milan & took an early lead, but from memory a Mel Charles header & definitely a stunning Alan Skirton pile driver, worthy of Puskas, won us the game. Although they had the upper hand in this period they did not dominate us in the way we have them in recent times.
The turning point came in the first game of 1968/69 when we beat them well at WHL. The 1970/71 double side was evolving.
Someone mentioned Gentile- if ever a name was less appropriate for an individual.
Mancini played against us in the ECWC & scored with a brilliant lob in Genoa. Vialli looked a bit headless chicken with skill but of course it was just his style because he was indeed a very clever player. I never liked Batistuta, brilliant goalscorer that was, because he was such an outrageous cheat.
For me although great at the time the 1970s World Cup doesn’t really stand up to too much scrutiny, because having seen a re-run of Brazil v England most of it was played at walking pace, compared to today. That allowed the skilled players to shine through in an unusual way.- the destroyers were handicapped by the conditions. What skills were shown though- Pele at his greatest, Tostao & the bloke with the moustache, who’s name escapes me.
Sorry to have reminded you of a Frostian path-not-taken Flint.
I plead guilty to bringing Gentile up; absolute misnomer indeed.
The game has become much quicker and athletic now relative to that era. Time on the ball has become such a luxury, something that makes the Fabregas’ of the world even more special: In the midst of the hustle and bustle it almost seems they slow time down when the ball’s at their feet. Quite marvellous.