Arsène Wenger... tough decisions versus Stoke
Give them a break
By Kevin Mooney
On December 27th, fans of the Indianapolis Colts booed Head Coach Jim Caldwell for resting many of his starting players, including quarterback Peyton Manning, in a regular-season game against the NY Jets. Leading the game late into in the third quarter, Caldwell replaced many of his regulars who, up that point, had gone 14-0 for the season. The Jets ended up winning the game, and the Colts’ dream of a perfect season was over.
But unlike the Premiership, an NFL team can finish the regular season undefeated and still not be crowned as champions. Only one team in NFL history, the 1972 Miami Dolphins, has finished the regular season with a perfect record and then gone on to win the Super Bowl. The question is, did the Colts miss a shot at history? Or did Caldwell do the prudent thing by resting his key players and focus on the larger prize?
Fast-forward to January 24th. Arsenal faced Stoke in an FA Cup tie and Arsène Wenger had a difficult decision to make. Arsenal has not win a trophy since 2005 and with several of the top teams already out the competition, the FA Cup was a good opportunity to win silverware. However, no fewer than eight Arsenal players were out with injuries and several members of the starting XI were suffering from fatigue and minor knocks. Should Wenger play his first-choice team, or save them for games against Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool over the next two weeks?
Rather than risk Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, and Gael Clichy, Wenger chose the second option, and handed starts to several Reserve players. It was a decision that was likely to face scrutiny no matter how the match ended.
But considering that Cesc Fabregas played the entire game, it is hard to argue that Wenger was just throwing away an opportunity. And as the game versus Stoke was level until the 78th minute, after Eduardo, Andrey Arshavin, and Aaron Ramsey had entered the match, the Boss’ gamble to focus on the Premier League very nearly paid off. However, the eventual loss, and ouster from the FA Cup, seems to draw parallels to Caldwell’s decision to rest his players.
Were Wenger and Caldwell in the same situation? The Colts had already secured their spot in the playoffs, and a perfect regular season means nothing if a team fails to win the Super Bowl. Just ask the New England Patriots, who were undefeated in the 2007-08 season until losing Super Bowl XLII. And even if Arsenal had beaten Stoke, it would not have gotten them any closer to a Premier League title.
Today Arsenal is out of the FA Cup, but sits second in the table, two points behind Manchester United with a game in hand, and is still very much in contention for the Champions League. Did Arsenal make the right choice by focusing on the League? Or did Arsenal miss its best opportunity to lift a trophy?
History will judge if Wenger made the correct decision, but keep something in mind. On the same day that Arsenal lost in the FA Cup, the Colts played the Jets in the playoffs, and won.
Now they are going to the Super Bowl.
