Arsenal centre backs' rogues gallery:
After Arsene Wenger's latest defensive calamity at Crystal Palace, a look at the (not so) good, the bad and the ugly who have played since their last title
- Arsenal capitulated to a 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park
- Arsene Wenger is once again under huge scrutiny after embarrassing loss
- His defence crumbled against a team battling relegation
- It is a long-standing problem that Wenger has not fixed since 2004
Arsenal's defence lies in tatters as Andros Townsend (second left) scores easily on Monday
Arsenal’s defence crumbled yet again in the 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace, a sight that has become all too familiar since the club last won the Premier League title in 2004.
For all the attacking brilliance of the Invincibles, the bedrock of that team was a defence that proved unbeatable, held together by the awesome Sol Campbell and the tyro Kolo Toure.
Arsenal’s back line has gone downhill ever since and Arsene Wenger’s choice of full backs, defensive midfielders and defensively naïve team tactics have all contributed greatly to this sorry state of affairs.
Arsene Wenger watches his team's latest defensive horror show at Selhurst Park
But the lack of quality at centre half over the past decade and more perhaps best illustrates the decline of what was once the hallmark of the club – Arsenal’s famous back four.
These are the men who have tried – and failed – to live up to the standards set by Adams, Bould and Keown since Arsenal’s last title, now 13 long years ago.
SOL CAMPBELL (2001-06, 2010)
A truly great defender, and certainly the last Arsenal player who could be described as such. His form nosedived in 2006, culminating in his mysterious disappearance at half-time during a defeat by West Ham. Despite helping the club to the Champions League final – in which he scored – Campbell left that summer. Made a surprising and short return four years later as a squad player.
Sol Campbell (right) was a brilliant defender for Arsenal and had two spells at the club
KOLO TOURE (2002-09)
Before becoming something of an unwitting comedy character later in his career, Toure had proven himself a top-class performer after Wenger remodelled him from a midfielder to an Invincibles defender. The Ivorian was one of many Arsenal stars poached by Manchester City’s mega money, although he has never recaptured the form of his years at Highbury and the Emirates.
Kolo Toure's career has never again hit the early heights of his Invincibles season
PASCAL CYGAN (2002-06)
Wenger has formed a reputation for making some dubious defensive signings – remember Igors Stepanovs? – and this £2million Frenchman, although by no means Wenger’s worst buy, formed part of the evidence. Never truly convinced nor graduated from being a fringe member of the first team although has a title-winners’ medal to his name.
Pascal Cygan (left) and Johan Djourou never made the grade at Arsenal
PHILIPPE SENDEROS (2003-10)
Perhaps the player first associated with Arsenal’s defensive weakness in the post-Invincibles era. A muscular Switzerland international, Senderos looked capable of big things but his career was almost single-handedly ruined by Didier Drogba. The Chelsea striker made Senderos his personal plaything during a series of brutal, bullying performances. Did win the FA Cup in 2005, however.
Phillipe Senderos was routinely made to look a fool by Chelsea's Didier Drogba
JOHAN DJOUROU (2004-14)
Promised so much but delivered so little – for Arsenal at least. Had pace, power and composure on the ball, all evidenced at times with the Gunners, Hamburg and Switzerland. But formed part of the defence annihilated by Wayne Rooney and Manchester United in an 8-2 mauling in 2011, and never really recovered from there.
WILLIAM GALLAS (2006-10)
An excellent defender who joined as part of the deal that took Ashley Cole to Chelsea, but remembered more for his embarrassing tantrum during the draw at Birmingham in 2008 that marked the beginning of the end of their title challenge that year. Somehow kept the captain’s armband after that but did not have the temperament to match his talent and left for Tottenham.
William Gallas has the ability but not the temperament to win the league at Arsenal
MIKAEL SILVESTRE (2008-10)
Somehow amassed 250 games for Manchester United despite never truly convincing, and remained a nearly man at Arsenal. After becoming the first player to move from United to Arsenal since Brian Kidd in 1974, it became clear why Sir Alex Ferguson was willing to let him go. Silvestre had lost the pace that had been perhaps his chief asset and so unsurprisingly was rarely picked.
Mikael Silvestre (left) and Sebastien Squillaci did not solve Wenger's defensive problems
THOMAS VERMAELEN (2009-14)
Could have been one of Wenger’s best buys but for a series of debilitating injuries. Signed from Ajax for around £10m, the Belgian looked a complete centre half and possessed the grit that Arsenal defenders had for so long lacked. But the ‘Verminator’ suffered his first big setback during his second season and never recovered fully. It was a huge shock when Wenger somehow convinced Barcelona to take him.
The enduring image of Thomas Vermaelen at Arsenal is of an excellent but injured player
SEBASTIEN SQUILLACI (2010-13)
A journeyman defender who had spells across France and Spain, Squillaci was an underwhelming £4m signing who never established himself, appropriately taking the No 18 shirt previously held by fellow defensive flops Silvestre and Cygan. Amassed over 20 France caps but now back in relative obscurity at Bastia.
LAURENT KOSCIELNY (2010-present)
The best Arsenal defender since Campbell, and a bargain at £8.5m. Pacey, powerful, composed, brilliant on the ball and would not look out of place in any team in Europe. Yet, alongside Per Mertesacker, has still been unable to stop the defensive rot given the lack of protection afforded him by Wenger’s tactics. Far worse players have won more than his haul of two FA Cup medals.
Laurent Koscielny (left) is a fine player but used to defensive disappointment at Arsenal; while Gabriel was no match for Chelsea's Diego Costa during their infamous clash in 2015
PER MERTESACKER (2011-present)
An enigma: an imposing 6ft 6in tall, World-Cup winner with over 100 caps for Germany, and current club captain; yet also capable of powder-puff performances, lacking any pace and at the heart of defence during most of the calamities of recent years. Had a nightmare season with injuries and sadly, his finest legacy might just be the terrific chant directed his way from the terraces: ‘We’ve got a big, f***ing German’.
Per Mertesacker has not been able to shore up Arsenal's defence during his years at the club
CALUM CHAMBERS (2014-present)
Seemed to be set for big things when he joined as a teenager from Southampton for £16m, but is now attempting to learn his trade on loan at Middlesbrough. Has played mostly at full back for Arsenal but was displaced by Hector Bellerin. Last seen in an Arsenal shirt when his team conceded four times at home to Liverpool back in August. Has time on his side at least.
GABRIEL PAULISTA (2015-present)
Continuing the dubious recent tradition of Arsenal defenders who are routinely bullied by Chelsea strikers, Gabriel has proven himself no match for Diego Costa, nor plenty of other Premier League strikers too. Little convinces about the 26-year-old, who joined from Villarreal for £11m, and his lack of caps by Brazil, a country hardly renowned for its plethora of top defenders, speaks volumes.
ROB HOLDING (2016-present)
A £2m signing from a team relegated from the Championship was not what Arsenal fans had in mind last summer, but the 21-year-old remains one for the future. Made his debut in that four-goal defeat by Liverpool but has only made sporadic appearances this season, mostly in various cups. Far too early to judge his ability.
Calum Chambers (left) and Rob Holding are both young players still finding their feet
SHKODRAN MUSTAFI (2016-present)
Was hailed as the answer to Wenger’s prayers after the club final;ly spent big – all of £35m – to bring the German from Valencia last summer. While Mustafi went 22 games unbeaten as an Arsenal player, Rio Ferdinand even went so far as to say ‘this is the best back four I have seen at Arsenal for many a year.’ It is unlikely he would say the same after watching Mustafi against Crystal Palace on Monday, where he picked up his 10th booking of the season.
Shkodran Mustafi was hailed as the solution to Arsenal's woes but he too has succumbed
 |
| The rogues gallery in full:Every Arsenal centre back and Wenger-since their last title win |
No comments:
Post a Comment