Can Toure and Gallas play together?
Add comment March 25th, 2008
Setanta Sports columnist Gareth Maher today published an article suggesting that Arsenal’s form will not improve until Arsene Wenger bites the bullet and drops Kolo Toure. It’s certainly not the first time such an idea has been mooted. When William Gallas was signed from Chelsea, mouth’s watered at the possibility of combining two of the Premier League’s best centre-backs in what would surely be a fantastic partnership. However, for a multitude of reasons, it’s never quite happened. Last season Gallas’ injuries played a big part, but this term the pair have been afforded plenty of opportunities to make their presence felt. It’s a very telling fact that they’ve probably made more memorable contributions in the attacking penalty area than in front of their own goal.
The main problem is that Toure and Gallas are very similar. Centre-back partnerships tends to function very simply: one defender tends to be aggressive in the challenge, going up for high balls and using aerial prowess to try and win possession. The second centre-back is usually faster and has quick reactions and high acceleration to clear up the second ball. In the most successful spells of their respective careers, both Toure and Gallas fell into the latter category, playing alongside power-houses Sol Campbell and John Terry. When they play together, neither Toure or Gallas seems willing to assume responsibility for the initial challenge, resulting in strikers having all the time in the world to bring the ball down around the 18-yard box.
There is, of course, a viable alternative. When Gallas was signed, the unluckiest man in North London was Philippe Senderos. The Swiss defender had just been handed the fabled number 6 shirt after some outstanding performances in our run to the Champions League final, and his partnership with Toure was coming along a treat. When Gallas was signed, Senderos disappeared to the bench and his confidence arguably didn’t recover until the early part of this year, when Toure’s absence at the African Cup of Nations enabled him to form an effective partnership with Gallas.
After the draw at Wigan, Toure was brought back into the starting line-up, but things have probably worse for the defence since then. I don’t blame Kolo in any way – in fact, I thought he was excellent for much of the game against Chelsea, with William Gallas arguably more culpable on both goals. But with Gallas (rightly or wrongly) holding the captain’s armband, it looks like Toure’s place is the more vulnerable. Perhaps within that is a certain irony: as captain, Gallas should take the role of organising the back four. But he doesn’t. In fact, of the three centre-backs we’ve talked about, that aspect of the game only comes naturally to one: Senderos.
When I think about this season, I can’t really recall any outstanding defensive displays from the side. We haven’t got this far on the back of a mean defence, but on our inspirational attacking play. But to win trophies, you need your Nemanja Vidic’s as much as your Cristiano Ronaldos. Someone made the point the other day that Arsenal haven’t won the league since Martin Keown retired. Perhaps that’s no coincidence.
Both Toure and Gallas are outstanding individual players. But in order for our defence to have the balance and organisation it so clearly requires, perhaps Senderos has to be considered as a starter. If Bacary Sagna is out for a few weeks, perhaps we’ll see Toure at right-back with Gallas and Senderos in the centre. It might just be that an injury brings us an epiphanic discovery.
