Arsene Wenger's six-point programme to follow to get Arsenal back on the right road this season Ferguson had noted how Arsenal were basically at their most vulnerable when they had the ball and could be hit with quick counters if his players were successful with their interceptions. Ferguson dominated Wenger in the final years of their rivalry but what has been striking is how, for all the warnings and obvious knowledge that teams now have a template for playing Arsenal, so little seems to change. The obvious issue concerns the full-backs who are repeatedly urged to push forward. That's fine when Arsenal keep the ball but, on the inevitable occasions that they lose possession, the holes out wide are glaring. Chelsea's 6-0 win in March involved repeated attacks into space in those positions. None of this is to say that Kieran Gibbs (below) and Calum Chambers should never push forward but surely there is a time and place. Like when there is cover either from their wide midfielder or a holding midfield player. And perhaps not when the team is 3-0 up and most only avoid conceding three goals in 30 minutes to the reach the last 16 of the Champions League. Buy a defender Arsenal had an excellent transfer window in so many respects but it was undermined by one unnecessary risk that was obvious even at the time. They were not over-stocked with defenders even last season but still contrived to go into this campaign with one fewer. Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson were allowed to leave but that was compensated by the astute additions of Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers. No problem so far. But then, Thomas Vermaelen was sold to Barcelona and another centre-back was not added. It left only two senior centre-backs in Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, who were both also vulnerable following the emotional and physical strains of the World Cup. It was all an accident waiting to happen and, while both Chambers and Monreal have stepped in admirably at centre-back, it has felt like sticking plaster solutions at times. Monreal conceded a penalty and has now twice been at fault for crucial goals. The wider problem is that, with his only four fit senior defenders currently playing, Wenger has an absence of options from the bench. It meant that last night, as he tried to defend the 3-0 lead, he found himself bringing on Lukas Podolski and Tomas Rosicky. Arsenal simply must add a defender in January. Sort out Podolski There are times where it feels almost like there is a culture at Arsenal where it is acceptable for wide attacking players to pay only sporadic attention to their defensive responsibilities. We have seen it previously with Andrei Arshavin. We saw it earlier this season in Dortmund with Mesut Ozil but there is currently no more striking example of this problem than Lukas Podolski. Yes, he is one of the Premier League's best finishers. Yes, he has played more than 100 times for Germany (although fairly rarely these days) and yes, he has the most powerful left-footed shot in football. But he also sometimes offers alarmingly little protection to his full-back. After his performance in the 6-0 win against Chelsea earlier in the year, you have to wonder if he would have ever played for Arsenal again had Jose Mourinho been the manager. The way Mourinho has got Willian, Eden Hazard and Oscar chasing back is just as striking as any of Chelsea's attacking football. Arsenal have a different philosophy and style but there is still no reason why they cannot learn from this. When Anderlecht equalised last night, Podolski made only a token attempt to get closer to his opponent and prevent the cross. He could hardly blame fatigue as he had only been on the pitch for eight minutes. By indulging players like Podolski, Wenger risks sending a message that neglecting defensive responsibility is somehow acceptable. Going missing: Lukas Podolski needs to track back Buy a central midfielder In Arsenal's handling of the central midfield position, it is also difficult not to draw comparison with Chelsea. Jose Mourinho had the options of Ramires, John-Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard in that position when he arrived back at Stamford Bridge 18 months ago. Good players but good enough to win the Premier League? Not quite. So what did Mourinho do? He spent big money on Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas. Chelsea look a different side and it is from central midfield that Chelsea have both the defensive security and ability to physically dominate games that is driving them towards another Premier League title. So what of Arsenal? Are Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and perhaps even Jack Wilshere players who can realistically form the midfield basis for a team hoping to win the Premier League? They are all good players but it is surely not quite enough, at least until Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are further developed, to win the biggest prizes. The team is still crying out for a figure of Matic's stature in the middle of the team and noticeably missed Arteta last night when he was forced off with injury. Get help One aspect of last night that has been inevitably overshadowed is the attacking quality that was evident in Arsenal's play. Alexis Sanchez was again sensational, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is really growing in stature and, while Danny Welbeck is not scoring with great regularity, his forward runs have been vital in creating space for the cutting edge of his team. Wenger is close to finding the right offensive balance and is again creating a team that is thrilling to watch. It is a great shame, then, that he has seemed reluctant or unable to address the defensive balance. The precise input of assistant manager Steve Bould remains a delicate subject but the suspicion is that he is limited by Wenger's desire to retain full control of all the coaching. That would be fine if there was not such an obvious deficiency in his teams. It would be a sign of strength not weakness for Wenger to seek a fresh perspective on coaching his team to defend. It would also ensure that the very many positive aspects of his managerial style and coaching techniques are not so often blemished by familiar defensive issues.