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The 2017-18 Premier League season marks the start of the 12th season since Arsenal made their move from their iconic Highbury stadium to the modern day colosseum Ashburton Grove, popularly known as the Emirates Stadium. The move itself came with a lot of financial complications for the club and coupled with the rise of Man City and Chelsea, Arsenal lost their footing as one of the dominant powers in the English game.
In the summer of 2013 however, the signing of German superstar Mesut Ozil suggested the shackles had come off and Arsenal could now compete on an equal financial footing as the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea, filling Arsenal fans with hope that after almost a decade of underachievement, their club could go back to the glory days of Wenger’s first decade in charge.
Cut forward to summer of 2017 and despite a great start to the window with the signings of Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette, the thrashing at Anfield last week coupled with transfer market failings exposed similar frailties which have plagued Arsenal for more than a decade and turning fans against Arsene Wenger AGAIN.
Here are 5 things Arsenal must now do to salvage another season which threatens to meander towards mediocrity.
#1 Persist with the back-three system
For long, the superbly rhythmic passing game employed by Arsene Wenger’s teams which dissect their opposition like a master surgeon, have often left the football purists from around the world purring.
However, the last two seasons have seen the like of Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester City overtake the Gunners as the team which neutrals love to watch. Arsene Wenger’s preference for the 4-3-2-1 has been obvious since his appointment way back in 1996 and even though there have been minor adjustments to that formation like the 4-5-1 in the Champions League during their run to the final in 2005-06 or the 4-1-4-1 experiment at the start of the 2014-15 campaign, the French veteran has always shown a liking for the back four.
Hence it came as a surprise to many when Wenger switched formations in March last season to salvage a free falling Arsenal season. It might not have helped Arsenal finish in the top 4 but the move was a success in terms of helping Arsenal outclass PL champions Chelsea in the final of the FA Cup.
One could argue the mauling at Anfield was the end of the experiment but the 3-4-2-1 system could yet yield results especially if AW starts playing the players at his disposal in their right positions. Sead Kolasinac at LWB anyone?
#2 Stop playing Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil together in big away games
Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil are two of the best players in the Premier League in their respective positions. Aaron Ramsey’s ability to make late lung bursting runs into the box and willingness to bust a gut to join every Arsenal attack makes him a crucial presence from the midfield. The polarising Mesut Ozil, on the other hand, is the master painter who draws on the canvas of Arsenal’s stylish football. The combined presence of the two is crucial to the style of play Arsene Wenger envisages from his team.
However, this has backfired a lot, especially in away games mostly due to their unwillingness to help the team with the dirty work. Times are changing in the Premier League and with the heavy influx of cash, every team is loaded with dangerous players capable of turning the game on its head. Arsenal need to realize that unlike the Emirates, teams won't sit back and let them have the ball for long spells of possession and hence the need to stay compact and defend as a team in away games.
Can Arsenal afford luxury players as Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil in such games? Even better, can they afford both of them on the pitch when Arsenal are under heavy pressure at say Etihad or Stamford Bridge? Certainly, a one to ponder for Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal might be better equipped to deal with the big away games by lining a midfield trio of Wilshere, Xhaka and Ramsey with Ozil coming on as an impact sub. Teams such as Manchester City and Liverpool love a high pressing game and tend to negate Ozil's influence especially in the absence of a ball carrier like Cazorla.
#3 Get Jack Wilshere back to the fold
When he burst onto the scene as a blue eyed teenager back in 2010-11, Jack Wilshere was the biggest talent to come out of English football since Wayne Rooney. Many a pundit called him the next Paul Gascoigne for he combined the typical English grit with the flair and technical abilities of a South American footballer. Fast forward seven years and Wilshere’s injury-plagued career is at crossroads with talks of him being not in Arsene Wenger’s plans for the upcoming season and potentially leaving on a free at the end of the current campaign at the expiry of his contract.
However, this story could yet have a happy ending and he could yet fulfill his destiny of being the next Tony Adams like figure for this historic club.
It is common knowledge that the last two seasons for Arsenal which started so bright only to wither away had a lot to do with Santi Cazorla’s injury issues. The Spanish maestro is the oil to the Arsenal midfield engine and also brings the best out of Mesut Ozil because of his amazing ability to pass through midfield lines, dribble his way out of tight spaces and transition the ball from defence to attack in a split second, allowing the likes of Ozil to receive the ball in dangerous areas from where they can feed the attackers with the final ball.
The biggest issue in the current Arsenal set up is the lack of a ball carrier in midfield with Xhaka being a quintessential deep lying playmaker and Coquelin/ElNeny being strictly squad players. The one player who can actually fill in that role? Jack Wilshere.
Blessed with quick feet and brilliant passing range, Wilshere has the ability to effectively fill in the huge hole left by Santi Cazorla.
#4 Chuck out the under achievers
"Arsene Wenger's biggest strength was trust. He would trust his players. He will try to make you make the right decision by yourself, not telling you what he expects or what he wants you to do.
"But that can be a weakness as well because sometimes as a player you need a good kick in your arse." - Patrick Vieira
Although Wenger’s faith in his players is admirable, he needs to realise that a lot of them have constantly let him down.
The likes of Lucas Perez and Joel Campbell were never given a fair chance to prove themselves while Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck are persisted with despite obvious shortcomings.
While Wenger has had to shoulder the blame for his side's constant underachievement, a lot of his players need to look themselves in the mirror because they haven't done justice to the crest or their own obvious talents at times.
'Catalyst for Change' was the phrase used in pre season to achieve success, it's time Wenger adheres to it, shows a ruthless streak and chucks out the under achievers if they still don't pull up their socks.
#5 Ensure Alexis Sanchez stays committed
Despite his stroppy on-field body language and the near move to Manchester City that led to many people questioning his commitment to AFC, Alexis Sánchez remains Arsenal’s great hope. It is increasingly likely that the Chile forward will leave on a Bosman in the summer of 2018 but it is vital for Arsenal's hopes he plays at full throttle until then.
Knowing the little dynamite and his incredible hunger for success, that is likely to be the case when he returns to London Colney after the international break. The 2018 WC also being on the horizon means that Wenger will be confident that he can convince Alexis to put behind the deadline day move collapse aside and focus fully on Arsenal Football Club to give one last push. Who knows, maybe he could yet renew his contract if he sees Arsenal are competitive on the field?
Despite the slow start to the season, the prospect of seeing Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez combine will definitely excite the Gunners faithful.
