The new Arsenal signing Stephan Lichtsteiner came to Arsenal this summe with an amazing record of seven wins in a row in Serie A, and performed excellently as captain of the Switzerland side at the World Cup, but despite that, he has only appeared once for the Gunners when Maitland-Niles went off injured.
No wonder he is at a bit of a loss as to why he has not been in the starting line-up yet. He said: “I could have changed to five other clubs in the summer, knowing that I would certainly play 47 out of 50 serious matches,” Lichtsteiner told Swiss publication Sportal.
“It doesn’t irritate me, as in 2011, when I moved to Juventus, I wanted to join a big club.
“I was looking for a demanding challenge in a new league.
“That’s why I knew from the very beginning at Arsenal that I had to fight for the regular spot against Hector Bellerin.
“For me, stepping down has never been up for debate.
“If I have to admit that I can not keep the level of the last few years, then it is time.
“But then I will not only resign from the Swiss national team, but finish my career.
“Based purely on performance data I have the physicality of a 28-year-old.
“It is quite unusual for me to be a substitute. Three games in a row [on the bench], that’s never happened to me.
“If you have achieved a lot in your career, you have high expectations of yourself and want to play.
“But I also know that I will get the chance to play games.”
Well I think that he should be playing right now. Hector Bellerin has hardly been overly impressive and his defending leaves a lot to be desired. In fact he seems to spend more time doing fashoin shoots and giving interviews than he does playing football. It’s time he was brought down a peg or two and I believe that Lichtsteiner will easily prove he is the better player, especially defensively. The current back line is obviously not working very well!
Darren N