1-0 to the Arsenal; that used to be a saying in the days of George Graham. An unattractive side going forward, their late eighties legacy was built on the ability to defend, and to defend well.
When Arsene Wenger took over, things stayed consistent for a few years. Steve Bould, Nigel Winterburn, Martin Keown, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon formed the basis of a side that suddenly found their attacking intent. Knowing the back four were strong and resolute, Wenger built a side full of attacking flair.
That unbreachable defence drifted apart, player-by-player and Arsenal have not been the same since. Their inability to defend was evident last season, as Unai Emery’s side had a horrible record at the back and their 4-1 defeat in the Europa League final only served as a further warning of the danger that lay ahead if they didn’t recruit.
They swooped for Chelsea defender David Luiz, a man who cost the Gunners £8m ($9.89m). That spending was increased significantly when they landed Kieran Tierney from Celtic, for fee of £25m ($30.5m), according to Football London.
That’s a huge sum of money to spend on getting things right at the back and a great early test for the new players came against Liverpool at the weekend. A prediction post by bwin Premier League on the Liverpool vs. Arsenal game had the Reds as overwhelming favorites to win at Anfield, and they didn’t disappoint.
Jürgen Klopp’s side won 3-1, with the help of two errors from new boy David Luiz. His first, a foolish tug back on Mo Salah resulting in a spot-kick, was ‘not enough’ for a penalty as Unai Emery told the Guardian the game. Few would agree; it seemed a rash challenge for the level of danger.
Luiz was again at fault as Liverpool raced into a three-goal lead, easily turned and outpaced by Salah who finished with aplomb. Arsenal did pull one back suggesting they’re on the right track going forward, but defensively they’re still not at the races.
Have the new signings been a flop? As yet Tierney hasn’t started a Premier League game for Arsenal, so it’s hard to know how effective he’ll be. The London Standard confirms he’ll be out until October, by which time Spurs and Manchester United will also have faced the Gunners.
As for Luiz, his transfer is a baffling one. He’s always been error-prone, not least in Brazil’s humbling in the World Cup semi-final in 2014. Frank Lampard didn’t bat an eyelid in letting his defender go to the Emirates, despite Chelsea being under a transfer ban.
Unai Emery is clearly hoping to make his defence more resolute and three or four games in is no time to start making solid judgements. However, with Luiz looking exactly like his old self at the back, it’s hard to see them getting back to the sort of form they showed in the late nineties.
Even with three midfielders sat tight in front of Luiz and Sokratis they looked susceptible and in chasing the clean sheets, they could be in danger of neglecting what they’ve become famous for; free flowing, attacking football.
However, whilst David Luiz is only ever one step away from an error and Tierney is sat in the stands watching on, little will improve for Arsenal, leaving them out of the title race for yet another season.
