Ox and Giroud – Will they ever get the game time they deserve? by RC
For a long while now we have given chances to three players who have provided near to nothing this season. These players are keeping the likes of the Ox and Giroud, who as we saw yesterday, have the talent to turn a game around.
The first of these players is Iwobi. Keeping a consistent spot on the left wing until yesterday’s game, Iwobi has hit the headlines by being a player that has come through the ranks and is now keeping a spot in the side. However if he did not have this reputation of coming through the youth system would he even be in the squad? Apart from a few good dribbles and the odd flick what does he offer? He always bottles it in front of goal, can’t pick out an ambitious pass and, on more than one occasion, has misplaced a pass to the opposition to nearly costs us a goal. How does a player of this calibre start ahead of Ox who, despite barely starting a match, is our 4th highest goal scorer!
The next player has not been consistently starting but is still getting more game time than some very talented players is Elneny. Not a direct swap for Ox, although he has stated that is a position he would like to play in, but still keeping others out the side. Elneny brings little to the team, limited passing ability only ever choosing the easy pass as well as being weak and slow, this showed yesterday getting beat by nearly every Man United player that came his way. He is there to fill a spot rather than actually change the game. I understand we are missing Cazorla massively but why oh why not put Xhaka in there or even Ox. We have a massive squad of talent and I really don’t see a space in there for a player the level of Elneny.
Perhaps the most controversial of the bunch of players that I think need dropping is Ramsey. A player that Wenger has always had faith in and it did pay off, for one season. Since his glory season Ramsey has provided the odd wonder goal but little else. His great form for Wales leaves us frustrated by his bang average performances for the Gunners. Against Man United he was extremely poor and I don’t understand why he was not brought off sooner. Ramsey is a central midfield player that rarely offers an above average performance and yet we choose to play him out on the wing ahead of the in-form Ox or letting Sanchez slot back out wide to let Giroud up front. Ramsey can still be utilised and will surely find form soon but currently he is playing badly and out of position!
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud need game time or they will seek game time elsewhere. Both talented players that are being left out for average players in poor form. Makes no sense to me, I’m sure it makes no sense to them. For the first time in years we have a massive squad full of talent it’s time we used that to the best effect.
Rory.