Gunners pay the ultimate price for weak defence

THIERRY HENRY and Arsene Wenger have pinpointed the two main factors behind Arsenal’s third failed title defence in seven years — lack of strength in depth and weaknesses in defence.

Both admitted defeat in the title race after their morale-shattering home loss to Manchester United, even if Henry warned Alex Ferguson that Chelsea already have the Premiership in the bag.

To make matters even worse, the Gunners are now facing a defensive crisis ahead of Saturday’s visit to Aston Villa, with Sol Campbell set to be ruled out with a twisted ankle, while Kolo Toure is suspended.

With defensive lynchpin Campbell having missed 11 league games through injury and midfield protector Patrick Vieira also absent for long periods and otherwise below his best, Arsenal have conceded 29 goals in 24 league games, already eclipsing their total of 26 in last season’s unbeaten league run.

The uncertainty began from the back, with both Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia looking suspect, while the lack of Vieira at his best and either Gilberto Silva or Edu in central midfield has also been costly. Against United, Arsenal’s second-half defending was awful.

Almunia effectively gifted Ferguson’s men their crucial third goal. But as Henry admitted: “It was a reflection of how we’ve been playing all season. Conceding four goals at home, you can’t expect to win,” Wenger added.

“We have conceded too many goals to play for the championship. We were a bit too casual at the start of the season. When we conceded two goals we scored three. The confidence and good habits drop. Suddenly, you are confronted with a problem.”

There is simply not enough quality cover available at Highbury, especially in central defence, where Toure is only in his third full season in the position. Rather than signing an experienced defender or recruiting another established goalkeeper, Wenger turned to Almunia and full-back Emmanuel Eboue.

It is a cautious policy borne out of financial necessity, especially compared to a club like Chelsea, who can write off a loss of almost £88m, but there is a price to be paid on the pitch.

In midfield as well as in defence, Arsenal have too often relied on boys to do a man’s job. However talented Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini may be, their combined age is just 37 and Roy Keane ran a midfield masterclass at Highbury, while United were also missing their leading striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Henry’s run of seven games without scoring has not helped, but it is ridiculous to blame a player with 20 goals to his name already this season for more widespread problems.

With the transfer window closed, Wenger must now rally morale, restore Lehmann to the side, pray Campbell recovers quickly and hope Edu can put his contract problems behind him.