No matter how much Arsene Wenger is hoping things will change, the fact is that all Arsenal fans know that at the moment Alexis Sanchez is more of a liability in the side rather than a possible game winner, and think that should spend some time on the bench until he sorts his head (and his feet) out.
Interestingly, it wasn’t that long ago that Wenger told us that Wilshere should be used in a more attacking role for the Gunners. In fact his exact words were: “I think the new system suits him. Because for me he is in the position between wide and completely central, or in that area behind the midfield. Because he turns the game forward well, he can chip a little ball, he can pass people in the short space. That’s why I think the system suits him well. He’s a little bit in conflict in this position with Ozil and Alexis.”
So obviously Wenger thinks he can play there, and surely he couldn’t play worse than Sanchez is right now? And strangely enough, today on Arsenal.com Wilshere himself admitted that he looking to play more alongside Ozil, and he could easily do that with Lacazette as the target man. He said: “I’ve said before that’s where I want to play,” he told Arsenal Player. “I like playing through the middle, whether it’s deeper or it’s in the number 10. With a player like Mesut, we’ve been playing next to each other, it makes it easy.
“If you make a run, he’ll find a ball for you and with Granit sitting in behind it’s working quite well. We’re looking to build on that, we can improve definitely, that’s what we’re trying to do.”
So here is what Wenger could do. Play Coquelin alongside Xhaka, and put Wishere beside Ozil, and leave Alexis on the bench!
What do you think?
Darren N