5 things Arsenal must do to salvage their season

#2 Stop playing Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil together in big away games

Ramsey and Ozil together is a conundrum Wenger needs to sort out

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.