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Arsenal have made a huge statement early in the transfer window signing Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona and now stand linked with many top level players. The signing and the performances of the players have put huge pressure on some Gunners who have been struggling for first team opportunities.Having top level players in the side to choose from where one gets dropped due to another’s better performances is bliss for the manager but for the player getting dropped it is a big disappointment. However, at the start of every new season a reshuffle of the starting XI sort of becomes mandatory for every club.Here are the players who need to step-up their performances for “First Team” status:
#6 Nacho Monreal, Defender
Monreal ever since signing for Arsenal has not been able to become first choice over Gibbs that makes the competition between the two pretty well defined. What makes Gibbs status as first choice is his taking of the No. 3 jersey after the departure of Sagna at the end of the previous campaign.
Monreal seems to have a better opportunity at proving his abilities than the other players mentioned in this slideshow, as Gibbs has been struggling to stay fit for an entire campaign. If the Spaniard is to dislodge his popular team mate, he will have to work a lot this season and attempt to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way this season.
#5 Mathieu Flamini, Midfielder
If the rumour mill proves to be true and Khedira is indeed heading to the Emirates this campaign or even if it isn’t Khedira, Wenger seems quite likely to bring in a new defensive midfielder to add solidarity to the squad and Flamini might be the player to face the axe in order to accommodate the new signing this campaign.
Flamini lost his position last season after Arteta returned to full fitness, and him being the less preferred candidate at the role would only make the competition fiercer to see who finally gets the berth in the starting XI this campaign.
If Flamini is to gain game time this season, he either needs to improve his game drastically or hope that one of his team-mates gets injured.
*Hopefully he will improve his game rather than an injury to any player.
#4 Lukas Podolski, Forward
Podolski will have a tough job when the campaign kicks off, the arrival of Sanchez from Barcelona who is capable of playing on the wings as well as a striker. However, Podolski might be able to keep his place early in the season but once Walcott recovers fully from his injury, it will be a tough choice for Wenger to decide whether to choose Podolski or Sanchez to play through the left provided Podolski makes the most of his chances till then.
Although Podolski managed to score a bucket load of goals in the last campaign, his performances at the World Cup was far from satisfactory making just two appearances and managing about 54 minutes of game time in total. But from a positive point of view his team won the World Cup and he was one of the most photographed players in Brazil too.
He already faced stiff competition last season from Cazorla as Wenger tended to prefer the Spaniard whenever he was available over Podolski, so that makes his journey to the starting XI a bit more difficult this season.
Unless he wants to be just clicking photographs and warming the bench, he better start to buckle-up for the coming campaign and improve a bit on his tracking back to help the defence.
#3 Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Midfielder/Forward
The Ox has been a major player in the Gunners squad providing additional pace and determination on the wings since he announced his arrival in a home game against Manchester United in the 2011-12 season. At that time he became an integral part of the squad due to the injury concerns that Arsenal suffered.
The situation now has pretty much changed with the flanks occupied by the ranks of Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla and Rosicky last season, his game time was significantly reduced in the process on the wings. Arsene Wenger claimed that Ox would be much well suited to the center of the midfield and thus played him there on a few occasions past season.
Playing in the centre would mean he has much more to prove, as his competitors in the squad are much better established in a central role than he is at this point in time. The pre-season might just be the perfect way to prove to the boss that he is the right man for the job and earn precious playing time for his development.
#2 Jack Wilshere, Midfielder
Jack Wilshere has been in and out of the squad more due to injuries in the past seasons than his performances, so the major task for him would be to manage to stay fit throughout the campaign to try and ensure starting XI berth in the squad.
Wilshere faces stiff competition from the likes of Ozil, Ramsey and Cazorla who occupy the starting XI spot to which he is most suited to. He showed glimpses of returning to his best last season and progress in the way he was before a series of injury struck him.
Looking at the brilliant performances of the players ahead of him in the previous season might appear that Wilshere would have to wait his chance of impressing the boss to manage sufficient playing time in the team, this new campaign that is about to unfold.
#1 Thomas Vermaelen, Defender
Vermaelen’s status in the Gunners squad is no big secret, being on the fringes of the first team is much to his and the club’s discomfiture and a very awkward position for the club’s captain to be in.
Wenger put his complete faith on the Franco-German pair of Koscielny & Mertesacker at the centre of the defence. The pair pretty much worked wonders for the squad as the Gunners won almost all of their games in which the pair featured for complete 90 minutes. Hence, the pair remained undisputed at the Gunners defence whenever they were eligible.
Such consistence from the pair negated any valuable performances from the Gunners Captain Thomas Vermaelen whenever he got a chance. This would probably be the Belgian’s last chance to work his way up the pecking order, if at all, he decides to stay at the Emirates this summer.
