Szczesny makes case for defence

Arsenal’s problems in midfield and up front thanks to a dubious transfer policy may, disproportionately, be dominating the news agenda but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny makes a convincing argument when he underlines a case for the defence.

Considering they have spent so much of the season sitting top of the table it must be a cause for frustration at the Emirates that Arsenal’s title challenge is regarded with so much contempt by so many influential figures in the game.

Even after a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday in a match in which Aaron Ramsey, Matthieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott were all missing, there were eyebrows raised when manager Arsene Wenger suggested his side are on course to finish above Manchester City and end their trophy drought.

Many of the doubts stem from a seemingly thin squad that lacks cover in attacking areas — where Olivier Giroud is the only experienced and recognised striker available for selection; but when you consider Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the 15th Arsenal player to score this season when he struck against Palace, perhaps it is not as big a problem as some imagine.

More importantly however was another clean sheet from a defence that has confounded critics this season and become an extremely effective unit.

Take away the six goals shipped at Manchester City and Arsenal have conceded only 15 times in 23 other league matches this season, an average of only 0.65 a game, which is the best in the Premier League.

“Our defensive record, especially at home has been fantastic and we know that if we keep clean sheets we have got every chance of winning the game,” said Szczesny, who has grown in stature this season and silenced calls for Arsenal to sign an experienced keeper.

“We have been together for much longer now. We understand each other’s game and we are playing with a more settled back four. Over the last couple of seasons we have had less luck with injuries. I never played with the same back four for more than two or three games whereas now we play with the same back four a lot. Sometimes we rotate the full-backs but in general we stay with the same defence. We understand each other’s game, we read each other and it is a very good understanding we have.”

The performances of Per Mertesacker in particular — surely Arsenal’s honorary captain even though Thomas Vermaelen officially holds the armband — remind you of the good old days when Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Martin Keown provided not only defensive solidity but mental and emotional strength too.

“We realise that if you want to win the championship then you have to be solid defensively and that is the most important thing,” added Szczesny. “We know clean sheets give you the best platform to go on and win games so if we can keep a few more until the end of the season then we can get our rewards.

“There’s been a suggestion our defending has gone unnoticed but I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t say we go unnoticed because we keep winning games at home. So that’s the best reward we could possibly get. Whether you need a strike force like Man City or the defence like we have hadrecently, I think you have to mix the both together to find the perfect team. But we will see at the end of the season which one pays off more.”

The ultimate test of Arsenal’s defence will come in the next few weeks where they play Liverpool’s SAS of Sturridge and Suarez in first the league and then the FA Cup.

In between the Gunners host Manchester United before a Champions League clash with holders Bayern Munich.

“Suarez and Sturridge have been fantastic. I don’t have to say a lot about them because their goalscoring record speaks for itself,” Szczesny said. “They are great players but we managed to keep a clean sheet against them at home and we will try to do exactly the same thing away from home.

“I have never felt scared facing anyone in my career so we are looking forward to it because we are always excited to play against fantastic players. The challenge for us is not to be top now but to be top in May, because that’s what counts.

“City’s run has been incredible and they seem to score five or six goals every single game. We just hope we have got the edge and we will try to challenge them this season.”

If Arsenal do have that edge then almost certainly it will come from the back; because not even Arsenal’s famously slick football is likely to be enough to out-score City this season.

So perhaps it’s time to stop worrying about injuries in midfield and lack of numbers up front and think: ‘What if the title was decided in defence?’