I must say that up until Arsenal went to Southampton for the Boxing day game, it was looking as though we would not pay the penalty that we had all feared after losing thge Chile international star Alexis Sanchez to a hamstring injury in the final game of November.
Having lost Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin as well around the same time, Arsenal looked in big trouble but thanks to the form of players like Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud, the Gunners were having a very decent December indeed. We might have been making hard work of it but were getting the right results.
However, the signs were there against Man City as we should have wrapped the game up but were instead hanging on at the end and it was more relief than joy at the final whistle. The energy and ability of Alexis would certainly have helped and his industry and desire was even more lacking at St. Mary’s.
We cannot know for sure, of course, but I have to think that he would have at least matched the work of the Saints’ players and he tends to inspire his Arsenal team mates into more effort as well. Would their right back Martina have been so far forward in acres of space for his opener if he had Alexis to worry about?
Arsenal should expect a similar efforty from Bournemouth so will the Arsenal players be able to match it this time or will the injury to Sanchez really start to hurt?
Current status: Enjoying the replays of the Southampton game 🙂
We can’t rely on Sanchez alone. Southampton yesterday put on a performance that was full of energy and determination all over the pitch. There’s a distinct lack of physicality in this Arsenal side. We need rugged players to complement the silky skills of Ozil and Cazorla. We will also need a more physical #10 to compete with Ozil (someone in the mould of a young Rosicky). Finally, we need a very physical, speedy and energetic #9. These 2 players I think will transform Arsenal greatly:
– Michy Batshuayi/ Romelu Lukaku
– Victor Wanyama/ Grzegorz Krychowiak
It’ll take a lot of money of course, but I believe our physicality problems need to be solved, otherwise, no party.
We are missing three of the most important players on the team with Sanchez being at the top of that list. We need back up for Sanchez and Coq and some real wingers!
@twig, has been for 10 years nothing new there,
This is the main part of the season where u need to utilise the squad, looking at our bench who on earth can we put into team for tmrws game most of them are still in their nappies…..
Ozil,Campbell, flam, giroud look very tired to me but that lack of options on bench is solely wengers fault
honestly i would say “YES” because when wenger was supposed to have rested him, “he didn’t”! Now we are seeing the results of his stubborness!
Does anyone know exactly when thomas “little mozart” rosicky will be back?
It’s a Combination of Alexis, Cazorla and Coquelin
Campbell, Flamini and Ramsey have done very well but when you lose three of your biggest and best starters the teams real quality will eventually suffer. Alexis and Cazorla are world class and Coquelin is very close. They are extremely important to our attack and defense
However, if we get them back in the next two Months we can still win the PL provided Campbell, Flamini, Ramsey stay healthy and help us stay close to the top along with our other starters
Beating Bournemouth today is step in the right direction
They say that every little detail should go in your way in-order to be lucky and it is true where the first goal came from a saints player heading the ball back to right-back from an offside. The goal was a major factor in the game along with Ramsey and Flamini who lacked positional sense always moving forward. Mertesacker is the weak-link to the side with his weak clearance.