Momentum Selector DJ Wenger

"Sometimes if you take a team on a roll there is no need to change it. You can defend any [decision] but when a team is on a positive experience, why not? That is what I have to decide."

On the other hand, if you make one or two changes here and there to the side when the team is on a roll, you can breed that successful mentality and experience into every member of the squad. In this way, when the inevitable injuries, suspensions, and/or absences [say for African Nations Cup in January] occur, those deputizing for the missing are better equipped and there should be a lesser drop in overall performance.

In fact, if done correctly, there will be little to no drop, and those making up the XI would not be considered ‘deputies’ at all. There is a saying about top level managers and coaches that they don’t rebuild [each season after player departures], they reload. There is an opportunity to achieve this cycle even within the season, if the squad and players are used properly.

It is probably worth analyzing the title winning runs of Wenger’s previous sides to see just how well the squad was used. Off the top of my head I recall Ray Parlour deputizing for Vieira as captain of the side due to suspension for a good chunk of time on the way to winning a title. I also recall the impression that Arsenal won the league with 10 men, such was the proclivity for sendings-off during another title winning year [perhaps this was the same season].

However the above doesn’t necessarily suggest that Wenger has changed his policy over the recent years. It is more accurate perhaps, especially given his stubborn nature, that he is dealing with a very different set of players than in years past. The key difference is experience. Whereas Ray Parlour took Vieira’s spot in the midfield, the current void of Wilshere for instance, is Aaron Ramsey. Ramsey is a fantastic prospect with many fine attributes, but cannot possibly match the experience and accomplishments of Parlour.

All of that said, with each week the balance appears to be returning to the squad, even if those players representing experience don’t have quite the CV of silverware from Wenger’s title winning years.  Arsenal have used more of their squad than most other teams in the Premier League at the moment, and while it wasn’t necessarily by choice, it might end up beneficial in the long run this season. 


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