Get rid of Chamakh now!

Like the universal truism, which I’ve mentioned here severally, you learn more about a team in defeat. Monday night’s reverse at Old Trafford was our seventh of a season that hasn’t yet reached halfway mark. Five of those coming in the league, while the two others came in the Champions League.

In all those defeats, the underlying common thread has been our inability to win, or find our way back into games whenever we concede first. Only at Anfield on the first Sunday of the league season, did we manage to save something from a game after conceding first.

We saw it in evidence again Monday night at Old Trafford.

Another thing to emerge from all those defeats has been an inability to use a weapon that served us well last season. That weapon has been, wearing down teams and grabbing late goals when the opposition becomes ragged and fatigued.

We scored a whopping 55% of our goals in all 53 games played last season in the last 15 minutes of matches. Due to our superior passing skills and ability to hold onto the ball for long stretches during matches, we were quite able to make opponents chase the ball for long periods in games and eventually tire them out. Wearied and out of breath, we then upped the tempo and pounced in the last few minutes to nick goals that often proved crucial and game-defining.

This tactic was personified by none other than Theo Walcott, who was always kept on the bench to be introduced in latter stages, when he then used his speed to further stretch teams and create openings for us.

It is a tactic that Wenger has stubbornly stuck to once more this season. But not one that has worked wonders so far. The percentage of late goals has become a trickle and infact almost dried up as we have been found out and opponents have allowed us to do what we know best – keeping the ball and passing it around. If they couldn’t get it off us, they at least sat back and conserved their energy for the last-minute onslaught they know will always follow from our end.

Chamakh and Nasri...our two most consistent goleadors

With all respect to Wenger, he hasn’t displayed good enough judgement in repeatedly sticking to this tactic.  A good coach he is and in many respects, a great one actually.

But unlike his peers such as Sir Alex and the pompous Jose Mourinho, he often displays an inability to adjust his tactics and deploy men and mental material as games unfold. People like Mourinho and sometimes Rafael Benitez have been known to switch tactics and formations up to five times in 90 minutes. It all depends on what is happening on the pitch and which of the two teams is on top.

Wenger, instead, the stubborn and obdurate man that he is hardly ever reacts to games in such drastic manner. Anyone familiar with the way Arsenal plays knows that the man never starts substitutions before the 70^th minute mark; players in form are never dropped regardless of who the opposition is; Andrei Arshavin will always be plonked on the left flank despite the fact that most of his good work for us has been through the middle. Yes, such a rigid policy ensures stability and continuity but in the big, key games like against Man Utd last Monday night, a bit of variety would always give us a surprise edge that could catch the opposing manager on a wrong foot for at least the first few minutes of the game.

What for God’s sake is wrong in starting Walcott and making full use of his speed and running abilities? There can’t be anything wrong at all with leaving Marouane Chamakh on the bench and deploying him later in the game to change things if needed.

Variety and change are potent weapons, if utilized sensibly.

In this case, such variety is needed if we are to get anything out of this season at a time when it is still within reach. I dread to mention the premier league title in reference to us now after watching the way and manner we have been expectedly turned over by the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd; and unexpectedly by the likes of West Brom, Braga and Newcastle!

So far, this team looks good enough for success only in the Carling Cup. The FA Cup would be a sweet, if somewhat surprise addition. But the league and the Champions League are different matters altogether.

So, to aim for that elusive silverware, which keeps looking more and more like the Carling version it is pertinent at this stage to rest Chamakh.

He has looked knackered in the last one month and if the truth be told, he ought to be. After starting the season and his Arsenal career like a runaway train, those early exertions look to have taken their toll. Since that double salvo against Wolves at Molineux on November 10, he has managed two goals in eight games, with those strikes coming against Tottenham and Aston Villa.

In that time thankfully, Samir Nasri has stepped up to the plate weighing in with crucial goals but we cannot seriously expect a midfielder to keep doing an attacker’s job if we hope to win anything at season’s end. Good and in-form as he is, Nasri is no Maradona and in a side packed with flair players like Arsenal, we need the strikers to be firing. Considering our kamikaze defending as well, we will have to rely on our attack to bail us out by scoring two, three goals per game.

To revive our attacking options and reduce Nasri’s workload, it is indeed time to give Chamakh a break and make full use of the bench. Three strikers in the persons of World Cup ‘stars’ Robin Van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are all available and all warming the bench.

Chamakh’s early-season brilliance has not seen the need to press them all into action and coupled with injuries, they have been largely anonymous this season so far.

Of the trio though, it is Walcott that might actually get a nod to start games - and desperately too. If only Wenger would tweak his set-in-stone tactics for once and start him right down the middle.

With Chelsea floundering and super-rich Man City ridden with internal strife, we can still hold a candle to our title dreams and resurrect hope by reshuffling the pack.

A fresh, well-rested Chamakh will carry a much bigger threat in the New Year, when the business end of the season gets underway.

After Man Utd exposed the inherent weaknesses of Wenger’s stubborn methods last Monday, its time for a response that will re-ignite our campaign and keep the opposition wondering.

Resting Chamakh and making use of the bench will be one such crucial response.

Manchester Utd 1 Arsenal 0

Park Ji Sung was the slayer on the night as his lone 40^th minute header consigned us to defeat at Old Trafford and our fifth such setback of the season. It used to be conventional wisdom that you cannot hope to win the league if you lose more than five games all season long. Well, we’ve reached that point now and it would be interesting to see what happens to our title hopes henceforth.

The game itself did not reach the dizzy heights that such encounters between we and them are noted for. Wenger blamed the nature of the pitch as well as tension from both sides for the tame nature of the game. He never seems to run out of explaining away every defeat we suffer – as if Man Utd played on a separate pitch from us.

While Man Utd would surely go on record as having won it, on the pitch there wasn’t much to separate both teams. Rooney was a peripheral figure all through the 90minutes as he conceded responsibility of leading the attack to Nani. It was no surprise therefore that it was Nani’s assist that led to Ji Sung’s winner.

On our part, the big story clearly was the league debut of our rookie goalie, Wojciech Szczesny in place of the now-regular Fabianski and in fairness to the younger Pole, he was not disgraced.

The goal that beat him could have evaded more experienced goalies and in the second half, he managed a clean sheet despite a face-to-face with Anderson and Rooney penalty.

All in all, despite leaving the Stadium of Dreams empty-handed, we still remain second on the log and two points behind Man Utd, who travel to an intimidating Stamford Bridge this weekend to play Chelsea.

Rooney misses from the spot to save us further punishment

 Below are how we performed on a chilly Manchester night.

·         * Szczesny (7/10) – His name might be a tongue –twister but if the truth be told, we will be getting used to it. Wenger, never afraid to blood young players, pulled a big rabbit out of the hat by naming the 20year-old to start. Despite the outcome of the game, Wojciech enhanced his reputation with an accomplished performance. Yes he was beaten by Ji Sung’s looping header for what proved to be the winner, but he saved well from Anderson in the 53^rd minute and also from Rooney in the 80^th minute, after the star England striker had blazed a penalty over the bar in the 73^rd minute.

With Manuel Almunia now definitely fallen out of favour, expect to see more and more of Wojciech as the season unfolds.

·         * Clichy (6/10) - Did the simple things well but his penchant for switching off at key moments cost us on the night. Both key moments in the game stemmed from direct mistakes by our left fullback. He gave Nani too much room to launch the pass onto Ji Sung’s head that led to the lone goal. Clichy’s handling of the ball – though inadvertently -  in the 73^rd minute also gifted Man Utd an undeserved penalty that Rooney blasted into the night sky. Clichy on his part, needs a talking-to.

·         * Koscielny (7/10) – Was never found wanting all the times Man Utd came knocking on the door of our defence. I will never understand what the criticism about him is all about because he always gives 100% and is very positionally alert and sensitive to danger in and around the box. Kept Rooney and Ji Sung quiet all game and despite the goal they scored, he emerged from the match unblemished.

·         * Squillaci (5/10) – He remains the weak link in our back four. He does the business against lesser and weaker sides but against a top team like Man Utd, he struggled a lot of the time to cope. Wasn’t exactly disgraced on the night but found it tough going against the speed and movement of Nani and sometimes Anderson, on the few occasions the Brazilian midfielder strode forward. I reckon he needs a break for a couple of weeks while someone like Johann Djourou takes his place.

·         * Sagna (7/10) – Was his usual no-nonsense self all through the 90minutes. He dealt with all that came his way in form of Nani and his cohorts. He even found the strength and space to bomb forward and lob in a few balls. Didn’t have an effective communication though with Rosicky in front of him through no fault of his though. He also had a running battle all night with Patrice Evra on the Man Utd left flank and had his shirt ripped apart in an aerial clash with Rio Ferdinand early in the second half. It takes much more thana torn shirt to stop Bacary though and last night he was on top of his game.

·         * Song (6/10) – Did well in his natural defensive midfield role as he stuck closer to the defence than his new-found love of bombing forward. Came out on top in his running battle with Darren Fletcher and Anderson, thus nipping many a Man Utd attack in the bud. All in all, it was still a subdued night for the big Camerounian who picked up a booking late in the game for a foul on Evra.

·         * Wilshire (5/10) – It was a testament to his reputation that our little English terrier was swamped by Man Utd midfielders anytime he had the ball. Despite the close attention paid to him by Fletcher and Anderson, he still tried his best to launch attacks form a very crowded midfield. Was taken off in the 65^th minute after picking up a slight knock in a gritty tackle that left him hobbling around the pitch. A learning curve for Jack but one that will enhance his experience and game massively.

·         * Rosicky (5/10) – On a night when the game was likely to be won based on the outcome of the midfield battle, our captain for the day, Rosicky failed woefully to spark. He was simply overawed by the towering Fletcher who did a perfect job keeping him quiet. Couldn’t find his feet, let alone his range of passing and it was no surprise at all that his number was the first up when the changes were being rung. A better-forgotten night indeed for Tomas.

·         * Arshavin (6/10) – Another one that failed to make an impression on the night. It is an indication of where the pendulum of victory will eventually swing when too many players in a team are simply not firing. Arshavin was policed excellently by the Brazilian fullback Rafeal and simply did not have the legs or the guile to outwit his marker, He drifted into the centre on a couple of occasions in search of space but he eventually lost his way and interest in the game before being substituted. His yo-yo form must be worry to all Gunners now.

·          * Nasri (6/10) – Despite the lack of service from a packed midfield, our French maestro never stopped trying. He wasn’t his usual dominant self due to the close marking of Vidic and Ferdinand which was to be expected. Credit to him though for making the best out of a tough night by showing glimpses of why he is now a force to be reckoned with.

·         * Chamakh (5/10) – Apart from a snap first half header that Van Der Sar held very well and a second half shot crambled away by Vidic, we could as well have played without a striker. The Moroccan was largely anonymous as the game passed him by in large doses. Picked up a late booking for a needless foul and was lucky to avoid conceding a penalty when he ‘hugged’ a ball in our area where a header would have been the easier option. In my opinion, Chamakh’s level has dropped in recent games as the goals have dried up and the legs gotten heavier. Just like Squillaci who also came in from the French league and found themselves plunged head-on into the frenetic English game, he also needs a break to recharge his batteries. The need for such a break was evident with the sight of him clutching his groin at the final whistle.

The substitutes:

·         * Van Persie (5/10) – Came on in the 63^rd minute for an ineffective Rosicky. He wasn’t given room by the Man Utd backline and in a huge game as this, it wasn’t the best place to ease him back to the game. He surely needs games to rediscover his form after a long time out with injury.

·        *  Fabregas (5/10) – Tried to pull the strings he’s well known for after coming on to replace Wilshire in the 63^rd minute. Wasn’t given room as well by a well-organised Man Utd defence and didn’t look like he was willing to take any risk as well with the game dieing a slow death.

·        *  Walcott (5/10) – He was the last throw of Wenger’s dice as he came on in the 80^th minute to try to outrun the Man Utd defence. Did well for the 15 odd minutes he was on the pitch but ran out of time to change the destiny of the game. As long as he stays fit, he remains am potent alternative for Wenger if the manager wants to reshuffle things at the front.

Once again, we fail to trouble the very teams that we are supposed to overhaul in our attempt to win anything. Teams like Man Utd, Chelsea who have remained our betenoire for these 3-4years past. More annoying is the confirmation of all the hateful jibes thrown at us by Patrice Evra before this game, labeling us a ridiculous side for not winning anything recently.

Just as has also been the case all season long, we fail to take anything from a game where we concede first. It is a measure of our lack of fighting spirit, or level of demoralization, or both that we can’t seem to find an extra soon as we fall behind in a game.

It’s all well and good to take the lead and pummel poorer teams into submission, but soon as we concede ourselves, we just fold and go through the motions for the rest of the game.

Yet again, when questions are asked of this bunch, they fail to respond. Szczesny apart, I couldn’t really point to any other player on the night who merited the shirt.

Which makes Wenger’s gripe about the pitch more hollow and very grating.