Arsenal’s 2017 campaign, trophy wise, is pretty much coming to an end as the Gunners repeated their annual drill of progressing a decent way in all major tournaments before crashing out in a drastic manner. However, things have turned quite sour this season with fans and critics getting way more ammunition than usual to criticise the team, the manager as well as the board; so much so that this might finally be Arsene Wenger’s last season with Arsenal.
With 12 more games to go before the season ends, Arsenal have two tasks on their hands now. Firstly, they would try and get back to the top four, a zone which has been their home for quite some time now, and secondly, Wenger is expected to go all out for the FA Cup.
Here are the three primary things the club should get right for the last few weeks-
SORT OUT THE MIDFIELD
Arsenal had started the season with arguably the best core of midfielders in the Premier League and quite shockingly, it has turned out to be a major chink in their armour now. Though injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla have played a huge role in this phenomenon, Wenger’s team selections have further exacerbated it.
Wenger’s tendency to keep on playing a player, even when he has become a dead rubber is his biggest fault. And Francis Coquelin has been a prime example of it. Despite breaking into the team with tremendous vigour and aggression a few years back, he has reduced himself to a liability now and the way he bounced off Eden Hazard last month pretty much summed up his current state. Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain has been brilliant from the middle and should find a permanent place there alongside Ramsey or Xhaka as per tactics.
CENTRE-FORWARD DILEMMA
Critics have failed to understand why Wenger has confused the attributes of Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud up front. Both the strikers have different strengths and the manager has completely failed to use them to their full potential.
Giroud’s height could be used effectively against closely knit defending sides like West Bromwich Albion, Burnley, Middlesbrough, Chelsea and more. While Sanchez’s work rate and dribbling would be useful against sides using open play, like Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and more. Sticking further to the same tactics could remove the little chances of salvation that Arsenal could attain this season.
HAVING A PLAN B
Arsenal have often been found crumbling against tougher opponents once their initial guard is broken. Laurent Koscielny coming off the field in the second half, in both legs against Bayern was a clear indication of it. Wenger seems to run with only one master plan, which if deconstructed anyway, would result in the team’s damnation. Arsenal need to have a Plan B, where the team could come back after going one or even two goals down early in the game, rather than switching themselves off.
