SHOULD WE PANIC DUE TO LIMITED ACTIVITY IN THE TRANSFER MARKET? by NO
We face Liverpool in the EPL opener this weekend. Liverpool are anything but consistent if their pre-season is to be used to gauge what we will be faced with. They are capable of obliterating the best in the planet if their 4-0 victory verses mighty Barcelona can be taken to account, but again they can be eclipsed by the not so highly ranked side as Mainz gave them the same hiding the very next day.
In my opinion, we need to prepare for Liverpool 1, the one that blew out Barca because playing a game the day that follows the one you played well may have some challenges on a squad, so Mainz for me found a Barca-lagged Liverpool.
Having said that, we do not seem to be preparing so well with for the upcoming season with only Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding as the notable first XI involvement entries into the side. This despite the fact that we lost Mertesacker, Wilshere and Gabriel to injury. Two of these three are in the centre back position – and Laurent Koscienly is not available for the first match at least – means Arsenal have to find a way to operate with none of its senior centre backs against a team of Liverpool stature that on their day will blow out any side and they just showed that appetite with Barca very recently…scary. Even if a new defender is recruited today, they may not have time to adjust and prepare for this match over the weekend.
I suggest that if Arsenal are about to change systems and give Sanchez a striker role and play with three defenders we may cope and even be in contention to win the league.
Just look at my first XI for Liverpool.
——————-Walcott, Sanchez————–
Cazorla—————–Iwobi——————–Ox
—————Xhaka———–Coquelin———–
Monreal————Holding————–Bellerin
—————————Cech————————
Everyone knows that Walcott and Sanchez have an almost telepathic understanding about quick transition in attack. In this arrangement Sanchez will have the free role. A glimpse of Sanchez in the role during the pre-season shows he will punish premier leagues sides if played in there. After the Liverpool game Alexis will have Giroud as his partner so we will have a talented attacking side and with Akpom and Walcott on the bench we have two more ready-made attackers to fill in. What with the likes of Sanogo too waiting to get their chance! Carzola and Ox will cut inside. Cazorla played in this left wing before so he knows what is needed. He scored goals from here too. Iwobi will be what Iwobi has been – effective, unfazed and giving his all. Xhaka and Coquelin have an understanding already and Monreal and Bellerin will stay back and only appear on the flank on very minimal super opportunity occasions. Holding has shown he can be trusted to shut out the very best. He can marshal the defense.
Now the season’s First XI under the system
——————-Giroud, Sanchez————–
Cazorla—————–Ozil——————–Iwobi
—————Xhaka———–Coquelin———–
Monreal————Koscielny————–Bellerin
—————————Cech————————
No panic Gooners…After all the result is we have a side that is largely unchanged from last season and if Wenger wants to survive, he may need to start changing systems which would signify he has learned some lessons about rigid patterning.
We can actually Win the league!!
Nicholas