Has Fate Intervened to Select Arsenal’s Best Possible Squad Despite Wenger? by NO
Against Spuds as usual Wenger had surprises for the fans, he insisted on the 4.1.4.1 setup and left arguably Arsenal’s best player right now (Alexis Sanchez) on the bench. He insisted on a Wilshere-Ramsey partnership in the middle of the pack. I honestly want to believe that Wenger decided it was too risky to allow Spud’s aggression to remove our best player at the moment and understood that Arsenal will be less effective up front for it, but hoped that the Ozil-Welbeck partnership would blossom.
Well the Spud injury-inflicting-machinery did indeed live up to its promise and soon we had two players removed – Arteta and Ramsey. Soon it was Cazorla for Ramsey, Flamini for Arteta and Sanchez for Wilshere. Wenger had to shift things a bit and I believe the final lineup was Sanchez coming from the left, Carzola and Ozil in the center and Ox stayed in the right wing.
Ramsey is out of contention for now. I hope what Ramsey is facing is just a few weeks rest which will help him find his 2013/14 bearings once again while recovering.
The squad now reads (If Wenger goes 4.1.4.1)
Welbeck,
Sanchez, Cazorla, Ozil, OX
Flamini
Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Chambers
Szczesny
For me, Cazorla and Ozil are the best pairing for the center; they are a mature, creative and purely super creative when working at optimum, though I know that Wilshere will make appearances because of Wenger’s preferences. Sanchez and Ox are the brightest, fastest pairing for both wings at the moment. I know, people will ask questions like Sanchez on the left? But look at what he did when he came on in the second half, causing sleeplessness for the Spuds left side and probably brought in the confusion that created the goal in the end. Again, for me it may be time to try Diaby in the DM role.
If I was Wenger I would start training with this squad for Chelsea, but for our midweek, I would have a few changes made – Welbeck rests and Akpom comes in to start. Rosicky replaces Ozil and Ospina comes in for Szczesny. That’s just to keep them fresh for Chelsea. I would give Diaby 45 Minutes against Galatasaray and see how it goes. If he does well he starts for Flamini in DM role.
So Galatasaray faces: –
Akpom,
Sanchez, Cazorla, Rosicky, OX
Diaby
Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Chambers
Ospina
With Welbeck, Flamini and Ozil in the bench and on call if need be.
For Chelsea, We prepare the following side:
Welbeck,
Sanchez, Cazorla, Ozil, OX
Diaby
Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Chambers
Szczesny
I think this line-up could actually be the best XI that Arsenal could put out this season.
what do you think Gooners?