As I mentioned pre match, Arsene was likely to revert back to the 4141 which I imagine was designed for these big games. Jack Wilshere comes into the middle of the pitch to add some much needed bite so I expect Mesut Özil to move wide left. Alexis Sanchez should play from the right flank trying to support Danny Welbeck. The system has been inconsistent so far so let us hope now is the time where it pays off.
Ramsey and Özil but that aside we had a team to produce a much better performance both defensively and offensively. At the time I did not understand our approach to the game. I just could not get my head around it. We had one of the best defensive records in the league because we defended in numbers when we didn't have the ball. It worked so well in so many of our games, so much so that we spent week after week at the top of the table but at Chelsea we had abandoned that strategy and tried to push Chelsea back into their own half by
Many of the plaudits will deservedly go to hat-trick hero Daniel Nii Tackie Welbeck and I'll come onto him in a moment but for me that first half was all about Santi Cazorla. When reading the line up before kick off I imagined that Oxlade-Chamberlain would be the one to come inside and replace Aaron Ramsey with Santi playing his usual role on the left, but instead Arsene went with the Spaniard as our number 8. Perhaps Arsene wanted to give the distribution duties to somebody more capable than Mathieu Flamini. Maybe Arsene wanted to get the ball to Özil early and accurately. That was certainly the case in that first half. The speed of which Cazorla shifts the ball between his feet and then finding his team mate floating into small pockets of space was a joy to watch
In my view all this serves to do is undermine the true reality of players contributions and performances. I think some bloggers would derive satisfaction from Arsenal failing in order to satisfy their own sense of self importance. The reality is that it damages the clubs reputation (I can't imagine how the 'next' Sanchez or Özil will assess the possible press they'll get if they are not banging in a hat trick every other game) and creates a press frenzy as more half witted journalists and media reporters, write and rewrite more negative articles in return for clicks, shares or likes. Even TV commentators regurgitate the rubbish that is pushed out.
Welbeck is the obvious standout performer of the night. To get his first ever professional hat trick and to do it on a Champions League night is no mean feat. His work rate was phenomenal tonight and his ability to run in behind is an asset we lacked when Giroud is in the side (and Walcott out). There have been several similarities drawn between the King and "dat guy" tonight. I'd suggest we don't get too ahead of ourselves, but its not hard to see why. I don't see Danny reaching quite that height, however you can't but be excited after a performance like tonight's. That run from the halfway line so late in the game showed some of the qualities this Arsenal side has missed going forward in the last couple of seasons
As expected the team has pretty much picked itself. Without the injured Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta, Arsene has recalled Alexis Sanchez thus pushing the Ox into the middle alongside Mathieu Flamini who replaces Arteta.
What will be interesting now is how we set up. It's clear that Arsène wants to see the 4141 through, especially in big games. I assume it is the big games that has instigated this change in the first place but with Arteta and Rambo out, and perhaps even Jack not available from the start I wonder if the players available would suit the 4231 once more
Arsène had reverted back to the 4-1-4-1 system that I imagine will be used for a little while yet. Given the Özil and Welbeck chemistry shown at Villa Park last weekend, I am surprised that the same system was not deployed. Alexis Sanchez started on the bench for the second league game in a row. I am guessing here but I reckon that Arsène believes that Alexis is disrupting the fluidity of the attack with
Overrated, waste of 40 million pounds and a player who’s nicking a living, Mesut Ozil was our best player on show without a doubt. He was like a puppeteer stringing passes left and right, opening up the defence and creating chances through out the game. He makes it looks so simple and maybe that’s why people don’t appreciate him much. I want to re watch the entire match just to admire his performance again
As for the game today, too many people are tipping us to win comfortably for my liking. They've been terrible in recent weeks and this type of fixture is just the kind of fixture the Tottenham manager will use to kick start their season. They will be committed and aggressive for sure so we will have to match that. As for team selection, I reckon that depends on what system Arsène opts for. If we want to press them high up and get behind their back four early then you may have to prepare yourself for Mesut Özil playing on the left in place of Cazorla with Wilshere coming back into the side but if Arsène keeps the 4231 then I reckon Cazorla will start ahead of Wilshere but out on the left, allowing rotation between himself and Mesut.