Andrey Arshavin believes Arsenal need to defend better; Arsenal vs. Partizan Belgrade a decider
Arsenal’s little Russian magician, number 23 Andrey Arshavin, points out that while the Gunners are noted for retaining possession and penetrating defences with their attractive one touch football, they need to defend better as
a unit.
The side from North London currently find themselves occupying the top spot in the Premier League as they head into the last month of the 2010 calendar year. While their prospects in the local league of England are irrefutable,
the Gunners find themselves in contention in the Carling Cup, the FA Cup and the European League. Arsenal, thanks to a favourable fixture list, has managed to book a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals this January. They are also on the brink of reaching
the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League as they need to win the tie against Partizan Belgrade on home turf.
However, based on their recent form, the Arsenal side have had the tendency of leaking goals. Fabianski has managed to keep just a solitary clean sheet in the previous 6 games. Moreover, their form at the Emirates stadium has been
verging on appalling; losing to Newcastle and conceding thrice in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Russian playmaker finds the prevailing lack of concentration a touch frustrating and has urged the Arsenal team to sort themselves out. He further emphasized on it being a team effort rather than seeing the defenders subjected
to bear the brunt of the burden.
"We struggle in defence so we have to score more than we concede," said the number 23. "It's very frustrating and we're trying to improve.
"Normally I can't go through our defenders in training, but we don't just blame our defenders. Sometimes I can't run [back], and I let defenders cross so the forwards score a goal.
"So it doesn't always depend on defenders. As a team we need to improve defensively."
While the Russian’s words might be inspiring to say the very least, it could also be argued that if one tunes into an Arsenal game, it is usually Arshavin himself who is seen caught in the opposition’s half when Arsenal don’t have
the ball. Song tracks back since it’s his duty as the holding midfielder. Fabregas is seen deep into his own half while orchestrating the Arsenal attack or marking the other team’s attacking midfielder. Nasri is easily the fittest player in the Arsenal midfield
and often tracks back to help out Bacary Sagna while Chamakh helps out with his aerial presence when the team is defending corners.
That brings us back to Arshavin’s statement: as a ‘team’, Arsenal really
do need to improve defensively if they aim to be serious title contenders over the course of this season.
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