Tribute to Arsenal's defence

Arsenal’s Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (L) celebrates at the end of the match with French defender Laurent Koscielny (C) and German defender Per Mertesacker (R) after winning their English Premier League football match against Liverpool

So, another weekend, another 3 points in the bag. Its getting routine now, isnt’t it? Although, Liverpool was the most difficult of the fixtures we have faced in the league until now. And it was so good to see us win convincingly and even more wonderful to watch us keep a clean sheet against a team who were on a roll. I, for one, certainly did not expect that. So far this season, in between all the headlines that the attacking front is making, the defensive unit of the team has been under appreciated. Since, the turn around at Bayern last year, the defence has been giving a solid platform at the back for the creative maestros up front to come up with some beautiful football.

It felt so good to see the smiling faces of Kos and Mertesacker after the game yesterday, celebrating together, a sense of triumph oozing, a defensive team within a team, who performed exceedingly well. Kos, with his pace and athleticism can match any of the best strikers in the world. Lets not forget the penetrating runs that he does whenever an opportunity presents itself. He does have to get more disciplined and try to avoid tackles in the box. He got a red card this season for that and he did another one yesterday on Suarez. Those tackles are wonderful to watch when they come off but if not, the team is a man down. Although I am not so much worried if we are leading in that situation, thanks to our improved defensive resilience. But, it can cost the team that extra man needed, if we are trailing behind in a game. The tall German on the other hand brings a calmness at the back which is instrumental to keep organization and the unit focused. For some reason I like the way he has made the pocket, between the keeper’s right and the right back in front of him, his own. You see Szczesny getting the ball and Mertesacker dropping into that pocket. He then picks put his midfielder, passes the ball and says “Off you go the Maestros, create a beautiful Football Symphony”. No wonder our club Captain has been on the bench. But its not even half a season yet and he will get his chance. It is hard to practice but he will have to be patient.

The central defence has also been getting very good support from the full backs. I would go so far as to say, the full backs are on a song. As Cazorla mentioned in an interview, the full backs are not only defending now, but since we do not have any out and out wingers at the moment, they are having to work overtime. And they are doing it with aplomb.

Gibbs has been getting better with every game. His marking, understanding of the game and consistency has improved tremendously. If not for Baines’ free kicks, Gibbs should have been the ideal understudy for Ashley Cole in England colours. His passing and control of the ball on the ground is very good. Although he probably does need to improve in delivery of his aerial crosses towards the goal. I hope it is not a big injury that he sustained yesterday for the sake of having a stable back four. However, I will not be losing my sleep over it, since we have a very able replacement in Nacho. Defensively he is solid and aerial passing is decent enough. What was lacking was his drive to get forward as frequently as Gibbs. However, for the past few games now, Wenger has been using Nacho as a substitute to close out games and more often than not has ended up playing in front of Gibbs, effectively as a mid fielder. That should have improved his Drive.

Sagna, well he is Sagna. Solid, reliable, selfless and a constant threat from the right. His aerial crosses have seen a significant improvement and the one he put in for the first goal was pure determination following a pumping run along the touchline. For me he was the MOTM yesterday. Apart from the assist for the first goal, he threw Henderson off balance when he got in the box unchecked, took a yellow card for the team by fouling Suarez when he was in a dangerous position and also kept Coutinho silent later in the second half. Mr Wenger, forget the man’s age, his loyalty, commitment and his performances not only deserve a new contract but a hefty bonus as well. I do have concerns over Jenkinson though. He is young, agreed. But he has not been doing great when he has got his chances after the initial matches of the season. He has been in the first team set up for quite some time and needs to improve on his consistency. The squad have developed an attitude of cutting out the individual mistakes and unfortunately, he has been responsible for a few recently. Another reason for Sagna to continue at the club until Jenkinson is ready for the spot.

Last but not least the Big Pole. After he got a kick on his back side from the Manager when he was dropped the last season, he has come out as a completely different goal keeper. Although we have conceded a few times this season, he has deserved more clean sheets than he has on his name. He said he is desperate for them in an interview with Arsenal Player, and he works hard trying to get them. A significant change that I see in him is that he is increasingly becoming a sweeping goal keeper. He no longer is routed to his spot close to the goal line, but races out to clear out any danger coming towards the goal. He is jumping and catching balls high in the air and confidently punching those that he can’t. You did not see that so much from him before he got the stick from the Manager. That has certainly done him and Arsenal a world of good. For a keeper of his age, he is doing very very good and he can only get better. There is a talk that he has been offered a new deal and if true, that augurs well for the club’s future.

All of the above has been further supported by the willingness of the entire team to get back when the ball is lost. Arteta, Flamini and Ramsey have done exceedingly well in protecting the back four. Flamini is probably THE best signing in the league this season. (OKAY!! Second best after a certain Ozil) Even Giroud has been putting in consistently industrious shifts every game. He is the ideal “Striker as First Line of Defence”.

Thanks to all of this Defensive Development, I neither have a funny feeling in my stomach nor do I chew up all my nails every time the ball is in our final third of the pitch. Hopefully this continues and we see more clean sheets this season. Good job so far, Mr. Wenger and Mr. Bouldy!!