Is Arsene Wenger deluded?

A 1-0 win against a ten man team from the Serbian league this week was enough for Arsene Wenger to declare that his team have a backbone. Although he was pretty much bound to say this after the criticism his team have faced after last weekend's capitulation against Watford, he seems so out of touch with modern football.

I don't want to see a return to the days of the 1970's and 80's where the toughest teams often won through without playing the game that well. In my lifetime, that really changed when the 1980'a Liverpool team that included Graeme Souness could mix it as well as play some great stuff. Manchester United's dominance through the nineties and noughties was based on this mix, with players that could look after themselves, such as -

• Bryan Robson
• Steve Bruce
• Paul Ince
• Jaap Stam
• Roy Keane
• Mark Hughes

I don't think that it's a coincidence that many of these have gone on to good managerial careers. But Arsene Wenger is completely wrong about his team's fight. Troy Deeney was spot on with his comments about Arsenal having no 'cojones.'

What can Wenger do?

This is an issue that has followed the Gunners for years. The lack of a solid defence and a CDM has cost them countless trophies over the last ten years or so. And it's strange, because the team that won so much for Wenger was built on the solid base of David Seaman, Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit among others. He has kept the philosophy up front of flowing football, but not built it on a sound platform.

The obvious first thing he can do is sign the right players. But that can't be resolved until January at the earliest - and he hasn't made any strides in getting it right over many transfer windows. If he hasn't seen the issue, or chosen not to deal with it, then the delusion continues. If Arsene Wenger has chosen to leave the club open like this then he is a danger and should be replaced immediately.

But it might not be a personnel issue. The way that his current team play the game might have an effect on the lack of fight shown. Let's say for the moment that he has the right players. Just about all of the first team squad are internationals and were either signed for a lot of money or brought through a well-renowned academy. So it could be argued that he has the right players at his disposal.

The original team (also the Invincibles team) had two Central Defensive Midfielders. Now Wenger seems to prefer one. Just a simple change like that puts more pressure in behind the team, as the full backs cannot get as far forward. Nobody has told them this, so they bombard off and leave too much space in behind. With two CDM's, the centre backs can play further apart, cover the pitch and close down the pressure. Something as simple as this will make a he difference and could change the fortunes of this failing Arsenal team. Let's face it. Something has to change.