We can’t afford to have ‘one of those days’

It’s easy to write off the Wolves match as ‘one of those days’. One where we have a large number of shots, the visiting goalkeeper plays a blinder and we find ourselves generally lamenting the lack of a plan B.

Ordinarily, we’d just accept that whatever we tried, we just weren’t going to score. However the position we find ourselves in at the moment means we can’t afford to have ‘one of those days’. With Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City dropping points the day before the Wolves game, it was the perfect opportunity to move into the top four, and put some pressure on Tottenham.

Whilst Wayne Hennessey did have a superb match, the lack of a plan B when Robin van Persie couldn’t find the net continued to be a worry.

Given we were on the front foot for the majority of the second half, Marouane Chamakh was only introduced as a second striker near the end of the game. Usually, when you’re chasing a goal, you’d send a second striker on earlier than the 85th minute. It either shows a lack of trust from Wenger in Chamakh, or that there really is too much reliance on Robin van Persie to score. It also makes you wonder why Ju-Young Park hasn’t yet made his Premier League debut. He could offer something different, but we’ve seen so little of him, it’s hard to know. I think Chamakh or Park will start against QPR on Saturday because of playing Fulham on Monday as well.

With Chamakh going off to the African Cup of Nations, we’ll be only one injury away from having one striker, hence the substantial need for one, or two forwards. The rumours are intensifying about the short term return of Thierry Henry, and I think that would be brilliant. He’d only be signed as a short term solution because of having to go back to America in March. We still need a long term solution as well, however as cover for Chamakh when he’s away, I doubt we could get a better striker on loan than Thierry Henry. Even when Chamakh returns, I think most Gooners would take a 34 year old Henry over the Moroccan.

Henry’s role in the team would be different as he wouldn’t have to be the creative player he used to be. He wouldn’t necessarily be needed to fly down the left and cut inside as his pace has decreased, although that isn’t out of the question with Gervinho also going to the African tournament, but he’d just have to be there as a finisher. The likes of Walcott can do most of his running, but Henry just needs to find space in the box and add the final touch. I’m certain he’d still be able to do that.

The other long term solution is more difficult. Of the names mentioned in the press, I think Lukasz Podolski would be a good signing, and with his contract situation at Cologne, we could get a good deal. He’s also able to play as a winger so could get into the side that way if he can’t get past van Persie as the main front man. Whether we actually sign him in January remains to be seen. Personally, I’d be surprised if we signed two strikers in January because it’s unusual for Arsene Wenger to do so, however I think it’s what is needed.

Against Wolves, it was noticeable how we missed both Walcott and Ramsey. Their replacements, Benayoun and Rosicky, didn’t have bad games, and were heavily involved in the build up for the goal, however we missed the pace of Walcott and direct passing of Ramsey. The Welshman’s form may have tailed off in recent weeks, but I think he adds a more direct nature to our style of play as he’s always got his head up and is looking to supply either van Persie or the wingers. Although Wolves were sitting deeper, Ramsey did have a positive impact in driving the team forward when he came on. It was the sort of match that we really missed the inventive and driving nature of Jack Wilshere. Hopefully he’s entering the final stages of his recovery and we won’t have to wait ages in 2012 for him to make his first appearance of the season.

Defensively, it was disappointing to concede following a corner. It’s an area of the game that we’ve improved massively on this season with the improvement of Laurent Koscielny, the return of Thomas Vermaelen, the signing of Per Mertesacker and the organisation of Wojciech Szczesny. At 1-0 up, we should have stayed focussed at the back, and we were punished for not doing so. Even after that goal though, we still should have been able to do enough to win the game.

The draw with Wolves means it’s almost vital that we pick up six points from the two games in three days over the weekend. QPR will be difficult because of the likely rotation, and Fulham will be difficult because generally they’re hard to beat at Craven Cottage. How we come out of this three day period will go a long way to dictating our actions in the January transfer window. With Manchester United coming to the Emirates in January, some momentum going into that match will be important, plus we don’t want to have further points to have to try and make up on those ahead of us. Having worked so hard to get ourselves back within striking distance of the top four, we don’t want to see that unravel in three important days.

Hopefully, day one will see us collect three points against QPR, day two will have the return of the King, and day three will finish the festive period with three points at Fulham. Football is never that straightforward so hopefully it’s doable for this team and that some of them don’t turn out to be ‘one of those days’.

Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 29 Dec 11