Arsenal are down, and they have to get back up, quickly. And if Arsene Wenger’s recent interview with beIN Sport is anything to go by, the gaffer thinks normalcy will soon return to Emirates with the transfer circus closed for the time being.
The Frenchman shed some light on how the uncertainty of players’ future at the club did manage to ruin their performance against Liverpool in the last game before they dispersed for the international break. Having the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in the squad who weren’t committed, did change the mentality in the dressing room and affected the side.
However, that is over now and Arsenal have to right the wrongs done in the last two games and the good thing is they have a long time to rectify things. Here are 3 players who will need to step up to help the club have a shot at the title, even after a lethargic start-
Laurent Koscielny-
Following a reckless challenge on Enner Valencia on the last day of the campaign, the skipper had to miss many important games for the club. His return to Liverpool was unfortunate as neither did he have the right players around him nor the tactics to stay strong. With the injury to Per Mertesacker in the FA Community Shield game, Wenger had to resort to Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal and sometimes even Mohamed Elneny as centre half.
However, none of them are as good as him in that role and with Koscielny being one of the few players at the club whose future is sorted out, he should be the one to lead the charge.
Aaron Ramsey-
The Welshman has been synonymous with Arsenal for many years now and despite approaching the last year of his contract, will undoubtedly be committed to the Gunners to the core. Arsene Wenger has made a star out of a teenager from Cardiff City and Ramsey has repaid it in many ways. Now with the club in real crisis for the first time in more than a decade, the midfielder will need to step up.
Olivier Giroud-
The towering Frenchman has been one of the few players who has been vocal about staying at the club and fighting for his place up front despite the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette. He has been in brilliant touch of late in front of the goal and has already saved the club once against Leicester City. He has remained unaffected by Alexandre Lacazette’s arrival and will have to play a big role in the club’s revival this season.
