Arsene Wenger’s record with young Arsenal defenders: Is Gunners boss to blame for those who have failed to progress?
WHEN Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal, not much was expected from the Frenchman, but his methods, although alien at first, have been revolutionary.
The French coach has changed English football for the better, but over the last few seasons, the game has somewhat left behind the man who changed it.
Our friends at wonder if Wenger himself is to blame for the young defenders who have failed to progress in North London and if Konstantinos Mavropanos is destined for the same fate.
During Wenger’s early years, he was blessed with one of the best defences in England. Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn set the tone.
They all improved after the Frenchman joined the club, their longevity a tribute to the way he changed the culture at the club.
“Hector Bellerin will be the same player in five years as he is now because he’s not been brought on by Wenger,” said Adams, the former club-captain back in September 2017.
“You need someone to come in and teach players like Rob Holding – who can be a very good player – to defend.”
“Arsene buys them, puts them in – but he doesn’t develop defenders.”
The centre-back, remembered as one of England’s best, revealed he believed Wenger didn’t teach him anything, especially when it came to defending.
Once the original four left, the likes of Sol Campbell, Kolo Touré, Lauren and Ashley Cole took their same defensive stability into the ‘invincibles’ squad and Arsenal again found success.
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Not all Wenger’s signing have been busts. Laurent Koscielny joined from Lorient for £10million and blossomed into one of the league’s best.
Both Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, despite what Gunners fans may remember of them, went on to become international regulars for France and earned big-month deals at Manchester City.
Yet, when you look back at some of his other signings and young players to come through the academy, there is a feeling the French coach fails more than he succeeds.
Philippe Senderos
Joining from Servette in 2003, although he has won 57 caps for Switzerland, the big bruising centre-back was was never more than average for Arsenal.
He left the Gunners in 2010 following a loans spell at AC Milan and Everton, he joined Fulham on a free and has since played for five different clubs.
Johan Djourou
A product of the Arsenal youth academy. He was promoted to the first-team as a teenager, but his career was plagued with injuries and inconsistency.
With a loan spell to Birmingham City in the middle he only managed to start 72 Premier League games over six years for the North London side.
Kieran Gibbs
One of the better success stories on this list, the problem for he young Englishman was he supposed to be the man to replace Cole on the left when the international left for Chelsea.
Although he impressed and picked up 10 international caps of his own, he could never find the same level and left for West Brom last summer.
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Carl Jenkinson
Another full-back who was destined for stardom under the guidance of Wenger, but despite a strong start, he hasn’t been able to hold down a regular start in the team.
Signed from Charlton Athletic in 2011, he has played just 62 games for the Gunners and is currently on loan at Birmingham.
Calum Chambers
Although he is still only 22 years old, when you pay £18million to take him from Southampton, more would have been expected from the defender.
An ok loan spell at Middlesbrough helped him gain valuable game-time, but it hasn’t helped him play more than a handful of Premier League games this term. Those three England caps he won seem a long way away now.
Rob Holding
Another young defender bought with hope of developing into a future starter. Holding done well in patches and seems to have gained Wenger’s trust with some good performances in the three-man defence.
The jury is still out, the former Bolton player could go on to emulate someone like Koscielny, but in equal measure he could end up the next Senderos.
