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I am continually involved in conversations on social media and face to face, with friends and fellow Arsenal supporters about the need or otherwise for central midfield additions. It seems to be the majority view that Arsenal must have an alternative holding midfielder/DM to share the load with Coquelin. Schneiderlin, Vidal and now Carvalho are of course the names continuously linked with us.
It is no secret to anyone who knows me or reads my blog that I am a huge Schneiderlin fan and I advocated that we purchase him over 2 years ago. If I am honest the reception to the article at the time was not far removed from the tabloid reaction to David Dein announcing Wenger as our new manager. In fact, 4 of those who commented wanted Capoue in March 2013 who I believe has just gone to Watford after 2 anonymous years in Seven Sisters!
Now everyone recognises his ability and his country last year caught on too. Given how much I admire him and how much I have felt he was the missing link for some time, I find myself quite relaxed if Wenger, as it appears, deems us to have enough without him. That is not the same as being chuffed if Morgan S moved to Old Trafford but I can’t worry about that too much.
Morgan was in 2013 when I first wrote about him exactly what we needed and for most of last season he was still exactly what was missing. I am a huge admirer of Mikel Arteta, but his lack of pace was undoubtedly costing us in big games and Mathieu Flamini was certainly not a long term fix. Bielik may well be but until we see him that is purely speculation, based largely on what I have heard from those at the club. So why do I find myself so unconcerned if Wenger does not bring in Schneiderlin or even Vidal?
Francis Coquelin deserves to be in the Arsenal XI
Well, of course, the short answer is the emergence of Francis Coquelin. He may not deliver as much as his compatriot going forwards but as an out and out defensive shield he has outperformed all his peers, including the Schneiderlin, in the Premier League since his stunning re-emergence in December/January. Not many fellow Gunners will argue that Le Coq merits his name on the team sheet and his new long term deal at the club. In fact, I would be surprised if he was not now among the first names mentally in most fans preferred 11s.
So where is the disagreement that I have with most fans it seems? Most supporters apparently feel that having one out and out DM is not enough that Wenger should spend £25 million and £100k per week plus over 5 years for cover. That is if we agree that Coquelin is the man in possession. Now Arsenal do have that kind of money but whether collectively we like it or not, they are not that kind of club and Wenger is most certainly not that kind of manager.
The desire to have and extra body if for some is born out of an understandable anxiety about our injury track record, although there are strong signs that we are progressing on that front. For others there is no loyalty to the existing squad or recognition of the very real team spirit and togetherness, or that is how it often comes across. However the simple fact is assuming we continue, in the main, with the 4-2-3-1 formation most used by Wenger we have two positions up for grabs each week.
Even if we assume that Flamini is made available for sale and leaves, that Arteta, as many suggest has a permanent calf issue and that Bielik is too young, we still have 4 proven Premier League performers for 2 berths in Cazorla, Coquelin, Ramsay and Wilshere. Now I don’t for one minute agree that Arteta, Flamini and Beliek will not feature in 2015/16 but even if that were the case we may well still have Rosicky and Oxlade-Chamberlain who can cover (Remember Milan at home?)
If Coquelin plays most weeks do we honestly believe that Jack or Aaron can't do the job if required. Ramsey did it for a month of so two years back and Jack has done it for his country, to a degree. Particularly when I am certain Wenger will need to be guaranteeing Wilshere more minutes this coming season to ensure the forthcoming bid from City does not interest him. I for one do think that we have enough to cover Coquelin rested or injured for the odd game here and there or if needs be and this is where most will disagree.
So let’s be conservative and assume that Flamini does leave but Arteta can play periodically and Bielik will feature, because Wenger has said he will. Even if we ignore Ox and TR7 as potential stand-ins that give us 6 players to rotate, for a manager who never rotates!!
So let’s settle this argument perhaps by looking at and comparing us with the team we have to better to win the league in 15/16, Chelsea. Before I go on, for a laugh can I just ask you a question?
Do you think Jon Obi Mikel is better or more intelligent player than Jack Wilshere?
No thought not but he is the only cover in reality that Chelsea used last season, barring a couple of Zouma forays at DM, to rest or replace Matic. Chelsea play the same system as us with 2 deeper midfielders and all last season they had 4, yes 4 in their squad that occupied the 2 positions. Matic, Fabregas, Ramires and Mikel. Now Chelsea won the Premiership, and the League Cup, went as far in Europe as us but got knocked out of the FA Cup earlier. In truth both squads played about the same number of games.
So the best team in the country needed 4 players and Arsenal need 8? Can that be right?
Let’s look at the Chelsea player’s stats shall we? Surely if they only used 4 they must have heavily rotated and shared the load?
| Player | League (Subs) | ECL (Subs) | FA Cup (Subs) | COC (Subs) | Total (Subs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matic | 35 (1) | 8 | 0 | 3 (2) | 45 (3) |
| Fabregas | 33 (1) | 8 | 0 (1) | 4 | 45 (2) |
| Ramires | 11 (12) | 3 (3) | 2 | 1 | 17 (15) |
| Obi Mikel | 6 (12) | 1 (1) | 2 | 4 | 13 (13) |
So no it appears that the load was not equally shared and the reality is that Mourinho did not rotate and Matic and Fabregas played virtually all the key games with Ramires and Obi Mikel being utilised sparingly.
Which player is it you all think should only get a handful of games like Mikel? Coquelin or the £20 million plus new signing you want?
Next question if it is to start a sprinkling of games against lesser opposition and if he is staying on a year surely Arteta with 10 months rest, recovery and full pre-season can manage as well?
Do any of us believe that Jack Wilshere will want to stay and fight for the scraps of appearances whilst he is the main man for England? Will he be happy to play the Obi Mikel poor reserve role for another season? Will Ramsey contentedly stay on the right all season and not have his head turned by Spain next summer?
Everyone says 4 centre backs is enough for 2 roles and that 4 fullbacks, 2 for each side is enough and yet no one thinks 4 or 6 centre midfielders is enough for 2 roles. Is this not a bit odd? Why do our fans think that Cazorla, Ramsey of Wilshere, or even 2 of them, will be content to get the 17 or 13 starts that Ramires and Obi Mikel got? I don’t believe that for a second.
It seems that a huge section of out fanbase honestly base their fundamental beliefs on 2 things. Firstly that Arsenal will continue to have disastrous injuries problems, although Ramsey, Coquelin and Cazorla missed a handful of games between them last season. Secondly that Wenger will actively rotate a fit squad when there is very little evidence that he has ever done so.
Every time I even begin to get into this discussion the stock answer is “there are more than enough games to go around” and “we simply don’t have enough cover is Coquelin gets injured.” Well maybe you are all correct but there are only enough games to go around if you have a manager who wants to share them around and Chelsea’s cover sparingly used was Jon ‘bloody’ Obi Mikel who was a journeyman at his peak.
Just in case anyone suggests last season with Chelsea and Matic was an exception check out the Premier League Champions the past few years – surely they all had cover and DM rotation?
2014 – Man City – Fernandinho played in 33 of 38 matches and started 29
2013 – Man United – Carrick played in 36 of 38 matches and started 34. His cover was Phil Jones!
2012 – Man City – Barry played in 34 of the 38 matches and started 31 and they only used 4 central midfielders all season
So basically none of the recent Premier League Champions rotated their main DM or had specialist cover barring City with De Jong in 2012 who barely played. Yet Arsenal should spend £25 million plus wages for an alternative to arguably the 1st or 2nd best DM from the Premier League next season?
It could just be simple Maths. You all love Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere. You all think we should employ a specialist DM and that we need 2. So 2 or 3 of the players you and I admire won’t play week to week? 5 into 2 just does not go when Wenger does not rotate as Ramsey found out from March to May last season.
Most won’t agree but I needed to get this one of my chest. Thanks for reading and be careful what you wish for!
