Tony Adams: Graham was a better coach than Wenger

[Joker]

Graham laid the foundations without which I doubt Wenger would have achieved what he has. For example, Wenger inherited the back 5, so his lack of defensive coaching ability didn't affect us. However, now that Wenger himself has had to construct a defence, we've seen the consequences. Various reports suggest that Wenger barely works on defensive organisation (not just with the back 4, but in terms of midfielders tracking back and coordinating efforts etc) and the repercussions of this is clear whenever you see us concede silly goals through a lack of defensive solidity.
Wenger is very good at the technical side of coaching (in terms of developing a pass and move game, ensuring players are at peak fitness, their diets are optimal etc etc) but he does seem lacking when it comes to the "bread and butter" so to speak. It must also be said that, in recent years, even his much famed ability to develop players has to be questioned. Has he really been able to improve players like Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, etc as he promised?

[Toronto Gooner]

Graham laid the foundations without which I doubt Wenger would have achieved what he has. For example, Wenger inherited the back 5, so his lack of defensive coaching ability didn't affect us. However, now that Wenger himself has had to construct a defence, we've seen the consequences.

One consequence of Wenger's inability to create a defence was that disastrous Arsenal squad of 2003/04. They were hopeless, despite having two leftovers from the Graham era.

[Joker]

One consequence of Wenger's inability to create a defence was that disastrous Arsenal squad of 2003/04. They were hopeless, despite having two leftovers from the Graham era.

The Campbell-Toure defence worked well, but that was really the case only for one season. The next year, we were defensively poor and that contributed to us losing the title to Chelsea (who were admittedly very strong), and we barely came third the season after. So yes, the defence was somewhat of a success in 2003-2004, but it was not a sustained success, and even then it was clear that we had defensive problems that in some ways the extremely dominant midfield that season covered up. Compare that with the famous back 5 which built up a reputation by delivering stability at the back for a long period of time.

[Letters]

You mean to say that the George Graham Arsenal underachieved like some people are accusing Wenger's Arsenal of doing? Surely that cannot be possible, it is only the influx of the namby pamby foreigners that has led to this precipitous decline in Arsenal's fortunes and character.

Wasn't it the influx of the namby pamby foreigners that led to a sack of trophies, records and the best football most of us have seen, certainly at Arsenal?

[Toronto Gooner]

The Campbell-Toure defence worked well, but that was really the case only for one season. The next year, we were defensively poor and that contributed to us losing the title to Chelsea (who were admittedly very strong), and we barely came third the season after. So yes, the defence was somewhat of a success in 2003-2004, but it was not a sustained success, and even then it was clear that we had defensive problems that in some ways the extremely dominant midfield that season covered up. Compare that with the famous back 5 which built up a reputation by delivering stability at the back for a long period of time.

Okay, let's compare the glorious defence of the Graham years with the hopeless defence of the Wenger years, just to see how they stack up. Here is a list of the season each manager was in charge, with (in sequence) the number of games played, games lost, goals against and goal difference. I chose that list as I believe that it addresses the defensive aspect of the teams reasonably well.

Graham
1986/87 42 – 12 – 35 +23
1987/88 40 – 10 – 39 +19
1988/89 38 – 6 – 36 +37
1989/90 38 – 12 – 38 +16
1990/91 38 – 1 – 18 +56
1991/92 38 – 8 – 47 +34
1992/93 38 – 16 – 38 +2
1993/94 38 – 7 – 28 +25
1994/95 38 – 17 – 49 +3

Wenger

1996/97 38 – 8 – 32 +30
1997/98 38 – 6 – 33 +35
1998/99 38 – 4 – 17 +42
1999/00 38 – 9 – 43 +30
2000/01 38 – 8 – 38 +25
2001/02 38 – 3 – 36 +43
2002/03 38 – 6 – 42 +43
2003/04 38 – 0 – 26 +47
2004/05 38 – 5 – 36 +51
2005/06 38 – 11 – 31 +37
2006/07 38 – 8 – 35 +28
2007/08 38 – 3 – 31 +43
2008/09 38 – 6 – 37 +31
2009/10 38 – 9 – 41 +42
2010/11 38 – 8 – 43 +29

Graham: 9 seasons; total games = 348; total goals against = 328; average goals against per season = 36.4; average goals against per game = 0.942; best season = 18; worst season = 49
Wenger: 15 seasons; total games = 521; total goals against = 521; average goals against per season = 34.7; average goals against per game = 0.914; best season = 17; worst season = 43

[The Verminator]

Not to mention Graham had Seaman in his best years.

[Kano]

thats what happens with old age

[Cripps_orig]

We conceded 18 in 90/91 not 10

[Toronto Gooner]

Oops, I will adjust the figures then. Thanks.

[Toronto Gooner]

With the correction to the 90/91 season, I think that we can all see that despite the perception, Wenger's Arsenal beats Graham's Arsenal in the key defence stats:

Average goals against per season: 34.7 vs 36.4
Average goals against per game: 0.914 vs 0.942
Best season: 17 vs 18
Worst season: 43 vs 49