I suspect that Gnabry may play 60-70 minutes and if we are winning then Monreal can replace him. We are going to miss Walcott's running in behind that's for sure. While Gnabry was a sprinter in his younger years, he doesn't run in behind like Walcott does. Given that Swansea are an attacking team, we need that outlet. Perhaps we will approach the game a little differently. Maybe pushing Özil closer to Giroud and play a deeper midfield four rather than three forwards ahead of Özil.
At the back, Per Mertesacker put in a man if the match display and somewhat reinforced the assertion by some that he is probably first choice in central defence at present. The German international manfully marshalled the backline against the Baggies’ attack, sitting deep when necessary and frequently using his height to great effect by winning a number of important defensive headers.
Thomas Vermaelen seemed to have a far more settled game along the big German. Certainly better than what we were used to seeing last season up until he was unceremoniously dropped from the team. He did at one point however, go flying in making an unnecessary challenge just outside the box and earn himself a needless booking. The kind he has almost
If I was to guess, I'd say that Mathieu Flamini will continue in the side. Firstly he has not had to fly here, there and everywhere for France. He has also had less games given that he missed the Villa game and part of the Tottenham game. I'd be interested to see what foundation he and Arteta give the team and which player has more of the box to box role. I suspect that Arsene will use the Spaniard from deeper, allowing us to play the ball from the back and control the possession whilst using Flamini's industry and running further up the pitch. I also expect Per Mertesacker to continue at centre back, restoring his old partnership with Thomas Vermaelen. His work load is completely different to that of a midfielder or striker who continuously have to make sprints during games. To use an old cliche, Mertesacker plays a lot of his football in his head so I expect his body to be just find to take on the work load of the next few weeks. Maybe if all is well, Arsene can replace him for Isaac Hayden on 70. Not that I expect the game to be
Bacary Sagna is very strong in the air and it is somewhat of a surprise that he has not been used in the opposition penalty area as often as his strength in the air suggests. Safety of the counter attack may have been put ahead of trying to score. With Özil's expert delivery, I want to see Giroud, Sagna, Mertesacker and Koscielny up from the back
Ramsey continued his recent good form with the opening goal. From a purely non-objective, irrational fan point of view this one was probably the one that provided the most satisfaction simply because of the opposition. The stories about 'redemption' have and will be done to death but for Aaron Ramsey to score against Stoke of all teams given what happened in the past would suggest there might actually be some truth to all that Karma talk that Buddhists tell us about. Sometimes, in re
All-in-all it this was a solid performance from Arsenal, who appeared relaxed and alert to most potential goal threats and authoritative in attack. The one touch passing was a joy to watch, particularly the interchanges between Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshere and Gnabry.
It was reassuring to observe Wilshere in good form with his unselfish play, clever passing and deceptive movement with the ball.
More than Walcott’s movements, is the system Arsène Wenger has in the past used but with more compactness this season; the ‘Midfield-4’ as I like to call it, early in the season Rosicky was used in the #10 role with Cazorla on the LW but with a lot more freedom to drift deeper and make up a Flat-3 with the Double Pivot, while also supporting the #10 in the final 3rd, all together it gives off a compact shaped Midfield-4, whereby all 4 midfielders can easily find each other, interchange and support in order to overload the central areas specifically, but are also able to overload the flanks on either side.
Nicklas Bendtner is not my favourite ever Arsenal player that is for sure. I don't think his touch is good enough, work rate is not a patch on Giroud and even Chamakh before him but reading comments on Twitter and comments sections saying how they don't want Bendtner anywhere near the squad misses the point for me. We are currently light in attack and I'd take someone of Bendtner's experience as back up instead of moving Theo Walcott 'out of position' and then needing to find someone to offer what Theo does from the right. I wonder if Arsene is contemplating a defensive switch to try and freshen up his squad, even if the West Brom game coming up. Bringing in Monreal for Gibbs who was superb in France in midweek is an option but given the fact that we may need Gibbs' attacking quality going forward, Arsene may stick rather than twist. Hoping that legs hold up.