Age old problem of balance has proven difficult for Arsene Wenger

May 12, 2009 at 5:56 pm | In Arsenal | 2 Comments
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Arsene Wenger’s tactical experiments in trying to secure a balance between attack and defence from his young side, has not gone all to plan this season.
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With that defeat, Arsenal’s 21 game unbeaten league run came to an emphatic halt. And perhaps fittingly, that run which started at Chelsea and ended against the same club, reveals how much the two clubs have come since then.

On the face of it, a great deal hasn’t changed from the Chelsea under Luis Felipe Scolari and the one currently managed by Guus Hiddink. However the Dutchman has made the Blues hard to beat again, instilling a more cautious and efficient approach to their play which in reality is just like the Chelsea of old. Against Arsenal they were counter-attacking, letting their opponents to do most of the running before hitting them with a sucker-punch. The return of Essien has been most important and the Ghanaian allows the team to be more dominant in the centre and control space better.

Scolari on the other hand wanted to make Chelsea the expansive, ball-hogging side that they were not suited to, especially without the injured pair Joe Cole and Deco. Tactically they fell short, as the Brazilian coach never look to deviate from the same style of football even when the game was being chased. Nevertheless even with these adjustments Hiddink has made, it is easy to see this side is running it’s course and look more likely to struggle than Arsenal next season if much of the team remains the same.

And indeed, Arsene Wenger has admitted signings are to be made next season, who more importantly are to be players of experience because the club is overflown with stars of the future. But for some, that reinforcement should have come before the start of the season when it was apparent in the previous campaign that a lack of depth was the reason for the derailment of Arsenal’s title charge. A lot then was placed on young Denilson’s shoulders to carry the fight after a slow start but while Arsenal were decent in attack, they were not great, even Fabregas’ return couldn’t bring back the flowing football.

Five defeats and the Brazilian was at the forefront of fans’ fury, some stating he was playing in Cesc Fabregas’s areas. The truth was, that the Spaniard was playing even higher up in order to repeat the previous season’s heroics thereby exposing the young(er) midfielder.  Pressuring was a team game but the stats actually showed Denilson was mostly (and quietly) leading the charge. The handing of the captain armband to Fabregas was part of the turning point; the playmaker became a bit more disciplined and started dictating proceedings all the while adding balance to the line-up. And with the club leaking goals, Wenegr urged the full backs to be more cautious.

“At one stage we had conceded too many goals, so we encouraged our defenders to be a bit more cautious,” said Wenger. The affect of the change has been fourfold: Early in the season (though not just limited to) Arsenal were being attacked in the space vacated by Clichy and Sagna (1) while at the same time putting too much strain on Denilson (2) and the centre backs (3), who had to push up to make up the space and contribute in creating the pressure in the other end. And they are also stopping crosses coming in to the box (4), long thought to be the defences Achilles heel.

A first half barrage at the hands of the Chelsea wingers and the Arsenal defence survived with only one goal conceded. The second half saw a Van Persie double inspire the Gunners to an important win but little did he know his role would become even more crucial in the coming months. Fabregas exited injured as Arsenal lost their main creative force. “When he’s there, everything goes through him but when he’s not it can take a while to adapt because the game goes through different ways – it’s plural,” said Wenger. “When it’s Fabregas it is more one-way traffic at the start of the build-up.”

Indeed it took a while and required some tinkering, no less helped by Arshavin’s arrival. Wenger responded to a barren run in front of goal by focusing the play on getting the ball wide and up the pitch quicker. The opponents were being pressured higher up the pitch due to assurances given by the cautious full backs and the midfield shield. Nasri moved to the centre in a 4-2-3-1 and mixing the above factors together, Arsenal produced their best senior performance of the season against Roma.

Fabregas’s return saw the skipper take up the Frenchman’s role but to mixed success; while Cesc was the more incisive passer, Nasri added better balance by supporting play better. Another good performance at home to Villarreal seemed to suggest the 4-4-1-1 to be Arsenal’s best system. However with the 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Chelsea, the hard work was becoming undone and the defensive shield proving irrelevant; good against the smaller clubs but against the bigger sides it meant it invited the opponents forward. Of course Arsenal were pressing higher up the pitch but if that failed (and a simple long ball could easily undo it) meant exposing the midfield cover.

Which invariably led to the Chelsea game. The high pressure exposed Song and the back four were left with too much to cope with in front of them. It required a bit more discipline from Fabregas or Nasri (at times it was difficult to fathom who was the deeper midfielder) who without that player operating as a number 10 were all too eager to move there. Arsenal produced their best attacking display without the finishing against the best defence in the league but the balance was wrong. “I believe we have quality defenders and it’s more a case of balancing the team defensively than the quality of our defender,” Wenger explained. “I still feel I was more worried in February when we were drawing 0-0 without creating a chance. It’s always easier to correct what doesn’t work defensively; if you don’t create chances you are always more worried.”

With players like Hleb, Rosicky and Eduardo last season Arsenal were able to share creative duties while the mobility and tireless work of Flamini was priceless. The Chelsea defeat, although large shows that while the attacking part of the game was less complete the defensive side, as a team required a bit more fine-tuning. Injuries have meant the constant changing of the line-up to find the right balance and with everything the team has learned over the season, can surely be displayed with a complete performance away to United on Saturday.

Denilson can rekindle the lost art of midfield tackling

March 7, 2009 at 5:30 pm | In Arsenal | 10 Comments
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Arsene Wenger may have bemoaned the lack of good tacklers these days but what are the reasons for the demise and does he have one right under his nose?
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“I see very few good tacklers nowadays,” said Arsene Wenger most probably reminiscing of the horrendous moment that ended Eduardo’ season and also Arsenal’s title aspirations at the same time last season. Tackling has been the talk of the Premier League in recent games with cards being dished out like confetti  for challenges where one must side with the Frenchman. Indeed a player Wenger identified as one of the lost breed of clever tacklers was involved in what was probably the worst tackle ever and one which even had his own team mate Michel Platini proclaim that he thought he was dead, because “he had no pulse and looked pale”.

Along with Patrick Battiston, Wenger bracketed Frenchmen André Chorda and Christian Lopez in the same category. “A good tackle is beautiful to watch because in the tackle the player is already making a pass, not just clearing the ball. Most of the tackles nowadays they go in blindly. When you do a good tackle you are relaxed because you master every movement.”

His description may seem fanciful and indeed looking at the profile of some  defenders, can fit quite a few in. Rio Ferdinand, Carvalho, Cannavaro (in the 2006 World Cup) and Pepe; in fact the trend nowadays is for central defenders to be mobile and technically secure. Even the arguably less aesthetically pleasing defenders such as Vidic and Terry are very adept at passing the ball. It is maybe not enough from these defenders that Wenger sees as they are not sweepers; the position the manager himself played but one which has since disappeared.

However the bulk of these rash tackles have featured midfielders with Wenger suggesting improved pitches are the reason for the lack of good tacklers. Players are able to control and turn more freely while it allows for better passing and movement. The greater technical emphasis has probably made having a specialised tackler more difficult because while they may be stronger at winning the ball back, hinder the teams passing momentum. Currently most teams play with deep lying playmakers in defensive midfield, able to initiate attacks and break down play just as the sweeper used to and with second strikers or playmakers.

Players in between channels are seen as the key to unlocking defences and one of the reasons for the demise of the box-to-box midfielder. “There are trends in football,” says former Roma manager Carlo Mazzone. “This is a time of between-the-lines players. From a classic 4-4-2, we now have a 4-1-1-1-3-0 as we have at Roma.”

“Today’s football is about managing the characteristics of individuals and that’s why you see the proliferation of specialists,” says former AC Milan coach, Arrigo Sacchi.  ”The individual has trumped the collective. But it’s a sign of weakness. It’s reactive, not pro-active.”

“For example, we knew that Zidane, Raul and Figo didn’t track back, so we had to put a guy in front of the back four who would defend,” he said when talking about his stint as Real Madrid’s director of football . “But that’s reactionary football. It doesn’t multiply the players’ qualities exponentially. Which actually is the point of tactics: to achieve this multiplier effect on the players’ abilities. In my football, the regista – the playmaker – is whoever had the ball. But if you have Makelele, he can’t do that. He doesn’t have the ideas to do it, although, of course, he’s great at winning the ball. It’s become all about specialists. Is football a collective and harmonious game? Or is it a question of putting x amount of talented players in and balancing them with y amount of specialists?”

But such defensive midfielder’s can’t have everything. They must be able to pass, be tactically aware and strong in the tackle a difficult equilibrium to find. Sacchi believed in players being able to play a number of positions and hence do more and his AC Milan team played a high pressure game with the team defending in a organised defensive unit. “The trend is to bring the opponents into a defensive block and then aggressively press the ball,” says Gerrard Houllier. Defending is such a way allows for greater balance especially as deep playmakers are converted attacking midfielders in some cases (Pirlo, S. Petrov, Murphy, Scholes, Denilson) and while there is more utilisation of the dual defensive midfield shield that allows organisation.

For Arsenal the departure of Matthieu Flamini has had a great effect;  hardworking and strong positionally and in the tackle as well. The only weakness was his limited technical ability but in his replacement, Denilson can offer more. Like all great defenders, at most times they are not required to even make a tackle to win the ball as his interception stats shows; the Brazilian is second only to Clichy in the league (109 to Clichy’s 118). Playing with much simplicity, Denilson is not the type of player one notices but the work he puts in is tremendous and is also able to initiate attacks. The boy from the favelas in São Paulo can be better and more expansive, but that will come with games and with quality players around him.

As Wenger says, there may not be too many intelligent tacklers but the player described as “a little bit in between Tomáš Rosický and Gilberto” can be the one to rekindle the lost art of tackling in the midfield.

Robin Van Persie represents new breed of ‘hybrid’ strikers

February 27, 2009 at 3:00 pm | In Arsenal | 4 Comments
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Robin Van Persie showed that he is more than a support striker by leading the line against Roma, a sign that the requirement and ability of strikers is changing.
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“Van Persie is Dennis Bergkamp – with goals,” enthused Arsene Wenger before the game at Tottenham. And while the Dutchman failed to inspire Arsenal to a win against their North London rivals and the two goalless draws in between, Van Persie has been involved in all goals the Gunners have scored this year when he has been on the pitch. But against Roma he did what the Arsenal legend failed to convincingly do; lead the line by himself.

Of course Bergkamp was from a different era and ultimately of a different style, one of the best ever in his position but with his frame one may feel the Dutchman could have fulfilled that role. Indeed the closest players to his style now may be Dimitar Berbatov of Man United and Alan Dzagoev of CSKA Moscow who is a wonderfully fleet footed second striker, both all about touch and movement.

The fact that Robin Van Persie can play in this higher role signals an evolution in the requirement of strikers. “Robin’s always had the vision and the talent, but what really stands out for me is how he’s developed into a team player,” continued Wenger. “It’s a remarkable transformation. And the fact he is 25, you know he’s going to get better. His best years are in front of him.” His heading ability must not be underestimated and has great touch and balance but more crucially he is making the correct decisions, which is the difference in top level football.

Strikers have evolved and are now expected to do more; to use their intelligence to drop off into space and play in team mates while also being able to make runs to stretch opposition. Goalscoring need not be a forwards principle purpose; an increased mobility and interchangeability in strikers has lessened the need for the traditional ‘goal-poachers ‘ while there is a greater expectation on midfielders to contribute goalscoring-wise. “For me, a striker is not just a striker,” says Jose Mourinho. “He’s somebody who has to move, who has to cross, and who has to do this in a 4-4-2 or in a 4-3-3 or in a 3-5-2.”

Tactically the game has changed with greater cautiousness especially of transitions in play. Defensively teams are stronger and the game could now be argued as one of many little battles where a goal poacher won’t have enough in his armoury to win and will require more work from team-mates.

As a result the traditional 4-4-2 is seen as harder to play. “I think 4-4-2 is simply the most rational formation in most cases. In fact, it’s the essence of reason. With a 4-4-2, 60% of your players are occupying 60% of the pitch. No other formation is as efficient in covering space,” Wenger says but even he has had to utilise Van Persie as the fifth midfielder by detailing him to track back. “If I have a triangle in midfield, Makelele behind and two others just in front, I will always have an advantage against a pure 4-4-2 where the central midfielders are side by side. There is nothing a pure 4-4-2 can do to stop things. That’s why I think the popularity of 4-4-2 will come to an end in England. It has to. It does not work against teams like us.” All of Arsenal’s forwards can lead the line, play behind and out wide bar perhaps Adebayor. This allows the Gunners more flexibility and poses greater problems to opponents both tactically and individually, as essentially Arsenal could switch to a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-2-3-1 as displayed at Roma.

World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira even predicts that strikers may be a thing of the past. Wishful thinking it may sound but his notion is not unrealistic; it makes for harder marking, dragging defenders out with the movement to disrupt the tactical, compact block teams tend to defend in. “Systems are dying,” says Slaven Billic. ”When defending, great teams want many behind the ball. When attacking, players from all sides. We have to be compact, narrow to each other. It’s about the movement of 10 players now.” When successful it is hard to mark as displayed by Man Utd last season as Ronaldo scored 42 goals while the other strikers still manager 15+ themselves. However effective utilization of movement requires great stamina which is one of the reason why the great Total Football sides had found it hard to continue.

With Arsenal’s five ‘hybrid’ strikers who can perform both roles of the forward in a 4-4-2 and more Arsenal can more easily than others achieve the balance of attacking fluidity and defensive solidity. Of course such strikers are not a new thing but the idea of them are as it was once thought teams should have a little and small partnership; one to run behind and one to link up and allow more variety. Fans who are not yet convinced of Bendtner usually feel the Dane should play as a natural target man but which is an old-fashioned notion. Yes maybe at the end of the game when the team should go gung-ho to save the match it is the best option but when you have two strikers who can do both, it can be more dynamic and less predictable.

While a Peter Crouch and a Micheal Owen have their merits as specialists, especially if things are not going well, it would be better if a team could have a player that can do both their jobs to get things right the first time.

Arsenal must be praised for sticking to the fundamentals of total football

January 21, 2009 at 5:52 pm | In Arsenal | 6 Comments
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As systems are now created with individuals in mind and ‘between-the-line’ players it is refreshing to see Arsenal stick to their philosophy of ‘Total Football.’
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Would the signing of Andrey Arshavin change the Arsenal style? That’s the question that has been going through my head as this saga unfolds and one that has become cannon-fodder to the media.

Often seen trudging back to the halfway line when detailed to do his defensive duties for Zenit and Russia, could the attacking midfielder fit in to a set-up where it is about the performance of the individual within in the system. For his club and country, the system is accommodated to suit him. It is easy to see why; blessed with great technique, balance and dribbling, he is one of the most effective players in the final third. “Arshavin is a footballer who can make something out of nothing,” says Russia coach Gus Hiddink.

Zenit and Russia are not the only teams who look to exploit key individuals abilities by creating a system which accommodates their strengths and weaknesses. Kaka has little to no defensive duties playing in between attack and midfield. Ronaldo is given the freedom of the left touchline while on the other side Park runs up and down tirelessly. Barcelona have created a quite brilliant system to take advantage of the magician Lionel Messi.

“Today’s football is about managing the characteristics of individuals and that’s why you see the proliferation of specialists,” says former AC Milan coach, Arrigo Sacchi.  ”The individual has trumped the collective. But it’s a sign of weakness. It’s reactive, not pro-active.”

Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan team played a fluid and compact 4-4-2, winning the European cup twice and his footballing philosophy influencing a whole host of coaches. His thinking was more systematic but derived from the core of ‘Total Football.’ It was an almost harmonious set-up where there was great fluidity, interchangeability and compactness. It was about the performance of the individual within the system and together with the system, given their ability they could beat anyone.

“There was no project; it was about exploiting qualities,” he said. “So, for example, we knew that Zidane, Raul and Figo didn’t track back, so we had to put a guy in front of the back four who would defend. But that’s reactionary football. It doesn’t multiply the players’ qualities exponentially. Which actually is the point of tactics: to achieve this multiplier effect on the players’ abilities. In my football, the regista – the playmaker – is whoever had the ball. But if you have Makelele, he can’t do that. He doesn’t have the ideas to do it, although, of course, he’s great at winning the ball. It’s become all about specialists. Is football a collective and harmonious game? Or is it a question of putting x amount of talented players in and balancing them with y amount of specialists?”

This has shifted the emphasis to between-the-line players. “There are trends in football,” says former Roma manager Carlo Mazzone. “This is a time of between-the-lines players. From a classic 4-4-2, we now have a 4-1-1-1-3-0 as we have at Roma.”

Arsenal play a fluid 4-4-2 but there is no detailed between-the-line player when attacking while defending it is more about covering and marking the space. The movement and passing allows players like Fabregas, Van Persie and Nasri to utilise these channels. The total footballing sides of Dynamo Kyiv and Ajax played also a high back line, pressed the opposition in possession, passed quickly and had the fluidity to interchange positions. Of course on a defensive side this may course some strain; more mobility in defence and in the cover in midfield but it is working.

“We need to stick to it – because this is how Arsenal is. The Arsenal way is in our system now, it grows into you, and I don’t think it’s clever to change your philosophy,” Arsene Wenger says. ”Things take time, and you often see clubs sacking managers for fun, and they don’t get anywhere. You need a long-term strategy. At Arsenal, the players have time to grow into the system, and if we stick to our principles we will get silverware.”

Arshavin is a great player and there’s every possibility he will fit in and maybe enhance the football being played. Total Football was possible in an era where such play was new; the ability to play the offside trap whereas now hardly any team does. The Gunners are getting close as close as possible in the modern game and as the next batch of kids have displayed against Wigan in the Carling Cup, it can be very destructive. Not many clubs are doing it their own way and it is refreshing to see so and even more when the players get better.

Arsenal model too unrealistic for clubs to follow?

January 8, 2009 at 4:04 pm | In Arsenal | 4 Comments
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Arsenal are the envy of most clubs; a strong emphasis in youth development, an extensive scouting network creating world class players while being sensible financially an example to follow but is it too unrealistic a vision for some clubs to adopt?
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Two examples come in the case of Lyon and Necastle United. The French Champions are admirers of the Arsenal model, taking good care of the financial side while investing in youth through their academy and by worldwide scouting. They have identified that they may not be able to hang on to such products of their academy therefore look to make money by selling them for high prices. But while Lyon are in a weaker league with less financial power and are regular Champions League participants Newcastle are in the opposite.

The Premier League has more financially powerful clubs and with this extra wealth makes it more difficult to compete. Owner Mike Ashley is also placing emphasis on his academy, decreasing debt and buying youth however that last point is where they may be going wrong. The competition is high in this area with clubs such as Sevilla (700 scouts), Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea to name a few and although Ashley is putting his money into it it may be too unrealistic a dream.

Newcastle has therefore set up an extensive scouting system. We look for young players, for players in foreign leagues who everyone does not know about. We try and stay ahead of the competition. We search high and low looking for value, for potential that we can bring on and for players who will allow Newcastle to compete at the very highest level but who don’t cost the earth.

I am prepared to back large signings for millions of pounds but for a player who is young and has their career in front of them and not for established players at the other end of their careers. There is no other workable way forward for Newcastle. It is in this regard that Dennis and his team have done a first class job in scouting for talent to secure the future of the club. Mike Ashley Statement

The advantage they may have over big clubs is that they have more margin of error as such clubs have to specifically find potential world beaters. But at this age it is harder to determine talent not to mention their lower bargaining power. If a signing doesn’t reach the potential however then will find it hard to offload for a profit. Newcastle admit this will be a long term project but the competition may be too large to make them stand out.

The São Paulo model may be a more realistic option; they develop youth through the academy and have a more than sound financial base but whereas they can’t attract the best youngsters into their league or big transfers they look to sell their current prospects at high price. Some $2.5 millions annually is spent on youth development and club aims to make around $9 million in selling the products of their work.

But with the extra money they look to sign more established players who have not quite made the best impression at their clubs. In São Paulo’s case, workmanlike Brazilians who have made their journey to Europe but not made a big success.

Andriy Voronin failed at Liverpool out after being out with injury and is loaned  but is a very good player. Great movement and tested at a high level. Even Matteo Brighi who was loaned out to Chievo for three years before finally finding his way into the Roma first team at 27 and now fully established after a failing to make an impact at Juventus.

Stability and sustainability is very important while the Arsenal model can be replicated and/or achieved to a lesser or bigger degree but taking care of finance and academy and buying a team of Voronin’s and Brighi’s is surely the more pragmatic option in bringing success.

Arsene Wenger’s Coaching Methods

November 18, 2008 at 2:49 pm | In Arsenal | 8 Comments
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Arsene Wenger has become arguably the most influential manager in the English Premier League and has provided a similar impact in the wider football world. Clubs such as Lyon to Newcastle look to follow Arsene’s and the clubs methods which includes financialy to youth policies. Arsenal Column looks at the great manager’s coaching methods and footballing philosophies.

If you want to see a taster of Arsene’s coaching, here’s a video promoting Nike Five.

First of all if one wants to understand why Wenger implements such a coaching style we must understand his thoughts and philosophies on football. Arsene usually plays a 4-4-2 but this formation can be easily reverted to a 4-5-1 if required. (One thing to note Arsene constantly looks to refine his system in some way, big or small). This is because he prefers to play one behind the main striker (Van Persie behind Adebayor, or Diaby behind) and on the flanks two wingers who are creative too. The following quote from Wenger can maybe go some way in understanding Cesc Fabregas’ lack of influence this season and the lack of impact of the wingers this season especially against defensive teams.

“I like to have one behind the striker, and one or two on the flanks who come inside. I always feel that if you have players who can deliver the decisive ball in all areas of the pitch, you have many more chances of being creative. If it’s only focused on one central part, where it’s usually more concentrated, you have more space on the flanks to create.”

” You always build a team to adapt the position that suit players best. For example I don’t see Kaka, who has a tall frame, operating on the flank. When you have a creative player who is shorter, then I’m more ready to move him out wide. Because usually they are quick on the turn. Somebody like Dennis Bergkamp or Kaka though, they have to be central.”

The team is required to press high up the pitch hence at times you can see and hear Pat Rice shouting at Adebayor and co. to pressure during matches. The defence must be able to pass the ball and look to build from the back, keeping the ball one way of denying pressure on the Arsenal backline. He stresses quick short passing and rates movement from his players. When they get close to the goal, players are encouraged to take risks and go for the goal with confidence and determination. If this is not a viable option, keeping the ball to a better opportunity arrives is recommended. Players must take advantage of of the whole pitch, almost practicing walking the ball in during training with quick, short passes, cut back and score with all members demanding the ball in what can be described as triangles. This tactic is meant to be very explosive and can destroy teams when implemented to the maximum.

Communication has always been emphasised on and off the pitch, giving encouragement, being aware of the danger around and helping provide options etc.

When Mr. Wenger first arrived at Arsenal he didn’t believe players would be able to perform at optimum level at 30 but was convinced by Arsenal’s old guard. This stubborness still is evident these days to some extent but when one believes in a philosophy it is hard to fully change their mind.

Adams, who was pushing 30, recalls: “He would say things like, ‘Physically a professional footballer is finished when they are over 30. It is not possible to play at that age.’ He believed that players over 30 were dead. Steve Bould, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn proved him wrong. They proved that with desire, commitment, and by looking after themselves, they could play well into their 30s at the top level. He acknowledged that and let them do it instead of getting rid of them. If you are in a beautiful house you don’t go moving to a terrace. That’s what he realised.”

Diet consists of pasta, boiled chicken, steamed fish, raw vegetables and water.

Read more to find out Wenger’s methods on the training ground. Continue reading Arsene Wenger’s Coaching Methods…

Arsenal’s Scouting Network

November 13, 2008 at 5:05 pm | In Arsenal | 3 Comments
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Having stunned the football world once again by beating Wigan, the Arsenal youngsters have been the talk of the town but how did Arsenal get them?. Some have signed from abroad and others groomed from the academy. Chief Scout Steve Rowley told Arsenal Annual Members Magazine the process of identifying and bringing in such talents.

What’s the process for finding players? Do you tell them where to be or do they follow their own leads?

Well these scouts are all responsible for their own countries, they have built up a big network of contacts over the years. They have met players, coaches, other scouts, so they all get tip offs, they then go and watch, and then report to me via our database.

If the report sounds interesting then I will tell them to watch a couple more times, then I will send another scout to look at the player, to get a fresh perspective. If they come back positive too, I will go. But there is no set number of times we watch a player.

For Fabregas for example, you watch him once or twice and that’s enough. Other players though may play in a poor league, so you need to watch them more when they come up against a good team. So there is no set rule, basically I trust my scouts and if they say “Steve, stop messing about” then I’m there.

After I’ve watched the player I will compile a dossier for the manager, and also a video which contains the player’s good and bad points. The manager is so, so good at assessing a player that he can say straight away whether he likes what he sees or not. Then he will get onto his own contacts around the world to find out more about the player’s background, so it’s not just down to playing ability. When he’s made the decision, we move quickly to seal the deal.

Arsene Wenger has a reputation of signing lesser known names, so do you tell your scouts to focus more on those type of players?

Well we know about the bigger names too of course, we knew about Messi when we knew about Cesc obviously because they were in the same team, but we couldn’t do anything about it because he is Argentine. Generally though, yes the prices are more competitive when they are relatively unknown. I think the gaffer likes the fact that they are not going to cost millions and millions, but I also think that what’s important to him is that it gives him more scope to develop the player through his own coaching methods. At the same time if we bring a 16-year-old in through our scouts, I fully expect him to be able to train with the first team and not look out of place. They have to be of a very, very high standard.

What was it that made Cesc Fabregas stand out for example, when you first saw him play?

It’s a combination of things. The boss loves intelligent players, physically they also have to be of a certain level. Midfielders have to have great stamina and with Cesc, even at 15, you could see he would run all day. He had the basic requirements, added to great intelligence and great technique, just as every player we bring in has. We also look for that winning attitude. People like Cesc, Denilson – all of them in fact – they have the right mentality. There are also players we scout who are undoubtedly very talented, but you know that for whatever reason, they will not be a success in England. Can they adapt to this league? It’s a big question..

Read more to find out about the scouts at Arsenal. Continue reading Arsenal’s Scouting Network…

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