With 7 wins in the last 8 matches, Wenger’s new look Arsenal are beginning to build some momentum ahead of 2 huge matches.
Wins over Chelsea and Marseille can both put us right back into contention for a top 4 finish in the league and all but put us in the Champions League knockout phase.
This being the case, I am firmly of the view that momentum is maintained by playing the members of the squad who are in form, and this week’s Carling Cup victory against a virtually full strength Bolton side has given Monsieur Wenger a few exciting options, or difficult decisions depending on your perspective.
3 players from the Bolton match must have catapulted themselves right to the fore and be pushing for starts against Chelsea this Saturday lunch time – Park Chu Young, Andrey Arshavin and Thomas Vermaelen . Some tough decisions for the manager to make, but right now I feel he should accommodate all 3, which would undoubtedly be a brave decision but you know what they say about fortune and the brave.
The little Russian has put down a strong marker to be given the advanced midfield role after his dynamic display this week. Let face facts, he can pick a pass, run and commit defenders, make space for his team-mates and make and score goals. All major pluses, but he cannot tackle, does not track back and support his full-back and drifts in and out of the game when left out wide. So let’s play him where he can do some damage, behind RVP. I am fairly certain that Wenger saw Arteta slotting into this advanced playmaker role vacated by Cesc, as did I, but the Spaniard seems to be showing more steel, breaking up play and acting as a continuity player alongside Song in front of the back four. This may seem harsh on Ramsey and a rejuvenated Rosicky, but both would be available to make an impact from the bench.
Vermaelen has to play of course, as he had declared himself fit after his return, and I am sure he will start alongside Mertesacker. However, as I wrote last week, I would be very reluctant to see Koscielny dropped whilst in such magnificent form. Given that the premise of this article is that we should play those in form and that Wenger has revealed Kozza began his professional career as a right-back that is where he should play this weekend. Indeed I would like to see him play there for as long as required ahead of Jenkinson or Djourou. With Santos finally showing some form in the second half last weekend this back four has a solid feel to it.
Lastly and perhaps most controversially, I wish to see a front 3 all providing a goal threat, but also giving us true movement and interchange. I would love to see Wenger take a chance on Park, whose confidence must be sky high after recent glut of Korean goals and a Henry style cracker for us against Bolton. I saw enough to believe that he could play a slightly wider role and hope to see him interchangeable with Gervinho either side of the skipper on Saturday. I think the Ivorian finally found his Premiership footing last weekend and I am truly excited to see true Gervinho . A goal and 2 assists is against Stoke is hopefully just the start. There is little doubt that Theo needs a break as he is simply not performing after a promising August, but he does have a good record against Chelsea so I would leave him on the bench with real impact and quality with Rambo, Rosicky, the Ox and Djourou.
Bring on the Chelsea and Marseille and this team will prevail.
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Written by David Seager for Gunnersphere.com>
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