Arsene Wenger’s 200th European game and one he will want to forget. A youthful squad took to the field and was worryingly very poor and swept aside by Olympiacos. Luckily, the result didn’t matter in terms of Champions League qualification but it did show something very worrying, beyond the starting eleven lies players that seem to not be up to the challenge.
This doesn’t count for everyone of course. Players like Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yossi Benayoun and Francis Coquelin look promising for the future and have played well when called upon. However, in some positions there is just not enough competitive options.
The most obvious is between the sticks. Szczesny is a top class keeper and will be the number 1 for years. However if he picks up an injury who will take his place? The options are Fabianski, Mannone and possibly Almunia. We’ve seen what Fabianski and Almunia are capable of, the answer being very little. Mannone played well when called upon last year, but was entirely at fault for Olympiacos’ second goal. A one off error? Or should alarm bells be ringing at the Emirates? Young keeper James Shea is another alternative but you don’t want to put that much pressure on such a young player.
Other problems lie in defence, which injuries this season have exposed. Sagna, Jenkinson, Gibbs and now Santos are out leaving the club with no natural full backs to take their place. Koschielny has done well playing in a position he is not used to but a natural player is always the better option.
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Gibbs is injury prone and Jenkinson is not ready yet although he will be a great player in the future. In the centre Arsenal have 4 choices: Vermaelen, Mertesaker, Koschielny and Djorou. No problems there but with the curent injury situation what happens if one of them gets injured? Who would take their place? Squillaci? Again, more deadwood that needs to be moved on. Young players cannot be expected to be thrust into the limelight and perform consistently to a high standard.
Midfield may well be the only area where Arsenal have depth. The problem persists as you enter the strikers. Chamakh is having a hard time at the moment and not getting the goods while Park isn’t going to be at Arsenal long enough to stake a first team place due to his national service looming. After those two, who else can take Van Persie’s role? The younger options, Bendtner and Vela, have been sent out on loan and while I agree this was the right move it’s left unfilled spaces in the squad.
It’s something we all fear as Gooners, if Van Persie gets injured we don’t have a replacement on call. In the end Wenger did what was needed in the summer and spent money. In January he needs to do the same again, when things don’t go to plan we need players to fill in the gaps and at the moment it doesn’t look like Arsenal have this covered.
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Does this journalist suffer from a chronic lack of insight?
I think MJB said it al. The writa just put up a whol lotta farce just 2 justify d article. N who on earth told him jenkinsn Nt gud enuf!!!
Well said this sums up my views perfectly on the current team and anyone who disagrees are clearly a moron. This journalist is clearly very talented well done sir.