Arsenal
The Key Ingredients To Wenger’s Recipe For Success…
The comeback by Arsenal during their 5-2 win over Tottenham showed all the traits of a side that manager Arsene Wenger looks for in his team. We look at them.
Guest post submitted by DBSfootball:
Arsene Wenger continuously and determinedly espouses the utmost importance of spirit and belief that his players do and often do not show. It is a huge part of the Frenchman’s philosophy it seems, that this character and resolute mental attitude is crucial for success.
Two goals down at home against Tottenham on Sunday, and you would be forgiven as an Arsenal fan in feeling sapped of all positivity and belief in this seemingly dejected, defeatist Arsenal side. Wenger’s face conveyed a similar pessimism as he sat frustrated on the Arsenal bench watching his side lose their way once again this season. However, what was to come was exactly what Wenger preaches persistently with admirable perseverance.
Goals from Bacary Sagna, Robin van Persie, two from Theo Walcott and a rare one from Tomas Rosicky completed a stunning turnaround which, after Emmanuel Adebayor’s penalty to put Spurs two goals ahead, seemed utterly impossible.
It is this type of unthinkable and unanticipated comeback which is to some degree rather shocking considering Arsenal’s form of late and it this exact shock factor for both Arsenal and the rest of the League that could change the clubs season for the better.
Indeed, Arsene Wenger sees it in this light. The troubled manager who has once again guided a side to a season which will see no silverware at the end of it barring an even greater and preposterous recovery against AC Milan this week, highlighted the change in emphasis in Arsenal’s so far unsuccessful season.
On Sunday, Wenger told Arsenal.com:
“People will see now that Arsenal are alive more than anyone thought before the game. The performance today showed spirit. From the technical side, and with the drive of the whole team and style that we want to play, everything was perfect despite a very bad start. Spurs started well in the first five minutes, but it was all us for the next 85 minutes. We were 2-0 down but refused to lose the game and kept going.”
What is important here are his final words. Arsenal “refused to lose the game and kept going.” This is exactly what must continue in order for the Gunners to have a season which can be looked back on with any semblance of satisfaction.
They have ridden – granted, not very well – a rather large wave representing an incredibly difficult start to the season, and have played inconsistently since then. They must refuse to end this season outside of the top four and keep going to achieve that sole aim.
Without the top four, it is extremely unlikely that the best players will firstly want to stay with Arsenal, and secondly, want to join. Champions League football must be achieved. Even if they do not win in Europe this season, they must have the possibility of trying again next year.
Momentum must be kept up in their favour, starting with a positive result against Liverpool on Saturday. They side cannot afford to drop back into obscurity and ridicule with a poor performance lacking in everything Wenger is about; spirit and belief. Keep this up and they have a chance.
