Often Arsene is being criticized for having a very thin squad. Our complete team gets exposed when one key player gets injured for some time. Last year our title charge was halted once Walcott and Ramsey were injured. Does Arsenal really have a thin squad?
Its a generally accepted view that every position should have at least two players for the whole season. 22 quality players are required. Few additional versatile and young players are also required to manage at difficult times and to adjust for various tactics. English Premier league has a squad restriction that does not allow any team to have unlimited number of players. Almost every team in EPL has similar number of players. Only quality determines the champions.
A balaced team always deserves to be champions. A balanced team always wins titles. Balance is required in Quality, Quantity and Play.
Thin Squad or Mediocre Players
Arsenal is an offensive team. There is no surprise that there are so many midfielder and forwards. Looking at the numbers, we can clearly say our squad is not thin. We had adequate number of players to challenge for all the titles. We always have adequate number of players in recent years. We have not won enough. There can be only one reason to that. We are simply not good enough.
Our squad is totally unbalanced. We have 20 players to cover 6 positions in the offensive section. We have merely 6 players to cover 4 positions. There is no way this can be justified as a balanced team. Our team is totally unbalanced.
Tracking Back
We can argue that Arsenal tend to defend as a team. That is actually not working. The need for Sanchez and Ozil tracking back is not good for the team when they are in the attack mode. Their defensive duties should help the team when we defend a slender lead in final few minutes. There is no point for Ozil to track back during the first few minutes of the game. Defenders should be strong enough to deal with those attacks. This is another reason for our ineffective counter attack. Sanchez tracking back nullifies an attacking threat, this unbalances our team. We have been playing this unbalanced team for several seasons.
Physical Unbalance
Arsenal team is Physically unbalanced compared to most teams in Europe. Arsenal Invincibles were no midgets, they were giants and cannot be bullied by any opponents. A team cannot be made of tall giants. Most technically gifted players were not big. Having a team full of midgets is not going to help us either. Physically and technically strong team is needed. Easily Man city defenders bullied our attackers. We should at least have few more stronger & taller players in our defense to help us during set pieces and counter attacks.
Out of Position
Having versatile players in the squad is really good, but its important to have specialist players. Special players will always excel in their position. Playing Ozil in wings and expecting him to track back is simply a total waste of talent. Why not have a proper winger like Podolski or buy real winger? The Ox played too was often played as a winger, but he just vanishes from the line and moves to the middle. This allows space for the opponents to attack through wings. Though players are aware of their playing positions sometimes they fail in their unnatural positions.
Balancing the Team
Is every team in the world balanced? Does everyone plays best players in their positions? The answer is no. Even if the team is balanced in every aspect you still need someone to keep the team balanced throughout the 90 periods. The game is not one dimensional. It changes every second. The tactics has to be changed based on the opponents and players strengths. Only one man in football has that responsibility. Only a Manager can keep the team balanced. This is the reason the manager is very important in football than any other game. Many coaches like Pep stands on the touch line and always shouts at players to keep the shape of the team. They keep on instructing players to keep their shape in attack and defense. Leaders on pitch too organizes the team.
Worldcup
Germany was a totally unbalanced team. France had better strikers, wingers and defenders. They had betters players in each position. Germany took a lead and stole the game away from them slowly. Germany game changed during the course of the tournament. Ozil was played out of position. Howedes was played as Full back. They played with static full back since Lahm was playing in the middle. Lahm changed position for the final. As a team they were organised. They covered for each others weakness. Bastian Schweinsteiger was a real steel and leader on the pitch. He played a key role in keeping team organised. Unbalanced teams can win title if they keep evolving.
Managers and Leaders on pitch wins titles. Arsene is not going to shout from the touch line, Someone else has to do it for Arsenal on the pitch.
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