From Xavier :
Barcelona and Real are motivated by pride and knowing there is so much talent that bar Messi, each player knows he is dispensable.
Chelsea and Bayern are motivated by managers who are the epitome of motivation who will simply not accept less and would quickly drop any dead wood.
Man City are a pack of professionals, almost with a freelance mentality so they can achieve heights if they see a reason to or if they have a boss that demands it.
Arsenal are simply not motivated enough because as far as they are concerned, it is enough to hear people say they play the beautiful game.
They forget Barcelona play the even more beautiful game yet still manage to win prizes. (Note to Wenger – Barcelona played the beautiful game to its highest level, got sussed out and adapted. Even now they don’t play so beautiful).
Arsenal are just not motivated enough and not enough of the time.
The key traits Wenger should start shopping for, even before skill, are fight and leadership.
We need a Kevin Nolan-type in there, the Tony Adams type who will demand from his team mates, even if he himself isn’t giving his best.
That’s why we have a team where Ozil, brilliant as he is, shows indifference in some games. Where Coquelin is already on a booking yet is still running around like a lunatic and not one player on the pitch goes to him to say calm down. Where Giroud tries flick after flick withal success rate of 1 in 8, thereby giving up possession and no one complains. Where Ramsey tries the Hollywood moves that rarely come off. Where Koscielny turns his back to a shot rather than block it.
The biggest problem with this team is a lack of leadership, not of the organisational type, but of the motivational type.
Oh well, the biggest problem is balance but that’s an entirely different topic.
Myles says:
A team leader might challenge him, might talk back to him.
Might need managing, not just babysitting in the Colney Creche, a paradise where there is no shouting and no accountability.
That’s why he didn’t take Cesc back.
I’d still love to see Fabregas manage Arsenal.