Arsenal defenceless

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Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker (left) made too many mistakes in their 2-2 draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday

To point fingers at the frailties in the Arsenal line-up in a week where they came from two goals down to manage a point against Liverpool could perhaps be considered too exacting. But despite all that brilliance and sharpness while going forward, the complete lack of organisation at the back cannot be overlooked. For if not for some shambolic work in defence, Arsenal would not have gone two goals down in the first place.

Sounds too critical? Let’s take a look at the numbers. Of the five clubs — Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur — in contention for the 3rd and 4th spots in the English league, Arsenal have the worst defensive record at home, having conceded 16 goals at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s defensive performance against Liverpool on Wednesday night only proves the point. Just five minutes from the start, Thomas Vermaelen’s complete misjudgment of a cross from left led to Liverpool’s first goal. But if that could be brushed off as starting blues, in the 26th minute, Vermaelen and his fellow centre-back Per Mertesacker had no answer to Luis Suarez’s diagonal ball to Daniel Sturridge. If not for Sturridge’s poor finishing, Arsenal would have trailed by two goals within half-an-hour of the match.
The thigh injury to left-back Kieran Gibbs moments later only aggravated the situation for Arsene Wenger as the replacement Andre Santos was just not upto mark. Liverpool’s second goal, through Jordan Henderson in the 60th minute, was also a result of some sloppy defending. While Mertesacker stood almost rooted to the ground as Henderson got past him rather too easily, Santos proved too weak for the Reds midfielder.
Arsenal faithful would perhaps ask why be concerned about the defence when the forward trio of Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott are in their best goals-scoring form? But scoring goals is only half the job done. Faced with the threat of not making the Top Four, Arsenal, perhaps, should take a closer look at their defensive organisation. Don’t forget, the Gunners still have to play Spurs, Everton, Swansea and Manchester United in the current season. Sloppy defending against these sides would prove much dearer than against the Reds.