It seems as if we haven't even gotten over our awesome victory over Southampton and already we have to turn our attentions to the Champions League, where we will be put up against reigning French champions Montpellier. They haven't started the season well at all with only 4 points on the board from a possible 12. Many are putting it down to the sale of Olivier Giroud but I think that's a bit overstated. I feel that last season they were a better team, compact in defense and clinical in attack. Neither department has really worked for them so far this season but I expect things to get better. Don't forget that they have some very good players capable of hurting us such as Younes Belhanda - a player of whom Arsene has admitted his fondness. Anyway, more on that match in the preview tomorrow.
Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong are returning to training this week after both have been out with long term injuries, obviously Jack's was very long term. I don't often go along with 'Like a New Signing' but in Jack's case, that's exactly what he will be. What will be interesting when he returns to playing games is where he will fit in. If I had asked this a season and a half ago many would be calling me crazy such was his importance back then. But things have changed so quickly and so has our squad. Jack hasn't played a first team, competetive game with any of Arteta, Cazorla, Giroud, Podolski, Gervinho, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Santos. And how often has he played with Diaby and Gibbs given their injury troubles? Not many. So he is coming back to a whole new team, which isn't always easy. Our midfield is bursting with options at the moment with Diaby, Coquelin, Arteta, Cazorla and Ramsey all vying for a place, so will Wilshere push to the top of that queue? I'm not so sure he will.
Will he play behind the main striker, the position which his number dictates? If so, will Cazorla have to take up a position on the wing? There are so many decisions which have to be made but at least they are the good problems which a manager generally likes to have. It's not as if he will be playing regularly until next year so we can lay off the predictions until then and assess his recovery and the injuries in the mean time. It's just kind of satisfying that we don't have to rush him back like we did with Ramsey.
Other than that have a look on arsenal.com for some snippets from the manager, Gibbs and Vermaelan. I'm looking forward to the UCL tomorrow night and I'm tipping Olivier for his first goal in an Arsenal shirt.
'Till tomorrow
Regarding your comment "Will he play behind the main striker, the position which his number dictates? If so, will Cazorla have to take up a position on the wing?"
ReplyDeleteCazorla has regularly played on the wing in La Liga and recently said said that that was his initial expectation when he came to Arsenal. When Arsenal played their best football since the Invincibles was the period when they played a 4-2-3-1 with one direct and one creative winger (Walcott/Nasri). Besides, when Wilshere first broke into the first team he was playing on the left wing. So 2 creators in the band of 3 with one direct wide forward (Podolski, Walcott, Gervinho, Chamberlain) seems very possible with the players on hand.