With a small rumble of unrest from some fans doing the rounds, do we feel that we are playing the right combinations of players to get the whole team to perform to their best?
Ozil and Giroud have recently been questioned on their performances. Giroud's early goal scoring form appears to have abandoned him and Ozil's relaxed style of play is beginning to grind on some gooners.
To me, there is no doubt that both the aforementioned are key players to Arsenals season and that we will need to get the best out of them to see Arsenal firing on all cylinders.
This leads me on to best combinations. We have seen our defence improve magnificently over the last year, the combination of Koscielny and Mertesacker is a thing of beauty, each others weakness covered completely by his partners strength. Gibbs has shown his ability whilst being injury free and Sagna has regained the form which has seen him as the most consistent Arsenal player over the last 5 seasons. Finally, Szesnszy has looked more comfortable and can still pull off some sublime saves. All of this is based on good player combinations. Vermaelen is a very talented centre back, potentially not to far off either of his peers, yet many gooners don't want to see the captain back in the first XI as the combination we have is working.
Moving on into midfield and beyong becomes an issue. Ramsey has nailed down a place for sure. To partner him, Flamini is my personal choice as he commands the field from his midfield bunker like an angry sargeant major. But from this point on, what is the best combination? At the moment the most common would be:
Walcott.......................................Ozil.....................................Cazorla
.................................................Giroud
Yet here we have one goal scorer on the wide right, one link man up front and two play makers. Very basically, the two play makers only have one goal scoring option to find. To me it's unbalanced, and if Ozil is playing i think we need another goal scoring option either on the left or through the middle to give him extra outlets to thread those delicious through balls to, ie:
Walcott....................................Ozil......................................Caz/Pod
...........................................Giroud/Pod
But to get the best out of Giroud as a front man, i believe we need young Jack playing just behind him. These two have a great understanding, and their one-two work is on the same wave lengths. Wilshere is also happier to run beyong Big Oli than Ozil is. Playing Cazorla, or Ozil on the left will allow for a more controlling influence on possession, or start the Ox there for a dynamic three of:
Walcott................................Wilshere.............................Ox
All of which can play off a big front man keeping the defenders busy.
Each style would be slightly different, but i feel both line ups would get the most out of key players mentioned.
What are your thoughts?
Are we playing the right combinations?
posted on 19/12/13
No, but injuries have dictated that.
posted on 19/12/13
Very good tactically aware article I agree with the midgets bouncing off the front man however the front man needs to be able to score and do something himself. Drogba/Ibra are the perfect type. I think Santi, Ozil and Walcott should occupy the attack of the midfield but the problem is up top, now Giroud benefits well from Theo so that is my last hope from him but if he still struggles for goals then either Pod/Bedntner need the chance or a goal scorer is required from outside.
I'm confident Santi will start to play well Giroud is the person to wait for but I'm curious to see how better a fully rested Oli can play on monday. Jack is always great with a big figure beside him but he's not enough of a goal threat to play in the hole week in week out. He's very good with a big figure beside him in the middle of the park (remember him and Song in 2011). This is why I think Diaby and him would work but then that big gap infront of the back 4 re-opens, I think a real big effective DM is a needed signing for us too. Rambo's form also means that he won't budge.
In terms of what will make our XI complete and as strong as lets say City I think we need a big strong comfortable DM (Wanyama type), a very good striker than can hold his own and score goals (Lewandowski type). Flamini is a very good brief signing no doubt but Yaya on his bad day still couldn't be stopped on many occasion the other day.
The thing is Bedntner is a bit more skilled and agile than Giroud so if we could get him involved a he could be a very good stop-gap option in front of Theo, Mesut & Santi. That is just my opinion.