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Arsenal was shown little mercy at Merseyside. This season has offered evidence that the Gunners’ well-oiled machine can be dismantled by teams attacking with power and speed coupled with a high tempo pressing game. Such a strategy allows the players little time to hold on to the ball and tests the speed of the centre-backs. The template adopted by Manchester City and Liverpool might be adapted by other teams, in England and outside, as the season progresses.
Arsenal next welcome struggling Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium. Ahead of a season-defining tough run of fixtures, a negative result against Manchester United might release a deluge of self-doubt in the Arsenal dressing room.
Manchester United is expected to retain Michael Carrick in central midfield though the same cannot be said about his partner against Fulham-Darren Fletcher. It is doubtful whether Fletcher can withstand two games in four days. David Moyes might therefore opt for Tom Cleverley to partner Carrick in midfield.
The concern for the Gunners will not be United’s midfield though. Despite their travails this season, Manchester United now boast of a fearsome four-pronged attack in Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj though Moyes’ ability to bring out their complete creative potential remains to be seen.
For Arsenal, the first step to victory will be taking control of the midfield. Against United, the job will not be the most challenging as the ageing Carrick has not been able reproduce past form this season. United has also struggled for a perfect player to partner him. With the likes of Phil Jones and Marouane Fellaini injured, United are short of options. This is exactly where Arsenal will have to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Playing Jack Wilshere in central midfield might not be the way to go for Arsene Wenger. Wilshere tends to move towards the central attacking position whether he is positioned on the right-wing or in central midfield, leaving Mesut Ozil to cover up. Ozil is distinctly ill-at-ease in this role. The better idea will be to reinstate Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in central midfield along with Mikel Arteta. The Ox’s power, speed and physical presence will provide the perfect engine for the Gunners to control midfield.
But Arsene Wenger will definitely be tempted to use Chamberlain on the right-wing to expose United’s defensive deficiency on the left flank. Patrice Evra’s continued failure to track back and cover up has encouraged teams with pacy wingers to take full advantage of the drawback. Therefore it is vital for Arsenal also to deploy an attacker who can make a difference with his pace.
For today’s contest, that candidate should be Serge Gnabry. This idea should not be brushed off as too radical. Critics will say that this is too important a game to give responsibility to an inexperienced eighteen year old. But Gnabry is one of the fit players who did not suffer the after-effects of the morale-sapping defeat at Anfield and thus will be fresh and raring to go. Also, he has gelled well-in-tandem with Cazorla and Ozil. Great campaigns have always been built partially on risks and therefore Wenger should seriously consider the talented youngster.
Ozil, despite not impressing in the past couple of months, will and should be retained. Cazorla’s recent illuminating performances mean that he should also be given a starting role from the left flank. Olivier Giroud picks himself as the sole striker.
There are no prizes for guessing that Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny should be the central defense partnership while Bacary Sagna is the natural choice for right-back. The only change in the back-four from the last match should be the inclusion of Kieran Gibbs, who lends defensive solidity and brings pace in attack.
After the dastardly performance against Liverpool on Saturday, too much media attention has been focused on Ozil’s failure to live up to expectations. But, Arsenal will do well to focus on team work as it is the team’s effort that wins matches at the end of the day. The team may not be filled with a horde of truly world-class players but there is still enough and more quality on offer.
The Gunners can look to some famous nights this season for inspiration. The creative excellence against Napoli, the defensive obduracy in Westfalenstadion against Dortmund and the solid organisation against Liverpool last November-any of which if recreated can still work up a potion that can ease Arsenal’s concerns in this difficult period.
