In today's Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast: Elliot (@YankeeGunner) and Paul (@PoznanInMyPants) are joined by special guest Clive (@clivepafc) from the Gooner Ramble talk about the victory at Nottingham Forest. Some of the talking points include Coquelin and Xhaka (again!) which youngsters could potentially break through and plenty more in this weeks Arsenal Vision podcast
Whilst the goals of Sanchez have temporarily relieved Wenger of any uncomfortable centre forward questions, resentment surrounding Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder intensifies as fans cast longing glances at the inclusion of Gundongan, Pogba and Kante at three of their closest rivals. Additionally, the two long range efforts that have found the back of the net in both of Xhaka’s previous outings have caused fans to question Wenger’s decision to leave the Swiss midfielder on the bench. Like a Donald Trump rally, it doesn’t take much in this current Wenger era to incite hatred or riot and it feels like both the PSG
I was actually really excited to see that he rotated well this game. I thought the inclusion of Perez was a good way to get him introduced and up to speed but I'd have rather seen him playing up front to get a better feel for what (I hope) is his position moving forward at Arsenal. I'm not sure that even that goal near the end could convince me that the Ox deserves a start in anything but ELC. If AW doesn't start Xhaxa next EPL game though
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has played at right back twice before in his career apparently, he looked like a typical modern day Arsenal right back. Granted he was not tested defensively as he would against better teams but he stretched the pitch and combined very well with the Arsenal players around him. It will be interesting to see if he is played as full back in the youth sides after this performance. Debuchy is almost certainly heading out of the club and Jenkinson’s future is unclear. A path could open up for him to get a place in the Arsenal squad as a back up right back but it’s very very early days. He will need to gain experience and consistency before any of that.
I thought we would see Mathieu Debuchy as he was training but he is not even in the squad, maybe it's the last we see of him and he will move in January, unless he is injured. So Ainsley Maitland-Niles who was on loan at Ipswich Town last season will be given the chance to show what he can do. Xhaka and Elneny start as expected as does new boy Lucas Perez wearing his new shinny new number 9 shirt.
It is pretty easy second guessing the team for the most part. Gabriel should start his first game since his injury during pre season. He couldn’t have timed his return better could he? You cannot expect Gabriel to be perfect tonight given the lack of football under his Brazilian belt but it’s important he changes the direction of his Arsenal career, after a positive start his performance levels have started to deteriorate a little. He was given a chance to oust Per Mertesacker from the starting eleven but mistakes kept creeping into his game and those mistakes were often costly to the team. Since last season Arsene has added a very promising young centre back in Rob Holding and has also spent big money on Mustafi so Gabby really has his work cut out
In today's Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast: Elliot (@YankeeGunner), Tim (@Stillberto) and Paul (@PoznanInMyPants) talk about the victory at Hull City. Some of the talking points include Alexis at centre forward, Granit Xhaka and his goal, Nottingham Forest in the EFL cup and plenty more in this weeks Arsenal Vision podcast
What seems clear to me is the fact that most of our moves come from that left/central position. There is a little box of switching players and it is not just down to Walcott to move into those spaces but also Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi. It must be a nightmare for defenders to have to try and mark this rotating circle of attacking players all popping up in between the lines and then whoosh someone is running into the space that Alexis has left behind. This looks planned and choreographed to me. We got a hint of it last season when Welbeck came into the team with Iwobi and Alexis on the right and our attacking play improved considerably. It's the way Arsene wants to play football and it's probably why a player like Lucas Perez has been signed. A player who is comfortable in both positions on the flank and centrally. He can join the circle of fun. Maybe this is why we have seen little of Giroud so far this season
While I was disappointed at xhaka not starting, I was absolutely annoyed at this Alexis striker bit. If Perez isn't fit to start, I'd rather the guy who has been calling himself a striker be played up top and Alexis out wide instead of vice versa. Alexis drops to midfield way too much often leaving the striker role vacant. As for midfield, I'm a fan of coq/cazorla partnership but will really like to see xhaka get more game time. So I would have put Alexis wide left, theo Center and iwobi right. Perhaps rested santi and brought in xhaka.