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Arsenal was clearly the better team versus Manchester United at Old Trafford in their last outing, in an encounter which exposed the defensive frailties of both teams.
However, the 2-2 draw ensured that Arsenal’s unbeaten run now stretches to 20 games in all competitions. Next up The Gunners welcome Huddersfield to the Emirates, in a clash they are expected to win comfortably.
With the congested fixture list and injuries to key players, here are 4 players with a point to prove against Huddersfield.
#4 Sead Kolasinac
The big Bosnian was immense against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United until his error at Old Trafford resulted in Jesse Lingard poking the ball into the net and drawing the game.
He created chance after chance in both fixtures, becoming the chief creator in the absence of Mesut Ozil. The Bosnian is better suited to being a wing-back than a fullback, and his rampaging runs are an asset to The Gunners who are brimming with confidence.
Kolasinac's pace makes him a menacing presence on the flanks, and his physicality adds a nasty dimension to The Gunners' back line. His overlapping runs and precise crosses provide required ammunition for the Arsenal forward line to latch onto and create havoc in the opposition box.
The injury to Rob Holding and the lack of additional fit central defenders in the squad is a worry for The Gunners, as they have to revert to four at the back. Kolasinac’s skill-set isn’t suited to the role of a fullback, and he has to be cautious if he is to exert any sort of influence on the games hereafter, and make the left-back spot his own.
#3 Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi set pulses racing in the early phase of the Premier League campaign, with insane dribbling and silky skills. After a couple of lacklustre seasons, the Nigerian burst into life under Unai Emery, making a case for being a regular starter with some outstanding displays in the Europa league.
The forward likes to drift into the box from the wing, and provide the killer passes for his more prolific teammates to latch onto and score.
However, his form has tailed off in recent fixtures, with The Gunners' #17 substituted early in the games against Tottenham and Manchester United, with his crossing and finishing in particular being called into question.
With Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil injured, the onus is on Iwobi to step up and make the starting berth his own.
#2 Alexandre Lacazette
With 7 goals and 3 assists from 14 games in the league, Lacazette carries a significant goal threat, and he also links up the midfield and the wide men with his brilliant holdup play.
Having struck up a prolific partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Frenchman has started the last 2 league games from the bench, owing to his injury and Aubameyang’s form as the central striker.
The Frenchman has had a telling impact as a substitute, scoring in the North London derby and playing a vital role in the second goal against The Red Devils.
The forward is one of the players currently in the hippie-crack storm, where The Gunners' stars were seen consuming Nitrous Oxide from a balloon. In spite of that, Lacazette may be handed a start against Huddersfield in his preferred role as the central striker, and the onus is on him to deliver.
All stats via transfermarkt
#1 Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The Armenian captain, possessing a unique dribbling style, has struggled so far, and has reached a point where he is being labelled a flop despite his 9 assists and 5 goals in 34 games so far.
He is struggling to keep the ball and create chances for his teammates, and is unable to influence matches in any capacity. He was hauled off at half-time versus Tottenham, and was brought on only after Aaron Ramsey picked up an injury against United.
Mkhitaryan is a sort of player who plays well when he is confident, and an enigma when he isn’t. Injuries to Ramsey and Ozil bring him back into contention for a place in the starting XI, and if he doesn’t grab the opportunity and fails to influence the game, his stint in North London is surely going to end soon.
The time has come for Mkhitaryan to prove his worth.
