Wenger's real weakness was summed up if you compare his tactics to Martin O'neil. Sunderland aren't particularly attractive to watch right now but they played to win the game. It was tactics to stop us and hit on the counter where as Wenger is always wants to play his passing style regardless of injuries, opponent, playing conditions, etc... We played there just 1 week ago and knew the system they'd adopt and the state of the pitch yet still didn't change tactics. We sneaked the win the previous week and weren't going to get lucky twice in a row
Indeed Mr Howe, MON set the team to meet the opposition, something which Arsene deosn't appear to want to do. Instead it's his way and his way only which as we know by now, leads nowhere. Quite right and covered in my response to Part 1. We were fortunate to have Henry in the right place last week. I wonder how Arsene went about motivating the players for this match. One thing would appear a certainty - MON prepared Sunderland a whole lot better. He gets the team to play for a cause. Our players see no cause and Wenger gives them none. One of the things I like about MON is his infectious enthusiasm. I don't see it in Arsene. Well, not much anyway.
From a Sunderland point of view MON has been a godsend who has taken a team goingdown and transformed them. We all know week in week out what we will see but that will to win is there for all to see. I knew early on that the game was ours because all I saw was Arsenal player after Arsenal player rolling around like they had been shot. Now I not saying we did not go in hard but it said to me they where not up for the fight and I'm sure the Sunderland team got the same message.
The absoute dream for a team who sets up to be organised defensively and counter attack is to face an apponent who passes it sideways in midfield at slow pace, and doesnt work hard. Plenty of time to set up and plenty of opportunity to break. Every manager in the PL knows how to beat Arsenal - in addition to lower league managers. Wengers teams are one dimensional and have zero hope of consistency. We'll always lose too many games to challenge with the way we play.
Man Utd, Man City, etc change playing style based on the game in question (injuries, opponent, conditions, etc...) Apart from maybe Barca it's incredibly arrogant and insulting to think you're brand of football so good it will always overcome. It's failed for 7 seasons so why persist. Past success were based on either exceptional players (ala Henry) and/or true defensive players who knew how to organise themselves
