I was not as furious as some other Arsenal fans when Arsene Wenger decided that Arsenal would be the only Premier League club not to sign a single outfield player in the summer transfer window. After all, the injury situation was looking a lot better and I agreed that the transfer of Petr Cech from Chelsea would have a big impact.
And it was not just for his keeping ability, but his experience and the winning mentality and leadership qualities that the veteran would bring, so it is great news to read in an Evening Standard report that Cech says he will be fit to face Watford on Saturday. Even though David Ospina has done very well in Cech’s absence I do feel that Arsenal need all the leaders in the squad to step up now to give us any chance of the title.
But who else do Arsenal have to fill that role? Well there is Per Mertesacker the vice-captain but we do not know if it will be him or Gabriel starting alongside Laurent Koscielny. Perhaps it might be an idea to start the BFG to have one more leader on the pitch because even though the other two might be better or in better form they do not provide that leadership on the pitch.
I also think that Francis Coquelin does this and you often see him extorting greater effort from his team mates, something he seems to have picked up from Mathieu Flamini. After that, however, I am struggling to pick any real leaders in the side. Alexis Sanchez can be said to lead by the example of his energy and work rate but is that enough? Will our lack of real leaders on the pitch end up costing Arsenal dear?