This is no quick fix, Patience is key. by Sean O’Hara
This was always the way we were going to go when replacing Arsenal Wenger after 22 years with Unai Emery, in that we were going to struggle the 1st season under the new era at The Emirates. We have lost our identity so to speak & are trying to find a new one with the new coaches, methods & few players that were brought in.
In saying that we also got rid of quite a few players/backroom staff so all this change was bound to take time & wasn’t going to be a success overnight, especially given the budget that the club has had to work with this summer.
Unai has to work with what he has got at his disposal already at the club plus the newbies in Lichsteiner, Torreira etc… so he has to at least have a season to see what players work for him & which don’t. You never know this could suit someone like Welbeck to finally shine with all the hard work he puts in on the pitch, stranger things have happened. To be fair we have a few players that a team can be built around.
Another couple of transfer windows & we could be ready to at least push the top teams but Emery needs to be given time as do the players adjusting to his tactics, training etc… then we can actually see come next summer where we are and what we need, as this isn’t a quick fix, especially as we won’t throw millions at any player like the big spenders in front of us.
This is off topic but a topic that has been brought up on the site recently;
We have what we have for a squad this season & if we were to find a balance in the team to start the next game I’d actually move Hector Bellerin to RW infront of Lichsteiner to shore up that right side. Bellerin has the speed to get back to help & Lichsteiner has the experience to guide Hector down the right.
With the LW is has to be Auba or Welbz backing up the natural no9 in Lacazette. Welbz has the engine to go up & down that wing to help Monreal in defence & get in behind the opposing defenders, as does Auba but he seems to be off colour at the moment – but Auba would start out wide & Danny would be the 1st attacker off the bench.
Midfield isn’t an easy choice as that’s where we are soft but in defence we are too slow & sloppy.
One of our CBs need to be strong, the other tall & quick to cover our high line so Mustafi partners either Mavraponas or Holding, Sokratis & Mustafi battle for a spot. We have to gamble here as Sokratis/Mustafi can’t play together. Cech has been good so far so he stays put until Leno is ready.
Midfield we have a massive problem but I’d go the 3 of Torreira, Xhaka & Miki. Torreira the obvious CDM partnered with DLP Xhaka for his passing & opening play up. Then Miki ahead of Ozil as he just does more pressing but lacks that little bit of magic that Mesut has to open up defences, the battle would be between these two. Guendouzi will come on late in a game along with Ramsey, again all competition for places no matter who the players are.
Cech
Lichtsteiner
Mustafi
Mavroponas
Monreal
Torreira
Xhaka (Guendouzi sub)
Miki (Ozil Sub)
Bellerin
Lacazette
Auba (Welbz Sub)
Just my opinion would love to know everyone else’s but no gurning about ‘we are doomed’ etc… nothing can be done about it now & our first two games were against the previous 2 winning teams of the league in Chelsea & City. Come next summer we will have another window to add to the team again but we have a platform to at least have a go this season with what he have.
Rome wasn’t built in a day & Arsenal won’t be a quick fix. Just enjoy we got a change & New 100% Yank Owner (JOKE, again nothing we can do but for another Article)
Nice to get the first win no matter how we got it. COYG
Sean