Reflecting on last night’s narrow cup win I find myself considering what the match against West Ham might suggest for Friday’s visit of Liverpool. Who was not selected and whether that means they have now been upgraded to the ‘A’ Team and on last night performances, who pressed their claims to face the Anfield Reds.
It now seems that Wenger has, temporarily at least, reverted to his old 4231. Whether this reversion is permanent remains to be seen but to face Liverpool I am certain he will start with a conventional defence. I do however feel the back four selected might surprise us. In recent games the manager has favoured Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left-back and left out Kolasinac. The latter played quite well against the Hammers but perhaps not well enough for a recall. Indeed with the threat from Friday’s visitors being very real but firmly not aerial, a mobile back four is more the requisite than a tall back four. For this reason I think we will see the return of Mustafi alongside Koscielny in the centre of a back four. If that is the case Nacho Monreal, arguably the first name on the team sheet, should be given the nod for his defensive experience to counter Mo Salah. If the case that will require our veteran Spaniard to be at his very best.
Wenger upbeat about AMN’s future at Arsensl
The complete the four, in a week when Wenger has strongly spoken up Maitland- Niles I wonder if the young World Cup winner might get the nod at right back over an entirely out of sorts Hector Bellerin. Yes it would be a huge call but Niles also has the pace to counter Mane and a more physical presence. Bellerin has seemed devoid of confidence for some time now and is a shadow of the young gun we all have come to love. He has struggled to come to terms with the dual wing-back role, which most felt would come naturally to him and his attacking flair and ability to beat his opposite number has disappeared. This is not the end for Hector, as he has far to much talent but a few games out of the firing line over Christmas may assist him to recharge his batteries.
Many will continue to see Maitland-Niles as our future holding midfielder, and he may well be so, but at present he is being utilised very effectively as a wing back/full-back. Barring a few outings in the FA Cup early on last season these outings have all been on the left, so I for one would like to see how he fairs on his stronger right side. Of course Debuchy also has claims to step in for Bellerin but whilst his form in the cup team has been hugely encouraging we have to admit that he is not Arsenal’s future and Niles firmly is.
Another reason to have Monreal back on the left in the 4231 is to renew a partnership on that flank with Alexis. Whatever our views on the form or attitude of the Chilean he will play on Friday and he simply works better with the Spaniard. Much of the constant cutting in from Sanchez, contributing frustratingly to the narrowness and lack of width in our play, seems to be caused by his lack of trust in Kolasinac. Sead is making the overlapping runs continuously but Alexis is ignoring them, of so it appears to me at least. Having his old left sided partner back might bring out the old Sanchez. Worth a try at least!
Nacho more Alexis’s man
Francis Coquelin played very well last night and might have been considered to ‘do a job’ on Couthino but his late injury probably means the Xhaka/Wilshere axis will continue. The latter needs to come to terms with the increased defensive responsibility along side the Swiss play-maker but we all know he has that in him. Both will have to be at their best and most mobile and our wide players will need to work back meaningfully. It is for this reason that after an energetic and ultimately match winning performance against West Ham I hope Danny Welbeck gets the nod to play on the right of the three, alongside Ozil, with Lacazette up top. Wenger may well opt for Iwobi but against Liverpool, Welbeck’s energy, work rate. and ability to press effectively give him the edge of Iwobi’s superior technique and ball retention.
Roll on Friday!
Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.
He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.
The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.
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