Arsenal v. Wigan: Never in Doubt

“This isn’t the article I want to write” could be a quote appended to probably half the articles that I have written over the last three years. Because much like Sisyphus, it seems, we Arsenal writers are constantly pushing the various rocks about Arsenal up the hill in a never ending dialog over points that are largely meaningless.

In case you didn’t notice there are the following types of Arsenal articles that every Arsenal writer must pen at least 15 times in a season:

  • FINANCES FINANCES FINANCES
  • Sponsorships
  • Ticket Prices
  • The new kits are ugly
  • Did you hear what that person/player/racist said on Twitter?
  • Suarez/Rooney/someone from the Premier League who I want at Arsenal
  • Does Arsenal need more players?
  • Who is to blame for not buying players?
  • Does Arsenal need a keeper/defender/DM/striker?
  • Who is the keeper/defender/DM/striker Arsenal should buy?
  • Why Arsenal will never buy a “big name player”?
  • Why Arsenal can’t afford x player if Arsenal drop out of the Champions League spots
  • Why the Subhumans “Animal” is one of Tim’s favorite songs of all time.
  • Arsenal are/aren’t going to finish fourth
  • Why Arsenal can’t defend from set plays
  • Why Arsenal can’t score when teams park the bus
  • Long balls
  • Tactical fouling
  • Egregious physical play
  • Diving
  • Why the press suck
  • Tiki-taka (pro-con)
  • Counter attacking
  • etc etc etc

And of course, the granddaddy of them all “Arsenal need to win this game”.

Continuing from the theme of two days ago, as you can see above, writing about Arsenal has become absurd. Not just in the harsh sense that some will take it, but in the way that I suspect Camus would identify absurdity: a deeply meaningless action, just like the rest of life. We ascribe Arsenal meaning, but in the Absurdist sense, that’s just a form of intellectual suicide. If we think about it, look a little bit bigger than just the 10 mile radius around us, we all know how meaningless this is. And once we discover that meaninglessness we are presented with three choices: death (physical or intellectual), religiosity, or perseverance.

In the Arsenal sense, death is giving up. Just quitting on your team. You know, “Fuck it. I just can’t do this shit any more.” Though, unlike real death, I suppose you could try to come back. I’m not sure anything would be the same. If I stopped blogging for a year, I might return but it would be very different.

Religiosity in the Arsenal sense is another form of intellectual suicide as it’s the abdication of the self over to a higher power. Stats can become a form of worship, Arsene is worshiped (and hated, which is not the negation of worship but rather another form of worship), concepts such as history, and historical figures become gods, on and on, its the raising of someone or something else to a higher power in order to explain what is fundamentally an unexplainable world.

And then there’s Camus’ perfect being, the Absurdist hero, Sisyphus – he who knowingly perseveres in the face of the contemplation of the absurd. “Groundhog Day” is another way to describe the Sisyphean task, though interestingly, the myth of Groundhog Day had an out, once Phil perfected himself he was allowed to escape. Sisyphus is offered no such out and I imagine him down there in Hades, shoulder to the stone, loincloth rippling from the heat of hell, smiling up at us* as I write this.

But importantly, Sisyphus defies the gods, rejects them outright and does what he wants (until he’s captured and forced into a life of toil). But Sisyphus also escapes death. He wants to live the absurd life to its fullest. Which is what I’m doing here with my columns on this blog. You certainly can’t look at my entire history of writing for four years on what is essentially one rather meaningless topic and say anything other than “well, this is absurd”.

This revelation of fundamental meaninglessness will give some of you pause. As if Sisyphus himself took a small break and said to you “you know it’s all kind of pointless.” You will now say, “wait… why am I doing this?”

Good.

I’m doing this because I have to. It’s not really any deeper than that. I enjoy it most days. I love reading other people’s informed opinions. I love when someone like Arseblog makes me laugh. I love when commentators call me a “Yank who knows nothing about the history of the club”. I love when my readers give me something new to think about. And I love Arsenal when they win and when they lose.

And today against Wigan, is a “must win” but I do not despair because tomorrow I will be here, doing what I always do. In fact I feel no nerves about the game. None. I feel like the result is never in doubt. And I mean that no matter what the result.

It was never in doubt.

Qq

P.S. Before the match, you should read Arsenal Letters’ very intelligent analysis of Wigan’s tactics and his conclusions about Wigan’s vulnerabilities down the flanks, how they will pack the center, the importance of Theo Walcott, and where they will try to pull Arsenal apart with Kone-Maloney. Cracking great stuff!

Also, look for Chary’s Man at the Match report after the game. It will be his last one until fall. CONTEMPLATE THAT.

*I imagine George Carlin down there too, with Sisyphus, smiling up at us.

Wigan, on top of the mountain.

Arsenal vs Wigan Tactical Preview

Author:  Arsenal Letters

After the incredibly annoying AVB’s little Spurs won at Stoke following another crappy display, now it is official that Arsenal have no room left for the slightest slip-up: the Gunners must win both of their two remaining games. Somewhat ironically, on Tuesday they are facing Wigan, aka the Kings of FA Cup, who will be relegated themselves unless they win at Arsenal. It is a massive game for both sides. It is more massive than AVB’s insecurity and lack of logic.

You might be interested to know that I have not cut my fingernails since the QPR game 10 days ago. As I type, my nails are getting stuck in the keyboard. I have also done a lot of Ashtanga Yoga (I have not done any such thing; I do not even know what that is). Just like every Arsenal fan, I am getting ready for the nail-biting wretched 90 minutes on Tuesday.

Before I start with a bit of tactical analysis of Wigan, here are the likely starting 11s. For Arsenal, Giroud is still suspended, but there are no fresh injuries. For Wigan, no injuries can stop them, because they are just awesome!

• Arsenal (4-3-3) Szczesny (GK), Sagna (RB), Koscielny (CB), Mertesacker (CB), Gibbs (LB), Arteta (CM), Ramsey (CM), Rosicky (CM), Cazorla (LF), Walcott (RF), Podolski (CF).

• Wigan (3-4-1-2) Robles (GK), Alcaraz (CB), Scharner (CB), Boyce (CB), McArthur (RWB), Espinoza (LWB), Jordi Gomez (CM), McCarthy (CM), Maloney (AM), Kone (F), McManaman (F).

How Do Wigan Play?

Roberto Martinez has adopted a hybrid (or should I say unorthodox?) system at Wigan whose objective is to preserve width while keeping the center of the pitch congested. Their game plan tries to achieve those conflicting objectives in three ways.

First, Wigan employ three center-backs (against City in the FA Cup final they had Boyce, Alcaraz and Scharner as CBs) and defend their flanks with two wingbacks. Their first choice wingbacks (Stam on the right and Beausejour on the left) are both injured. Therefore, against City they used Espinoza on the left and McArthur on the right. When the opposition have the ball, their two central midfielders, McCarthy and Jordi Gomez, drop deep in front of the Wigan box. Depending on the direction of the attack, one of the two center-backs sweeps behind the full back (more on this later). For example, if McArthur is caught high up the pitch on the right, Boyce pushes towards the right back position. Scharner does the same to cover for Espinoza on the left.

Wigan-formation

Second, when the opposition have the ball, Shaun Maloney, Wigan’s most advanced central midfielder, stays slightly higher up the pitch than McCarthy and Gomez and presses the opposition build-up. Kone drops to the wide left position and McManaman stays wide right. When Wigan gain possession, Kone and McManaman provide quick outlets for transition through wide areas and Maloney provides the link up. In other words, the first ball in transition is usually played towards one of the flanks, instead of a central striker who is being marked by opposition center-backs.

Third, both of the two wingbacks play quite high up the pitch and motor forward to create an overlap when Kone and McManaman run inside to central areas. For example, against City Espinoza could be seen as a covering left back inside the Wigan box in one instance, and then appearing as a left winger shortly after (see image below). The Kone-Espinoza combination gave the typically excellent Zabaleta such a hard time in the FA cup final, simply because David Silva was not tracking Espinoza’s forward runs. The same can happen against Arsenal if Walcott again decides to play like a central striker and evacuates the flank!

Below, I will try to illustrate those 3 points through the help of some images taken from the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday.

Kone on the left and McManaman on the right stay wide, Maloney works between the lines like a traditional #10.

The image sequence below is useful to illustrate how none of the three attacking players for Wigan (Kone, McManaman and Maloney) occupy the traditional central striker role when Wigan gain possession and break forward.  In the first image, timed at 8:19, Maloney (on the far right side of the image) is starting the break by finding McManaman who is controlling the ball under pressure. Look how wide of the pitch the first ball is received.  Also observe Kone at the other side of the pitch as he will be involved in the next image

Kone

After controlling the ball, McManaman turns inside and passes the ball to Kone, who is on the other side of the pitch. The point is how wide the two forwards are stationed when the move starts. Kone has now received the ball in the next image (timed at 8:43) and is attacking Zabaleta. On the far right, McManaman is now looking to pick his time for a run behind Nastasic. There is no Wigan central striker that City centerbacks can mark easily. Shaun Maloney is around the center circle at this point and has not yet entered to the image on the left panel.

Maloney

The final image from this move captures 2 seconds later, timed at 8:45. Kone has brought the ball inside Zabaleta, and is feeding McManaman’s run past Nastasic. The young forward will waste a good opportunity after receiving the ball. This is how Wigan make the transition from 5-3-2 off the ball to 3-4-1-2 when they gain possession with Maloney linking up play behind Kone and McManaman. The crucial point is how Kone and McManaman leave the centerbacks alone and stay wide to stretch play.

mcmanaman

Arteta and Ramsey should be alert to close down the passing angles to Kone and McManaman when Wigan break from their own half. Rosicky and Cazorla should again start pressing high up the pitch to allow Arsenal to get into shape. The template here should be the Swansea away game when Wigan gain possession in their half. Press quickly and then retreat into shape!

An important duel in the game will be between McManaman and Gibbs on Arsenal’s left flank. McManaman simply tortured Clichy all game long, but this was also because Clichy received absolutely no help from Nasri in front of him. McManaman threat on Wigan’s right might also pin Gibbs back and deny him the opportunity to overlap on the left which is vital for Cazorla to roam inside.

Wigan Crowd Out the Center with Three Centerbacks and Two Midfield Anchors

5-man defense

The  image above illustrates how Wigan defend with 5 men at the back and how their two central midfielders congest the area in front of their box. Here, McCarthy is trying to close down the ball. Behind him, Jordi Gomez is screening in front of the box packed with three centerbacks. The right wingback McArthur has retreated very deep and level with his three centerbacks. The closest CB to the right wingback is Boyce. More central are the other two CBs, Scharner and Alcaraz  On Wigan’s left, Espinoza has retreated deep and has come narrow. Look how narrow City are and how Wigan have congested in front of their box.

Arsenal will have trouble breaking this packed center if their build-up is slow and predictable. I believe the key point here is a direct winger running at this narrow and congested defence through the flanks. Wenger might call for Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right flank and ask him to utilize the space behind Espinoza. Theo Walcott can also threaten with direct runs but he needs to stay wide and try to exploit the area between Espinoza and the left sided centerback Scharner. Walcott’s usual trick of making an off the ball killer run behind the left back will probably not work here because there is an extra CB covering the left side.

The good thing is that Wigan also do need a win. Unlike the FA Cup final where they had no pressure, they have to open up a bit rather than keeping a tight game and going for extra time. Arsenal should look to stretch the three centerbacks laterally with Podolski drifting to the left and overloading Wigan’s right by combining with Gibbs and Cazorla.

Espinoza Caught High Up the Pitch

Espinoza

The image above captures an instance where the left wing back Espinoza is caught somewhat high up the pitch and running back. David Silva has received the ball on the right wing, and the center-back Scharner has pushed up towards the left back position to cover for Espinoza. This is a key point for Arsenal. The Wigan wingbacks, especially Espinoza, push forward and play quite high up the pitch, leaving the area behind them often exposed. Arsenal should look to find the wide man (hopefully Walcott stays wide if he is given the role) in this area quickly and create a one-on-one with the covering center-back. In short, the area behind Espinoza is a key weakness of Wigan! This is where they conceded on the counterattack against West Bromwich Albion as well.

This is a game where Arsenal need to follow the template of the Swansea away game, press early, retreat into shape, do not give the opposition any chances and be clinical themselves The first goal is very important. Wigan need a win as well, so they will be more open compared to the FA Cup final, and this openness might be what relegates them!

sisyphus

Wigan and Arsenal face the mountain and the rock

Sisyphus is the absurd hero. He is, as much through his passions as through his torture. His scorn of the gods, his hatred of death, and his passion for life won him that unspeakable penalty in which the whole being is exerted toward accomplishing nothing. This is the price that must be paid for the passions of this earth. — Albert Camus, “The Myth of Sisyphus”

Tottenham won today, beating Stoke with a last minute goal by the guy who has carried them over the last few weeks, former Arsenal player Emmanuel Adebayor. In another part of England, as I write this, Norwich are running away with their game 4-0 winners, Southampton and Sunderland are heaping pressure on Wigan with a close-fought 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light, and Newcastle is trying to perform a miracle escape from relegation by beating QPR 2-1 despite having their starting keeper sent off. All of which is being overseen by Zeus, sat upon his throne at Mt. Traffrord, a special, red, Chevy bucket seat, chewing gum, and ready to cast lightning bolts down upon his players if they ruin his big day.

All in all, it’s been a terrible day for Wigan. Much like Sisyphus, they had just pushed the boulder to the top of the hill by beating giants Man City in the FA Cup yesterday, and today they had to stand there and watch as Newcastle, Sunderland, and Norwich kicked the boulder back down to the plains below. As Camus would rightly point out, this is the moment in our absurd narrative where Wigan walks back down the hill toward the rock, contemplating their fate all the way, smiles that they have beaten the gods and resigned themselves too their absurd and pointless task, and simply grasps that boulder in both hands and begins the long push back up the hill.

That boulder is Arsenal on Tuesday.

Wigan won the FA Cup head to toe, by which I mean both that the toe of keeper Joel Robles saved a goal by Carlos Tevez and the head of late substitute Ben Watson scored the only goal of the game. But I also mean that Wigan played that match with every inch of their bodies, not a single minute went by that Wigan let their foot, heads, or torsos off the gas pedal. Which is how you have to do it if you’re a team from a town of 80,000 people with a turnover of just £50m facing an opposition team who spend that amount on just one player.

Wigan, on top of the mountain.

They have stuck around in London for Tuesday’s match, against another of the big teams who have annual revenue around 5x that of Wigan and they will be looking to get that boulder back to the top of the mountain again.

People complain that fourth place isn’t a trophy but then those same people will say that Tuesdays game will be “like a cup final”. The reality is that for both Wigan and Arsenal, a loss in Tuesday’s match means almost certain relegation and a resultant massive financial hit. For Wigan, relegation from the Premier League this season means that they would lose out on the windfall new television contract. And when you consider how reliant they are on television money (in 2009/2010 £38m of their £43m budget came from TV revenue or as Swiss Ramble put it “They have the lowest revenue in the top tier, just about the smallest crowds, the highest reliance on television money, one of the highest wages to turnover ratios and no cash.”) that means relegation from the Premier League is financially devastating. It might even prove the end of Wigan.

Arsenal are in a similar situation, as a completely self-sustaining club they rely on Champions League money and there is a huge fear among many Arsenal fans that if they were to finish outside of the Champions League places that the club would instill austerity measures and buckle down on the cash reserves that they have socked away for just this type of rainy day scenario.

So, while I understand that finishing fourth again for Arsenal fans doesn’t seem to have the glory of winning a trophy, for both club’s management and for most of both team’s supporters “staying up” is a trophy of sorts. And both teams are going to play with the fire of a cup final — at least we hope.

But if the task for both teams is Sisyphian, the analogy breaks down a bit in that in the myth Sisyphus never loses. He always completes his task. And unlike Sisyphus one (or both) of the two teams on Tuesday will lose.

After which they will turn around, see the boulder on the plains below them and begin the long, slow, contemplative march back to their never-ending task.

Qq