Arsene Wenger has not had a fantastic period. In fact, it is probably been his worst period in over ten years, as his Arsenal part currently sit in fifth place having been knocked from every pot competitiona'a work that found Capital One Cup embarrassment at Bradford, FA Cup distress at home to Blackburn, and most recently, marvelous failure at Bayern Munich. It had been that marvelous failure, though, where Arsenal bowed out of the Champions League on absent targets with a win at the Allianz Arena, that Arsene Wenger showed that he still has his touch of managerial nous. In the buildup to the Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg, the Arsenal manager revealed that he'd be providing Wojciech Szczesny an escape, with Lukasz Fabianski going in for his compatriot. What he did not tell, however, was that captain Thomas Vermaelen could be dropped as well. The Belgian's activities have fallen somewhat in quality because being granted the armband, and Wenger decided to play French center-back Laurent Koscielny instead, with vice-captain Mikel Arteta sporting the armband for the fit. Arsene Wenger is not someone to tinker along with his starting lineup much, but both of these decisions ultimately paid. Despite maybe not playing competitive first-team football in over a, Lukasz Fabianski put in a remarkably solid, comfortable performance, highlighted by one exceptional save when Arjen Robben looked more likely to score on a breakaway. Laurent Koscielny had one of his best games in an Arsenal clothing, as the former Lorient man headed in Arsenal's 2nd goal from a corner and was rock solid at the back when dealing with the likes of Mario Mandzukic, Toni Kroos, and later in the fit Mario Gomez. The back four that began that night at the Allianz Arena cannot be praised enough for his or her effectiveness against Bayern Munich, nonetheless it seems to be that when Arsenal succeed, the players are commended, and once they struggle, Arsene Wenger is the person who receives criticism and guilt. Wenger has made some phony decisions this seasona'for case, trying to sell Robin van Persie and Alex Songa'and has not had the entire support of the fans, but he took risks in dropping his chief and his No. 1 goalkeeper, and these risks paid off. Collection followed up that win in Munich with a win at Swansea on Saturday, and although that may well not look like a huge deal, the Liberty Stadium is a place where in actuality the Gunners have fought recently. They mustered a 2-2 draw there in the FA Cup earlier this season and were outplayed to get rid of 3-2 there last season. Arsene Wenger went with the exact same back four that held a clean sheet against Bayern Munich, with the exception of Nacho Monreal coming in for Kieran Gibbs, and the defense appeared just as stable with Arsenal grabbing a crucial 2-0 win in Wales. AfterAfailing to report in the initial half and finding particularly unlucky with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hitting the crossbar twice, Arsenal brought on Aaron Ramsey and Gervinho, two players who've come under some criticism this season. Soon after, January signing Nacho Monreal opened the score along with his first target for the club, and in the 90th moment, Arsenal secured as a counterattack led by Aaron Ramsey and Gervinho the three factors found the Ivorian finish past Michel Vorm. Arsene Wenger will have to accomplish far more than just a few efficient alternatives and losing people that must be dropped in order to completely prove herself to the authorities, but his current managerial decisions have succeeded and stimulating for the fact that the Frenchman might not be losing his touch after all. Let's hope this trend continues to the summer, and that Wenger will improve the squad with quality players.
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