by Tony Attwood
The game, played by the Metro and others is to try and imagine all the different possible line ups we could have next season, given the players we have, or given the players we have minus Alexis and/or Ozil and/or the Ox.
In this sequence there are no more signings – so no factoring in of Riyad Mahrez, at least at first (he does appear later).
To look at this and make it simple for the moment I’ve cut the listings down to the midfield and front line. One of the things that most people agree is that we are going to have a midfield pairing of Ramsey and Xhaka – it started to work very well as Xhaka got more and more adjusted to the whims of referees and the style and approach of the Premier League.
I suspect with him, as with so many players, we have only just seen the tip of what he can do in his first season with us.
Option 1: All the players we now have except Ox
This looks a pretty formidable front line with Alexis able to cut inside and Ozil having the choice of two targets for his perfect passes. The Ox might be missing because he leaves, or because he is playing a more defensive role.
Lacazette
Alexis Ozil
Xhaka Ramsey
Option 2: All the players we now have plus the Ox
Now we bring the Ox forwards. This looks like an incredibly potent proposition because you now have Ramsey with the chance to move forwards, and the Ox and Ozil both able to spray about the passes and take the occasional shot themselves, just for fun.
Lacazette
Alexis Ozil Ox
Xhaka Ramsey
Option 3: Bringing in Welbeck and Walcott
One of the views of much of the Commitariat is that a player is only as good as last week and thus Welbeck and Walcott are dead men walking. But in reality while there are some players like Thierry Henry who are always at the top of their game, there are many others who can have off times and then come back to their full potential.
If this potential is what is seen, and if Alexis and Ozil were to leave, and the Ox is not used in a forward role for whatever reason then we could see
Welbeck Lacazette Walcott
Xhaka Ramsey
Option 4: Factoring in the departures but playing the Ox in central midfield
Without Alexis and Ozil we need some guile which is what the Ox brings, and the chance to move forwards in the centre – which is what Ramsey has always craved as his position. Certainly Ramsey playing behind Lacazette could give a lot of problems to defences, especially with passes from the Ox coming from even further back in the field.
Lacazette
Welbeck Ramsey Walcott
Xhaka Ox
Option 5: Alexis and Ozil go but we include Giroud
It might be that Giroud is retained in order to be an impact sub, and also as cover in case of injury, but it is also possible that Lacazette could be returned to his position on the wing to play in the role of Alexis
Giroud
Lacazette Ramsey Walcott
Xhaka Ox
Option 6: Alexis goes but Ozil stays
Lacazette
Welbeck Ozil Walcott
Xhaka Ramsey
We could do it like this, or incorporate the Ox as a wide man.
Options 7 and 8
The Ox only pops up in a few of these so far but if he is to be given a much more integral role in the heart of the team, the question remains where he is going to fit in. We’ve seen him play in all sorts of places in the team, and that of course is a great advantage. Depending on how things pan out in the transfer window the Ox could be in defence or midfield.
Options 9 and 10
We have left Mahrez out of the squad, because it might be just another rumour, but it could be another signing.
Mahrez coming in would seem to signify Alexis going, so then it is a case of shuffling any of the non-Alexis arrangements.
There is a huge benefit in this situation as no one will know how we are going to line up, with this array of talent. It could be fun.
- Wenger’s regrets, two transfers out, playing on a Friday, what Pep said about “ten years”
- Arsenal to make one more transfer in coming days, and then that will be that.
- Next season’s Arsenal 25 plus the under 21s. It is going to be tight.
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at least we have much better options now nice one up Gunners
giroud very good link up with ramsey
This is very achievable
Tony,
Good scenarios, it demonstrates the wealth of opportunities we have.
one never knows and we know nothing either, yet I can’t imagine Ozil leaving. Between Ozil and Alexis, I’d keep the former.
And the fact he goes to Australia (right ?) does seem to me like he’lle be part of the team. Otherwise why thake the cnace of him getting injured and become less ‘transferable’ ?
On the options we do have now center and front, well, I’m kind of salivating. I don’t think we have had such a potent squad for years. And the bset part of it is that except for 2 arrivals, all the players know each other well and won’t need much time to hit the ground running. And it ought to make it easier (can it be easy anyway ?!?)to get through the first rounds of EL. I do remeber a piece you did some while ago about integrating a whole lot of players and the time it took. We’ll be avoiding that issue. I believe City will not and I believe Chelsky and MU will have the same problem. Spurs look more stable, yet I wonder how many agents are trying to get Kane or Sane ? as for Pool!!, no idea how they will fare.
Talking about Giroud, I sure hope we keep him. any defence will be ‘tired’ by the speed we can deliver, and Giroud entering in second half can make quite a difference (FA Cup final was perfect demonstration for that), as he can score as well then assist, and with the sheer ‘force’ he brings into the oponent’s box. Same for the Ox. No team can prepare for him as he can come from anywhere. We could even change configuration anytime in a game and make any defence unstable.
No really, I don’t care about how much we’d save selling Alexis…I just hope we keep him. what we’d have to spend to replace him would not be that more expensive than having him leave on a free.
In the backline, refresh my memory. Are Chambers part of the guys on top of the 17 ? I can’t imagine him beoing sent away. He has too much potential I believe. And keeping Per is I believe a good strategy.He may not play every 3 days, but we know that he’ll stand his man and lead the backline anytime. So I see him as a perfect fit for EL/FA Cup and as a backup to Koscielny. Now that Holding is proven, we won’t have to worry too much about running the defence into the ground.
And if Cazorla is out until December, it leaves a place in the squad open (Perez ?) until then and the January window can then be used to accomodate. It is just too bad, thinking how out 2 footed magician could explode any defence with his talent and the front line he’d have at his disopsal.
Let’s just light a candle and pray all are fit and healthy come Leicester in mid August.
And yes, I am sure positive about this coming season.
Hmmm. As a complete devastating squad force for next season’s campaign, the Arsenal squad as its presently constituted as a devastating squad force with their recent acquisition of two top quality players can not be said to be a complete devastating squad force yet able to win the Premier League title next season until a third top quality player of the calibre of the regular goals scoring Mbappe or Lemar is dragged from the transfer market to the squad which will invariably complete the Arsenal squad as a complete devasting squad force that can pip their PL title rivals to the win next season. Right?
Therefore, taking into consideration my aforesaid, Arsenal should be hasty as they can be to complete the signing of Kylian Mbappe (preferable) or Thomas Lemar before Chelsea buy Alfredo Morata from Chelsea which if they do, will equip RM financially to finance the transfer of Mbappe to them this summer.
In my own opinion, Arsenal need to sign one of the regular goals scorers of Mbappe or Lemar for option and cover for their next season’s campaign. Regular goals scoring matters a lot. The Ox is a prolific pacy Gunners who can play in multiple positions and he can give assist as well. These two qualities he processes has made him an asset who Arsenal should keep and try to convince him to extend his current deal at Arsenal. But to be honest, the Ox is not a regular goals scorer. How many goals did he score for Arsenal last season? I can’t remember unless I check but I know they are not above 5 or 6. And let’s not forget that the Ox has the knack of picking up injuries which has made him an injury prone suspect. But save on some few occasions, he mostly avoided picking up injury last season.
Hmmm. As a complete devastating squad force for next season’s campaign, the Arsenal squad as its presently constituted as a devastating squad force with their recent acquisition of two top quality players can not be said to be a complete devastating squad force yet able to win the Premier League title next season until a third top quality player of the calibre of the regular goals scoring Mbappe or Lemar is dragged from the transfer market to the squad which will invariably complete the Arsenal squad as a complete devasting squad force that can pip their PL title rivals to the win next season. Right?
Therefore, taking into consideration my aforesaid, Arsenal should be hasty as they can be to complete the signing of Kylian Mbappe (preferable) or Thomas Lemar before Chelsea buy Alfredo Morata from Real Madrid which if they do, will equip RM financially to finance the transfer of Mbappe to them this summer.
In my own opinion, Arsenal need to sign one of the regular goals scorers of Mbappe or Lemar for option and cover for their next season’s campaign. Regular goals scoring matters a lot. The Ox is a prolific pacy Gunners who can play in multiple positions and he can give assist as well. These two qualities he processes has made him an asset who Arsenal should keep and try to convince him to extend his current deal at Arsenal. But to be honest, the Ox is not a regular goals scorer. How many goals did he score for Arsenal last season? I can’t remember unless I check but I know they are not above 5 or 6. And let’s not forget that the Ox has the knack of picking up injuries which has made him an injury prone suspect. But save on some few occasions, he mostly avoided picking up injury last season.
Oga(Master) Tony, I am for my reposting my comment again. I have substitute Chelsea with Real Madrid in my 2nd paragraph.
Thanks.
Just thinking, if the “Circle” was ever implemented then we won’t have to assume or guess at any of the transfers, it(among other things) will be all in the open and available to all.
Those who dont know what i’m talking about:
The Circle 2017
For me, a horrific view of future tech misused.
There is a nice news snippet at Arsenal.com about how le Coq was involved in the Lacazette transfer.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/lacazette-how-coquelin-influenced-my-move
And, it seems that in another year, Per is making the move to management at Arsenal. He is to become the manager at the Academy. Congratulations to Per and the young men and boys at the Academy!
https://www.arsenal.com/news/mertesacker-lead-arsenal-academy
Former Gunners
There has been news lately about Podolski, he has moved to Japan and the J-League.
And Marca has an article today, about former Arsenal Ladies player Vicky Losada, now at Barcelona.
http://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2017/07/07/595f919c268e3edc1a8b457e.html
Best of luck to both players.
I thnk if Sanchez real want to go ,then wenger shld b persistent and take mahrez if at all lemar is a Delay deal.and at any cost sale our forward wilpower (wlshare) bt sale b sold at a higher price.mark u wenger shld no remorse later for leaving mahrez coz the lad wants the move whats holdng wnger to go make a done deal. Thnkx pal COYG truely gunners can b dreadful in their attack.
Bt if Sanchez can accept 300 per wk the better period.