Wenger Has No Case for Defense After Arsenal Defeat

Kieran Gibbs (center) of Arsenal is closely following Modou Barrow (right) of Swansea during the English Premier League. EPA Photo/Dimitris Legakis)

London. It was an all too familiar sight for Arsene Wenger as Arsenal threw away a lead to lose 2-1 at Swansea City on Sunday and the Frenchman acknowledged his flaky team is becoming a cause for concern.

It may only have been its second Premier League defeat of the season but Wenger’s side has now lost nine points from a winning position, more than any other top-flight team, indicating it is a bigger problem than simply poor form.

After taking a second-half lead through Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal continued to push forward with 15 minutes to go and was punished by two goals in four minutes from Swansea.

The north London club’s defensive frailties are not limited to domestic competition either. It squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at home to Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Ahead of the game in Wales, Wenger defended his back line against a host of critical voices including former Arsenal player-turned-pundit Paul Merson but the manager had no answers for the naivety of his team at the Liberty Stadium.

“It is difficult to explain how we lost the lead,” Wenger told Sky Sports television.

“We were in control but they did not give up, we lost some decisive challenges in the middle of the park and paid for that. That is where we lost the battle.

“I worry that we concede the goals, yes. We just lost a game that we feel we should not have lost,” added Wenger.

“You have to win the games you can win and today was one. If you want to challenge for the Premier League you have to be a bit more realistic.”

Arsenal is sixth with 17 points from 11 matches, 12 adrift of leader Chelsea and eight fewer than the total Wenger’s side had at the same stage last season when they was top of the table.

The Gunners have mustered a worst start to a Premier League campaign once before, two seasons ago.

Germany defender Per Mertesacker said the team were over- complicating things.

“The game was completely in our hands but then we have to play serious football and not make mistakes,” he explained. “We have potential but unless we play that serious football any team will punish us.

“We have to play simple. We think we can do some difficult things but we need to keep possession. After such a setback as Anderlecht we normally bounce back straight away but we didn’t. We need to work hard on the issues now.”

Wenger now has to contend with a two-week international break before the visit of Manchester United in the league on Nov. 22.

Reuters

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Sudah 15 Tahun, Arsenal Gagal Menang di Wembley

Arsene Wenger saat menyaksikan pertandingan Liga Primer Barclays antara Chelsea dan Arsenal di Stamford Bridge, London, Inggris (22/3). (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sudah sembilan tahun Arsenal tidak mengangkat piala. Malam ini adalah penentuan bagi Arsene Wenger yang telah melatih The Gunners sejak 1996. Namun, ini akan menjadi hal berat bagi Wenger.

Di laga final piala FA, 12 April 2014, Arsenal akan beradu melawan Wigan Athletic. Sayangnya, klub asal London ini punya catatan buruk di Stadiun Wembley. Kemenangan Arsenal di Wembley, terjadi lima belas tahun lalu saat melawan AIK Solna, klub asal Swedia, 3-1 di putaran grup Liga Champion.

Melawan Wigan malam ini, Arsenal kembali merumput di Wembley berharap dapat mengakhiri penantian paceklik gelar. "Kami harus memanfaatkan kesempatan ini," kata Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 20, pemain tengah Arsenal.

Sementara itu, tekanan makin berat bagi Wenger untuk mengakhiri kebuntuan klub. Di laganya yang ke-1004 bersama Arsenal, dia harus bisa menjawab harapan pendukung klub yang hanya bisa berharap pada final malam ini.

Dailymail | Telegraph | Michana Lotusina

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Podolski Tak Senang Jadi Cadangan, tapi Tak Berniat Tinggalkan Arsenal

London - Minimnya kesempatan bermain di Arsenal musim ini membuat Lukas Podolski tidak senang. Tapi, hal tersebut tak lantas jadi alasan baginya untuk meninggalkan The Gunners.

Podolski jarang dimainkan lantaran kalah bersaing dengan pemain-pemain lain di lini serang Arsenal. Kedatangan Danny Welbeck dan Alexis Sanchez pada musim panas lalu membuatnya lebih sering menjadi penghangat bangku cadangan.

Podolski musim ini baru sekali jadi starter, yakni saat Arsenal dikalahkan Southampton di ajang Piala Liga Inggris. Penyerang asal Jerman itu main empat kali di Premier League dan tiga kali di Liga Champions, tapi selalu sebagai pemain pengganti.

Situasi ini jelas membuat Podolski tak nyaman. Akan tetapi, untuk saat ini pindah klub bukanlah opsi baginya.

"Pada saat ini saya tidak sedang memikirkan soal berganti klub. Tak ada pertanyaan soal itu," kata Podolski di Sky Sports.

"Saya tak senang dengan peran saya sekarang di tim. Tak masuk akal kalau saya mengatakan sebaliknya. Kita lihat saja apa yang akan terjadi. Saya ingin bermain dan masih sangat senang bermain sepakbola," imbuhnya.

"Saya menyukai kompetisi, tampil selama 90 menit, menghadapi lawan Anda. Kalau Anda menghilangkan hal tersebut dari saya, saya tidak senang," kata mantan pemain Bayern Munich ini.

"Kita lihat saja apa yang terjadi di musim dingin. Kalau tidak terjadi apa-apa, saya bertahan. Saya tidak sepenuhnya tidak senang. Namun, kalau Anda tak bisa melakukan apa yang Anda inginkan dalam hidup Anda, maka itu sulit," lanjut Podolski.

"Saya tak tahu alasan untuk situasi saya ini. Anda harus bertanya kepada pelatih," kata dia.

(mfi/krs)

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