I do feel that Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have got some of the worst luck going on the injury front and although we can also point to other problems and things that keep stopping the Gunners from challenging for the Premier League title, it is hard to ignore the fact that Arsenal have to do without a number of big players for significant parts of every season.
While Leicester managed to win the title last season thanks in large part to Claudio Ranieri being able to name the same starting XI week in and week out, Chelsea are having the same fortune this season and neither of them have had European games to add pressure to their squad either.
The latest injury crisis for Arsenal came about with Aaron Ramsey picking up a calf problem at the worst possible time. Not only did it come in the midweek game against Watford just ahead of maybe our most important match, it came when we were already without Cazorla, Elneny and Xhaka and just for good measure it was in the final hours of the transfer window which left no time to get a replacement.
So Wenger played Oxlade-Chamberlain at Stamford Bridge and although we lost I thought he was one of our better players. Now that the AFCON tournament is over the boss will have Elneny back but should he give the Ox another chance to show what he can do from central areas?
Well our next game is against Hull City at home and should be mainly about us trying to break down a dogged defence, so perhaps the attacking threat of Chamberlain will be a bigger weapon than the passing and work rate of the Egyptian, who might not be in the best frame of mind after losing the AFCON final to Cameroon despite opening the scoring himself.
What do you think Wenger should do?
Bob.
Ramsey would not have made a difference IMO. Even without a single injured player we would have lost this game given the way we applied ourselves.
I agree though that Ox in the middle has been one of the few pleasant surprises of late. Hull are doing well and we need a win. It is hard to say what team would have the best chance. If Elneny is not too tired perhaps start him with Ox? Coq is not the most attacking threat we have and Hull will defend most of the game. Perhaps Elneny offers a bit more going forward then Coq? Hard to say.
No reason not to continue with the OX in that role. In fact I’ll drop Ozil and play a midfield of OX-Elneny-Coquelin. That’s just me though.
I don’t think there is any other choice. I’ve always been critical of Ox playing in the middle because of his positional sense, and accuracy of passing, but he has impressed me in recent games. Ramsey’s useless, Xhaka is yet to settle, and Santi’s done for the season, why not keep the Ox in there!
really like manager like fans where those the delusion stop ox not arsenal quality
Ox?
this guy should only be coming into our squad as a substitute if we are damn serious.
He is not anywhere good reach the level of Willian who is still not a regular starter in Chelsea team.
That’s the difference between losers and winners.
Solution to our problem: replace Wenger.
people are saying Wenger is irreplaceable. So, if he dies now, Arsenal dies along, huh ? Rubbish talk.
Given the players currently available, who would you suggest in that role if not Ox?