IS OUR CURRENT ARSENAL TEAM GOOD ENOUGH? by ICB
Let us assume that Wenger sticks with what he’s got and does not land another “opportunistic transfer” as Galen previously observed in his article. Is the team good enough? My answer is yes. but this depends on how LE PROF utilizes it.
As we have observed over the past seasons, Arsenal has always had the personnel but poor decision making especially with tactics. Reference to adaptive squad rotation has always been Wenger’s greatest problem, thus we don’t last the season. We always run into injury crises and loss of form to key players. It happened a lot to Fabregas when he was with us. WENGER doesn’t juggle his team with respect to changes needed for particular matches, he only applies this in periods of injury crises. Even with two more world class signings, if he doesn’t rotate his team as the need arises, we may still not win the league. The league is a marathon. This is where SIR AlEX F. was a master. AN ADAPTIVE SQUAD ROTATION POLICY should be properly effected in the thick of the season when we are still in contention for titles and honours, not when we are out.
Of course you should have your core players but they should be rested as time requires. Ozil for instance got burnt out in his first season because he was not rested in particular matches and he subsequently got injured. Same with Ramsey. We had Rosicky but he was rarely used. In that same season Giroud suffered a drop in form as always but Bendtner was hardly used. Podolski was being benched when we needed him most for goals. We subsequently lost the league 2 seasons back due to lack of proper personnel utilisation. Last season again Walcott wasn’t given the striking role to cover up when we needed goals as Giroud ran out of gas again. Alexis was also overplayed again when he could have been rested in some matches.
It is often said not to change a winning side but even Jose Mourinho alters his team depending on the match and the tactical situation. Prof Wenger needs to bring out the best in his team. He has to adapt his first team to an efficient squad rotation policy in other to curtail injuries and dips in form.
Firstly, he has to identify our best XI and this should not be based on bias, sentiments, nationality, price tag, home grown or other factors. I’ll give you my best XI and positions based on what is available. This is with the assumption that we have a Champions league final to play with FC BARCELONA or an FA CUP FINAL against CHELSEA. You should field your best players in their preferred position for optimum results. This is what we miss sometimes.
Cech
Debuchy Gabriel Koscielny Monreal
Coquelin
Ramsey Cazorla
Ozil
Walcott Alexis
My formation is a 4 – 1 – 3 – 2. or a diamond midfield. applicable for big matches, to give balance in defence and attack. It gives the Arsenal fluidity that we just got back is the second half of last season as Cazorla dropped to the CM position. I also put Ramsey back to his preferred box to box role. Ozil can drift to the right as the game goes on to allow for “the Ramsey burst to goal” which we have so missed since he was shunted to the right wing.
Ramsey is to also assist Coquelin in our midfield battles. CAZORLA is the deep lying playmaker (the FABREGAS role). Alexis and Walcott can always switch to the wings as the game goes on but Walcott should be the main striker (9). The reason for this is that he knows how to score in big games. His only disadvantage is that he does not have the physique, but you can bet he’ll torment any defence in the world. He has scored in so many big games – 2 against Man City, against Chelsea, MAN United, Barcelona. etc. He is my pick because he has the temperament to take responsibilities in big games.
Theo together with Alexis and Ramsey are Arsenal’s best match winners. No sentiments attached. They should be played in positions to bring out the best in the team.
Secondly, to be continued. thanks all.
From CHUMA. Nigeria.