While
Arsenal probably should have scored more in their 2-0 victory over Reading in
the League Cup, it was a seventh clean sheet in their past eight games in all
competitions. It was also another fine showing for the Ox, who scored both
goals in the win.
Some thoughts on the weekend …
1. Ox Rising: Oxlade-Chamberlain
has found it difficult to break into the starting 11 this term, largely because
Walcott is playing some of the best football of his career on the right and
Cazorla is generally preferred in the middle. Now that Cazorla is out injured
for a spell, one does wonder if Wenger might consider giving Ox a run in the
team, particularly if Coquelin or Xhaka are fit and starting further back to
provide cover for the back four. Ramsey is still out with a bizarrely lingering
hamstring issue, Wilshere is plying his trade for Bournemouth and the defensive
setup used last weekend seemed to undermine the attacking thrust of the side.
Walcott
is a must starter at the moment on the right and Sanchez has proven himself
capable of making the move to the number 9, but two options for Ox are in
central midfield or, possibly, on the left cutting in. That role has been
played by Sanchez in the past and Iwobi more recently, but if Ox can keep up
his scoring pace he might be an option to share time with the youngster. When
Cazorla returns, it is hard to see where Ox can play week in and out unless he
moves to the left wing, though opportunities will surely present themselves. One
is him playing in the number 10 when Ozil is rested, on the right when Walcott gets
needed breaks (or plays through the middle) or deeper in midfield for Cazorla.
His
return of five goals so far this term is certainly an improvement on the past
and moves him closer to the complete player many believed he could become. He
is probably the second best dribbler on the team, behind Sanchez, and certainly
the strongest option in the front line, though his range of pass and forward
movement could make him a formidable central midfielder in the coming years.
Whether that will be with Arsenal is still an open question without a clear
answer. The competition for places, which will only grow when Ramsey and
Welbeck return, can only be a positive for the side, as we have already seen
marked improvement in Walcott and Ox as they realize nothing is guaranteed with
this side.
2. Youngbloods Impress: Wenger
decided to go radically toward non-starters in this game and it paid dividends
not only in the result but building confidence for a series of youngsters and
backups to the starting 11. Holding and Paulista were strong through the
middle, important as Mertesacker’s time is probably nearing its end at the
Emirates and an injury to Koscielny or Mustafi seems likely before the season
is done. Jenkinson acquitted himself well in his return to the side, after a
long injury layoff after a spell with West Ham, displaying the potential to be
a decent backup for Bellerin. Gibbs was solid as a potential medium term
replacement for Monreal and Martinez had a couple of high quality saves, though
his route to the starting line-up seems rather distant. Teenagers Zelalem and
Maitland-Niles both looked solid if nervy and Perez continued to show his
potential, making a case for the playing time he hoped to have secured with his
summer move (even as a berth in the starting 11 on a weekly basis seems
unlikely).
Giroud,
on the other hand, must be wondering if this might be his final season with the
club, a decent scoring record varnished by the sense he never quite crossed the
threshold to top scorer, potentially costing the team the crown last season
with his long second-half scoring drought. His lack of dynamism just doesn’t
seem to suit the side any longer and, while his aerial threat might have been
useful against a compact Middlesbrough last weekend, substitute appearances and
the odd start seem to be his future, barring injuries to others, for the
remainder of the campaign.
One
other disappointment was the absence of Krystian Bielek from the side, as he
looked a promising prospect a couple of seasons ago, though one wonders if he
will ever break into the side now. Among those playing, one does expect to see
more of Perez as the season unfolds, much more of Ox if he keeps up this level,
Elneny as a more defensive option in midfield to hold leads or in particular
games (unlucky to be replaced by his former teammate Xhaka, who does seem a
step up, after a decent first few months with the team) and the continued
presence of Iwobi as a dynamic forward, though one would like to see him show
more poise when scoring opportunities present themselves.
3. Arsenal Finally back through to Final 8: Wenger has generally seen the League Cup, in its many
manifestations, as an opportunity to give young players and non-starters the
opportunity for game time. Not surprisingly, that result has led some toward
the starting 11, but has also meant the Gunners have never won the competition
under the Frenchman. A lost final to Birmingham in 2011, during their longest
barren spell under Wenger, was a moment not soon forgotten by Gooners, but they
are certainly in a position now to make a march toward a final, after going out
early for five years now. The competition will probably be stiff, but a trophy
in February could be just what the Gunners need to build confidence for the
second half run-in where they have faltered so often since 2004. Arsenal will
hope to avoid a hot Liverpool or either Manchester side in the next round, but should
now bring more starters into the fold for an opportunity to win some early
silverware, hopefully on the way to bigger things …
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