Midfielders:
Francis Coquelin was voted as Arsenal’s Player of the Month for the month of August. It is deserved considering he was Arsenal’s most consistent performer over the first four games of the season.
There has been a lot of talk about how other players in the squad need to step up and contribute more goals. Players lake Oxlade-Chamberlain and Özil have been primarily mentioned, but not many people are mentioning Santi Cazorla.
Cazorla scored seven goals in the league last year but almost all of them came from penalties. For a player who is so technically gifted, it is baffling to see him finish so poorly, so often.
Cazorla scored 12 goals in his first season with Arsenal. Since then, it seems that you’d have to convince him that scoring is an important part of soccer. If there is one player who can step up in the goal scoring department, it’s Cazorla.
Ramsey will move into an advanced central role. This shift will see Özil move out wide. Ramsey is more of a goal scoring threat through the middle of the park.
Oxlade-Chamberlain played the full 90-minutes for England against Switzerland and performed well. It’s not surprising to have seen him on the bench for Arsenal considering the caliber of players ahead of the Ox in the pecking order. Having said that, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been Arsenal’s most dangerous player so far this season.
He scored a well-taken goal against Chelsea in the Community Shield and another one against Newcastle last weekend, although that was later ruled an own goal.
Wenger needs to find a way to get Oxlade-Chamberlain in the squad and dropping Giroud, who hasn’t looked his best, seems like the most obvious way to do so.
Wenger may be criticized for pushing Özil out wide, but Özil does play on the left for Germany, and does so effectively. The German will still be a force out on the left and will have the freedom to roam where he wants.
The only concern about this selection is that Özil may be a defensive liability on the wing. Cazorla and Monreal will have to make up for this.
Santi Cazorla didn’t seem sharp against Liverpool. He was losing the ball in uncharacteristic fashion and in dangerous positions. He improved a bit in the second half but couldn’t influence the game the way he may have liked to. His shooting boots have completely gone, which is concerning to see in a player of his quality.
Mesut Özil had a solid game against Liverpool and will look to build up more form against Newcastle. He was always looking to get on the ball and bring his teammates into play. If his teammates could convert at least half of the chances that he creates for them, his assist numbers would be astronomical.
Wenger’s decision to playing Aaron Ramsey on the right has been criticized, however, Ramsey has looked very dangerous from this position. He played well here against Crystal Palace and was constantly finding himself in dangerous positions in between the lines. He did the same against Liverpool and scored a goal that was incorrectly ruled offside.
Ramsey has started the season in fine form. Although his long-term future is not wide right, he is playing very well there for now.
Alexis clearly is not fit yet or sharp yet. His lack of a pre-season is showing and Arsenal may be better off playing Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain down this flank instead.
The Chilean’s work rate is infectious and he is a joy to watch. However, his finishing and decision making has been poor to start the year. Hopefully his national team takes good care of him and allows him to regain sharpness without over playing him.
Francis Coquelin was voted as Arsenal’s Player of the Month for the month of August. It is deserved considering he was Arsenal’s most consistent performer over the first four games of the season.
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| Francis Coquelin |
Cazorla scored seven goals in the league last year but almost all of them came from penalties. For a player who is so technically gifted, it is baffling to see him finish so poorly, so often.
Cazorla scored 12 goals in his first season with Arsenal. Since then, it seems that you’d have to convince him that scoring is an important part of soccer. If there is one player who can step up in the goal scoring department, it’s Cazorla.
Ramsey will move into an advanced central role. This shift will see Özil move out wide. Ramsey is more of a goal scoring threat through the middle of the park.
Oxlade-Chamberlain played the full 90-minutes for England against Switzerland and performed well. It’s not surprising to have seen him on the bench for Arsenal considering the caliber of players ahead of the Ox in the pecking order. Having said that, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been Arsenal’s most dangerous player so far this season.
He scored a well-taken goal against Chelsea in the Community Shield and another one against Newcastle last weekend, although that was later ruled an own goal.
Wenger needs to find a way to get Oxlade-Chamberlain in the squad and dropping Giroud, who hasn’t looked his best, seems like the most obvious way to do so.
Wenger may be criticized for pushing Özil out wide, but Özil does play on the left for Germany, and does so effectively. The German will still be a force out on the left and will have the freedom to roam where he wants.
The only concern about this selection is that Özil may be a defensive liability on the wing. Cazorla and Monreal will have to make up for this.
Santi Cazorla didn’t seem sharp against Liverpool. He was losing the ball in uncharacteristic fashion and in dangerous positions. He improved a bit in the second half but couldn’t influence the game the way he may have liked to. His shooting boots have completely gone, which is concerning to see in a player of his quality.
Mesut Özil had a solid game against Liverpool and will look to build up more form against Newcastle. He was always looking to get on the ball and bring his teammates into play. If his teammates could convert at least half of the chances that he creates for them, his assist numbers would be astronomical.
Wenger’s decision to playing Aaron Ramsey on the right has been criticized, however, Ramsey has looked very dangerous from this position. He played well here against Crystal Palace and was constantly finding himself in dangerous positions in between the lines. He did the same against Liverpool and scored a goal that was incorrectly ruled offside.
Ramsey has started the season in fine form. Although his long-term future is not wide right, he is playing very well there for now.
Alexis clearly is not fit yet or sharp yet. His lack of a pre-season is showing and Arsenal may be better off playing Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain down this flank instead.
The Chilean’s work rate is infectious and he is a joy to watch. However, his finishing and decision making has been poor to start the year. Hopefully his national team takes good care of him and allows him to regain sharpness without over playing him.
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