It’s long been a criticism of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side that they can’t duke it out with the more physical sides in the Premier League. That when Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce or the like square off against the Gunners, it’s Arsenal who come off second worst.
And I think this criticism has been valid for the last 5-6 years. Without a Patrick Viera type figure, or a Gilberto Silva, Arsenal have lacked balance in their midfield. Yes, there have had defensive midfielders play key roles in their squad, like Alex Song and Francis Coquelin, but they’ve always been surprisingly attacking minded. Song’s forays forward often left space open at the back.
What’s more, he wasn’t exactly the strongest player. Sure, he could put in a decent tackle, but he didn’t really get involved in scuffles, stand up for the rest of his team mates, or intimidate opposition players.
Things haven’t really changed since he joined Barcelona last summer. There does, however, seem to have been a change in mindset amongst Arsenal players.
Yes, there midfield is decked out with technically gifted players, but these individuals seem to realize that in the Premier League they need to be willing to put their foot in and square up against bigger, stronger, opposition.
So, yes, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere, despite only being about 3 foot 8 inches tall, are capable of standing up for themselves. Take, for instance, Jack Wilshere shoving Michael Owen aside after the former England forward punched Mikel Arteta on the back following a pretty heavy tackle. It’s not the first time we’ve seen Wilshere stand up for his team-mates and he’s clearly not afraid to ‘get in the face’ of other players.
Then there’s Olivier Giroud leading Arsenal’s line. The broad-chested Frenchman is tough, strong in the air and difficult to knock off the ball. His presence means the Gunners have a Plan B: hoof the ball forward and let Giroud hold it up. He’s also a good finisher and looks to have been a useful signing.
Stoke City tried all the old tricks against Arsenal on Saturday: long balls forward, late tackles and unnecessary confrontations. It wasn’t enough. The Gunners controlled the possession and got the goal they deserved.
Perhaps they’ve finally turned the corner?
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